It all started at a party in Earl’s Court, London, back in 1998. It was there that I met the Canadian woman who would later become my wife. That night was the start of two love affairs. One with my wife, and another with Canada itself. At the time I was pretty ignorant about the country, but Canadians have a way of putting people straight pretty quickly, and my wife was no exception. Within a short space of time I had been received my Canada 101 regarding the country’s physical and political geography (“they’re provinces, not states!”), climate (“Canada has four seasons, you know – it’s warmer than Britain in the summer!”) and popular culture (a thorough drilling in all the famous Canadians who people assume are American).

Holidays and family visits to Canada only increased my love for the country. Winter trips taught me that ten below and dry in Canada is preferable to five above and damp in England. The idea of living in Canada gradually evolved from dream to plan, and finally, in October, to reality.

We are now living in Kitchener, Ontario, with my mother-in-law, gradually putting our new life together. This blog is an account of some of my thoughts and experiences as a newly arrived immigrant in Canada, as well as a record of other interesting things I read, see, hear or think as I go through my daily life.