Love and Miss

We have only lived here for about six weeks, maybe a few days more than that, and I have already started compiling a list of things that I love about living in London.  Some of my favorite things about living here may not be specific to living in London, as much as just living abroad.  

Comprehensive recycling schemes

Free family planning

Fair trade products without a huge mark up

No extra charge for prepared foods at supermarket

The mail slot in my front door

Tea with milk and sugar 

Posh accents

Inexpensive fruit and vegetables

Mint humbugs and Maynard wine gums

Compulsory 5 weeks of vacation

Double Decker buses

Strongbow Cider

Serving beers in brand and type specific glasses

Bobby uniforms

Schoolchildren in their uniforms with matching hats 

Prime Minister's Questions (PMQ) every Wednesday

Simple income tax structure

Boxing Day and other random bank holidays

Cheap flights to hundreds of cool destinations

The number of guests who come for a visit and stay with us

Being weighed in stones

The Queen and her hats

Delicious Indian food 

Then again, there are a bunch of things that I miss about the US, of course:

Family and friends

How easy it is to set up house (e.g. Utilities)

Super fast broadband access

Clear water from the tap

Full sized refrigerators

Reasonably priced public transit

Real coffee (e.g. NOT Nescafe) served everywhere

Half and half and flavored creamers

Quaker Oatmeal Squares and Post Great Grains with Dates, Raisins, and Pecans (e.g. fabulous cereal)

Showers that are fully enclosed

Beds larger than a double

Smiling faces and chatty strangers

American Television and my DVR

Separate washer and dryer

Garbage disposals

Cliff bars

Trader Joe's trail mix