Watching Jonathan Phang's Gourmet Trains on Asian Food Channel renewed and intensified the dream of living in England for the long-run. It is a dream however, due to my limited mobility and health condition. Still, I can fantasise about this dream, can't I?
If I were to live in England, I would choose to settle in Bath. It is where I wished I could have spent a longer time there, on a day trip some years back. I decided to skip the Pump Rooms during the trip as well, a decision which has made me wistful with regrets at times. If I were in Bath, I would open my own cafe to let people try some dishes and baking delights I whip up. There would be no limit too to the categories of food I share. They would depend on my spontaneity of the day and time.
At the same time, being in Bath would mean I get to participate in the Jane Austen festival. What fun it would be to wear the dresses of the Regency era and live the lifestyle of the characters in her books! I could even meet my Mr Darcy as a result, who knows! Just like in Austenland, I reckon England would have such experiential vacations too. I would embark on those too! I would be able to visit Chawton and Winchester as well, like how it is in Me and Mr Darcy. Pride and Prejudice would also come alive for me, with the visit to Longbourn and Derbyshire.
Of course, England being known for her literary world, has so many other tours associated with other writers too, Ooo, the wonders and adventures beckon!
Being in England can also mean I finally get to wear hats without feeling self-conscious and I get to start preparing for Christmas in July. All those weekend flea markets, and enticing shops especially in Notting Hill, would be a stone's throw away. All museums being free, I would visit especially the V&A Museum when new exhibits come in, and British Museum which I didn't visit the last time I went to England. I would go for the Wimbledon matches and explore the English villages with its family-friendly pubs, where there would be games and grub worthy of positive critique.
The dream is so sweet that I feel so satisfied and fulfilled just fantasising about it. Aaah.....imaginative bliss!
