Hot Should Not Last This Long - And A Question About England

[liminal_space]

The weather has been wretched for this time of year; combine that with the smoke from California burning, and it's been miserable and stupid and full of ICK.

We are supposed to cool down (to mid 70s) by the end of this week and there's a chance for good winds on Saturday. That will help blow out the valley and maybe replace the nasty air with better. I sure hope so; not that I'm doing crazy riding, but I'm doing enough for just moving around in it makes my chest feel tight and wheezy. I don't worry about Dakota too much, because he's basically just walking around as horses do.

Last night he showed me again why he's such a special pony. I had a treeless saddle on to try and thought "Oh, I'll just put my weight in the stirrup and hop up." He's sooooo low withered and the girth had jussssst enough play that the saddle went sideways and I went down. I didn't fall, but it was surprising. He just sort of danced aside a bit, but we recovered. lol

Part of the problem is I'm riding in the round pen and the mounting block is backwards. So I'm stretching my leg WAAAAAY out and over and it's dangerous and stupid and whatever. But apparently it's not dangerous, stupid, and whatever enough to make me put a real saddle on and ride in the arena. Probably because the memory of him being in the arena when there were dear and acting like a snorting, foolish dragon is fresh.

.

I have learned how to make a very decent soft boiled egg and have almost mastered how to pull it out of the shell. I am one step closer to making Scotch eggs. *nod* This weekend I'm making a lemon sponge, so if I ever live in England, I am going to be in good shape for entertaining.

Shhh.

So, that leads me to a question....have you ever been to England? Because I have questions. ;)

Comments

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

Only London and a couple day-trips to Blackpool Pleasure Beach (the inspiration for RollerCoaster Tycoon 2) and Thorpe Park.

It's a lovely place, the food sucks, the candy's great and also Beans. Blood sausage tastes like scabs and 'Mind the (FILL IN THE BLANK)' is British for This Can and Will Make You Die.

My biggest regret is not ordering a jacket potato topped with beans and tuna.
Mostly to see if such an request would cause space/time to go 'Nope' and mercifully collapse on itself.

I think I've answered every question I'd be good for.

[malterre.livejournal.com]

We visited London and some southern English towns.

Leeds-an industrial town with a great museum
London-a city for people with quick reflexes and an f-ton of money. The best food came from other cultures (French patisserie, Thai take-away) Liked the parks and museums.
Swindon-a suburb/city so basic that Ben Aaronovitch makes fun of it in his latest series of short stories and I did a spit-take.
Greenwich-pretty but crowded. Don't go to eel and pie shop to eat. I mean it. You will be sad.
Salisbury-download a map because google maps will trap you there-pretty city and liked walking along the Avon river.
husband did a business trip (https://fbhjr.livejournal.com/1285012.html -start at day 10 for tourist stuff)

Wales rocks and would go again in a heartbeat. (https://fbhjr.livejournal.com/1047628.html)

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

I have been but it was a long time ago. The teas, candy and cheeses were awesome and so were the Chinese and Indian restaurants (and they were less expensive than similar ones in the US) The museums in London were amazing but I couldn't find my way around enough to find the Abbey Road crossing. The theater was great and WAY less expensive than in the US. Most of the people were friendly. Oxford had the coolest bookstores ever. what else do you want to know?

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I’ve been there a few times to different parts.
But, no where near all.
Let me know the questions and I can try and answer them...

[elainegrey.livejournal.com]

My parents took all us kids when i was a freshman in college over Thanksgiving break. It was a very quick trip and the low angle of the sun and the shortness of the days stayed with me. I don't think there's much i can help with re questions unless it's how to use a video recorder to make going around roundabouts the "wrong way" look even more chaotic than it was.

[liminal-space.livejournal.com]

"Blood sausage tastes like scabs" -- I died.

You hit the pertinent points, thank you! lol

[liminal-space.livejournal.com]

Thanks SOOOO much for the pictures and tidbits of info!

Wales really does look beautiful!

[liminal-space.livejournal.com]

I have been in this orbit of fascination about what Brits eat on a daily basis. It all started when I spent a good hour watching videos about beans on toast.

What was the best thing you ate there that was, truly, "British"?

[liminal-space.livejournal.com]

I want to know what people there eat on a daily basis! What weird phrases they use! I guess I'm just fascinated right now about normal stuff that normal people do there. lol

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

That wasn't funny. I'm trying to spit in my napkin all droll an shit

[liminal-space.livejournal.com]

The image that stuck with you of short days fits with what I think it's like there all the time. ;)

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

Fish and chips, cheese, candy and tea.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

The places I stayed tended to have big breakfasts. That’s certainly true at B&Bs and hotels. If you’re visiting people, maybe not as true.

I never had any trouble finding places for lunch or dinner. Pubs are usually a good bet and you can get burgers or similar there. There tend to be take out (called take away there) places in the towns, but fewer sit down places than in the US. Bigger towns have them, not smaller.
Table service is rare at those places. You normally have to find a table, and then go up to the bar to order. Some places bring it to you, but many you have to go to the bar to get it when it’s ready.
Except in big towns or cities restaurants tend to be high end places. Some of the big towns and cities have mid range places like the US.
Indian food seems very popular there. (Called curries there, even when they offer more than just that.)

So, to eat, look to pubs.
Places like London have lots of small places to eat, but London is very different from the rest of England.

Phrases?
There are lots of them.
Traffic circles=roundabouts
Boot=trunk of a car
Lift=elevator

They drive on the left and insanely fast on narrow roads. If you are driving they will tailgate you and honk to get you to move at what they think is reasonable.

If you’re interested I’ve got lots of entries about it here:
https://fbhjr.livejournal.com/tag/england

Normal people do normal things there. Go to work, shop, eat, watch TV...
They do tend to stay closer to home than here in the US.

The first time I went there the guy at customs asked where I was going.
“That’s a long way from here!” He said when I told him.
“Really? Google says it is a 2 hour drive..”
“That’s right! You’re Yanks! You’ll be fine!”

The saying is 100 miles is a long way in England, 100 years is a long time in the US...


Edited to add: here’s a good list of different terms: https://www.lexico.com/grammar/british-and-american-terms