Things that we miss...

I have been asked recently about the things that I miss about England and Cornwall. Contrary to what some people think, there are things that I can still enjoy over here. However, it's just quite not the same. I can still enjoy fish and chips over here and after a few months of going without them, the chip shop over here tastes just like back home. BUT, trying them straight after I have been back home for two weeks reminds you how much they aren't just like 'back home'. I can enjoy a nice cold can of Boddingtons or Caffreys anytime I want but I have to pay more for them than if I was to drink other ales available like Sleemans or Rickards. Although it's now coming into summertime so I will probably be downing a few Coronas or my favourite South American beer Brahma while the barbecue is firing up, but then again I haven't had a beer in ages seeing as I am trying to get fit and beer isn't the best thing for that. Better to drink shorts like vodka, whiskey and gin, not as fattening.

Having said that, I do miss going out on a saturday night for a drink. Not even going out clubbing and dancing like a freak, coming home with a soaking wet shirt, stumbling up the stairs and launching the spinning bed ride while calling to Huey on the big white telephone. I just miss being able to walk to the pub, have a game of pool, and take the piss out of Quinton! I miss being able to order a bitter tops. Caffreys straight from the tap. Having a choice of which pub to drink in. I miss the fact that I would be able to take Nicholas in the pub with me, or even to sit outside at a table and drink a beer while runs around and has a juice. Over here, everything is so far away. The pub, the mall, the shops, everything.

I miss English t.v. Good mindless humour. Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Shooting Stars, Fantasy Football League, Vic and Bob's Big Night Out. I miss watching Grandstand on a saturday morning as well and watching the grand prix on sunday afternoons. I get to watch three football games a week over here on a saturday morning, but its just not the same. It still has English commentary but at half time they cut back to the studio and have Canadians analyze it. At least they don't cut during the game like they did during the 2002 world cup.

I miss the rain! When it rains over here, it really is like the 'heavens' open up and sheets of water fall from the sky. Then after 5 minutes it's all over, the sun comes out and within 10 minutes all the rain is dried up and the only trace of a downpour left behind is the rainbow and the black clouds in the distance. I miss the drizzle. The hours upon hours of rain that I refer to as rain that gets you wet. As stupid as that sounds it's true. When it pours you wear a rain coat or carry an umbrella and you are ready for it. When it drizzles, it never seems enough to bother with the coat, you always seem to sweat more inside than you would actually get wet from the rain. But it's that constant drizzle that eventually soaks you. I'm sure I wouldn't miss it as much if I lived with it, kind of similar to how during the first 2 -3 years over here I would get excited about the snow each year. Now in the 7th year I can't wait for it to be gone each spring.

I miss the smells of Cornwall. Portreath harbour can smell pretty bad sometimes but it's when all you can smell is the salt sea air is what I miss. For me it's one of those internal smells that trigger memories. The smell of a freshly baked pasty, reminds me of lunchtimes on a saturday. It used to be a ritual on saturdays when I would mess around with Ian. Freshly cut grass takes me back to when the field used to get cut at St. Day school.

So there's a little insight in to my sensitive side and you call all thank Ian for that. Seeing as this is my web site and I can type anything I want, does anyone know what the area code is for the 999 is in Newquay? Answers on a postcard to the regular address and I'll pick the winner next week who will receive a blue peter badge. Till next time, don't have nightmares.