while I have of late been dwelling on the things I hate about the UK, there are several things I truly adore. It makes me sad to know someday, and someday soon, I'll leave these barren gray shores and never see their like again.
Here, in no particular order are some of my recent love affairs:
sanctioned paganism
The Celtic force is still strong in this one, and the biennial rituals which take over vast swathes of the city prove it (even if the tacky tourist jewelery needs to be endured). Halloween is Sammahien, an epic battle between the winter king and the summer king (or Green King as you may have seen him in impish incarnations).
In the high street square this is reenacted with college hos body painted red and dancing, hippies juggling and oh yes, a battle with giant flaming swords. I kid you not. It completely rocks in its surreal absurdity, high school musical-esque production values and all around kick ass nature. It not as good as the summer's Beltane orgy which puts even Mists of Avalon to shame, but it's still one hell of a way to ring in All Saints Day (which by the way is the whole point of Halloween).
incessant drinking
while a plus and a minus (mostly a minus considering the amount of vomit in the street on a sunday morning), there is nothing like midafternoon pints (on a working day even!) to clear the air and remind you that there is more to life than to do lists. plus, a good local lager is unbeatably tasty.
weird tv
not a fan of strictly, dancing on ice or the on going battle between Kylie's d-list sister and Simon on XFactor, I am pleasantly surprised to find Canadian sitcoms in syndication on 4od. Who knew Canada made tv? Who knew my hormonal self would like it's transparent, feel good simplicity?
food
We all know I'm a little bit obsessed with food. And as the winter chill settles in, a country which thinks anything stewed for long enough, mixed with mashed potatoes and/or covered in gravy constituted a meal is a place I could get used to.
Stovies for lunch today meant a big mug (like as big as my head) which had roasted carrots and veg plus haggis (which is like oats and nuts and herbs and stuff, kind of like crumbly spicy sausage but better) plus mashed potatoes mixed together then baked until piping hot.
I probably should mention experimental film, the mod movement returning to London, my current favourite bands and whatever - but really, food, drink, entertainment and carpe diems sum it up just fine.
i love it here. and if the weather, government, insurance, medical care, urban development,racism and social regeneration parts didn't suck I'd even think about staying.
