Marie's Web Log

Tuesday, September 14

Finally - thanks to the technical know-how of our web guy, Bob - this web log is up and running. We've been in England for just over two weeks now, at Ian's parents' house in Hereford. Ian is driving back down to Exeter tomorrow to sign the papers for the house we will be renting there. It's small compared to what we had in Mississauga, but it does have a third (albeit tiny) bedroom and a garden with space for Amelia to run around in.

Amelia is doing very well. She is now much more comfortable around her grandparents, and can even be left playing with them for short periods. She has learned to say "granny," "piggy," and "peeky-bee," which is her version of peekaboo.

First impressions of being back in England: when did it become the land of overwhelming choice? I remember when we went to Canada 12 years ago, we thought there were too many options for everything - you couldn't go out for dinner without being asked which of five kinds of salad and ten kinds of salad dressing you would like. Now it's like that here. Millions of choices of mobile phones, washing machines, utility providers... it's all a bit much.

Other things - phone bills have come down since we lived here. Property is still outrageously expensive. So is petrol. Most small shops have signs saying, "No more than two unaccompanied juveniles allowed on the premises at once." Sometimes this is preceded by the heading, "Polite Notice." Most town centres and many other areas are monitored by cctv. Someone living on the council estate near here has the strange habit of setting off fireworks every weekend.

And finally - why don't they have the following items here: screen doors and screens for windows (to keep out the flies and wasps), basements, heating that doesn't have to be turned off at night, more automatic cars?

More soon...