Dr. Neil Hair

As a proud Brit this time of year always depresses me a little - no bonfire night or fireworks on the 5th (technically I could probably make my own but the fireworks bit would get me a arrested in the state of New York) and no poppies adorning the lapels of most of the country. Let me explain for the Americans. Every year it is seen to be the 'done thing' to purchase a paper poppy (red in colour with a ludicrous green plastic stem) and to wear that up to and beyond remembrance Sunday. Its a kind of national bonding where we remember what we owe and to whom. All the presenters on TV wear them, politicians, entertainers - the lot. And out here I kind of feel left out of this because its well past poppy season and I dont have many options. So, enter Rose and her mother-in-law. Rose + Mum want to go to Buffalo's Galleria (a lot better than the yarn shop I can tell you). Neil gets to drive (lucky me). Neil enters mall having noticed that just about ALL of the cars in the car park are Canadian. Neil sees lots of Canadians wearing red poppies (fabric ones interestingly, not paper) - Neil misses England but has a smile on his face knowing that the Canadians really are just like us back home. So, point of the story - shared culture, shared history. Other interesting things you probably dont know about the shared issues: both nations are addicted to Coranation Street, both eat apple pie with cheddar cheese, both love flat caps and Barbour jackets (if what I saw in the mall yesterday is representative), both proudly fly the Union Jack (despite independence), both claim to have special relationships with each other and my new home - America.