Feeling More and More Anglo-centric.

I have driven a car in England. I have shifted with my left hand, and learned how to align myself in the middle of the lane while sitting on the right-hand side of the car. I did though scrape the passenger side wheel-rims against the curb multiple times.

Ultimately though, I saw the box pictured above, at the entrance to the Co-op grocery store in Cottinham, and though "Maybe I'm not the worst driver in the UK."

Though left hand turns still terrify me, and the English variation on traffic circles are just a recipe for disaster.

We're now pet-sitting in Whittlesford, a bit south of Cambridge. Actually, we're sitting three cats, and the five girls pictured below.

Chickens are incredibly stupid, but they're also great fun. And harmless. These are rescue hens. We have to lock them up each night to keep the foxes away from them.

The cats, on the pother hand, are, like most cats, fairly evil. Here's what Kevin left us as a morning treat yesterday:

Yes, at the bottom of the stairs I found the back half of a small rabbit. And one ear. I didn't actually step on it, and I have no idea where the rest of it is. On one hand it's really disgusting, on the other I have to admire Kevin for managing to kill the poor beast, tear it in half, then drag it through the cat flap and through the entire house.

This week we actually explored the Fitzwilliam Museum. On one hand, the ancient relics are absolutely fascinating. On the other hand, I can't help but look at some of them and think "grave-robbing."

Or, that some things really never change. Check out this wine jug:

Now read the caption that goes with it:

Yes, "a black boy being eaten by a crocodile." I swear I could go into any number of shops in Vancouver and find similar junk.

Beyond that, though, Cambridge is an amazing place. The history alone could fill a year with exploring, and somehow they've managed to keep most of the old and ancient buildings intact. Every corner is a place where you stop, look around, and say "Oh wow."

Some lesser notes:

English weather is largely windy, cool, or cold, and just a bit rainy. More warm clothes would be a good thing.

I'm upgrading my wardrobe - what's passable in Vancouver really doesn't work here. And I haven't seen a single bit of LuluLemon in three weeks.

Dear Subscribers: if you're not yet a paying subscriber, now would be a wonderful time to change that. I'm still reading UK pound prices as dollars, and the bank balances run out very fast. Especially since the Canadian dollar is NOT doing well against the Pound.

Really though, groceries and such seem to be priced about the same as Vancouver, but honestly the quality of vegetables and fruit, and most other raw ingredients, is notably better. That means that we eat more home-cooked meals, and less junk. Which saves us money, cuts down on the restaurant meals, and has us both losing weight.

Wine is cheaper too!

Vancouver likes to believe that it's a bike friendly city, but beside Cambridge it's really, really not. In most of Cambridge bikes out-number cars by about four to one. They are everywhere, ridden by people of all ages, classes, and wardrobes. And they're not all $5000 mountain bikes - they're just regular old bicycles, many single speed.

Admittedly, Cambridge is flat as a pancake, which helps, but it's also true that drivers here are just not so aggressive and obnoxious as in Vancouver. It's a nice city to be a pedestrian as well.

Cambridge also has a very good transit system, with electric busses no less. And for inter-city travel - it's an hour by electric train to London, for about £20.