Four months across the Pond......

We've now been Stateside for four whole months, and to mark the occasion we've been doing some reflecting on the good and less good aspects of our new life. Here goes.

TEN THINGS WE LIKE ABOUT LIVING IN AMERICA

1. A guaranteed summer - and the fact that we arrived right at the start of it! In fact, having four defined seasons is very nice

2. Our neighbourhood and the lovely people we've met here

3. Our home town, Madison, its laid back feel, family friendliness and fabulous beaches

4. Being two hours from New York

5. Being three hours from New England's ski slopes (to be tested whilst spending this New Year in Vermont...)

6. The general spirit of optimism - people rooting for you rather than waiting for you to trip up

7. Quality and variety of the food - and the abundance of seafood here in New England! Don't believe everything you hear about eating in America....

8. The New York Times

9. Breadth of sports played here, and the fact that there is a whole TV channel dedicated to golf (Note from Jo: this is James' posting)

10. The price of gas !! (Or should we say, petrol).

TEN THINGS WE MISS

1. UK Media: the BBC and its internationally focussed news, Radio 4 (Jo), Radio 5 (James), Sky Sports (James), The Sunday Times

2. English country pubs (especially around Sunday lunchtime)

3. Back bacon (hickory smoked streaky does not cut it for a bacon sandwich)

4. Being able to walk to places (the car is definitely king here)

5. The "oldness" of the UK and Europe in general; narrow busy streets and the sense of history that can be lacking in the USA's wide open spaces

6. Hhhhhmmmm......can't think of anymore....sorry, that's it.