When we first moved here there were lots of fun (and mouldy!) observations I could share with you all back home. We were learning about life in Bermuda and the blog was a great way to keep you all in touch with our progress. What’s there to say a year on? Nothing new you’d think…but Toby and I have started noticing a difference second time round!
Last year we arrived to get the very tail end of the summer, were settling in over the quick ‘autumn’ that we get and in no time at all were experiencing the Bermudian winter. Now of course ‘winter’ is around 20 degrees C and quite different to home, but work with me on this!
A year on an we’re amazed how cold we feel zipping round on the scooter, particularly on the way to work and at night. We are seriously wrapped up in jumpers, coats, scarfs and gloves. I asked Toby, “Did we not go out on the scooter last year, because I really don’t remember this cold!” We’ve obviously acclimatised…
And then there’s Christmas. Last year, lights and decorations start going up from Thanksgiving onward. It was just odd! We’re on a sub-tropical island, regularly on the beach, not quite adapted to the heat and really not feeling very Christmasey. We did our best and surprised ourselves with the fun we had, but dare I say it was ‘fun-fun’ rather than ‘Christmas-fun’. This year is different though. This isn’t an island paradise that we’re still exploring and getting to know. This isn’t somewhere we’re trying to establish ourselves. It’s ‘home’ now! And I’m pleased to say now we’re properly settled into the island, it’s possible to feel Christmasey in the run-up to Christmas. So much fun!
Last night we headed to St George for the National Trust organised ‘Christmas Walkaround’ with Naomi and Jon. St George was lit up with Christmas lights (and bizarrely a lot of trees had jumpers!) ;
Old National Trust owned homes that throughout the year are rented out to live in are opened up for us to look around;
And the kind owners often offer eggnog, mulled wine or sherry as we explore the most adorable houses ever. Dare I say part of the appeal was the very ‘old British’ feel, but it was so lovely! We’re actually frustrated to not have managed a more organised route to see more houses. I can see we’ll be moving back to a country cottage in the UK rather than a modern city apartment based on the ‘oooo’s and ahhhh’s’!!
For all we feel Christmasey, everyone still feel’s it’s not quite authentic unless you’re cold though. We are all creatures of habit after all!
It’s been great reading your blog & finding out a little about Bermudian life from an expat viewpoint.
Now we are soon to join you. Finally heading out there 10th Jan. the acclimatisation begins!
Happy new year to you both.
How exciting! I hope the move all goes smoothly. Expect a few things to take longer than you might expect or a ‘simple’ thing to be made more complex than you think it should and then after a couple of weeks you’ll not even notice! I think it’s great to arrive in the winter because it’s all new and exciting and then summer hits and it just gets better! People who arrive in the summer are spoiled with activities and then at a loss when the winter comes!
Best of luck and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!