60 replies to this topic

[joycegb]

I left England for Canada in 1979. We left because my husband could not get a job in his trade and he hated doing shift work at Triplex. We thought it would be a better life for our 2 sons. While they have done well over here, my friends children have all done equally as well, so who knows!! My sister and then husband had moved to Vancouver for work as he worked at BICC and they were in partnership with Phillips of Canada or something like that. We followed and I love it here in Vancouver but do I miss England and St Helens you betcha. I reckon in 32 years of living over here I have been back about 27 times. At first to see my mum and dad but when they died I had a sister and family and so many friends that I had kept in touch with I kept going back. Yes, St Helens is a bit of a mess but the friends make up for that. I have just checked my Christmas card list and I have sent, excluding my family, 11 cards to friends from St Helens and it is quite interesting where they now live. Enid Charlton, Edna Platt an neighbour Billy Kilgannon still in St Helens. Beryl Mercer nee Swift, in Rainford, Dorothy Follis nee Reynolds in Eccleston Park. Josie Roby nee Cowley in Orrell, Connie and Bernard Alcock in Suffolk, Mary Quinn nee Heavey in France, Jacqui Collier in Poulton, Denise White and Ruth Hollinghurst in Canada though the east side, and also Terry Parker, used to live in Prescot now in Lytham St Annes. I have good friends over here but these old friends are well worth the trip back, and I enjoy keeping in touch with them all by email. It seems to me the older you get the more you think of the past times and friends. By the weather weather in Vancouver is pretty much what you get in England so I have no longing for rain, but yes do miss those pies and also bacon (all streaky over here) Joyce

[-Oy-]

I confess - I've never lived in St Helens

My family are from Haydock (St James' end) but moved to Ashton just before I was born.

[tessmop]

Hi Joycegb,I have a friend who emigrated to Canada whose parents also did,and the food they missed the most was danish bacon,is the bacon over there really that bad?

[JFM]

Hi OY
Your a pie what are you doing on St Helens connect SPYING.
Did you hear about the couple coming out of Wigan divorce court
she crying her eyes out he saying..........
Well I know we are now divorced but look on the bright side your still my sister
Come on you Saints

[Nanny Ogg]

I came to Canada because I married a Canadian I met at university over there, My children and grandchildren are here. And I have not been back to St Helens because I know it will have changed so much I'd be upset!! Tessmop, yes, the bacon is bad that's why we make our own. All you need is salt and a smoker (um, smoker oven, not a cigarette smoker, we don't have those around). I used to live close to where Joycegb does - unfortunately left for the frozen north before I met her here! Northern Canada is great, though. Anyone likes snow can come visit any time

[DEVON BOY]

I like the bacon in Canada and America it's always done nice and crispy just how i like it but i know how they get every piece exactly the same size

[clocker baz]

Ive worked all over the UK but settled in Wigan where i came to do missionary work

[joycegb]

Hi Tessmop and Devon Boy.
I must confess I have got used to bacon over here, but it must cooked almost to a frizzle otherwise too much fat. However when I am England I nearly always have the gammon in the restaurants, just love it. My daughter in laws father was a pig farmer in Manitoba but she does not know why they only do streaky bacon. Canada imports some prepacked stuff like Wiltshire bacon. Expensive and horrible no taste at all. I think has do with salt content. Please take me out if I must give up salt in food---it is talked off in processed food. Oh dear!!!!!!
Joyce

[DEVON BOY]

Joycegb you have one of the best markets i have ever been in on Granville Island the amount of produce to choose from is astounding

[SKYMAN]

was in california for a couple of months ,Steak was great ,but the bacon was like shoe laces,

[singe]

Came to NZ in the late 80s for a working holiday and loved it here and have now lived here most of my adult life. Do miss St Helens, in particular the family, but am well settled over here now. I guess it's a case of each one to his/her own. We are all different and what is right for one person may not be for the next. Got a trip back home to take my son to see his grandma in June. Must admit, so many people have told me it has changed so much that I'm a little nervous but hey, it will be great to see the family again.

[Clancy]

I think this would be a good place to put this. I mentioned that I'd never got used to the hot Christmases.
Well we are in the middle of our hottest summer ever . Yesterday I had to go to the doctors, I chose yesterday as we had
a 'cool' change, 33C. Other than that I haven't been out for weeks, the air conditioner is my best friend, day and night as the temperature
has been in the 40'sC and it makes me feel ill, not to mention cranky. Gave me time to fix (almost) my computer.
I love Australian winters.
Probably the heat is the only thing which bothers me .

[SKYMAN]

welcome,,, when you decide to revisit St Helens but dont drive through town unless you have a
local by your side,if you want to get from Ato B ,YOU HAVE TO INCLUDE C D E and F,

[jeb]

I left st helens in 1979 with my family only because the counsel took my work place off me under redevelopment. When I come back and look around I think what a mess they have made all the character has gone

[HORT]

Hello Joycegb,
did your friend Edna Platt work in Pilks R and D at Cowley Hill?