ex-pat returns to uk after 33 years absence

"Its true", I often tell people who ask me! It's been 33 years since I left England. I left in 1976 after spending 6 years of my child-hood in prison. Oops, I mean the Army. And yes I was in the British Army which means , depending on whom you speak with; I was on our side!!!

I'm sure the first thought that pops into people's minds when I tell them how long its been since I have graced the shores of Britain with my presence is, " I wonder who he killed??"

I hate to be bore you but I did not kill anyone and I have no real reason as to why the heck I left visiting my former home for such a long time. I've never had a lot of money but there's been many times when I was flush with enough cash to go for a trip. Especially when I had higher paying sales -type jobs. I did neglect to tell the Army that I was leaving the country , and had I stayed I would have had to have done 3 more years in the reserves . But I solved that problem years ago when after living here in Canada about a year. I received a letter stating I should have told them my intentions to leave the country but I only would have had to serve in the reserves had I remained a resident of the UK. I guess I wrongly assumed that they could have done better without me , seeing as how I was an ex- bandsman during my service to my country!!!

I had an un-eventful flight. I'd flown many times within Canada in my recent past but I was a little rusty in preparing for the trip. I'd forgotten the effort required just doing things such as applying for a passport , putting aside some money and more importantly, how much money would I need. Planning some places I would like to see, especially as I was going in December; not July so there were no beaches in my plans. I have no fear of flying so there were no issues there; although if the flight gets a little bumpy I do have the habit of checking to see whether the crew are making any Hail Mary's or screaming in panic but again, no issues there. So, I arrived after a night flight that lasted about 6 hours. I arrived very tired and sleep deprived but none the worse for wear. I staggered through the obstacle course better known as Heathrow Airport Arrivals. The customs girl quizzed me a little then she said, " Welcome Home!"

Amazingly, the man who was going to be driving me and my girlfriend to my hometown of
Southampton was there as promised, holding up a sign with my surname on it. The weather was about 6 degrees warmer than what I'd just left behind in Halifax so that was a nice surprise.
" Probably like British Columbia." I thought to myself. " So that's why house prices are so expensive in BC. " We whizzed along in a station wagon of some sort and made great time specially as we'd wisely brought luggage as carry-on and saved probably a half hour trying to find our luggage. Some things I noticed on the way were everything seemed lush and green and also, although we're not talking about the plethora of trees in Canada, and , against what someone had told me , there were trees. And it was a sunny day to boot!!

We were going to be staying at my aunt's house and as we drove into her neighborhood I giggled when I saw the rows and rows of tiny brick bungalows. Then her street in the village ( some might say small town) of Hedge End and it was just as I'd left it.