...and all I can say is that I'm loving being back home. After all those years away, its the best feeling in the world being back where I belong. Of course I'm still in 'holiday mode', so to speak (I should be starting work next week). for anybody who remembers, i posted a little bit before, just before i was leaving canada to move home.
Here are few of the things that have really struck me since I've been back...
First off, we live in one of the beautiful, fascinating, historic countries in the world. pretty much anywhere you live, you can take a drive out and within 15 minutes hit some beautiful countryside, historic building, a great pub, idlyic village....its amazing how accesible it all is. we drove down today to Broadway, on the Worcs, Oxon border, and it was great..the village, with rows of golden-hued buildings, mooching round the shops, walks up into the hills surrounding it then a pint and a meal in the pub afterwards....there ain't nothing on earth can beat that. nothing.
our one year old daughter has been settling in just fine. its been easy to get info on the activities around for parents and babies. one of the big concerns my wife had was how much stuff there would be to do for her and our one year old daughter....playgroups, reading classes, swimming activites etc, particularly as we were moving to a small town (Droitwich in worcestershire, for those who know it). it was easy though..we took a trip down to the local community info centre on the high street, they called a telephone and the next day we got an extensive list of activites around the town for parents and children....very helpful.
its great being back somewhere that culturally you feel much more in tune with...the tv programs, radio, picking up the newspaper, whatever it is. Britain is a very vibrant place, lots of stuff going on. And also the great mass of people are friendly, decent people....its a bit rough around the edges at times, but there's a vibrancy to life here which is fantastic.
Being back amonst family is great too, of course. it was our daughters first birthday last weekend and we had a big get together to see everybody....it was good to see people, but also sad in a way, because it was a reminder of all the times that have been missed when i was away.
so life is very very good so far. I could ramble on a bit here, but you get the idea. its early days, and we'll see how jobs and work and the future unfold, hopefully for the best but the time away has really opened my eyes to my own country...not that I was unhappy when i moved away, or didn't love it anyway, but being overseas can really sharpen your appreciation of this damp little island. I'm not blind to some of the problems Britain faces, but nor am i blind to what a fundamentally great country it is either, a country i love very much and which i'm very glad to call my home again.

welcome home

Great post - lovely that you are enjoying life in the UK again and that things are working out so well for you. It's so true that we do have an interesting, diverse country - sometimes it takes a spell away for us to truly appreciate what we took for granted. Like you say, there are so many wonderful places all within such a short drive away - that's one of the things I can't get used to here in Australia. It's a nice country but everything is such a long distance away.

Enjoy it all

good to hear your update, lucky lucky you.........it's good to be home and i can't wait!

That makes two great posts today of those returned, always brings a big to my face but with a little tear as well, my time will come.

Thanks for the post. I hope that things go well for your new job!

Did you keep your old house?

Reading these posts this morning have made me even more eager to start my trip. Only 24 days to go

3 I think.

If I read another post like that before Christmas...I'm gonna slit my wrists.

Just makes me feel homesick that's all. Glad to hear you've settled in so well. All the very best and enjoy Christmas back home.

I know the feeling but it's still so nice to hear others happy they are back

Yes it is...very nice. Nice to know not everyone thinks England has gone to the dogs.

I think the best way to do that is keep away from the Ozzy threads

Thanks for taking the time to write - even if it brings a tear to those of us who will be doing time for a while yet.

(PS: Time to change your tagline, methinks...)

Thank heavens. A Vancouver escapee. I thought I was going to be in a minority of one....glad you are happy to be home. Great read. ;-)

Yeah I know Droitwich really well! I am a Bromsgrove girl born and bred. Used to live in Droitwich for a while. Beautiful little town. Every summer we would go to the Lido and spend the day swimming and having fun. Are the little tea rooms still there on the corner of the high street?

I envy you being able to just 'pop' into Worcester or Hereford shopping, especially at Christmas time.

Glad you're enjoying your life back home, long may it continue.

Sounds as though your really happy.
After reading the last two posts of people now back in the UK I cannot wait to go home.
I am particuarly low today and its so nice to hear that people have made it back and are starting over.
Good Luck may it continue to be good.

Hey, sorry to hear you're having a crap day isn't it exhausting, all these feelings and turmoil going on inside? Just hold onto the knowledge you are going home soon, it'll all be over and you'll be back where you belong. Keep your chin up