[teuchter]

Oh yes, nearly forgot, dodgy attitude towards Eurovision (not to be mentioned in polite society... or any other for that matter if you want to keep your friends!) which means no serious band actually tries to win it for the UK cause I've been reliably informed that would ruin their careers while at the same time everyone whines about the UK not winning it? I'm still scratching my head over it... if that's not weird, I don't know what is...

Weird indeed. Eurovision elicits the most contradictory emotions in a Brit: publicly, they feel they must be seen to be mocking it and dismissing it as a twee/tasteless/camp Euro-kitschfest* - whereas privately they are rooting for the UK's entry and hoping beyond hope that the hapless (hopeless?!) British representative(s) can yet somehow reign supreme and show 'them foreigners' how it's done

*hence Graham Norton being the perfect choice of host

teuchter

 

[fergie]

I have found Eurovision Song Contest as a 'comedy', especially since Europe has changed its boundaries, to include some of the old 'eastern block' countries, there is predictive and political votes between neighbouring countries.
The older version of Eurovision, used to be introduced by Terry Wogan, he is Irish with a great sense of comedy, for those who might not him,Graham Norton also comes from Ireland and has a great humouress way of presenting the show.
The older version of Eurovision, came from a smaller Europe, and each country mainly sang in their own languages,then if the song won, the encore often changed to the English language, to make the lyrics more popular in other European countries, and many more artists were discovered and became famous.
Abba, represented Sweden, and sang Waterloo, in Swedish, which sounded really great, then when it was sang in English, whoopee! Their career took off as world renowned artists.
Celine Dionne, as a very young performer once represented (I think ?) in the Eurovision Song Contest, as she is FrenchCanadian, her career took off after that, when people realised what a great voice she had, and still has.
UK entries, many years ago have been Cliff Richard, Bucks Fizz, and their entry songs are still played at 70-80s discos.
The Eurovision Song Contest of today, allows any European country to sing lyrics in English if they wish, maybe it is an easier language for rhyming! But it is definitely only predictive as to which country will vote for their neighbouring country, not necessarily the best voice, or singer, so you can understand why any famous artist, with a career already is reluctant to enter these days.
Still the contest is entertaining for a nights TV viewing.

 

[ca4uk]

-People wearing jackets when it's 18C outside
-Hot dogs in jars
-Cars parked on kerbs

 

[Joppa]

Eurovision changed the rules for this year's competition to avoid overt politically-motivated 'block' voting. Final voting figures for each country comprise independent, professional assessment (conducted before the show is aired) plus a limited amount of popular vote on the night.

 

[Pallykin]

I seem to the English and the Irish giving each other low marks in the Eurovision Song Contest back in the 70s... Times perhaps have changed?

 

[colchar]

I think the thing to put in the window is a bad idea because it could be shared with others.
I've actually heard of that done once. I think the plate thing is the most verifiable thing because you cant just take that off and share it around haha!

No, but someone who is not disabled could drive the car so same situation.

 

[Pallykin]

I think it's weirdly cool when really scrumptious food is described as "gorgeous". I don't recall hearing this in the past... Is it newish? It's fun because it's so enthusiastic.

 

[colchar]

Driving... The fact that the majority British drivers actually adhere to speed limits takes a bit of getting used to. In the US, a 60MPH limit means you can usually drive up to 75MPH before you're in danger of being noticed by highway patrol.

I agree wholeheartedly. Here in Canada you have some leeway with the speed limit as well.

The other thing that I find weird is the new law about driving in the middle lane on a highway - you can be charged for staying in it too long - as the driving regulations as I read them simply do not make sense (I looked them up after seeing a story a week or two ago about the first person in Britain who was charged for driving in the middle lane for too long).

Apparently everyone is supposed to drive in the left lane and only use the middle lane to overtake someone - but you then have to get back in the left lane. Based on that, one wonders why the right lane even exists!


Here in Ontario it is completely different. The right lane (the equivalent of the left lane in Britain because we drive on the opposite side of the road) is for those entering and exiting the highway and for slower moving traffic. The middle lane is for everyone else. And the left lane (the equivalent of the right lane in Britain) is for ing/overtaking. But here there is no limit on how long you can drive in the middle or right lane. So long as you are going with the flow of traffic and are not holding everyone else up, you can spend your entire journey in those lanes and the cops couldn't care less. But in Britain everyone is supposed to putt along in the left lane which is just dumb.

