Holidaying in Blighty

I've not managed to post much recently, for a number of reasons, but the key one is I made my first visit back to the UK recently for a few weeks. Saying I was going on holiday to England was a bit weird but it was good to get back and catch up with friends and family.

I thought I would miss the UK a bit more than I do, but surprisingly i don't. Obviously the day to day contact with friends and family I miss, especially watching my two little nephews grow up. But when you go back after being away for a while, you realise more some of things about the UK that you don't like. Am not going to go on about the weather, that is clearly something I don't miss, but there are a host of other things. The key one being security, over here you can go to a coffee shop, and place your wallet and mobile on the table, walk away for a few minutes, come back and it's still there. Try doing that in the Starbucks in the Bullring! You don't even have to leave them unattended on the table and they risk being swiped. Times I leave my phone, ipod or laptop in the car over here, without worrying about the window being smashed and them gone as soon as my back is turned, again a sign of the times in the UK.

Going out in an evening is different, on the occasions I went out when I was back over, in Leicester Square and down Broad Street, I was shocked at the number of young, drunk people staggering in the streets and walking aimlessly in front of cars. Things I never used to notice much, but when you don't see it for months it really sticks out. The key thing I don't miss is the attitude of club doormen, going out in Brum one night wearing the type of clothes I would wear going out here, I got turned away from 2 places both saying I was "too casual". Admittedly one place was Mechu which has a reputation of not so much being fussy, but making up the rules as they go along, but still I can't be doing with that attitude on a night out!

One thing i do miss though, especially over recent weeks is my fortnightly trips to the sacred Villa Park. It's great that every premiership game is shown live over here so I won't miss a match, but it still doesn't beat watching it live, the banter with your mates and guys around you, and the scalding hot chicken balti pie and flat pint at half time! Bring on the 39th game!