All the News from England!

As I write this, we're cat-sitting in Cottenham, north of Cambridge. Near month-end we'll move into our semi-permanent rental home in Grantchester.

As is usually the case when moving, the surprises are in unexpected places. For instance....

Food - The quality and price of food (store bought food, not restaurants) is better than Vancouver, and MUCH better than Nova Scotia. We're in a town about the size of Liverpool, with only a mediocre Co-op supermarket, and it's still far, far ahead of what the Liverpool supermarkets offered.

English beer - oh wow. REAL English ale, pumped by hand, and pretty much lacking in carbonation. It goes down SO easy. Yum!

A sense of history, This is from the Greenwich former market, now a tourist attraction.

This slogan utterly seems to reflect the global political world right now, with Canada, the US, and Britain all seeming to be out of control. We're looking at Canada dollar to British Pounds conversions, and are worried as the exchange seems to be going against us.

We visited Westminster Abbey. I was utterly overwhelmed by the sheer historical breadth of what's there, and by the endless string of kings, queens, and related people put to rest within these walls. It was also fascinating to run into the number of names associated with either exploring or fighting on behalf of the "newfound" British colonies. Somehow, the view of our history from this side of the Atlantic is very different from within Canada.

I was also dismayed that two out of every three people were waving cel phones around, taking endless photos that they likely will never look at. More and more I choose my own memory.

Taking a train from London to Cambridge was wonderful. And cheap. And modern and comfortable. It was truly a game-changer after Via and Go trains in Canada.

Our time in London is perhaps best described by Susan, who spent it revisiting places from her past in the city. Her blog is called My year at Cambridge, and it's well worth your time. Here's her picture of us, waiting for the plane.

Ok, some more general thoughts on being in the UK.

People seem genuinely nice, retail employees included. After much of Canada, this is very pleasant. One factor, I believe, is that the norm in England is to compare oneself to those in Europe, not to the US. Living abroad really drives home how backward much of North America is, and how poorly average citizens are treated.

I have immense respect for British bus drivers, directing busses like this:

Down streets like this:

On the other hand, everyone parks with two wheels on the sidewalk (aka "the pavement.")

I'm realizing that I have to manage to moderate or lose my Canadian accent, and add some more British inflections if I want to be understood. While riding the TFL trains in London I realized that I was listening to a dozen distinct, separate, and entirely different languages - all of which were "English." And while hauling too much luggage between trains, I truly understand what they meant by "Mind the Gap." The station platform and the door can be six to eight inches apart in height, and the gap between the train car and platform can be measured in inches as well.

We've also learned, the hard way, to read London subway maps for disabled access (aka - elevators). And that people on the trains are actually really helpful with hauling many suitcases on and off the train.

(Highlight: Susan sitting on the subway seat, suitcase between her knees. Some goof was FORCED TO MOVE to another seat because he couldn't man-spread.)

Other noteworthy moments:

• The first-time in years that I was drinking a beer and inhaling cigarette smoke - outdoors in Britain you can still smoke at your table. For a brief moment I was almost tempted... that craving never entirely goes away.
• I downloaded the handbook for understanding British road markings and signs, and find that it runs to 168 pages!
• Wine is half the price on Canada, and you can buy it in any corner store.
• If you're in London you really need to take trip on the TFL/Uber Boat. It's cheap, you can use your Oyster Card, and in an hour you'll come away appreciating that London's entire history is rooted in endless wharves and docks, on both side of the Thames river, supporting a massive shipping industry.