Educating Linda. . .

Well here it is the last weekend of August which means Eddie and I have been here in the Northwest of England for 1 year now!  It doesn't seem like we've been away for that long and yet it does...confusing isn't it?

Since I (Linda) am writing this blog and the subject seems to be 'confusing' let me share with you just a few things that I have learned since moving over here:

Transportation: 
I have driven exactly once since moving here...I know and accept the term 'chicken'...I promise to do better soon.  All this time that I have been sitting in the passenger seat has actually been a good learning experience.  I've learned that traffic lights are different.  There is the expected red and green, however, when the light turns red and yellow it does not mean pedestrians may 'walk'.  Oh no, quite the opposite - it means traffic should prepare for the light to change over to green in about 3 seconds!  And while we are on the subject of foot traffic...pedestrians do not have the right of way over here.  You had better look carefully before you cross the street even in a crosswalk...oh yes and remember to look right/left/right, not the other way around! 

A Roundabout in Congleton...note the two dancing bears.

I love the roundabouts (rotary) where you drive around clockwise. The road signs show the circle of the roundabout and point to which exit will take you in which direction.  If you fail to take the turn off you want the first time around, just go around again! The roundabouts here in Congleton are groomed and bloomed all year round and quite beautiful! 



Our Betty!

Car insurance is expensive and you have to prove yourself a good driver and earn a yearly 'no-claims' rating before the cost of your policy starts to drop.  People here do not drink and drive...they arrange for a taxi to pick them up at home and take them to their favorite pub and come back at the end of the evening and drive them home!  If you do drink and drive and get caught, be prepared to lose your license as well as pay a fine. 

All car owners pay a road tax twice a year based on the size engine of your car...the smaller the engine the smaller the tax, and I might add that our little car costs about $150/6 months...yikes huh!  While we are on the subject of roads, they 'grit' the roads in winter (not sand) and only the main roads. Most communities do not have snow plows. Heck, most homeowners don't have snow shovels!

There is another good reason to have a small car...cost of petrol (gasoline) is just a tiny bit more expensive than in the states.  Last time I was at the petrol station with Eddie the sign read 1.34/liter which equates to approximately $8.00 a gallon.

If you are just learning to drive, a big white sign with a red L is placed on your car so everyone knows you don't know what the hell you are doing! 

I've yet to see a police vehicle running radar...there are cameras along the roadways to catch you speeding...you'll get your ticket in the mail.

The national speed limit is 70mph...but don't let that fool you, folks drive much faster than that on the highway and think nothing of driving 60 on the back roads! Oh yes, I have noticed that motorcyclists wear full leather jackets and pants, gloves, boots and very high tech head gear, smart thinking.  Off ramps on the highway are known as 'slip roads'.  All in all the drivers here are much more polite and considerate than in the US...just don't get in the way if they want to pass you on a back roads.

Taxes:  No 1040's or state tax forms to fill out here.  A portion of the taxes paid from your salary pays for your health care with the NHS.  I'll tell you more about that later.  VAT (value added tax), otherwise known as sales tax in the US, is added on at the rate of 20% (yes, I said 20%) to the ticket price, so what you see marked on any item is exactly what you pay...nothing is added on at the cash register. When you rent an apartment, flat, etc. you are responsible for paying the local real estate tax known as 'council tax', not your landlord.  If you plan to have a TV you need to pay a TV License fee every year at the rate of about $220 - they will find you if you don't pay.

Health Care:  The NHS is amazing to me.  We signed up at a local surgery (health center) where Eddie has always gone here in Congleton, and I made my application for an NHS number (took less than a week to get). 

