Olemme siis muuttaneet Englantiin. Koko porukka. Mies vaihtoi firmaa mutta piti ilokseni saman vaimon, joten yhdessä pakkasimme mukaan lapset, Kiiwin ja kamat, joten täällä sitä nyt ollaan, keskellä Englannin maaseutua. Vaihdoimme kerrostaloasunnon omakotitaloon, terassin puutarhaan, julkisen liikenteen yksityisautoiluun, sveitsinsaksan englantiin, katuvalot otsalamppuihin ja ballerinat kumisaappaisiin. Pancho-pieni aloitti päiväkodin. Naapurista löytyy 2 kilipukkia, 13 hevosta ja laitumillinen lehmiä. Puutarhassamme koikkelehtii epäsäännöllisen säännöllisesti Muntjakkeja eli haukkuvia peuroja. Kohtasin ensimmäisen yksilön kesken tiskauksen, vain keittiön ikkunalasi välillämme. En tiedä kumpi pelästyi enemmän, minä vai eläin. Silloin tällöin tuntuu, kuin olisimme muuttaneet toiselle planeetalle.
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So we moved to the UK. My husband got a new job in a new company in a new country but luckily kept the old wife so together we packed the children, Kiwi and our home and here we are, in the middle of English countryside. Apartment in city center became a house in countryside, a terrace became a garden, public transport became private car, Swiss German became English, street lamps became head lamps and ballerinas became wellies. Little Pancho started a playgroup. Our neighbours have 2 goats, 13 horses and a pasture of cows. Muntjacs, also known as barking deers, visit our garden regularly. While doing the dishes, I met the first Muntjac only the kitchen window between us. I almost got a heart attack. Every now and then I feel as if we had moved to another planet.
***
So we moved to the UK. My husband got a new job in a new company in a new country but luckily kept the old wife so together we packed the children, Kiwi and our home and here we are, in the middle of English countryside. Apartment in city center became a house in countryside, a terrace became a garden, public transport became private car, Swiss German became English, street lamps became head lamps and ballerinas became wellies. Little Pancho started a playgroup. Our neighbours have 2 goats, 13 horses and a pasture of cows. Muntjacs, also known as barking deers, visit our garden regularly. While doing the dishes, I met the first Muntjac only the kitchen window between us. I almost got a heart attack. Every now and then I feel as if we had moved to another planet.
Vaikka en ollut aluksi kovinkaan innostunut vaihtamaan Baselin äärettömän miellyttävää ilmastoa Iso-Britannian epävakaaseen säähän, fiilistelin jo etukäteen viikonloppuvisiittejä rannikolle. Noissa haaveissani taivas on nimenomaan harmaa, tuuli tuivertaa tukkaa ja kävelyn jälkeen nautimme iltapäiväteetä upottavissa nojatuolissa takkatulen ääressä istuen. Viime viikonloppuna ajoimme isänpäivän kunniaksi Southwoldiin, jossa unelmani kävivät toteen. Tosin iltapäiväteen sijasta nautimme hummerilounaan tunnelmallisessa satamaravintolassa mutta pääsin nopeasti suunnitelman muutoksen yli.
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Although initially I was not very interested in exchanging Basel's very pleasant climate to UK's unstable weather, I did look forward weekend visits to English coast side. In those day dreams the sky was gray, the wind was tossing my hair and after a walk we enjoyed afternoon tea on soft armchairs in front of a cozy fireplace. Last weekend my dream came true when we drove to Southwold to celebrate Finnish Father's Day. Instead of afternoon tea we had lobster for lunch in a charming harbor restaurant but I got over the change of plans quickly.
