What do you mean, you didn't miss me, and you didn't realise I'd gone anywhere ?

Just spent three weeks in the UK (with a five day stint to friends in Spain) and I am very pleased to be back 'home' in Alberta

I feel like I dibbed out on summer though - apparently it's been pretty damn fine here, and hot and sunny, and generally - well - summer-like. Not so in the fair isles of all things British. Pah - clouds, dull, drizzle, occasional sun, not cold - just, well, bleugh!

Spain was just Spain - hot and hotter, dry and dusty, does nothing for me, but lovely company and great food and pool - a fabulous and lazy way to get over jet-lag.

First day in UK was beautiful - and my initial comments are "green". Green, green, green. Trees so high to give you neck-ache, everywhere. Looks really 'cute' from the air as you come in to land. But fast-forward 24 hours and I was simply overwhelmed by the trees! Too many of the buggers, they get everywhere, they do. You can't see the sky for the huge and heavy canopies - it was like driving into little tunnels and I wanted to duck down in case we struck anything. Those hedgerows and gardens need a damn good pruning!

Isn't it funny what you get used to? I do still miss the general lack of greenery in my chunk of Alberta for several months of the year - but I honestly love the space and openess and yes (god she repeats herself) the sky. Weather for most of the trip was just nothing-ness. It wasn't cold really. Just swapped continually from sun to rain to boundless greyness. T-shirts, sweatshirts and raincoats at the ready at all times, with a constant need to swap between all three several times a day.

Main reason for the trip was for hubby to celebrate his 40th with family and friends - and we had a great time catching up with people. We saw Josesph in the West End, did the London Eye, hubby went quad-biking with some mates (and yes, I fully get the irony of moving to Canada, then going back to the UK for an adventure day in deepest Sussex!!). We ate, drank, laughed and celebrated continually (and put on 6lbs each - but hubby will lose it by Saturday and I'll still be plugging away in a month's time). We camped out at numerous friend's houses and generally had a wonderful, comfortable time. It all merely served to highlight the lack of those kind of relationships on this side of the ocean - and it was just horrible to say goodbye to people again this time, and I think more so because we don't know when we might go back again (last year when we left, it was easy to say "don't worry, we'll be back next summer").

It was lovely and inspiring to watch the BBC coverage of the Olympics, especially in light of how well the Team GB was doing (though you sometimes struggled to understand that there were many other teams competing due to the proud and congratulatory coverage) but it was a nice backdrop to breakfast.

All but one family commented to us on rising prices (sneaking in everywhere, apparently) and the general feeling of gloom in some areas was palpable. But we still view the UK as a rich and wonderful place, people were certainly out shopping in force, even if only to grab the vast array of two-for-one deals everywhere. Food had gone up, but there were many more offers to be had if one cared to shop intelligently. And whoa, the price of wine had increased so I don't feel so hard done by here now Lots of shiny, new (and economical!) cars on the roads, still lots of building work going on with home extensions galore visible in many areas. We were very aware, however, of just how many shops had closed down and not been replaced - we did a walk down our old high street and there were eight empty shops - but there was a new Starbucks (!) and I think Costa Coffee have taken over everywhere.

We looked some show-homes one wet afternoon (one of my hobbies ). Lovely houses, beautifully finished, underfloor heating, granite, fab tiling and actually quite spacious at 2000sq feet (with obligatory handkerchief garden). But the equivalent of $1.1m No thank you. Not as many "For Sale" signs as I had envisaged - possibly people who can are just sitting tight - but I noticed that the average three-bed semi had come down about £25-50k in my old area of Surrey

Hubby went up to London to visit his old work and colleagues and I held my breath for his return. Some of you will understand this has been our one big bug-bear with our new lives here. But he was fine! Quite philosophical, one might say. In many ways, he was met with the same-old, same-old attitude, but sneakily he still thought their working lives were actually 'careers' and they all still had a huge element of excitement running through them. But he was fully aware of the same-old, same-old and was quite eloquent in highlighting the many good things he has in his life in Alberta. (However, he's recently phoned me from his first early shift back in Calgary - mmmmm ).

Pub lunches in the countryside are essential - standards of food and variety on menus was excellent. Seemed bloody expensive though. Pounds for dollars. Thought the towns generally seemed clean with little litter around. In every single eatery we were served by people who do not originate from the UK. Staff in restaurants and stores were, without exception, polite and helpful and we nearly fell over when and ice-cream van man told us to "Have a nice day" It was warming and refreshing to joke and quip with strangers and not have to repeat yourself. On the downside, lots of groups of teenagers did beautifully live up to their stereotype of foul language, alcohol and "attitude", and on-one dares say a thing. I so do not miss this element of a UK 'childhood'.

