New beginnings and the search for the holy kettle

WOW, what a difference a week makes.

No job, no car, no phone, no direct debits, no rain, oh and no kettle (we’ll get to the latter later).

But you know what? I couldn’t be happier. Seriously.

It’s true, sooner or later your possessions start owning you.

So I can’t tell you how incredibly liberating it feels to shed yourself of all the things you’ve become so dependent on.

I’m now living in Mexico. Tijuana, Mexico, to be exact, as a legal alien.

And I have THE most beautiful Latin girlfriend – which is what inspired this move after all.

I’m in that delirious mental place where nothing else matters but the love of another.

Am I dreaming? If I’m not then this is as close to perfection right now as I could ever close my eyes and wish for.

I can’t pretend that it’s easy being an English guy living in a predominantly non-English speaking country.

But it’s a challenge and sink or swim right?

In the space of a few days my Spanish has improved dramatically.

It’s amazing how much you can remember from GCSE Spanish lessons like 20 years (eek!) ago.

And it’s fun just making up your own phrases. I figure that if you can, at the very least, make people smile with your quirky language then you’re half way there.

Jacky is working full-time so I have no choice but to learn to speak Spanish to her mum – who for the record hardly speaks a word of English – and her dad, who only speaks a little.

This is a new beginning for Jacky and I, and we always said that as long as we were together we could make a plan. And that’s all that matters right now.

Anyway kettles, that’s what I really want to talk about today.

Now I’m pretty sure that no-one has ever asked you this question before in your lives but, have you got any freaking idea how difficult it is to buy a ‘kettle’ in Mexico.

I mean seriously?!

I’m actually laughing out-loud writing this.

Re-locating to a different continent you need some home comforts right?

Sure, I packed some Golden Virginia tobacco, menthol filter tips and Trebor extra strong mints.

I also packed my coffee bean grinder because, no matter what day it is in any part of the world, you need a good coffee to start the day right?

So having packed the grinder, and purchased some lovely looking Mexican coffee beans over here, I was all set.

But then I noticed that Jacky’s mum and dad don’t seem to own a kettle. Well, a ‘kettle’ in our sense of the word.

What they have got is a coffee percolator which they use to heat water but it’s not quite the same right?!

So anyway, I said I’d buy a kettle as a sort of mini gift for mi nuevo casa.

No sweat I thought... wrong!

Seriously, it’s turned into an epic pursuit which rivals the search for the holy grail!

There are no Dixons or Currys here. Sure I could order one online but hey, Jacky’s still waiting for a card I posted nine WEEKS ago from the UK.

So we checked out Walmart, the cornerstone of America’s domestic eating arrangements.

You know you can buy a MOTORBIKE and tyres in Walmart in Mexico?! I sh*t you not.

Sadly no kettles. I was walking round and round the aisles trying to explain to Jacky what the hell I was on about, and to no avail.

I’m determined though, so watch this space.

Hey so last night I shared one of my other home comforts with Jacky – a cup of Tetley tea!

You see, the last time I was out here Jacks mentioned she had never had ‘tea con leche’ (tea with milk).

She offered to make me a cup of tea and asked what type I’d prefer.

“Tetley?” I asked.

“Que?” was the reply.

“Er... PG Tips?”

“Que?!”

“... English... Breakfast... tea?!”

Cue another confused look.

We settled on cafe con leche.

So one of the last things I packed before I left the UK was a small packet of Tetley tea bags.

And I’m pleased to say that we have some new Tetley fans. In fact a whole family of Tetley fans.

I’m seriously thinking of becoming a Tetley ambassador over here.

So there you go, this is just a short (well, not really) update on my new life in Mexico.

Oh and for the record mum – I’m eating and sleeping well, I’m not talking to strangers, and I remembered to pack my ‘Ps and Qs’.