So we recently got back from a 2 week trip to England. I have to admit that before we left, other than the fact that we were attending the wedding of a good friend, I wasn't sure I was looking forward to the trip – especially all the travelling.
I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised to find myself having a great time from the instant we arrived. We went from Gatwick airport straight to a friends house in Midhurst, Mid-Sussex. We had a great time visiting with old friends, and managed to get a whole day's hiking around the town and the South Downs. What a well marked and well mapped systems of public footpaths. We also enjoyed visiting the Cowdray Estate farm shop where there is an amazing selection of food right off the estate, and a cafe offering full english breakfast using farm fresh produce – YUM.
In fact in general I was impressed with the amount of local farming and food that was available as well as the availability of organic produce. I tend to think of this as being a west-coast thing and it was good to see that the UK is also on board. We visited my sister in Bellerby, North Yorkshire, and it really felt like there was still a strong connection between the community and local farmers and producers. Interestingly I saw the start of an episode of Countryfile, and they were talking about plans to build the UKs first factory farm and the opposition it is creating.
We also visited London - we stayed right on Brick Lane and explored our old stomping ground in the City before heading out for a curry. I was amazed by the amount of new development and the vibrancy, and enjoyed being back for a limited time. In fact based on the house prices, the new cars on the roads and the number of people out shopping, drinking and eating - we were left wondering "what recession" – on the surface things still seem to be booming!
Overall I loved the countryside, the old buildings and pubs, the amazing and accessible hiking, and catching up with old friends – thanks for making us feel like we'd never left. We manged somehow not to get stuck in any traffic, and to avoid anywhere unpleasant. I decided that if they ever perfect teleportation and I could live in the beautiful English countryside, and magic myself into London to work and play, it could be a wonderful life. However remembering the reality of the daily grind into London, and the miles of urban and sub-urban sprawl reminds me why I left it all behind.