Hob-nobbing

I haven't blogged on for a little while as I'm traveling! I've taken the kids across the pond to visit the English side of the family. It's been two years since we've been to Europe, or even on a plane, and there have been some remarkable changes introduced in our absence.

The first noticeable difference on our trip was the size of the airline seats. I know in the past two years my children have, between them, grown at least a foot and my bottom has probably spread about the same...but they're really taking the mickey with the leg room these days. I sat down with my exceptionally leggy children and our knees were jammed in to the magazine holder in front of us. Forget reading the emergency instructions card...we couldn't even get it out!

I did my duty as a mother and looked at my kids as if all was normal and they were making a fuss about nothing, as the circulation was slowly cut off below my knees. My little trio had just accepted and adjusted to the lack of blood flow to our toes, when the seat belt sign was turned off, and the passengers seated in front of us reclined their seats. We found ourselves with their heads in our laps.

The seats are now on an axis so when you recline your seat the section under your bum slides forward; something like the routine the Rockettes do at Radio City when they're dressed as tin soldiers and all fall back in to each other's arms. I think next time I'll seat my kids in front and behind me to avoid such close contact with complete strangers.

Anyway, the rest of the flight was quite lovely as we re-acclimatized ourselves with the delightful variety of British accents displayed by our crew, and dreamed of fish and chips, curry, and hobnobs.

Our first weekend here we stopped in to visit my brother in Essex, which used to be the land of girls wearing white stilettos and dancing around their handbags. The past couple of years have claimed W.A.G.s (wives and girlfriends of footballers!) as the Goddesses of Essex, and in tribute all of the girls have adopted orange skin. This orange skin has somehow made them able to resist sub-zero temperatures and they can be seen venturing out in little more than their nickers. Which brings us to football...or soccer depending on which side of the pond you call home.

Football has taken over England. Why they bothered with the recent election for Prime Minister is beyond me as the only thing any self respecting Brit pays any attention to is Footie...they should have a coach run the country!

We're here for the World Cup, which albeit entertaining, has taken away any chance of regular conversation. The country is decked out in red and white so to wear Orange, or Green and Yellow, could land you in an awful lot of trouble!

Some things that haven't changed though are the great British sense of humor, brilliant telly, and the best tea on the planet...oh yes, and the blinking weather!