Things I'm noticing about life in the UK

We've been back in the UK for over a month now, and have spent a couple of weeks away on holiday, and a bit more of that catching up with friends. Last night we were unexpectedly children free, and popped round to see some friends. We walked over, down suburban streets, around half past nine. Of course we would never do such a thing in Kenya, walking out after dark (though most Kenyans have no choice on that matter). But the other strange thing was that there was no-one else on the street - not even in a car. Deserted, which felt... different.

Another less profound thing that I've been noticing is the amazing lack of insects in the house. Just hardly any (though there's a fly buzzing around this morning).

A few things have changed while we've been away - for the first time I've topped up a phone at the cashpoint, and unblocked a pin number. Cool. Faster internet. BBC iPlayer is totally wonderful. Thank you BBC, we love you! But apart from that, life goes on much as normal. And despite the occasional new building here, there's not the sense of growth and development that you get in Nairobi. Reading is much as it was, but Nairobi is full of new housing estates, all over the place, burgeoning traffic (not necessarily a good thing, but it shows the growth), new shopping centres, expansion in general. It's an interesting contrast.