2010 YES!!! The "I'm so happy" thread.

[David Nicholson]

The Croconutters from Bacup were excellent Cliff.

A Freudian slip David?

[Anthony Darby]

On the 21st of January my life will turn upside down!

[daveyp1970]

England's bowling attack was pretty slick and slip catching was top notch come on ENGLAND

[Anthony Darby]

I watched some this morning, then listened on Radio 4 long wave on my way to work until it was interrupted by "yesterday in Parliament" (yawn)!

[mark smyth]

Anthony will you be near any forum members?

[angie]

On the 21st of January my life will turn upside down!

Anthony it will be so exciting for you and your family. I hope once you get settled that we see your new garden from the start.
One thing you won't miss is all this cold weather. It's snowing a lot here again and getting dark. Starting to worry that we might to get away.

Angle 

[Anthony Darby]

Anthony will you be near any forum members?

We fly to Auckland initially. I've certainly had enough snow to last me a lifetime, although I did repair my sledge after 10 years with it in a state of disrepair. I got from my granny for Christmas 1962! Sunny here today!

[alpines]

Anthony....as somebody who made the move from England to the USA in 2006....I wish you and your family a safe journey...not only on the plane, but through the cultural difficulties that will surely ensue. My sister and her family emigrated to Auckland in 2002 and they have settled in well and really love the country.
Enjoy the adventure
Alan & Sherba

Incidentally, we have just had an ice storm in Kentucky overnight......just one of the many 'cultural' shocks I have had to contend with!!!!

[TheOnionMan]

Anthony....as somebody who made the move from England to the USA in 2006....I wish you and your family a safe journey...not only on the plane, but through the cultural difficulties that will surely ensue. My sister and her family emigrated to Auckland in 2002 and they have settled in well and really love the country.
Enjoy the adventure
Alan & Sherba

Alan, how did you pick Kentucky?  I think I would have culture shock moving to certain US States as well.

[alpines]

Alan, how did you pick Kentucky?  I think I would have culture shock moving to certain US States as well.

Mark,
It was 'divinely' chosen for me. My beloved is a Kentucky Gal. After she'd had 4 years in England with me, it was time for me to reciprocate. KY gets a lot of bad press but it is a beautiful state with beautiful, friendly people. I love the place...except for the fact I can't grow alpines here. Too hot, too humid...but the local wildflowers more than make up for it. But there are many cultural differences between the two countries...not just the states...and these take some figuring out. BTW...I do ask for toMAYtoes and not toMAHtoes...these days. They still taste the same though however you say it 

[TheOnionMan]

Mark,
It was 'divinely' chosen for me. My beloved is a Kentucky Gal. After she'd had 4 years in England with me, it was time for me to reciprocate. KY gets a lot of bad press but it is a beautiful state with beautiful, friendly people. I love the place...except for the fact I can't grow alpines here. Too hot, too humid...but the local wildflowers more than make up for it. But there are many cultural differences between the two countries...not just the states...and these take some figuring out. BTW...I do ask for toMAYtoes and not toMAHtoes...these days. They still taste the same though however you say it 

But what about your poTAHtoes?   And to be clear about my reference, I have no doubt that Kentucky is a beautiful US State; I have driven across country back and forth several times; I love traveling the US States, most New Englanders only travel to Florida, Bermuda, or the Caribbean, and rarely go see what the rest of the country looks like.  When I did pick up and move cross country, from New England to the Seattle Washington area, as lovely as the place is, and with proximity to amazing natural wonders from 14,411 feet (4,392 m) Mt. Rainier, to dryland deserts and the mighty Columbia River Gorge, I still had difficulty adjusting to the area... specifically to the "culture and mindset" of the area.  So, after 4 years, I moved back to New England, but I'm glad to have had the experience of living and gardening on opposite coasts.

My main problem with a destination like Kentucky, or much of the lower eastern half of the US, is the high heat and humidity; I'm much more of a cold weather guy.

[alpines]

I had no problem with your reference to KY, Mark...but being in the Appalachian foothills it does evoke criticism for its poverty and redneck associations, especially in eastern Kentucky. I have taken to studying Appalachian folk history and in particular its music, and it is fascinating, and of course the flora of Kentucky is superb.
It's a strange situation but whenever I am back in England, I get homesick for Kentucky. It has that kind of draw on me.
But you are so right. You've got to get "into" America to see it. New York, Orlando and the like are definitely not representative of the USA. Just like London and Stratford upon Avon are not typical representations of England. Give me the Yorkshire Dales  over London any day!!!

[David Nicholson]

......... Give me the Yorkshire Dales  over London any day!!!

and I'll second that. Give me the Yorkshire Dales and I'd happily give the rest of the world a miss

By the way I've never experienced an ice storm, just what happens?

[David Nicholson]

England's bowling attack was pretty slick and slip catching was top notch come on ENGLAND

A cracking start Dave. It looks as though the next few nights are going to be sleepless.

[Lesley Cox]

As part of a small series on natural disastrous phenomena, we saw a TV doco a while back about an ice storm in Canada, a few years ago. Truly terryfying. Then there was an episode about an Australian fire storm, starting out as a series of bush fires in western NSW and eventually threatening the whole of Sydney. The Victorian fires of last year were small in comparison.