A very nice read. I visited one of those "lakes" in my business trip to a town near Winchester (about an hour outside of London). I don't mind getting a chance to fish the "lakes". And you're right, they would be called "small ponds" here in Ontario ;-)
Having to drive on the "wrong side" of the road is okay with me, but those runabouts sure almost got me killed. Imaging you have to drive on the other side of the rod, in the dark, don't forget you are sitting on the "passenger side"...and all of a sudden you are sucked in a whirlpool with cars coming in and out, in a direction that seems very wrong, and this all happens after an 8 hours flight .... total craziness...
I watched those DVDs you mentioned... looking forward to your next report, and don't let me wait for too long ;-)