I can't wait to leave the UK

[Vulcan]

Originally posted by eagl
Honestly, I don't see anything wrong with having work hours from 0900-1600.  It makes for more relaxing mornings, and anyone who wants to get more done in the morning by leaving early also gets the added benefit of being able to completely avoid rush hour by leaving before 0730.

Why not 10-1800? Thats what I do .Makes the difference between a 45 min drive and out and a 15 min one.

[Dinger]

Originally posted by Vulcan
hmmm armed plus gasleak and we'd have a potential darwin award winner on our hands

Hey, I'm all in favor of folks not having guns -- out here in the eastern med there's a "hunting culture" but nothing to shoot. It's hunting season now, and just from newspaper reports, 4 people a week are dying from gunshot wounds -- this in a country with a population of 700,000. Plenty of folks have guns, of course, and more interesting toys (60,000 Turkish regulars in the "Non-governmentally controlled parts" using the finest weapons America sold off during the Vietnam war guarantee a festive array of toys in the houses of most males), the grenade variety of which end up from time to time being chucked over the wire of the brit bases around here.

Still, a reasonable person doesn't point a gun unless he plans on using it.  Suggesting he'd set off a fuel-air explosion means that he'd fire the gun at unarmed people trying to do their job.
(and sure, at that time of night, it's an emergency call if they're out. And if it is a gas leak, US SOPs involve police blocking the street and handling civilians. The fire department is also involved. Drunks can wait)



In any case, it is hard to believe someone would be so conspicuous in casing a joint.

and, yeah, criminality in Great Britain is reaching scary levels.

[Saintaw]

Eh? When I worked in UK, I don't think I ever got home before 8 pm (that's IF I skipped the pub). 'cause, all those Cambridge culchies are all slackers, it's a known fact.

Saw (OX1)

[Furball]

Originally posted by eagl
But noticing such things and being concerned with the welfare of my family and property apparently makes me a bloated self-important something or other in the minds of certain Brits.  I'm disappointed by that since I've met a number of really nice Brits here, but not really suprised either.

It is hard to judge someone's personality by what they post on a bbs.

May i refer you to Red vs. Blue

Real Life Vs. The Internet

The political debate section is definitely relevant.

[AWMac]

My bet it was Dowding in the truck.... may i suggest an ice pick in hand when you approach the truck....?

It makes tires hiss, and big guys left screaming like lil girls....takes balls.

Let TESCO figure why their truck isn't at work in the morning, minus a few injured employees?





Just a suggestion Eagl.

[Leslie]

Anytime something strange was going on in front of my house, I always went to them and asked what they were doing there (if gas company, etc. during daylight hours).  Did confront motorcycle noisemakers out in front of my house one time during Mardi Gras season at night..  Had my jacket draped over my arm but had no weapon except 20 years experience in Shotokan Karate.  That was stupid I admit, but those guys (3), one of them tried to circle around me and I told him to get back where I could see him (they did because of the jacket.)

Then they left before I called the Police, and were really gone when the police did arrive.  Never have had any trouble after that, at my house anyway.

But you gotta weigh each situation, always must respond to it - wisely.




Les

[lada]

Originally posted by eagl
Hopefully the police will check into the gas leak angle.  Strange that their gas leak investigation consisted of parking in front of my house and shining a light around my cars and doors though...

what about to take a phone and ask them if they had a car in front of your house and why, when you are so scared ?


No no no... i have no gun, ufo is after me ... and they are going to put anal sonda like they did to Carman into my butt.. booooooooooo

[scott123]

Eagl,if you don't like my country pls leave now,and go back to where the sun always shines and theirs no crime.Straffo ppl in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

[scott123]

P.S. I can't wait for you to leave.

[storch]

Originally posted by scott123
Straffo ppl in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

ya especially from  inside of the glass house. that would allow all the harmful "greenhouse gasses" to escape.

[Sparks]

Eagl - regarding the "casing the house" theory and people not working at that time - Transco work 24 hours a day 365 days a year. They are responsible for the gas supply infrastructure and they will come and dig up your garden at 2 in the morning if they think there is a leak. Transco are also VERY sensitive about people impersonating their staff due to previous scams to gain entry to houses, so if you call them they will tell you if they had a team working in the area that night.

Your average house burglar will check your house over during the day while you are at work and when they can blend in with normal daily activities.

Now as far as work hours go, it is a gross exageration to say the British usual hours are 9 til 4.  Normal office hours are 9 to 5:30 and MOST people end up working overtime.  In all my working life in the UK I have never been able to stick to a 37 hour week, simply can't afford to.Certainly if you are trying to get in to Cambridge from Huntingdon you had better be on the A14 before 7:30 or forget getting in for 9:00. I even chose to work night shift at Marshalls because the traffic was easier going in at 8:00pm and coming  out at 6:30 a.m......

You also have to remember Cambridge is not your average city. It is a university town and a research centre so there is a significant number of people who work unusually short hours and based around university term times.

You may be looking forward to going home and I can find you many reasons to want to get out of the UK but you're painting with a pretty broad brush there .....

[Jackal1]

Yea, it`s really a shame that the folks in the UK have no rights to their last line of defense. That being gun ownership for home/self/family protection.
  What I think is more of a shame is the majority are so oppressed by their own government that instead of standing together and demanding the gun ownership rights be returned they make excuses for the government and their own lack of intestinal fortitude to stand up to them.  Sad stuff.

[lazs2]

leslie... you realize that you just became one of the 1.5-3 million Americans a year who stop a crime using a firearm?  

Of course... you didn't really have a firearm but... they thought you did.. And why wouldn't they?  In America that is a very real possibility when a homeowner confronts thugs.  

In england... the thugs would know you werent armed and... you would either get to see how well you learned karate against 3 good opponents of indeterminate skill level or.... you woulda gotten beat to a pulp.  

I liked the people in england...more in Scotland tho... they were very friendly but the place was oppressive.  I felt that the people were adjusted to a lifestyle that I found oppressive..  I don't drink so I couldn't sit in pubs and get oblivious and the weather sucked.    

Like I said... there aren't a lot of Americans pounding on the gates trying to move to  limeyland.

lazs

[Dago]

When you consider that fact that over 60% of British men regularly drink alcohol to excess, it probably is better they don't have guns.  Liver failure is probably more of a threat to the average Brit than crime, but crime is more of a threat to the average American living in Britian.

[Gunslinger]

Let's not forget, you chaps are defending a country who discussed banning pointy ended kitchen knives.