The dangers of returning to the real world......

[Potter's Farm]

We moved from Wiltshire, England to Wexford, Ireland a little over a year ago. My husband and I, along with various children, have popped back for weddings, birthdays etc over the course of the year.
Last week, we all went back as a family, 2 adults and 3 children. We stayed with friends for 6 nights, our longest visit so far.

Before we left, we noticed that we have all been so much healthier since we changed our lives, the children haven't had the usual coughs and colds, stomach bugs are non existant in our house now.

We'd been in the UK for less than 24 hours and my husband picked up something that caused him to faint and cut his face open. When I got out of bed to take him to A&E, I did the same. We think it was some random virus.

Our son succumbed to the same virus the following day. One of our girls came down with a raging fever the day after that, which ended up in another visit to the doctor who diagnosed tonsilitis and an ear infection.

We came home on saturday, bringing our 3 year old grandson, who is full of the same flu/cold like symptoms.

My husband commented on how the house we were guests in had the central heating on permanently, all the windows firmly shut and plug in air fresheners in use. We have become used to less heat and more fresh air. I open all of our windows every morning without fail to freshen the house, and the woodburner which does our heating is rarely lit before 2pm.

We're not sure if it is England which is bad for our health, of a lifestyle of excess!! We all ate junk food whilst away, and also a lot more food that we would at home.....several uncomfortable stomachs resulted!!

It is very reassuring to know that after our 1st year of completely changing our lives and those of our childen that we are healthier. I can now tell the children that this is a better life for them when they moan (not very often) about lack of junk food, or when i send them outside to pick the veg they want for dinner as I now have proof of the benefits!!

[baldybloke]

Wiltshire can be definitely dodgy at this time of year.

[Saffron]

You should try Oxfordshire !

[Thomzo]

Sounds like you definitely made the right lifestyle choice. Working is also bad for your health, nothings spreads disease like an air-conditioned office.

Zoe

[The Riff-Raff Element]

My husband commented on how the house we were guests in had the central heating on permanently, all the windows firmly shut and plug in air fresheners in use. We have become used to less heat and more fresh air. I open all of our windows every morning without fail to freshen the house, and the woodburner which does our heating is rarely lit before 2pm.

I've not got any actual evidence, you understand, but I reckon you might have a point here.

[boboff]

I agree that central heating is not good for your health. Especially though when you are not used to it.
Hypothermia though is a touch inconvenient also.
I drove through Wiltshire once and sneezed and farted at the same time, the look of shock on my face was a picture.

[oldjerry]

Without doubt,Leigh Delamere services are a major health risk.

[Potter's Farm]

Ha ha ha, you've all made me chuckle. We actually used to live a couple of miles from Leigh Deli (as the locals call it). I used to work in a lovely 5 acre garden in Leigh Delamare village, and I popped over there on friday for a visit. Its such a beautiful village but the traffic noise was awful from the M4. I woke up this morning and opened our bedroom windows whilst having a cuppa in bed, all I could hear were newborn lambs and birds tweeting.....happy days.

[Odsox]

Yes, it's great coming home isn't it ?
Whenever I am forced to go back to the UK, the first thing I notice is the stink of vehicle exhausts and the second thing is the noise.

We laughingly refer to the "noisy motorway" muted roar we can hear at times when lying in bed at home, but in reality it is the restless sea when there is a storm about somewhere out in the Atlantic. At other times, and especially starting about now, it's the sound of seals "singing" across the bay about 5 miles away. But at the moment it is those damned birds, mainly magpies and blackbirds, courting on our lawn at dawn. Why they can't sleep in for another half an hour beats me.
But there are noises and then there are NOISES, and I know which I prefer.

[Green Aura]

Yup, I went to Inverness yesterday and as soon as I get to the Kessock bridge I want to turn round and come back home. Noise and too much traffic are my biggest problems.
I'm frequently amazed at how quickly up here became home, considering I lived in or very near a city for thirty-odd years before moving up here.

[Thomzo]

Yes, it's great coming home isn't it ?

But there are noises and then there are NOISES, and I know which I prefer.

I live on a busy main road, there is constant traffic but it's going quite slowly so I'm used to it and it rarely wakes me. My friend lives in a little village with a farm next door. Whenever she comes to stay with me she complains about the road noise. Whenever I go to stay with her I get woken up at silly o'clock by the lambs in the field.

Zoe

[Potter's Farm]

On the Friday morning of our trip I had to take our very poorly 8 year old daughter from Cleeve House in Seend Cleeve to see the doctor in Chipenham as I thought she had tonsilitis. We'd spent the night in Seend Cleeve as my step daughter was married there the previous day.

Whilst driving through all the traffic, Isabel asked why it was taking so long, I told her we had to go to Chippenham, about 25 minutes drive. She replied that she knew how far it was, but why were there so many cars on the road. The only answer I could think of was to say 'We're in England now darling, not in Ireland'!!

She asked where were they all going.....

It amazed me that she noticed the difference in traffic and how much busier life is over there. Out of the mouths of babes........

[Mrs Moustoir]

You do forget what it is like to drive in the UK really quickly. I used to trundle round the M25 everyday to and from work locations and it never bothered me.

Now, it reminds me of "whacky races" - I drive off the ferry at Portsmouth, and it is straight into manic traffic driving fast and close. I can feel the adrenalin kick in! On the motorways it is - accelerate, BRAKE, traffic stops, accelerate, brake (etc..)

Saying that, there have been many times when I've had to swerve to avoid drivers here who have been on the wrong side of the road or are overtaking a tractor on a blind bend.

And roundabouts! Don't think the French have quite got the knack of them.

[romie]

I see both ends of the spectrum
Home is a dream although we are on a road I tune it out, once in the house/ garden it's like a haven.
Then I get to drive into Manchester everyday for work, its like getting slapped in the face every mile further from the house I go.

What i do notice is when off work I'm healthy as anything, eating and living well if a little chilly, active, alert. As soon as I enter the air conditioned tomb at work I get back problems (from sitting) sneeze all day, everyone around me is coughing and sniffing yuk

Why why why, do I have to work...one day...one day