The pace of life just slowed down, dramatically.
Hmmm, maybe 'dramatically' is the wrong word, damn cliches.
Life here isn't so much slow, as predictably mellow. The High street is full of life and like most places in the UK, has more than it's fair share of cars, people and dogs.
It's a really quaint traditional English Town.
It sports a traditional butcher, with burly balding old gits manning the meat in white overalls and blue stripey bibs. There's the High Street pub, The George. A small Deli serves as one of the best places for a lunchtime sarnie and all the essentials of modern British life can be had at a slow pace with early closing times.
Tuesday lunchtime, I got a ridiculous amount of vege from the Tuesday market place for £5, some keys cut, 2lb of steak mince and a broom. It should be noted that the market is literally on my doorstep. I step out the front door onto the pavement and there it is.
It isn't exactly a massive affair, but rather a local farm produce setup of a few stalls which enjoys a brisk trade. This makes it all the more authentic, as it's clear that the locals get much of their fruit, vege and fish here each week. It felt more than a little odd and exciting to be able to buy my goods and in front of the market itself, unlock my front door and drop my goods just inside.
The ingredients for my supper tonight, a bolognaise, were all purchased within 2 minutes of my front door. Damn delicious it was too ! (more than enough left over for lunch tommorrow)
It's hard to explain this little piece of perfect England, because it really doesn't actually exist in perfection, it just feels like it should. Modern life is never far away and as I'm so fond of recalling, modern life is rubbish. Luckily it just about escapes the general horrors of British town life, being a very affluent place.
Last Sunday, I took a hike down to the canal to Odiham castle. The canal had a thin film of ice on the surface, which didn't deter the swans or the walkers from enjoying a bright sunny day. It was a good day out and I retired to the pub for a few pints before walking the 30 seconds to my front door.
It's all really rather bizarre. From the mad hustle and bustle of London, the dread worry of not finding work, sharing a house with five other people, to this.
A two bedroom two level apartment with all mod cons, a fantastic job, in a historically amazing Georgian town.
Please don't wake me up ...
... some days later ...
It's now been a week since I moved in here, getting used to village life. I took the bus into Camberley today, another very non-descript town, don't think I'll bother to return. Basingstoke will remain my main town to visit for shopping. Camberley is a bit grotty by the standards of the immediate area, or rather, boring and fugly.
Got talking to the Manager, Sean, at "The George" across the road from my apartment.
He's just taken over the place. Him and his wife have only been in England for 2 weeks, fresh from South Africa. Will definately visit more often for a chat, seems like a really good bloke. My curiosity is already getting the better of me, as I only managed a 5 minute chat (busy in here)
Sitting in the pub still, quaffing a pint of Courage Best. Think I'll try a pint of T.E.A next, I like the idea of an Ale with that name.
Still not missing South Africa, not even slightly, but I am missing family and friends, big time.
I'm sure in a few months, I'll get a twinge of the old homesick feelings for Joburg, maybe ?
Depends how things pan out here, but from the way it feels now, I'm in for the long haul.
Permanent job, six month apartment lease, a 12 month broadband contract and will most likely buy a cheap car as soon as I can get credit. The idea of buying a £500 car isn't attractive at all any more, it doesn't make a great deal of sense now I'm permanently employed. I'd rather opt for a cheap fairly modern second hand car and pay it off as quickly as possible. I need something that can do the mileage as I really want to get out and about travelling around the country on weekends, not to mention a hop into Europe every now and then.
So, there we go then, "yeah yeah yeah yeah", really fast, as they say here. (yeh-yeh-yeh-yeh)
It's kinda like the equivalent of "ya nee", my only problem, is I keep saying "yeh-yeh-yeh-no", like a saffa, or Vicky Pollard, "yeah but no but yeah but no but yeah"