I felt harrassed and claustrophic in the south east. I made the mistake of going shopping on a Saturday afternoon, and should have taken my elbow-pads out with me. I longed for some space - my space - my house, my huge bed, my huge washing machine, my huge and powerful shower. I missed the dog. I missed my home. Does that sound superficial? Yes, probably. But these things are inherent in my 'peaceful attitude' these days.

Hubby and kids all glad to be back - which is nice final endorsement to the trip. Yes, we will all hugely miss family and friends - and yes, it does make you think twice - but I am hopeful of a couple of visitors next summer - and we'll just take things as we find them. We're staying put in Alberta (this week ) and will now get cracking on making more effort in the fine-tuning of employment opportunities (ie, for me to actually make some effort and hubby to keep his eyes open! ) - and will definitely be making more effort on the "making friends" front - which I have to admit to being a bit reluctant to do in many ways previously.

So - as usual - I have written too much waffle - and I contradict myself frequently as ideas pop into my head.

Now then, back to washing and clearing up, having a cuppa then possibly playing a bit of catch-up on BE-life and it's inhabitants.

Welcome back!!! We missed you on the forum!!!

(How many hundreds of Jaffa Cakes did you bring back this time?)

Welcome "home" luv.

Glad you had a good time equally glad to hear your happy to be back in sunny big sky Cochrane. (although it's not very sunny today)

Hope hubby is feeling just a tiny bit happier (or more) in his job.

Cheers
Steve

Really enjoyed the post Ann. Glad you had a good time.

The dark canopy of tall trees making you feel almost claustrophobic is something a friend of mine also commented on, after her recent trip back to the UK. But the greenery must have been nice to see instead of just dry brown!! (But then again you need lots of rain for greenery and lots of sun for dry brown, and I know which I prefer in the summer!!!!)

Welcome back!

Lisa

Hi Ann,

Welcome back and we disagree, there was not a word of waffle in there. As ever, your posts are a fabulous read. It'll be next April before our first trip back to the UK...we're wondering what our own impressions will be of Hertfordshire, Essex, London and Lancashire (our likely destinations) and we'll refer back to your account when we return "home" to Okotoks to compare notes!

Kind regards,

Eamonn & Janet.

'Course you missed me

Well - you'd be impressed actually! Only brought a few things back with us this time - I must be assimilating after all. Or it could be the fact that we all completely overdosed on Minstrels, Muller corner yoghurts and chocolate croissants - you know those 6lbs I mentioned? Had to top up the stash of Calpol (what is with cherry or bubblegum flavoured kid's medicines here? It makes my two want to heave!) and some Thai 7-Spice stuff for my BBQ chicken! Yummy.

Thanks Steve - I've caught up on your trials and tribulations over the past couple of weeks and again wish you well too. Now then, where is that sunshine I ordered?

Ta!

Thanks - and these visits certainly make one pay attention to one's surrroundings - and pick out what is important and what is not

Damn! I was hoping I would be able to trade my last M&S xmas pud I've got in the freezer for some of those things with the smashing orangey bit in the middle

Great post Ann, welcome back But now tell us all about Lee Mead, I'm slightly obsessed

Hi Ann

Glad to have you back!

What a great post! You've managed to echo so many of my thoughts & feelings on our return from our trip back to the UK. The wonderful time we had being with our old and comfortable friends and then having to say goodbye again. The Country lanes, the Seaside, the Pubs!!
Also there wasn't as much litter as i'd expected.

I can identify with the claustraphobic feeling in shops and i really noticed how many loud people were telling their kids off for all to hear, something you don't get much of over here. (we were in Essex - so says it all really)
We also got to hear a few choice words!

Anyway - enough of my ramblings.

Welcome Home

hi ann
glad you are back in cochrane.we have finally arrived in calgary and are living in the southwest at present.are looking for a house in cochrane and hoping to move out there soon. i am working at the foothills presently and would like to meet up once you have recharged your batteries after your holiday
susie q

Welcome back Ann.

Mrs and Me had a good laugh and agreement was echoed loudly

Hi Ann

Have been away and wondered if you had returned.

Glad you had a great time and are here!!

Do you know anything about cochrane rodeo this weekend? Have finally persuaded C to mutton bust, and can't find any info about it. Is it on?

Gryph