Like riding a bike

It's amazing what you fall back into as soon as you step foot in your native land isn't it?  People always remark that I've never picked up an American accent but my goodness I have adopted some of their ways - or at least according to my mother, who took offence at me complaining about English rainy weather. (To be fair to Americans here - they are usually the only ones in the UK not complaining about the weather.)

It was rather interesting however to notice how quickly I became re accustomed to:

- finding the @ key on an English keyboard. (It's swapped with the " key.)

- running out to bring the washing in when a dark cloud appeared.  (Actually, in many places in the USA you're not allowed to hang your washing out. And there's a petition to restore the American right to do so here. Only in America eh?)

- leaving the washing out in the rain because it would dry very quickly once the sun came out again. (This summer in Chicago was so humid that the washing would still be there now, trying to dry.)

- ironing a lot more. (The downside to line-drying.)

- driving at the speed of sound. (Or getting beeped at when I didn't.)

- other drivers letting me in when I wanted to change lanes/merge from elsewhere/get onto a main road. (I know this isn't true throughout the States, but in Chicago, other drivers would rather stick pins in their eyes than let you cut in in front of them. Even when the traffic is moving at a snail's pace. Grrr.)

- brilliant TV. (BBC America just doesn't cut it, I'm afraid.)

- not having to skimp with the Branston pickle. (I know where to buy it, but it's quite expensive.)

But now I'm back to sticking everything in the dryer and only watching the news on TV.