Sunday Post: Green & Pleasant Land

This week I have spent an unnatural amount of time in the middle of fields.

I mean, when I’m not at uni I do tend to spend a lot of time in the middle of a field in Sussex but that is mainly because I live there. However, this week it has been a little bit more intense. A wedding in the Cotswolds and a few days at Ollie’s have really upped my countryside intake. So, in true girls’ school style, it seemed only fitting to whip out Jerusalem to title this post.

This sudden flood of greenery, plus a few hymns in a gorgeous 12th century church, has really got me thinking about all the things I’m going to miss about home when I move to the hustle and bustle of the French capital. (On Wednesday I’m nipping out to Paris to take a look at what is potentially my new flat for the next 10 months so that’s pretty cool…+ how cute is the garden of this pub near Ollie’s?)

• A decent cup of English breakfast. Seriously, nowhere else seems to get tea right and it’s just so damn annoying.
• Pubs. I love a good pub and Sussex is pretty good at them. There’s nothing like a plate of chips or a roast, eaten in a beer garden overlooking a field of cows.
• English accents. I love the diversity of the English accent and I’m so sad that I probably won’t ever understand the differences in French. From my classic Southern to the North-Eastern twang – I am going to miss it all.
• Decent TV. Now, I’m not a massive TV watcher (I didn’t turn the TV on once this year at uni…) but my goodness have you seen French TV?! Yeah, don’t.
• Pimms. I’ve said before that I’m not a big drinker but I am partial to a glass of fruity Pimms on the lawn in summer.
• A proper slice of cake. I like a macaron or a bit of pastry as much as the next man but would it kill you to make me a nice slice of Victoria Sponge? Even just a scone would do…
• Thatch. Okay, there’s not a lot of thatch around my way but just a few miles West and bam. I love a good thatched roof.
• Marmalade. There was about a month at uni where I lived off marmalade sandwiches. Lived off them. (It wasn’t a particularly healthy month…) My dad makes the best marmalade in the world and I don’t think I could live without it.
• GBP. Everyone knows that the Euro is in a bad way and who doesn’t love a £2 coin and a £10 note?
• My Jimmy jams. I’m going to miss my kitty so so much. He’s my best friends and my soulmate. I’m really that sad.
• Durham. While a few of my friends will still be there in my fourth year, the majority won’t and I am going to miss the city, university and people a huge amount. I’ll be back to visit so so often.
• Family and friends. Do I even need to explain?

My big move is in less than a month now and it really is starting to hit home how much is going to change. The best part is that so much will also stay the same, only better. I can’t wait!

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