And what the hell do those weird, angled lines at the side of the road even mean?

Recycling is out of control with five different bins required. It is especially bad when many houses have nowhere to store the bins except out front which look absolutely terrible. And speaking of control, it often seems that there are too many petty regulations which serve no purpose other than to control people's behaviour and that entities like local councils are far too intrusive. The jobsworths need to mind their own damned business!

A couple of other things bother me as well. First, that they can take your DNA when you are charged with a crime (not convicted, simply charged). Here in Canada that is illegal and DNA can only be taken after conviction and, even then, only for certain crimes. Then there is the warning given when arrested in Britain - that not saying something that you later rely on in court can harm your defense Here in Canada the right to remain silent is absolute and remaining silent cannot be used against you, or even be cause for suspicion. Now these last two issues only apply to those who get themselves arrested, but I thought of them because I have a lot of British cops in my family and have had discussions about this with them.

 

[jojo]

I love this thread!! Because, to us Brits, everything you've mentioned seems quite normal lol

Jo xxx

 

[colchar]

There's no mashed potato and gravy at KFC. Just gravy. Why???

(Honestly this still annoys me 9 months after my last trip to UK, I'm sure I'll pick up on other weird things once im there permanently- one more week until I arrive!!)

Mashed potatoes are not available at KFC in Canada either. While mashed potatoes are widely eaten in Canada and the UK, they are not usually used as a side dish with fried chicken and most certainly are not used as a side dish with fast food.

 

[WestCoastCanadianGirl]

I agree wholeheartedly. Here in Canada you have some leeway with the speed limit as well.

The other thing that I find weird is the new law about driving in the middle lane on a highway - you can be charged for staying in it too long - as the driving regulations as I read them simply do not make sense (I looked them up after seeing a story a week or two ago about the first person in Britain who was charged for driving in the middle lane for too long).

Apparently everyone is supposed to drive in the left lane and only use the middle lane to overtake someone - but you then have to get back in the left lane. Based on that, one wonders why the right lane even exists!


Here in Ontario it is completely different. The right lane (the equivalent of the left lane in Britain because we drive on the opposite side of the road) is for those entering and exiting the highway and for slower moving traffic. The middle lane is for everyone else. And the left lane (the equivalent of the right lane in Britain) is for ing/overtaking. But here there is no limit on how long you can drive in the middle or right lane. So long as you are going with the flow of traffic and are not holding everyone else up, you can spend your entire journey in those lanes and the cops couldn't care less. But in Britain everyone is supposed to putt along in the left lane which is just dumb.

And what the hell do those weird, angled lines at the side of the road even mean?

Recycling is out of control with five different bins required. It is especially bad when many houses have nowhere to store the bins except out front which look absolutely terrible. And speaking of control, it often seems that there are too many petty regulations which serve no purpose other than to control people's behaviour and that entities like local councils are far too intrusive. The jobsworths need to mind their own damned business!

A couple of other things bother me as well. First, that they can take your DNA when you are charged with a crime (not convicted, simply charged). Here in Canada that is illegal and DNA can only be taken after conviction and, even then, only for certain crimes. Then there is the warning given when arrested in Britain - that not saying something that you later rely on in court can harm your defense Here in Canada the right to remain silent is absolute and remaining silent cannot be used against you, or even be cause for suspicion. Now these last two issues only apply to those who get themselves arrested, but I thought of them because I have a lot of British cops in my family and have had discussions about this with them.

No Parking.

 

[HatakeSage]

^ Not gonna lie, they tried to introduce those into Michigan this past summer while I was in the Uk. I came back and they were gone, apparently everyone hated it.

 

[murtle_007]

Hot dog wieners in a jar was strange to me too, and i never see them (not that I want to eat them anyway) but they are a BBQ staple where I'm from!
Tiny washing machines annoy me. I have an 8kg one but it still seems half as big as a "normal sized" North American washer.

We made a fry up for breakfast while my dad visited and he couldn't believe the amount of food on his plate haha!

