Uncle John Makes The News

Uncle John Makes The News

It was Uncle John's first visit back to England in 40 years, and I thought the local press might be interested in hearing how he felt about what he was seeing in modern Britain.  I got in touch with Suzi, a dear friend and journalist I have known for some years, and she was very keen to meet and interview him for her paper.

We arranged a date, and she came along with Roy, a photographer - it was a beautifully warm day and Uncle John sat in the garden in his shirtsleeves for the photo.

Uncle John's "pic in the paper"

He was thrilled that someone would take such an interest in his life, and what he had been doing whilst he was in Australia; equally, my friend found him fascinating to talk to, and felt she had a really good human-interest story for the paper. This is part of the article she wrote about him, under a big "Welcome Back John" headline:

"I am absolutely staggered by the changing face and pace of this country. When I left Britain, you never saw both sides of the road used for parking; it seems every household has a least one car now."  He added, "I'm also amazed at how supermarkets have changed so much in the UK, compared to the 1960s. The choice and range of fruit, vegetables and other produce is phenomenal. I suppose when you are living here you take it for granted, but the supermarkets certainly aren't as vast in Australia. The aisles are so beautifully wide - they certainly weren't like that when I left England."

Uncle John also talked about the weather, saying he was very appreciative of Britain's ever-changing weather. He said, "Sunshine all the time actually gets a bit boring, month after month."

In Brisbane, Uncle John admitted that he rarely goes out until after 4.00 p.m. - it is simply too hot, but everyone has air conditioning. He also said he was enjoying being able to take a shower for more than just a few minutes: "In Australia, no-one is allowed to take a shower for more than four minutes, because of water shortages."

One of the most striking differences, apart from the pace of life, was the layout of the two countries. "In England, most of the land is occupied, and there aren't really any no-go areas. In Australia, most of the towns and cities are dotted along the coastline; there are very few in the middle of the country, it's simply too hot being that far away from the sea."

During the month that Uncle John stayed with us, my point was proved time and time again; yes, England isn't as warm (or as very hot!) as Brisbane, but with modern central heating systems, it is easy to keep nice and warm here, even if the weather outside isn't!

Another positive aspect that impressed Uncle John, was the friendliness of all our neighbours.

I think because Australia is a young country (in more than one sense), the culture is more in favour of arranging to meet up with people for a "Barbie on the Beach," rather than throwing a party in your home. I suppose because houses in England are generally built rather more closely together than they are in Australia, and we live in closer proximity to "the folk next door," we have a chance to get to know them more easily. It is certainly true in our area, and Uncle John loved meeting everyone and enjoying their company; some of our neighbours are as well-travelled as he is, and they had many interesting experiences to share with him.

Uncle John's first trip home in 40 years was proving to be a great success.