Today marks the one year anniversary of when, by the light of my mobile phone, we found the keys under a flowerpot for our new house. Wow! I cannot believe it’s been a year already; but on the other hand, I do feel like a visitor when I go back to Tonbridge; and I do feel I belong here now. I have no regrets about our relocation at all. Here’s a list of a few things I’ve discovered.
You need to keep a torch with you at all times after dark due to lack of street lights.
People – even teenagers – regularly wear those fluorescent jackets. They are simply essential if you want to stay alive while walking anywhere round here.
People here hang on to old cars for a lot longer. You see the oldest rustiest cars parked outside even the biggest posh houses.
People drive for really short distances. (I’m amazed at how many people in the village get in the car when it’s just down the road!)
You have to get used to “Country Smells”.
The shopping centres don’t get crowded at Christmas – people keep their money for their animals – chickens; horses etc.
Cows are lovely.
When you’re out for a walk people say Hello (even if neither of you are walking dogs).
I’ve never seen so many stars or shooting stars before.
I’ve never seen so many varieties of colourful birds before. I’ve become something of a novice twitcher!
People are less stressed here.
Driving around is much calmer here; even in towns with lots of traffic lights or when you’re stuck behind a tractor.
I never thought I’d miss good convenient shops and libraries as much as I do.
The word ‘lush’ as in ‘Oh my god that dress is so lush’ is a perfectly normal part of the vocabulary over here.
Plimsolls? What plimsolls? No no – they’re called Daps in Somerset!