US Plus and Minus

So, hopefully... if all flights have gone according to plan and my family have not killed me because of the fact that I turn into a horrible monster through my travel schedule induced anxiety... I am back in NI after 7 weeks in MI.

So what will I miss about the US... Apart from the wonderful people we met that is (although if all of them take us up on our offer to visit 9 Rosepark will be very full! But don't let that stop anyone...)?

Well, first let me say a few things I will not miss... In no particular order...

• US DSL internet... It is dreadful... So slow.
• US cars... Big, bulky, all noise and no poke, with steering so vague as to be notional
• MI roads... People say it is down to the weather... freezing in the winter and roasting in the summer... but putting some tax dollars into maintaining infrastructure might be a good idea (even if it won't get you re-elected)
• US TV. We already get the best of American programmes in the UK, and after 7 weeks of American TV I will never complain about the adverts on our commercial channels again.
• The sugar in most foods here... even baked beans would put you into a diabetic coma.
• The humidity...
• The bugs... The mosquitoes and the "no-see-ums" that devour you at dawn and dusk.

But these things are more than made up for by:

• The quality of service in restaurants (and Canada take note... you are rubbish in comparison with the US)
• The buying power of the Pound (but now the British economy is tanking so that no longer counts)
• The sugar free ice-cream available here...
• The warmth...

and finally

• The showers... Why is it that even the worst hovel I have ever stayed in over here always has a great shower... Such a great way to start the day...

So, keep your cars and your bugs but please send us your plumbers!

And thanks to everyone who made the last 7 weeks such a fabulous experience for me and all my family...

Cheers