Impressions of England

Yes impressions of England, impressions of England.....this is my sixth visit to England yet each time is like a in your face, dream time, other world trip. Imagine a giant being lifting you up by your shoulders, slinging you across a large continent, over an ocean then poof back down on land. An all turned around, compressed land. A land of houses all jammed together. A land packed full of people. People who speak the same language but you can only understand about half of it on a good day. Language deficit, sensory overload, emotional over drive! Daughter and grandson I haven't seen for three years wow, wow, wow. Daughter's partner I have never met whooo whooo whooo.
How is it possible I am here. My daughter Denyse made it possible, she of the maker of wishes and dreams. She writes a novel, a whole novel yet, her first novel, and presto has a publisher and will be published. That was enough to pop my mind like a cork from a champagne bottle for a few years. She lives here, creates, here, have procreated here. Way across the world from home and family, all she has ever known, she has created a full new life. My grandson with his so English accent and ways, remembers me, accepts me, as if there hasn't been this three year gap. Remarkable! Denyse's partner Chris has this eccentric woman (me) in his home and space for almost a month yet he accommodates this transition as if it were an every day occurrence. Family dynamics 101 Crash Course, no charge! All it requires is taking your head around the bend! If you can manage to hang on for the ride there will never be a dull moment and you will pass with flying colours. Whatever colour has to do with passing?
Ok now how can people in England look different then those in Canada? I cannot pinpoint this 'different look' but it is there. I can sit on a park bench and look at people all afternoon. Was astonished to see so many Canada geese here. Street signs are different, buses, stores (whoops shops), the wind, the climate, the food. Our family is big on food. We love the buying, cooking, preparing, displaying and eating of food. Like say to me, "want to come with me to Tesco" and I have to slot my head between my knees so as to not pass out from the excitement. For example we don't have wine nor beer nor any booze in our grocery stores. We don't have clothes and shoes in our grocery stores. We don't have creme fraiche, nothing close, clotted cream, nor gasp blackberry yogurt! Our goat cheese is a quivering sickly imitation of yours. As for your lamb, especially Welsh lamb salivating down my chin already. Clothes, well your charity shop clothes are ahead of our styles. I could go on but won't because - brief break for slotting head between knees once more from excitement - Denyse and I leave for Glastonbury tomorrow morning!!!!