There will be an entry sometime soon about what I will miss, my favorite memories, images and dreams of England. For now, I just want to say – Thank You, England (and the wider Great Britain and Ireland).

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to write my novel.

Thank you for slowing me down from the pace of Los Angeles life – for bringing me back to basics, for remembering what life is all about. Without this time, I may have become the vapid vampire that there were shades of lurking beneath my surface – 8 years in LA can do that to a gal.

Thank you for seducing me with your seemingly illusory emerald landscapes and creaky country pubs.

Thank you for introducing me to Pimms, cider, roast dinners and jacket potatoes.

Thank you for finally giving me time to learn how to cook. Remarkably, I’m quite good.

Thank you for reminding me what I love about my own country, what I miss about it and for showing me there are other ways to live.

Thank you for reminding me to waste not. We are incredible lavish squanderers in the states.

Thank you for introducing me to running – to allow my body to become the lean, healthy being I knew it could be and for providing a landscape on the Downs that I never once took for granted.

Thank you for reminding me to not take myself so seriously, to giving me my sense of humor back and that taking the piss out of myself is truly good for the soul.

Thank you for letting me borrow Jock’s family – they’re not mine, but they did a pretty damn good job of making me feel at home. I love each and every one of them with all my heart.

Thank you for The Ladies Who...without them and our monthly book chats, gossip and random girl moments, I may have turned into a man. Women are my breath of fresh air…reminding me of why I love being one of them.

Thank you for all the friends who are having babies. They show me how much I love children and how not ready I am to have one.

Thank you for Royal Mail and Skype, without you I would not get the much needed phone calls, packages and postcards from home. You kept me going.

And most of all – thank you Jock for showing me your country. It is truly fabulous. I look forward to coming back one day.

Related posts:

1. How to Walk in England as an American Pin it Amanda Appearing to Walk with Ease in London...
2. USA versus England Pin it The day started beautifully. I had an amazing...
3. Back in England Pin itDid I mention I was back in England? I...
4. The Sun Does Exist in England! Pin itAs America was having their Memorial Day Weekend, England...
5. When the Sun Shines in England. Pin itSaturday was one of those days England could have...