Ah ... memories of Radio Two .... this will make no sense to most of you but for the few who do get it I bet you laughed.

This is one of the most common questions I am asked and the hardest to answer except for the very, very obvious generality: If you want to live in a tropical climate then Canada is not for you. That said, Canada is a huge - and I mean big as in almost unimaginably big - whopping! - huge - very very big indeed. Which means that the climate varies considerably across the country. But I can guarantee you that it is not quite tropical anywhere in Canada. Close, but not quite.

The Weather Network does a great job of explaining not just the bare facts and figures but has all kinds of interesting stuff in the site too. If its weather related there'll be something about it there.

British Columbia: I have never been there so I don't know first hand. I understand Vancouver has lovely mild weather because it is by the sea/ocean. On the other hand it rains all the time or so people tell me. Which might be a bit depressing - unless you are moving from a damp place in which case you'll feel right at home.

The middle bit.... bloody cold in the winter but the most glorious summers I have ever known, in spite of the mosquitoes which are so big they should have landing lights. Having said that, the mosquitoes in Manitoba didn't bother me as much as the canker worms hanging down from the trees. Bugs aside the summers are incredible and the winters are certainly pretty. Funny thing, Manitobans would say to me all the time 'Well you know what they say about Manitoba weather, if you don't like it wait five minutes and it will change.' and then they would laugh. What they don't realise is just about every country has the same saying. Except maybe Barbados where my Dad lives. It is nice there for most of the time!.

Ontario: The Golden Horseshoe is mild, hence the numerous vinyards. Toronto generally does not get as much snow as we do a couple of hours east of there. I do like having four seasons and the autumn colours are beautiful. We do get some snow though, quite a bit in fact.

The eastern bit. Not been there but once again the sea/ocean plays a part.

Americans often go on about Canada being the frozen north and it being cold 'up there' but don't realise that a fairly good chunk of Canada actually pokes down (ooh err steady on there missus) into the USA. If you enter the USA going into Detroit by road you actually drive north.

So for a British born woman I am failing miserably at talking about the weather. :o)

And finally ..... I didn't write this, in fact I think it was originally written about a US city but it really fits Winnipeg and quite a few other cities in Canada as well. Enjoy. The photo at the bottom of our house and car.

LIFE IN WINNIPEG

Aug 12 Moved to our new home in Winnipeg. It is so beautiful here. The prairies are so vast. Can hardly wait to see the fields covered ins now. Love it here.
Oct. 14 Winnipeg is the most beautiful place on earth. The leaves are turned all different colours and shades of red and orange. Went for a ride through the beautiful farmland and saw deer. They are so graceful, certainly they are the most wonderful animal on earth. This must be paradise.. I love it here.
Nov. 11 Deer season will start soon. I can't imagine anyone wanting to kill such a gorgeous creature. Hope it will snow soon. I love it here.
Dec. 2 It snowed last night. Woke up to find everything blanketed with white. It looks like a postcard. We went outside and cleaned the snow off the steps and shoveled the driveway. We had a snowball fight. (I won). And then the snow plow came by and we had to shovel the driveway again. What a beautiful place. I love Winnipeg.
Dec. 12 More snow last night. I love it, the snow plow did his trick again to the driveway. I love it here.
Dec. 19 More snow last night. Couldn't get out of the driveway to get to work. I am exhausted shoveling snow, bleeping snow plow.
Dec.22 More of the white stuff last night. I've got blisters on my hands from shoveling. I think that plow hides round the curve and waits until I'm done shoveling the driveway. Asshole!!
Dec 25 Merry bleeping Christmas!! More friggin snow ...if I ever get my hands on that son of a bitch who drives the snow plow, I swear I'll kill the bastard. Don't know why they don't use more salt on the roads to melt the bleeping snow.
Dec. 27 More white stuff last night. Been inside for three days except for shoveling out the driveway after that snow plow goes through every time. Can't go anywhere. Car's stuck in a mountain of white stuff. The weather man says to expect another 10" of the stuff again tonight. Do you know how many shovels full of snow 10 inches is?
Jan 4 Finally got out of the house today. Went to the store to get food and on the way back a damned deer ran into the front of the car and I hit it. Did about $3000 damage to the car. Those bleeping beasts should be killed. Wish the hunters had killed them all last November.
May 3 Took the car to the garage in town. Would you believe that the thing is rusting out from that bleeping salt they put all over the road?
May 10 Moved to B.C. I can't imagine anyone in their right mind would ever live in that godforsaken province of Manitoba.

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