I made an appointment so I could give them  my medical history and we could get started with the scheduling of whatever needed to be updated...at no cost.  First thing to do was to get a good blood workup done.  Easy, just took the paper the nurse gave me to the local hospital, took a number and a seat, the nurse (or sister) soon called my number and was all done in a jiffy...no cost!  The Dr.'s office called that same evening and asked that I come in the following day to talk about the blood results.  Now I know some of you are aware of this, so feel free to skip this part...seems I have a very naughty thyroid that doesn't want to function very well.  I now take meds for that in ever increasing amounts until the Doc says my blood tests are good then I can level off...cost of meds??? zero.  So it seems that most of us with naughty thyroids also develop type 2 diabetes's...I'm in that category.  : (    I'm working on getting that blood count down and am doing very well. We've made lots of changes in our diet as one would expect...I've lost 22 pounds with the help of my meds and new way of life.  We will see how things look when the Doc sees my most recent blood tests and when I see the nurse to check my blood count on Wednesday...hopefully all will be moving in a positive direction...including my blood pressure!!!   So all this and I have not paid one cent for anything!  Bless the NHS!  Most importantly, I'm feeling better (funny how you don't realise how crappy you feel until you start feeling better), much more like myself, and my energy level is finally coming back, yippee!  I have the best support in Eddie...no surprise there.

Supermarkets:  There are quite a few to choose from: Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose, Asda, Aldi, Morrison's, Co-operative, Farmland, and of course Marks & Spencers.  Even with that much choice of stores, it's been frustrating not to find some things here that were always on my shopping list back home like 8 O'clock Coffee, half and half, Cains sweet relish, Ben and Jerry's coffee heath bar crunch ice cream (you can however get Ben and Jerry's ice cream), Miracle Whip, Cream of Wheat, Thomas's English Muffins, American style natural casing franks, Kobe steak sauce, B & M baked beans, Excedrin, and Zycam. But having said that, I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful the fresh produce is here, from the cheapest store to the most expensive...the best I have ever had.  The fresh fish is fantastic, and the butcher shops are like stepping back in time.  One thing that really surprised me was to see eggs (all free range) not refrigerated, just on the shelves like other groceries. 

There are no deposits to be paid on bottles or cans and everyone does recycle. You won't see the likes of a paper bag at the checkout.  Most everyone brings their reusable bags with them and bags their own groceries. The cashiers are all seated and I might add very pleasant and helpful.  You can purchase cigarettes but they are stored out of sight behind doors at the courtesy counters and you do have to show id.  All the supermarkets sell beer, wine and the hard stuff, including shandies (mix of lemonade and beer). Most all the supermarkets have great web-sites where you can order your groceries (beer and wine too) on line and have them delivered to your house...you name the day and time!

Shopping:  Here are some important things to note. Most stores on the high street are closed on Sundays, supermarkets open for a limited number of hours with the exception of convenience stores.  Shoe shopping is great as the sizes are smaller ;)...I'll have a 6 1/2 please!  If you buy a digital alarm clock be prepared to read military time!  There is a little card and candy shop in town that sells Yankee Candles. 

Pedestrianized way in Congleton

This little town of ours has so many wonderful bakeries that sell everything from breads and pastries (I'll have a vanilla slice please, well not any more) to deli meats and cheeses as well as wonderful meat pies and sausage rolls.  There is also a vendor that sets up shop twice a week on the pedestrian way (no cars are allowed on half of the main street) that sells baked potatoes and an amazing range of toppings. 

If you are looking to buy beer etc you should look for a Bargain Booze store!  Oh and a package store is known as an off license. 

Market day is Tuesday in the town center where you will find a farmer's market, a fish monger, plus loads of other vendors selling everything from curtains to tools. Sunday morning is car boot sale (flea market) in the town center.  You can have use of a table (under cover) for about $10 for the day.

Restaurants:  You won't get the proverbial glass of water/salad and bread as you do in the states.  You are not expected to tip your server.  The food is, with few exceptions, very good and nicely presented.  You can get beans on toast and they do eat beans for breakfast...but not for me. There is hardly a restaurant - no matter what the fare - where you can't order chips (french fries) in!  Desert is referred to a 'pudding' and it's not usually pudding!

The beer that I have sampled has been excellent and cold. Pub food can be really wonderful - home made pies (meat and veg or fish) and soups. It's really nice to have a drive out into the countryside and find a new pub.

