IN COGNITO!

The family that came down to the pool on Sunday were not as pleasantly surprised as they thought they might be,  Two little girls and their dad entered the area, with expectations of a wonderfully fun afternoon in the water, but soon realised the temperature was not conducive to just standing around and splashing! Despite the beautiful sunshine, the month was still March!  Seventy four may be pleasant to sit, or walk, but as a liquid temperature, it is not particularly warm!  Having had my swim, I was now ready to get warm, again!  I left them to it, with the girls telling their father that they wanted to go home!

Once the week started, there was no time for frivolity.  The maintenance man at our office was called to fix a light.  He is a very pleasant chap, with whom I share a fascination of the younger generation and their ability to understand English, be it American or Original!  He has chased off many a solicitor, showing them the rather large sign on the door, that expressly forbids them attempting to 'sell their wares' on the premises.  We have come to the joint conclusion that they have no idea to what 'no soliciting' pertains.  Of course, I explained that in England, the sign would (or did) refer to the 'oldest profession' and 'ladies of the night' were not permitted to tempt possible customers to partake in illicit adventures!  Plying ones wares is not permitted in our building, in any shape or form, although I have not encountered any 'traditional' vendors.  Normally, we encounter those wishing to promote their telephone expertise, or electronic devices!  However, I digress!  Our maintenance man came in to check out a faulty light bulb and left having fitted a new and improved unit!  Within minutes, another bulb in another unit had blown!

It was with a strange sense of regret that I realised I am no longer up on what goes on in this city in which I live.  My friend, Michele, (the lady who first suggested I 'blog', and whose identify perhaps I should have not given, to protect the innocent,) told me that a colleague of hers will be visiting Austin in the autumn, coming primarily to attend the Formula 1 races!  She asked for some suggestions for day trips, good restaurants, and any other things of interest!  My first response was to suggest San Antonio, and the Alamo, or perhaps a longer drive to the Space Center in Houston.  Locally...well there I was stumped a little.  Not working 'downtown' and rarely venturing there, apart from going to concerts, which did not really give me an insight into what is actually on offer, I am a little out of touch!  Sixth Street, off which we used to office, is not the same buzzing place as it was, and other venues that were popular for visitors have been either closed or rebuilt.  I told her that I would get back to her with a list.  It was all rather sad.  I was no longer a 'tourist'!

Although I have been here for two decades, and am no longer the 'tourist' that I was for at least one of them, with tourist tendencies merging into the start of the second ten years, I am still not completely accepted as a 'local'.  I am quite happy with that as it keeps my identity alive!  My expertise on all things 'British' is considered to be a plus by many, although I am far more knowledgeable of US and Texan law than I am of current British.  "Not any more" I hear more and more, as I speak to family and friends.  A different form of government, of course, naturally means different 'rights' and knowing the 'can's' and 'can't's' of where you live, has to be an advantage.  However, on a culinary level, I think I have become pretty au fait with both!  However, a culinary level will not get me out of a speeding ticket, or parking fine, etc!  "Please, officer.  I can tell you how to bake the perfect cake", or "Contempt, your honour!  How about a great recipe for Yorkshire Pudding!", would probably not be considered a 'bullet proof' defense!  Nor, "I can tell you the difference between an English pint and tablespoon, opposed to an American!"   

Back to my week, and it progressed.  I won tickets for a hockey game, but could not attend.  Samantha and Edward gladly accepted the prize, and the little one had a great time.  Perhaps it is because the game is so fast.  Hockey was never 'my' game.  I managed to avoid it when in school, although Ice Hockey may have been more enjoyable.  Since moving here, I have become quite the fan, especially when 'given' tickets, grattis!  I was glad the tickets could be used.

The maintenance man arrived back on site, and wondered if the Brits were causing a revolt.  "Is it safe to come in?" he joked.  Apparently the issue was more severe than just a blown bulb and he had to come back with more equipment the following day.  "Let me know if there are any more problems!" he said, laughing that this was a 'take over' ploy!  

The week progressed, and it was looking to be our busiest ever!  The mornings were quite warm, giving way to hotter days, and by Friday it was looking like summer.  Blooms appeared, and the smell of lilac was very strong in the air.  Despite having the same smell, the blooms have a slightly different appearance.  It does remind me of home, and my childhood.  Lilac generally meant spring had sprung.  

One of our gals brought her son and daughter in law into the office, with her granddaughter.  Her son, whom we have known since a lad, had worked with us for a while many years ago, and it is always good to see him.  He mentioned that they were going to take a 'Duck Tour'.  "Duck Tour!" I repeated, and told him that I had been asked to give some suggestions of local things to do, to some visitors that were coming in October.  He was reared in the greater Austin area, and he admitted to feeling like a tourist now.  He had no idea what to show his wife as being typically Austin.  I admitted to having the same feeling, having been away from Downtown for so long.  "And I am a foreigner!" I added, mentioning that when I go home I feel more like a tourist, and definitely do 'tourist things'.  I have never taken a 'Duck Tour', although the 'water' part is not really appealing to me.  

We finished work on Friday night and exited the cool office building into a humid evening dusk.  April!  Rain had been forecast, and we were looking forward to it, as the ground has been very dry, but it did not appear to materialise.  I watched all evening for signs of a storm, but despite dark clouds gathering, no moisture fell.

Saturday morning felt slightly more chilly.  We had a slight downpour around five, but it had not made much difference.  The pool was still hovering at around seventy two degrees, even though the wind had picked up.  I emptied the skimmers and headed home.  After shopping with my daughter and grandson, where we were greeted in all stores like long lost friends, I decided to see if it was warm enough to swim. As the water was warmer than the outside temperature, it felt rather good, but it was not really warm enough to sit and read.  I headed back to the warmer inside!  I had to wear a jacket for the first time this week!

Always amused, but never surprised, by the change in the temperatures, I ventured out into what were arctic conditions on Sunday.  Although the temperatures read about 45, the 'feels like' due to the wind, was below freezing.  The bitter breeze cut through my coat, and my eyes watered as I trudged along, wondering why I had bothered to brave the elements.  I cleaned the skimmers, which were full, and swept the filters, as best I could, taking care not to allow my phone to be in a position to fall in!  It was not going to get much warmer, and the water temperature had dropped to sixty!  Although it was warmer than the outside temperature, I doubted I would be swimming later!  It was not as if I had to!  Perhaps in the early years, I would have taken on the challenge, and perhaps remembering what it was like to be a 'tourist' would revive the 'what you can do in Austin' memories, but other methods may be a little more appealing!

After speaking to my sister, and sharing events of our lives, I once again marveled at how I got here!  I feel that as long as I remember the times that I was a tourist, and indeed, a visitor, I would still feel everything was new.  An Englishwoman abroad!  Perhaps Texan in dress (sometimes) and Texan in activity and lifestyle (moreso) I will always be that Englishwoman abroad.  Perhaps some consider eccentric.  Sometimes it is exciting and sometimes mundane.  After all, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.  The question is, from which side of the fence do you want to view the grass.  Now that is a topic for ........... another story!