Green Man

Green Man

I’ve never been a big music festival goer.  In Australia they always tended to occur in the hottest part of the year, and when you lack height (like I do),  standing at armpit height on a 40 degree day in the blazing sun with thousands of others just doesn’t seem appealing.

When Adam and I met he told me about a four day music and arts festival called Green Man that’s held in Wales in late summer.  He described it as a bunch of people sitting around eating good food and listening to good music. He told me it was very civilised and an awful lot of fun.

I was intrigued so we decided early in the year that we’d be at Green Man 2017 …

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Broadway

Broadway

For many visitors to the U.K., a trip to the Cotswolds is a must. It’s quintessential England – rolling green hills, small villages made up of stone buildings, and bucolic pubs full of ales, sleeping dogs and pork scratchings.

The very far eastern reaches of Worcestershire lie within the Cotswolds, so a few months ago Adam and I decided to hold off day-tripping to the area until my family arrived so we could all go together…

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The welcome hamper

The welcome hamper

In a few hours time my mum, dad and brother will land in England. Fairly soon after Adam and I announced we were moving to Worcestershire, my family decided they would come and visit us in the English summer. After so many months of talking about the trip, I can’t quite believe it’s almost here!

It’s been around 10 months since I’ve seen my parents and closer to 11 months, my brother. Although we call and text on a regular basis, it’s still not quite the same as being able to talk face to face.

They’re splitting their time between Malvern and travelling around the U.K. so to help them get over their very long journey and to welcome them to our little part of Worcestershire, I’ve made up a small hamper…

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A special surprise

A special surprise

Ever since we started seeing each other, Adam and I have been pretty good at planning and keeping regular ‘dates’ – meals out, days out or mini-breaks that allow us to spend quality time together as a couple, away from the regular routine of home.

Most of the time it’s something we’ve planned and will look forward to together, but the other week Adam organised a surprise date for me…

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The great British summer

The great British summer

After teasing us and offering up a warm day or two here and there over the last few months, summer arrived in England this week.

Pimms in a tall glass and bare feet.
First Pimms of the summer!

We’ve had a solid six days in a row of temperatures in the high 20s, low 30s. It’s even prompted official government warnings, about beating the heat.  Friends and Adam’s family have been asking all about how we Aussies cope with weather like this for months at a time.

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Posh services

Posh services

When you go on a road trip in Australia you inevitably end up stopping at a ‘servo’ to refuel the car, use the bathroom and eat. On busy routes there might be a ‘service centre’ where there is a petrol station and several fast food outlets, but on many country roads, it’s an old style road house – essentially a petrol station with a cafeteria attached.

Driving in Australia.

 In England, the ‘service centre’ is known as ‘services’ and most are akin to what you find on the Hume Highway at Yass. As I’ve learnt over the past few months though, there are fancy road-side stops in a few select locations. Welcome to the world of ‘posh services’…

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A day at the fair 

A day at the fair 

Summer is the season for fairs in England, so days after checking out Malvern’s annual Food Festival, Adam and I found ourselves at another Worcestershire classic, Asparafest.

Set in Evesham, a half an hour drive east, Asparafest celebrates the market town’s asparagus farms. It was one of those quirky community events Adam had told me about before we moved to England and I was keen to see it for myself.

Asparagus for sale at Asparafest, Evesham, Worcestershire.

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Long weekend, long lunch

Long weekend, long lunch

Monday of this week was a bank holiday in England. Adam and I both had the day off, so took advantage of our free time to visit the Great Malvern Food Festival.  When I lived in Australia, Wagga Wagga’s annual food and wine festival was one of my favourite events of the year so I was keen to check out my new community’s version.

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