Originally posted by VOR
Didn't spend much time in the UK and didn't want to. It rained and every building was drafty and moldy. Oh, and I'll never forget the look of contempt on the teller's face at the exchange when in my ignorance I asked her if she had any one-pound notes.
I can see a connection between the chill in the English air and the chill in "English airs", but which feeds from the other is a mystery to me. Was it dreary outside when you made the observation above?
In contrast, I'm moving back to TX as soon as I'm able. Next time, I'm staying. It's the only place on Earth I've been to that I'm looking forward to living in.
Don't get me wrong, Beetle. I'm happy that you're happy where you are.
Well VOR, at least you've been here, so your opinion counts, unlike some who know jack all about the UK, never having been here. Yes it does rain sometimes - it's not raining today and the sun's out.
I've had experiences similar to your banking experience. I asked a bank in the US if they could supply me with some pounds sterling, sterling being the proper name for the UK currency, for a trip home I was about to make. And the lady said
"I'm sorry sir - we don't deal in precious metals" 
The other time was when I went to the US Post Office - the one near Cicero & Addsison in Chicago - to send an important letter to England. The US postal worker had not heard of the "United Kingdom" and thought it was in Russia!
this is not fair, Texas is a state that is bigger than many countries, England is a country that is smaller than many states. - john9001
It's a dubious comparison at best. Some people seem to think that size and size alone = diversity, which is of course bollocks.
Someone posted in the other thread that there was a distance of 900 miles between the Texas towns of El Paso and Beaumont, as if I was supposed to be impressed. I later made my own checks, and determined that the great circle distance was in fact ~738 miles. So I guess Britain has something Texas doesn't have - Roman roads - nice and straight!
The furthest you can travel in mainland Britain is 874 miles, between Land's End and John O'Groats. I assume this is a great circle distance, in which case the road distance would be ~1000 miles, but I can't be arsed to check. (A straight line would involve a water crossing) No bikini girl pics, but I took this one at Land's End last year. LE is in Cornwall - Swoop's favourite county! It's only adjoining county is Devonshire, to the east. (
at Mr. T)
Of course, Land's End is in England whereas John O'Groats is in Scotland, and some people might point out that this journey involves two countries - LOL! But wait, they're both part of the UK - since 1707 - but I know some guys on this board like to use information that's hundreds of years out of date.
Airscrew! - sorry about the prolonged period of toodle-pippage. I have a friend staying with me this week. He's on his way "home" to Qatar in the Middle East, and has been consuming two things in prodigious quantities while he still can - pork products and alcohol! So we had an evening out at this 14th century pub, about 3 miles from my house, where we sampled various local beers and had dinner - pork escalope! For as often as I come here, I really ought to have an account with that taxi firm...
Places like this ^ were amongst the things that I missed during my three years in the US. Old pubs like this one, and of course the "real ales" available within. In my travels around America, I never found anything like this of course. Although this place is 14th century, it's only been a pub in recent years - since c1700 - and I don't mean 5pm. LOL
To be fair, I should add that beer in the US has improved, with great strides having been made in the last ~20 years. There are a few excellent microbrewery pubs in Denver near Coors Field, and another good one I know in New York - the West Side Brewing company at 76th & Amsterdam - plus a great many in between I have no doubt. Don't know about Texas though.
