Random notes from the UK

[magid]

In no particular order, and certainly not comprehensive...

• Doritos has "Latinos" crisps, which has, of course, led to all sorts of ribald sentences :-)
  
• Moor hens, mocking birds, a pheasant, and possibly a kingfisher
  
• Tube trains have upholstered seats and armrests
  
• Jaq and Theora's wedding was beautiful, and I'll probably have more coherent things to say anon
  
• Meeting new people who were friendly and congenial, also helpful
  
• Walking through a thunderstorm, and seeing a field so full of yellow flowers it still looked sunlit through all the rain
  
• The kosher book is fascinating reading, partly because English sweets have such fantastic names (and many, many thanks to Theora for getting it, despite the hassle, as well as lots of kosher food)
  
• I think I've managed to lose one of my more favorite skirts and my sneakers. *sigh* Not a huge deal, in the long run, but frustrating, especially when it's my own fault. (I really hope I can find some skirts when I get home; last time I looked I found nothing I wanted.)
  
• Detailed maps including walking paths of many sorts
  
• Narrow, narrow two-way roads with hedges on either side
  
• Traffic calming by blocking off one of two lanes briefly
  
• Riding in the passenger seat in a stick-shift car is odd, because the stick is in the right place, but the wheel isn't there.
  
• I've been run over by a train, and been over a train (a train sort of aqueduct running over the road, and a foot hovering over the back of a wedding dress)
  
• Green, green, green, and wonderful green smells after the rain
  
• A greater understanding of the highway numbering scheme
  
• I'm very unused to smoking happening inside anymore
  
• I can't believe I've watched as much TV as I have. Highlights: Takeshi's Castle (I don't understand why anyone would put themselves through that; I guess I have to chalk it up to being Japanese (Sorry, Scholargipsy.).), a show in Sign (with captions for the Sign-impaired), and an episode of the new Doctor Who (the first of a two-parter: MAB, I hope Queue and I can impose on you to see the other half!).

Comments

[hauntmeister.livejournal.com]

Jeepers, I had no idea you were going to the UK! Where are you, and for how long?

I found some of the most mundane things to be the most interesting. "Steam Cuisine" prepared meals, the way you buy tickets by zone for the movies, local TV, consistently nearly getting run down crossing the street because I looked the wrong way first.

If you're anywhere near London, theatre, theatre, theatre!

[magid.livejournal.com]

I did mention it a a few weeks ago... I'm on the north side of London, and here until Thursday.

I've been careful about checking both ways before crossing, especially when my route involves roundabouts, which seems inevitable outside the urban parts of London. And I suspect there will be another post just about signage...

Theatre, definitely. Perhaps tonight.

[scholargipsy.livejournal.com]

No worries; I find a fair bit of Japanese television unwatchable as well. I like the samurai dramas, though -- lots of fun hairstyles.

I know what you mean about green smells after rain...one of the things I'm missing most about New England right now.

[magid.livejournal.com]

I'm always astonished that samurai had such varied hairstyles, actually.

Oddly enough, the green smells here are noticeably different than what I smell at home, though it could just be the difference between being in the city and in the country.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you're having a good time!

[magid.livejournal.com]

Thanks! There have been a couple of annoyances, but on the whole, definitely good (heck, there was a wedding; everything else is a bonus :-).

Takeshi's Castle!

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Oh my god! That show is such a riot! I only ever saw it while I was in Italy, but it was great amusement :)

Re: Takeshi's Castle!

[queue.livejournal.com]

I told her that her posting it here would be easier than me emailing you about it. Well, um, easier for me, anyway.

Re: Takeshi's Castle!

[magid.livejournal.com]

You're welcome.

Re: Takeshi's Castle!

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

And that's the best reason to do anything!

[pling.livejournal.com]

So you did have BBC Three ... I found that the creepiest episode they've done so far this series (though that may have been partly due to my slightly fragile state ;) )

Hi! btw :)

[queue.livejournal.com]

I almost decided to stop watching it after the first minute or two because, you know, it's just not the same. I'm glad I stuck with it, though, as I rather enjoyed it.

[magid.livejournal.com]

I think I would've had an easier time seeing this Doctor as the first non-Tom Baker one, rather than the fifth, who still says Tristan from the BBC's All Creatures Great and Small.

[pling.livejournal.com]

I think it had to be different, though, really ... I mean the world's moved on in the last 15 years so keeping the whole feel would've seemed dated. Particularly if the female companion had been a silly bint who just screamed ;)

[magid.livejournal.com]

It makes me want to see some of the others (as if I didn't want to already), just to see what they're about (and I wonder if the creepiness was deliberate for this, a two-parter).

Hi! (hope you're feeling better)

[pling.livejournal.com]

The other two parter we'd had so far was rather more light-hearted and comedic, I think they're trying to vary things quite a bit in style (I prefer the dark/creepy ones myself :) ).

(And yes, thanks, I'm feeling better!)

[magid.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear they're not all creepy, though; even with the world having changed since the last time they were making the show, it would be odd to have it all be dark. (I was always creeped out by "The Talons of Weng Chiang," myself. Didn't matter how many times I'd seen it, either.)

[jarel.livejournal.com]

Riding in the passenger seat in a stick-shift car is odd, because the stick is in the right place, but the wheel isn't there.

I remember that from when we visited the US; it really did feel like the wheel just wasn't there, rather than it just being on the other side ;)

A greater understanding of the highway numbering scheme

... for me, too!

[magid.livejournal.com]

I have to wonder what it would be like riding in a 'teaching' car, that has an override on the other side. (I wonder if they can sell the same models in both countries, just setting different sides to override :-)

In the States, the major N-S highways end in 5, and generally go up from west to east coast (which is why Rte. 95 runs up the east coast), while E-W highways end in 0. But that only works for interstates, and other than that, it seems random, so it's neat to see another country's scheme with more thought put in.

[jaq.livejournal.com]

The teaching cars here have extra brake and clutch pedals on the passenger side but none of the other controls duplicated. My instructor seemed quite adept at reaching over and adjusting the steering wheel when necessary from the other side.