I have just got back from a brilliant month in UK and know absolutely and utterly that that is where I need to be. Just some random observations:
Weather - we had 2 glorious weeks where I didnt even need the brand new cardigan I had bought because I had stupidly left mine here in Aus. It was almost too hot because of the humidity. We had one week where the rain poncho got a good work out and one which was so-so but not cold at all. I actually enjoyed the rain, it was good, clean rain and the ground felt so springy and the grass was so
green after it had fallen. Contrast that with the dusty yellowish brown around here - it looks sick. Oh yes and those brilliant long balmy summer evenings - we had dinner outside 4 times and never a fly to be seen! In Aus they would have been crawling into every orifice and you would have been bitten to death by a zillion mozzies!
People - I met some wonderful people, I had chats with the people in the check outs at supermarkets, saw youngsters give up their seats for older and pregnant women on the bus, saw many hold open doors for others to follow. I got waved at for courteous driving and did the same in return (and much less tail gating than we see around here!). I had a joke with quite a few casual acquaintances and visited some long time friends and it was as if we have never been apart.
Food - OMG who has given the UK a makeover foody-wise???? Pub grub is superb, excellent quality and even better value for money. The supermarkets have things I have never seen here (and probably not likely to) - I was tempted to ask Waitrose if they would come and open a branch in town here, that would shake up the Woolies/Coles banality. I thought on balance that the cost of food was actually less than in Aus at the moment and could find no fault with the quality of the fresh produce. I actually had strawberries from the market where EVERY ONE OF THEM actually tasted like a strawberry instead of the tasteless pap that passes for strawberries here.
History - I was very restrained on the history front and refrained from dragging the DH into every cathedral, abbey, castle or stately home we passed (he glazes over, being much more concerned about the future and his carbon footprint!). But we did see enough to keep me going until the next time!!! We were on a bit of an Oliver Cromwell hunt this time and he didnt mind that as we were doing it for our granddaughter who we recently discovered is actually a direct descendant of OC!
TV - Colour me gobsmacked! The aged rellies have Virgin tv which has enough channels to keep a UK tv drama junkie in 7th heaven for a month without leaving the living room (but I was restrained nevertheless). Now checking out UKNova to see if I can get to see the rest of the new series of Who Do You Think You Are before the turn of the next millennium! The BBC coverage of the Olympics knocked Channel 7's Aussie Hero approach into a cocked hat for even handedness and not even a skerrick of the "GOLD, GOLD, GOLD for Australia!!!!" Mania that has been the legacy of bl**dy Norman May to the sporting commentators we have over here (Mind you, tonight they were going rather over the top because of a silver medal - double
)
Family - God, I hate leaving them. There is only me and my parents in our little family and each time I have to go I wonder if ..... I also have a small extended family with an aunt and uncle and a couple of cousins - they are all precious. It was also very hard to say goodbye to the DS1 who now lives in UK (and is having an absolute ball, he loves it!!!)
OK so there were some negatives - the weather and humidity makes my hair curlier than it usually is and I hate it being kinky all the time. What is it with the parking spaces???? Why the heck cant they make them wide enough so you can open the car doors with ease? That said, though, I adore the Park and Ride facilities and am going to lobby our local government for a Shopmobility scheme like the one they have in Cambridge which is a boon to the tottery elderly (which I will one day be!!!). Oh yes and the showers - I have yet to meet a half decent English shower - one with some pressure and an easily adjusted temperature. They definitely need to do some improvement there!!!
I have been here for almost 30 years now and in the beginning I was like most of the bright eyed and bushy tailed young people who are now making the move - it was an adventure, I didnt bat an eyelid at leaving my folks and my home country behind, I even "absolutely loved" Australia for a while (in retrospect I actually "absolutely loved" the adventure of it all). Then I realized that this was "it", this was "forever" - the DH is an Aussie and he wont go home to live (says
he would be unhappy so we would be no further ahead
) and the iron bars came down and I see this place now for the shallow and insular environment that it is. The DH is happy growing his tomatoes and reading his books but I want more out of life which Australia cannot even come close to delivering. I cry buckets on the train as I leave the olds, I cried on the plane (several times) because each time I have to leave it feels like I leave part of me behind there (and you can only live so long with only half a heart!!!). The DH has even commented on how different I am when I am at home - I walk around smiling all the time and I share the humour of the country. It's a bloody good place to be and I will keep on working on the DH to get him to see that too! (I will even put up with the kinkier hair!) I guess you dont know what you have got until its gone!
Edited to say, I have to nominate Plymouth for the title of Chav-town of the West but even that didnt dampen my enthusiasm!
Untill then enjoy your wonderful Hoildays.