Housing:  Expensive - just like everywhere else.  The majority of folks live in semi-detached homes (duplexes) or terrace homes where they are all connected.  Some are literally right on the street and park their cars on the foot path (sidewalk) right in front of their door. Of course there are rows of cottages and little bungalows.  The big houses behind the tall hedges with stone fences and big gates belong the the rich and famous. In our neighborhood there is a mix of everything. Most have small front gardens (lawns) and a bit bigger back garden (yard), all of which are usually beautifully manicured with bushes, small trees and flowers.  We have an electric lawn mower that takes care of our front and back gardens in no time at all!

People use clotheslines more often than dryers when weather permits.  It's been almost 40 years since I've hung laundry out but turns out it's one of those skills you don't lose.

Inside the homes, well in general, you will find no clothes closets in the bedrooms!!!!! Buy a wardrobe or two!  You will also find no screens on the windows.  You don't get eaten alive by bugs here so you can open them a bit and let the breeze in - just not too wide or you'll have birds and all the neighborhood cats visiting you. 

Katy with her summer coat

Katy with winter coat

Pets: There are lots of dogs and cats and I can honestly say you hardly ever hear a dog  barking.  They are all very well behaved - good training! As you may know we have a lovely rescue cat, Duchess Katherine Rose Kennedy of Bridgewater, who is the biggest long haired tortie I have ever seen.  We adopted her from the local RSPCA who run the local shelter as it were.  It's not like Dakin's back home where there is an actual shelter where you can go and see all the pets up for adoption...no. Here you can view the animals online, then give the contact person a call and let them know you are interested in adoption.  They will send people out to your home to interview you, check out your home and neighborhood to decide whether you are a good candidate for adoption.  Then you can go to the individual pet's foster home for a meet and greet, pay the fee and  bring your little one home.  We've made contact to see about getting another cat...hope we hear soon!

People:  They are generally very friendly, polite and helpful.  It made me laugh when I first met one of our neighbors, Sheila, and she said to me "Oh I could listen to your accent all day"...people used to say that to Eddie when we were in the states. Of course, you know Americans, they think they are the only ones without an accent.  Funny how we speak the same language just differently.  You will be greeted with "Yalright?" not hi or how are you, and later or laters rather than see you later or bye. Then there is chalk and cheese vs  apples and oranges; Reception class rather than Kindergarten; and it's football not soccer; and ta instead of thank you. If you use the term pissed, you are not complaining that you didn't find a restroom or that you are angry with someone, but that you are totally intoxicated.

Here you can feed the birds all year round and you will have a yard full of doves, pigeons, black birds, robins (smaller here), finches, nuthatch, titmouse, wrens, starlings, jays (not blue but brown with turquoise blue on their wings), magpies etc.  But you won't have any black bears raiding your feeders because there are no black bears!  








Our neighbor's cat Biscuit napping in the summer sun.

View from our front door in January

Finally, let's talk about the weather.  You know back home in New England we would say if you don't like the weather, just wait a minute and it will change.  Huh!  You ain't seen nothin'! That saying came from here in the Northwest of England, I'm sure of it.  This is the land where winter gives you 8 hours of daylight laced with rain, hail, sleet, a dusting of snow and gale force winds. What is referred to here as British Summer is really a fight to the death between spring and autumn.  We've had a few days here and there with temps in the high 70's, even an 80 or so! When the sun shines it's glorious, but when it does not it's 60-65 with dull skies and fits of rain accompanied by blustery winds.  The lovely part of British Summer is the long days; it's light by 5am and the sun is setting at 9:30 or so.  All in all, dress for all possibilities and you won't go wrong.

I have learned a good bit in this last year and expect I'll learn more.  I highly recommend experiencing life in another country as it  gives you a greater appreciation and understanding of a people's culture and heritage.  My assessment is that the British people are dedicated to their family and community, don't need much of a reason to party, are very proud of their heritage, and they will always carry a grudge against the Germans.

One last thought in closing...remember to dial 999 not 911!

Cheers!

Linda