Hi everyone
Like many people I am absolutely terrible at keeping secrets especially when Im this excited so we have told family and friends about the move and the reactions have been quite varied. Not least because of the family situation.
I am lucky in one respect that I do not have a relationship with either of my parents and so did not have to go through the why are you doing this to me speech - in truth they may find out by accident or never find out at all which is ok.
My friends on the other hand have been supportive but sad until I told them that naturally they would be welcome to stay and with flights out to Canada for around £139 it would be a really cheap holiday for them.
I woudl agree with everyone else's posts in that you have to be selfish about this - this is a decision for you and your partner, other family members have an opinion but its yours and partners views that matter.
I do think its awful when you get the "how can you leave me" speech which my partner got from his grown up daughter. Bear in mind she is grown up, married, three children of her own but still wanted her dad to live round the corner, for her benefit. Incidentally, we have seen more of her since we told the family we were emigrating!
Partner's son on the other hand being less selfish wished us all the best and declared he wished he could come too. Told us we should do what makes us happy which is an echo of his fathers belief that you live your life to suit yourself

(as long as your not harming anyone else)
I think only you can know when the best time to tell the family is, but for us we accentuated the positives, and in order to fend off the inevitable questions about "have you heard yet", we have told them that it is a very long drawn out process which could take up to 3 years.
If you are happy and your partner is happy - thats all that matters.
Good luck
MiniMad