Monday, August 25, 2008

A plea to my British readers

I am an anglophile. There. I've said it. I admit it and I'm looking for help. I am obsessed with England. I have a romanticized notion of living in a quaint cottage in a village near the coast, biking to town to buy fresh produce and meat pies.
I want to say "ring me up", "you don't say?", and "do come by for tea" in my pretend accent. I want to go to the Graham Norton show. I want to see Kim and Aggie, French and Saunders and the dude from Cash in the Attic. I want to drive on the opposite side of the road in my little, teeny tiny roadster, convertible of course. I want to dress Silas up in short pants and a beanie and send him off to school. I want to take the lift up to your flat for a visit.
So I need help. I need someone to disabuse me of this notion. Let me know that living in England isn't all I've made it out to be. Tell me of the 'orrible weather and how expensive everything is and anything else that will help get this idea out of my head. If that doesn't work, help me figure out how much it's going to cost me to live there for six months. Help me find a cottage to rent, tell me which papers to read (the metro uk really isn't cutting it), how to find information. Real information.
All of this stems, I think, from researching my ancestry. I have traced my maternal parentage back to 1500's England. Paternal back to 1600's Scotland. Perhaps the urge is calling through my blood, because I've always, even as a wee bairn, wanted to live in England, so who knows. Of course, I could just be trying to escape the uncertainty and stress of my life here. In the wise words of Tony Soprano (season 5) "there is no geographical solution to an emotional problem". But I'm willing to give it a shot.

7 comments:

MarĂ­a said...

I'm like that with Italy. I want to move there sooo badly. Like Under The Tuscan Sun, except with two children in tow. LOL

Madness said...

Poor Dental Care .. there, Madness said it.
Also, not so sure Madness agrees with Tony .. Madness FIRMLY believes there is a geographical solution to any emotional problem. This could be from my days as a runaway.
Love,
Madness

Anonymous said...

I agree with Maria, Under The Tuscan Sun made me want to pick up and find a villa somewhere. Of course there's the small 'money' factor. It looks so carefree and fabulous!

Kate said...

I'm an Ireland sort of gal myself....

the queen said...

Just like getting over any crush - get to know it. My anglophidelity faded after I went and watched the smiles fade when they heard my American accent, unless I began every sentence with an apology.

And man, my 1400 sq ft house was enormous when I came back.

cathy said...

I'm english but I live in Athens, Greece. I have a brother who lives in Plorida, USA. Does reading between the lines here help. LOL.

cathy said...

Florida