Some Random Thoughts

Everything is smaller scale here it seems, not surprising I suppose considering that all of the UK would fit into Canada many times and with a population about twice as large. This means some adjustments for a person born and raised in the great expanses of the Canadian prairies. The roads being narrower, the homes being more spatially aware, and the cars being more compact. After a while this can seem quite normal however there are some things that I just can't get used to. I can't seem to get on board with never having an empty laundry basket because my washer will only fit about three pairs of pants into it at a time. Truthfully that is a bit of an exaggeration but I am constantly running the washer in an effort to have clean clothes, dry towels and fresh bedding. Part of the problem is, I have come to learn, they don't really like dryers here. They hang their clothes to dry and are a bit surprised when you express a desire to have a faster laundry method. Do you have any idea how long a load of jeans, or towels take to dry hanging in your kitchen? I'll tell you, sometimes days. Which means I prepare meals, clean counters, sweep, and eat all with my drying rack as a constant companion. I am only half joking when I warn the kids to call before bringing friends by so I have time to hide their underwear. Oddly enough as the washer is in the kitchen, and all the other rooms are carpeted or too small, this is actually the most logical place to hang my laundry.

I have made comments in this post and my previous one about the roads and driving on them, which is a little terrifying it's true, but I feel I need to say something nice. As we have been here longer and I have become a slightly more calm passenger I have learned to appreciate the beauty of the roads. You often travel down winding tree lined streets that would simply take your breath away. Admittedly the speed the limits are far too fast and so the scenery flies by you a little too quickly but what you can see is stunning.

I didn't take this picture I borrowed it from someone else brave enough to stop on one of these roads to get a proper picture but it is a pretty good depiction of the kind of things you would see around the area I live in.

I spent much of this week exploring my neighborhood and have discovered many walking paths and some shopping destinations and imagine that I will find more as the days get warmer and longer. We spent Saturday at Legoland with the kids and so didn't see much of the countryside, but did get to see much of it miniaturized and made of lego. I thought that the lego creations were fairly impressive but the rides left much to be desired. It was no Disneyland!  The kids had fun though and took millions of pictures, of which I have none, so I suppose it was worth the trip. Next weekend is a long weekend here so that will give the whole family three days together so perhaps we will will discover new vistas and I will have so much more to say next time.