The Motherland

I've noticed some strange things since I've been home.

• Nothing has changed and no-one is surprised to see you
• The British know how to merge
• They also know how to queue
• British jewelry is ugly.
• People are still (mostly) polite.
• The countryside is spectacular
• Seagulls are not scared of humans, and will fight you for your chips
• TV is VERY boring
• they have funny accents
• Pedestrians never look where they are going
• dog poo doesn't get picked up

Still, I suppose I'll get used to it!

update

Well, England are out of the World Cup. A shame really, it would have done the country good to see them go a bit further. Oh, well, c'est la vie.
I have just caught up with the latest season of Dr. Who. David Tennant is very appealing (especially to the ladies!). Some of the plots were a bit weak, but generally it's pretty good. Shame Billie Piper is leaving.
I have been in Southampton for a week whilst Taffy was off in Rhodes windsurfing. I'm now back in Wales with Pa-in-law and Taf. Taf is looking very tanned and extremely healthy. He has very bad windsurfing callouses on his hand - poor baby!
Next week we are going to relly concentrate on getting our lives in order.
hee hee.

Justice

For those of you interested, the neighbour that attacked us had the book thrown at her. Victim Support and the Police both thought she'd get away scot-free. However, she was found guilty and fined on all 3 counts. She also got a 9 month suspended conviction. Taffy had to go to court as a witness and it sounds like he was pretty impressive.
She got what she deserved, but we have lost our home and country.

Wales, innit

Well, I'm in sunny Wales now with Taffy and Pops. I flew to Liverpool - 2 hour delay on a 1 hour flight - marvellous. Cost Taffy 10 pounds to park. Can't bear to convert that to kiwi dollars!
Taffy has bought us a car. He went 50% over budget, but that's the way things are here (expensive).
I have a cellphone and I'm so excited that I know people in this country - my contact list has family and friends, no colleagues!
Still haven't made much of an effort to get a job. You can't rush these things!

hot hot hot

Wow - I'm sure England hasn't been this hot since 1976 when we all got wickedly sunburnt. I had to go to the pub today to get out of the sun. Luckily England won their first game, so it's all good.

Back in Blighty

Well, we are back in England and so far I have mixed feelings. I love being back with my family and my baby niece is adorable.
However, it's going to be hard to get used to the sheer number of people. In spite of their reputation, people in the south are very friendly. World Cup fever is in the air and St. Georges Cross is flying from cars, homes, pubs etc.. Personally, I'd trade it all in to watch the rugby tests this weekend.
We are thinking of living in Poole and Taffy has sent his CV off. As the homemaker, I'll wait until we are settled before job seeking. I hope there will be non-IT opportunities here. We're a bit shocked by the price of everything and the amount of taxes, but we'll get used to it.
It's really hot and sunny here. I've already been shopping and bought 2 new outfits including shoes. That would have taken weeks in Wellington.
I've been to Sainsbury's every day and I'm amazed at the range of products avaliable. I feel a bit foreign in my own country at the moment - oh well, at least I speak the language!

Going home

Haven't blogged for ages - been too busy packing up my life ready for the move back home.
I never realised before how much stuff I have and how completely pointless most of it is. Still that's not stopping us spending about $10,000 to cart it all back to the UK.
I've only got 1 week left at work. Can't wait. I will miss the friends I made there, but not the big nasty bank.
Then it's 3 weeks to the off. WHAT AM I DOING?????

Feelings

There's been a lot of to-do recently about cartoons depicting religious icons in offensive manners. Now I don't subscribe to any religion and nothing offended me personally. However, it got me to thinking (an amazing feat) about how the 'human' race is degenerating. If something really offends and hurts people, then why do it? We should have more consideration and compassion for our fellow men even if we don't always understand or agree with their beliefs. It would make the world a nicer place if we just respected other people.
As for the freedom of the press - Phwa!
How would that cartoonist like it if we took whatever he held dear and mocked it and put it out for the rest of the world to see?