The cost of a hamburger, then you order fries and a drink and it equals around $30 a person.. Ouch

 

[teuchter]

One thing in the UK I find weird (read: hugely irritating) is the over-(ab)use of the word 'pop'...let me illustrate:

- I recently had to attend our local hospital for an x-ray. Upon arrival at the radiology department, I was instructed to 'pop' my appointment letter into the in-tray...a few minutes later, my name was called and I was instructed to 'pop' into a changing cubicle where I was to 'pop off' my shoes and clothes; 'pop' them into a locker and 'pop on' a hospital gown before 'popping' up onto the plinth

- at the supermarket, the staff member at the till instructs me to 'pop' my debit card into the card reader, then 'pop' my PIN number (sic) into the machine, before they 'pop' my receipt into one of my carrier bags

- at a tyre service centre the other day, I was told to 'pop' the handbrake on and 'pop' the car keys into reception

- at the vet's, I am asked to 'pop' my puppy on the scales to be weighed and shown how to 'pop' the prescribed eyedrops into his eyes

- the courier delivery guy always asks me to 'pop' a signature onto the screen of his handheld device thingy

- my optician asked me to 'pop' my new glasses on so they could be fitted properly

- I've lost count of the number of call centre operators who have informed me that they are about to 'pop' me on hold

When did this happen?!! :confused2:

teuchter

 

[teuchter]

Recycling is out of control with five different bins required.

What - only five?!

Here we have seven:

- one for general waste
- one for garden waste
- one for metal/glass/plastic
- one for cardboard
- one for paper
- two for food waste (small one for indoors, which is decanted into the larger outdoor one)


teuchter

 

[murtle_007]

Our bins are brown for garden waste, blue for recycling, grey for garbage and then the wee food waste bin. We still have to take our glass ourselves. Which leads me to another annoying thing- not getting a deposit back for beer and wine bottles haha!

 

[Joppa]

'Pop' is a slang word that has been in use for a long time in UK. People get lazy and use the same word for a number of situations. I suppose they want to sound friendly and unpretentious, though you won't come across the word in formal written language.

 

[salix]

Apparently everyone is supposed to drive in the left lane and only use the middle lane to overtake someone - but you then have to get back in the left lane. Based on that, one wonders why the right lane even exists!


Recycling is out of control with five different bins required. It is especially bad when many houses have nowhere to store the bins except out front which look absolutely terrible. And speaking of control, it often seems that there are too many petty regulations which serve no purpose other than to control people's behaviour and that entities like local councils are far too intrusive. The jobsworths need to mind their own damned business!

I had this same discussion with my husband. We made a trip to Wales and I drove half of the way there and back. He told me about the rule of staying in the "slow" lane, except to . Seems crazy to me as long as you are going with the flow of traffic and not speeding, excessively slow, etc.

And yes, I've lived here close to a year and a half (as a long term visitor, fiancé and now FLR(M) ), I'm still constantly pulling out the recycle schedule to check where I should be putting a bit of refuse. I swear I get to where I think if in doubt, toss it in the rubbish (finally getting used to saying rubbish instead of garbage). Our local service also threatens that if you put any green waste in your general can, they won't pick it up! But on the other hand, the can is generally nearly empty and they charge for green waste pickup. :confused2:

And though I abhor the practice, I LOVE the term..............fly tipping...........LOL

 

[salix]

Originally Posted by clever-octopus View Post

Driving... The fact that the majority British drivers actually adhere to speed limits takes a bit of getting used to. In the US, a 60MPH limit means you can usually drive up to 75MPH before you're in danger of being noticed by highway patrol.


It's because over here there is no such thing as "being noticed" and there is no human element with being let off.

There are speed cameras EVERYWHERE! And the "average speed cameras" make me tense. If you find yourself going a bit fast, you can make up for it by slowing down. But I think most people (certainly not all) go the speed limit so you don't get that envelope in the mail. Even if there was no "flash".

 

[Joppa]

If your car has cruise control (increasing number of ordinary British cars have it as standard or option), when driving through 'average speed' camera section, set your cruise control to the limit, plus about 5%. So if it's 50 mph limit, I set it at 53 mph. Most speedometers overread by about 5%, so you are actually going at limit or just below. Plus police 'usually' give you a cushion of 10% plus 2 mph, though this isn't written into the law (just usual police practice) and you can be prosecuted by driving 1 mph above the limit. So at indicated 60 mph, you are at just about the lower limit of prosecution for breaking 50 mph, but I wouldn't take chances.