canadaforus.com

We took the decision today. We are going to go to Canada. We already had been granted permanent residence in Canada, using the points system for skill workers. We just didn’t know whether to go or not.

We are going to resign from our jobs tomorrow!

In August, we’re heading to Calgary, Alberta. Are we mad? Perhaps we are, leaving secure jobs in Edinburgh for the promise of skies that aren’t cloudy all day - the big skies of the Canadian prairies. Maybe it’s a mid-life crisis issue - reaching the age of 40 last year made us consider our futures very seriously. It seems now a bit like Tom Good, on the Good Life, feeling that he’d reached the age of 40 without being satisfied with what he had done in life - wanting to experience a different kind of life.Well, a different type of life is what we’re committed to now - moving from Edinburgh, Scotland (daily max 6 degC, min 1 degC in January and daily max 18 degC, min 12 degC in July) to Calgary, Canada (daily max -3 degC, min -15 degC in January and daily max 23 degC, min 9 degC in July).

The winter temperatures look alarming at first sight - but it shouldn’t be too bad, if there isn’t a fierce wind blowing. The fact that we both enjoy downhill and cross country skiing helps - we won’t be stuck indoors all winter in Canada - we’ll be out enjoying all that snow and sunshine.

Yes, Calgary is sunny in winter, unlike Edinburgh where you can go long periods without seeing the sun. Calgary gets 2,400 hours of sunshine every year compared with the 1,400 we are used now. 1,000 extra hours of sunny weather a year for hiking, skiing and generally getting out an about - sounds fantastic.

It’s an exciting time and tomorrow comes the crunch - resignation day.