Early impressions of England

For people who have rarely lived outside of their 35801 zip code, England was the best country for us  to live.  The people here are so charming.  We have lived in 3 locations so far.  Finally we have settled into our home in Burley in Wharfedale.  In each location the landlords have been so kind and helpful  I Shipley we lived in a restored old mill converted into apartments.  We had lovely views but Anna Katherine and I felt claustrophobic.  Bob and his wife at Victoria Mills were so kind, I worried if I would find kinder landlords.  Then we moved to Ilkley.

Ilkley is my favorite city of all the cities we have visited and I truly wanted to live there.  Gary was the owner landlord at the Moorview Holiday Apartments. He and his dad and other family member, Emma, run the place and I would have lived there for all our time here except for the fact that there was only 1 bathroom and no dryer.  The Holden family was always there to help.   I had to hang our clothes once they were washed.  The weather is England calls for rain every day.  When I had my clothes on the line and was gone on an errand, Gary and family would pull them off the line before the rain.

 Ilkley is reminds me of Maine.  It is called a spa town.  Wonderful shopping opportunities are in this village.  It is surprising.   It has an expensive but fantastic grocery store, Boots.  We realized after a couple of trips that it was like shopping at Fresh Market in Huntsville.   Anna Katherine and I have found so many shops that we cannot wait to visit.  One of the stars of Ilkley is Betty's Tea Room, a Yorkshire tradition.

In our first few days there are so many surprises.  Learning to drive on a different side of the road must be hard.  Hal has done a great job missing sheep on narrow roads etc. It  has been hard for me to ride on different side as well.  The traffic signs are interesting.  The yellow caution signal appears at both prior to the green light and red light.  Cars begin rolling as soon as the yellow signal appears before the green.    Anna Katherine and I are on foot and depend on bus and train for our transportation so this has been something we have had to remember.  Also,  in American we looked Right, Left, then Right again.  Over here you reverse that otherwise you may get hit by a car.  Signs are different as well.  Exit in train stations are "Way Out."  Yield signs are "Give Way." 

We have travelled through many cities in our journey to find a place to live.  Burley - in -Wharfedale is a quaint lovely village and close to my beloved Ilkley.  By close, I mean the Ilkley bus runs right in front of my house.  I can also get to Otley,  Menston, Guisely, Bradford and Leeds via train and bus.  Otley is the home of Chippendale.  Yes, the same as the furniture.  They is a statue of him in the town of Otley.  Otley has a great Market on Friday and Saturday.  I have visited a man who has frames.   Speaking of which, I will close now as the bus to Otley should be arriving out side my door any minute. 

Cheers!

Karen