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seahorse
Senior Member
USA
1075 Posts |
 Posted - 02 December 2004 : 04:18:19
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Hi Folks,
Well, the eagle has landed. I arrived in the UK and started work last week.
It is really cold and dark here and I'm already looking forward to spring.
I'm also sorry to say I am most likely going to be the biggest menace to public road safety in the Macclesfield area of Cheshire for the immediate future. Everybody drives on the right side of the road and I keep reaching for the wrong side when I need to turn and whatnot. I actually look forward to traffic now, because I can drive really, really slow. 
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Ken
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Worldwide Partner Group
Microsoft |
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MarcelG
Retired Support Moderator
Netherlands
2625 Posts |
Posted - 02 December 2004 : 04:28:54
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quote:
Everybody drives on the right side of the road and I keep reaching for the wrong side when I need to turn and whatnot.
No, they're all driving on the wrong side of the road  |
portfolio - linkshrinker - oxle - twitter |
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pdrg
Support Moderator
United Kingdom
2897 Posts |
Posted - 02 December 2004 : 06:10:50
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Welcome Seahorse!!
If I (and likely any of the other UK members) can help you in any way to settle in, or if you have any more questions, or wonder if you're being fed a line, just get in touch and I/we will do all we can to welcome you to our cold, moist country. On the bright side, spring is just *gorgeous*, and a well-deserved prize for making it through February!
Cultural quiz to get you going - mix of easy, tough and trick ;-)
*Which public school invented 'Rugby'?
*Which town (and football club) are known as 'Monkey Hangers' and why?
*How far must you park away from a fire hydrant? |
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ruirib
Snitz Forums Admin
Portugal
26364 Posts |
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Da_Stimulator
DEV Team Forum Moderator
USA
3373 Posts |
Posted - 02 December 2004 : 06:22:13
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| define "wrong" side??? would that be the "left" or "right" |
-Stim |
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MarcelG
Retired Support Moderator
Netherlands
2625 Posts |
Posted - 02 December 2004 : 07:33:40
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hehe, If I recall correctly they drive at the left side in the UK, and right in the majority of the world.
As the words right and right are equal it is safe to say that the right side of the road is the right side, which leaves the left side of the road as the wrong side hehe |
portfolio - linkshrinker - oxle - twitter |
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pdrg
Support Moderator
United Kingdom
2897 Posts |
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HuwR
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
20584 Posts |
Posted - 02 December 2004 : 08:12:25
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| people drive on the right mainly because of Napolean who was left handed. |
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Da_Stimulator
DEV Team Forum Moderator
USA
3373 Posts |
Posted - 02 December 2004 : 08:22:39
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that makes no sense....
if he was left-handed why would he drive on the right...?
I dont get it |
-Stim |
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HuwR
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
20584 Posts |
Posted - 02 December 2004 : 09:06:09
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| it is to do with mounting horses and your sword arm. |
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HuwR
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
20584 Posts |
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seahorse
Senior Member
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - 03 December 2004 : 04:50:46
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For driving, the fog and roundabouts are just plain scary.
The area I'm in is rural, with the exception of the company campus. I'm staring at a few dozen sheep out my window right now.
Some of the houses I've been looking at are really very nice. They're a lot smaller than US houses, but very nice just the same. Everything seems to be made of brick out here. That's something to get used to for a Californian. Brick houses in L.A. aren't very common. earthquakes would just shake them apart.
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Ken
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Worldwide Partner Group
Microsoft |
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seahorse
Senior Member
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - 03 December 2004 : 04:56:56
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quote:
Originally posted by pdrg
Welcome Seahorse!!
*Which public school invented 'Rugby'?
*Which town (and football club) are known as 'Monkey Hangers' and why?
*How far must you park away from a fire hydrant?
Thanks, Paddy.
Let see...
Rugby.
Hartlepool. I haven't the foggest clue. I asked a local about this one.
I don't think I've seen a fire hydrant yet actually...Then again, I'm just lucky getting from point A to point B. |
Ken
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Worldwide Partner Group
Microsoft |
Edited by - seahorse on 03 December 2004 05:32:58 |
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HuwR
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
20584 Posts |
Posted - 03 December 2004 : 06:21:56
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You won't see a fire hydrant (unless there is a fire), we only have valves which are under the pavement or road, covered by a manhole cover (the fire engines carry the actual hydrant). there will normally be a metal plaque with an H on it (either on a wall or also in the pavement) which tells you where it is.
Pretty much all houses here are brick, we don't get many earthquakes, and when we do they are pretty insignificant. If you think roundabouts are scary, you should visit Swindon (near Oxford), they have these things called magic roundabouts where the traffic is going in both directions round it! bloody terrifying the first couple of times until you get used to it, then you wonder why all roundabouts are not the same.
If you don't like the fog now, wait till we get further into winter, they are only really just starting, they can get very thick towards the end of Jan  |
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pdrg
Support Moderator
United Kingdom
2897 Posts |
Posted - 03 December 2004 : 06:49:14
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very good seahorse - worth looking up the origins of the 'monkey hangers' though ;-)
The monkey-hanging legend is the most famous story connected with Hartlepool. During the Napoleonic Wars a ship was wrecked off the Hartlepool coast.
The fishermen of Hartlepool fearing an invasion kept a close watch on the French vessel as it struggled against the storm but when the vessel was severely battered and sunk they turned their attention to the wreckage washed ashore. Among the wreckage lay one wet and sorrowful looking survivor, the ship's pet monkey dressed to amuse in a military style uniform.
The fishermen apparently questioned the monkey and held a beach-based trial. Unfamiliar with what a Frenchman looked like they came to the conclusion that this monkey was a French spy and should be sentenced to death. The unfortunate creature was to die by hanging, with the mast of a fishing boat (a coble) providing a convenient gallows.
The hydrant question came about as a friend has just moved to Redmond, and has to know this for his drivint test there - afaik there is no such restriction here as hydrants are all underground - look for yellow signs with a big H on them (with some numbers and letters in the spare bits of the H).
And Brick would be a **** good idea for Florida, I reckon - it keeps wind out rather nicely! |
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Panhandler
Average Member
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 04 December 2004 : 22:33:24
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quote:
Originally posted by seahorse
Hi Folks,
It is really cold and dark here and I'm already looking forward to spring.
Enjoy the dark while you can...for good sleeping weather.
The south of England is about the same as the Seattle area in terms of latitude. . .dark winters, never ending summers.
When spring comes, the birds are almost obnoxious. . .millions of them chirping way early in the morning. And they won't shut up!
So. . .early morning sun, twilight until 10 pm and not enough time to sleep!
Have fun!
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