Well I seem to have chosen doom and gloom as the theme to come back to if the media are to be believed lol. Yet despite all the hype of the media it really does not seem to have affected me and my decision making as yet. Whether this says more about my eternal optimism = unlikely as I'm not really one of those, or my naivety or my current euphoric stage at being back I do not know.

Possibly when reality hits I may think differently. As you might know I am on an exploratory 3 months here after some 14 years away, all voluntary and did not leave because I was trying to escape anything.

If first impressions count I'm here to stay. So many of those silly worries I had conjured up in my mind about returning have just dissipated. We all know them, weather, jobs, old friends etc. In fact I am truly drawing on the strength of my experience abroad to live independently here and by that I mean putting the media on the backburner and just getting on with my life and the beauty that surrounds us.


Went for a beautiful walk today to the beach. About three miles through fields, woods along a babbling stream. Stopped in a small hidden park area and had tea and home made chocolate cake served from a small pavilion by ladies who were just perfectly local and friendly. No commercialism everything handmade. The temperature was brisk and breezy with rain promised and not disappointing, some slight sprinkles but it is amazing how you can walk through woodland with ages old canopies and not get wet. Just hearing the raindrops falling on the leaves above your head all the while knowing they will not reach you is blissful indeed. Anyhow you get the idea before I become to Bronte like.

To those teetering on the cliff I say do it. Conjure up that same feeling that made you leave in the first place. I cannot know what the future holds or even how long I will stay but one thing is certain. Home is where you feel it is and nothing beats that feeling of landing in London which was such a nice feeling. It seemed the entire journey East I was being drawn deeper and deeper into rest and respite with things just slowing down more and more as I traveled further and further. Reality or perception I am not sure, culminating with the short flight up to the North of England - which is so quiet. And by the time I was on that flight the accents had completely changed. I was surrounded by familiar very distinct accents. In fact quiet has been the big difference so far. Everything has just slowed down in a very comforting way for now.

Loved your whole post and the walk to the beach sounds wonderful! Please keep us posted on your stay and your impressions.

I know what you mean about worries dissipating. The same happened to me when I went back although mine was a much shorter stay. I just loved the whole experience of being there and miss it so much now.

Good to hear your perspective!

I am only here for a holiday but am continually gobsmacked by the variety of things to do here.

Stranded in Oxfordshire yesterday I found a lovely village (with stitching shop and first class English breakfast) a beautiful roman villa and Oxford itself (thumbs up to the park and ride scheme) with covered market and museums not to mention driving through the Cotswolds and super little villages. All within a 20 mile radius of where I started the day.

I was scoping out the real estate agents just in case the DH has a senior moment and forgets he isnt leaving Aus!

Hope your stay continues to give you joy

Great post
I felt exactly the same when I was in the UK for three months last year.
The only thing that concerned me a bit though was the job situation.

Have to agree...home is really where the heart is...corney I know but it often rings true.....yesterday we had glorious Autmn weather clear blue sky's, frost in the morning..and on the car!!! (I have not seen that for years..forgot about scrapping off the ice..lol) and cold...but hey hoe...I got to wear my lovely knew jumper and lovely padded jacket with fake fur collar ( I bought in Perth...Perth Australia that is....and yes I did need to wear it there as well....)headed over the moors to Sheffield (Meadow Hall)....had a great day out.....stopped to take some photo's as the scenery was stunning.....went to stop in the Mustard Pot....just off the woodhead pass....and what a lovely olde worlde put that is.....today...well as I look out to the farm hills opposite where we are renting...is low cloud and raining...but it does not stop me/us...I am headed for a walk to the High Street...where I am going to stop at the Choclatier, buy some of his wonderful chocolates for my M.I.L and then off to the post office (where they already know my name...lol)after that I plan to have a coffee (and the choice is just as good as in Aus) and a slice of toasted fruit bread...(devine..lol) in one of the lovely coffee shops also on the High Street.....so really to me if your happy somewhere you will always try and make the most out of what there is on offer...

Love your post. I am also a "confused English rose". you made me feel happier about finding out today that i am being SENT to England. Which normally would want to do but it feels like the final end of my family, so painful.

Brilliant post.

Last night I went to meet a friend for dinner. I drove down the M1 and then turned off towards Burton on Trent. I saw those cooling towers from the power station and it was a chilly autumn twilight. It just felt right to be back. I'm getting more and more moments like that. I really love being back home, regardless of how uncertain the future is.

Great posts
Really makes my mouth water!

Lovely post ConfusedEnglishRose. Enjoy everything.

Damnit! Getting really homesick now!

One thing I miss is the trains - being able to get somewhere without a car. And those huge Victorian London railway stations.

Nice post confusedenglishrose. Please post more on your travels and experiences when you have the chance! Thanks.

Yes me too, I hate being so dependent on a car.

Thanks to all. Today was another day trip to an old favourite which I have seen mentioned here before - Whitby. Particularly beautiful today because of the clear skies, sun, yes sun in late October. I have to say the cold has not really affected me and I'm coming from where below 70F means the heater goes on. Just two weeks ago I was sat in a fleece on a beach where others were in bikinis, shorts and getting a tan - about 75F.

Coastline drive was gorgeous, there were plenty of white horse breakers crashing along the beaches on the approach to Whitby just enough to spray the cars on the beach side of the road. The coast was just unbelievably green, neat tidy, small villages and craggy coastline, why do they film Heartbeat here it needs to be kept a secret.

I finally gave in to fish and chips, bread and butter with a pot of tea and mushy peas. I have lived, eaten and drank in some fine establishments but for one hour sat in the centre of Whitby with the sun glinting off of fishing boats and sailboats, it was pure heaven. Truly a gods country kind of day.

I do not know if I can keep up the punishing schedule of visiting places, eating, drinking etc ...

Does reality have to set in. Eventually I am sure but for now I know that I am filled with optimism that I have not seen in myself for a number of years which leads me to believe that I am making the right choice. I hope to pay it forward.

I have learnt ( it seems to have taken me 15 years exile ) to treat the age old british malady of moaning like water off a ducks back. Although to be frank I have not heard much moaning other than the media, which is a self fulfilling, self interested phrophecy of grinding one's own axe?

Oh I so know what you mean. For us that moment came in Skipton. We seriously had the best cup of tea of our lives in a fish and chip cafe called Bizzy Lizzies. Drank it out of a polystyrene cup and it was still better than anything we can get here. Can't wait to get back again!

Ah, Oxford.