A "warm" Hello from Cape Town

Hi everyone

My name is Graham Atkinson and as a bit of background, I am fifty two years old and I left the UK at the age of three and have been in Africa since then. I was born in London and my father was transferred to Barclays Bank, Botswana, or should I say, Bechuanaland in 1961, and that is where I grew up.

I was schooled in South Africa, went to University in Pietermaritzburg and in fact, worked in South Africa for many years, before going back to Botswana in 1990 to start my own business. I retired last year and came down to Cape Town where most of my family, and my wife's family, now live.

Even though I have been out of the UK for so many years, I remain a loyal and extremely patriotic Englishman, and take great pride in my heritage and my country. I have had many trips back home over the years and I never cease to find new reasons to feel a tremendous pride in being a part of this great country, in spite of the oft bemoaned problems that are reportedly besetting our Island every day. I try to look past these and remind myself of our proud history and the heritage we hand down to our children as proud son's and daughters of England.

I have spent a bit of time looking at the magnificent pictures on the site and it makes me more homesick evey time although, to be honest, I choose to remain in Cape Town where the weather is far kinder to us and it also allows me to play golf 365 days a year, almost!

Thank you for a magnificent visual site, it evokes memories of what I believe is the best asset of the British Isles, its proud history and its incredible beauty.

Now, how about a tour of the numerous sporting venues in England, from the football stadiums, to the cricket grounds, Twickenham, Wentworth, Wimbledon etc. Sport is an everyday part of British life and most especially after we retained the Ashes so convincingly recently!

Once again, thanks for a great web site!

Hi Graham and a very warm welcome from Pretoria to POE, lol. 

I've never lost my love for the "motherland" either! 

This is a wonderful site, and besides the great photos, the members of POE are warm, friendly, funny (there is nothing like the English sense of humour) and caring.  So I hope you also will find your way onto the various Forum threads and join in the fun.