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Henry Dallimore found true love in Pottsville, Pennsylvania and emigrated there in 2006.

These are his messages back to Shorelink Community Writers.

Henry's First Message

I am quite elderly really I suppose (72 to be exact) and have recently emigrated to Pennsylvania and got married in June this year. I shall be sending "Letters from America" from time to time (in memory of Alistair Cooke), but we have been having a nice summer and fall and I have not got into the rhythm of sitting at the computer and writing. I joined Shorelink in the summer of '03 and write both prose and poetry, I started on my first novel in January 2000 but all I have written is the prologue and first paragraph of chapter one! So I doubt if it will ever get completed. My interests are railways together with most forms of transportation, digital photography and video making (no not that sort Missus!!). Since coming to America I have become a volunteer at our local library giving lessons in computer basics, digital photography and video.

Henry's "LETTER FROM AMERICA"

#26

March 25th 2010
America too has a census every ten years, and, as in Britain, it is this year. However it is far simpler; all that is required are the names, ages and ethnic origin of the occupants at each address. No enquiries as to whether we have running water, bathrooms, gas, number of cars etc etc. But interestingly enough it firstly states to mail it back immediately then asks how many guests will be staying there on April 1st. As it was received last week (March 16th) seems somewhat impossible to fully comply! We filled ours in in about five minutes and sent it straight back. What we shall do if we have any unexpected guests next Thursday remains to be seen!

Weatherwise last traces of the snow have all gone, we had one day in the 70’s last week so it really looks like Spring is on the way, it’s always late here in Pennsylvania.

April 18th 2010
Yes I know it’s been some time, almost a month, but I have been involved in other matters and then the Floppy Drive decided to play up. But I finally got it fixed and am now back in the letter business!

It has been a funny April weatherwise, we have had short periods of brilliant sunny weather with temperatures in the 80’s immediately followed by dull days in the 40’s. Today we are in the latter state but it is forecast to be back in the 70’s in a few day’s time. We hope for a good summer, but, as I have already said, anything above 68 is ok with me.

America is a very divided country at the moment, the new healthcare bill was very hotly contested and was passed by a very small margin.

There has emerged an organisation known as “the Tea Party”. This appears to be an assortment of disgruntled right wing rabble rousers who think we are paying too much in taxes (don’t we all?). One of the leading lights is Sarah Palin who was Govenor of Alaska. She chose to resign this post to suit her own convenience thus betraying the electors who put her there to do a specific job for a given time.. She has made millions from the sales of her book, why people bother to read that sort of literature is totally beyond me, and is tipped for the White House in ‘12. People seem to have short memories when it suits them, this dereliction of duty is never mentioned! I certainly would not wish to see her as President.

At the moment we are in the run up to the election of a new Govenor and State Senate and are bombarded with the customary assortment of commercials for various candidates. This happens every four years, midterm between presidential elections. The Govenor can only serve two terms (as does the president) but State Senators may remain for as long as it is seen fit to re elect them.

Anyway, enough about politics. The volcanic eruption has caused George (Linda’s Hubby) to get stranded on your side of the Pond. He was supposed to arrive back yesterday, we do not know when he will get here.

Pottsville High got knocked out of the State basketball competition so we didn’t get a victory parade with all the fire trucks. This was pity as I wanted to video it for you all to see. I shall try to get a summer parade on tape for you. Believe you me, it is really spectacular!

Life goes on here, the Writer’s Group is going very well, we have an enthusiastic core of about a dozen. Problem for me is, meeting only once a month instead of a week, I am not doing nearly so much writing as I used to. But with summer approaching maybe this is not a bad thing!!

Until next time.

BFN
H

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