There are many things about the British that are so endearing and make them so loveable...for example: Once, we stayed at a hotel that had a column in the middle of the counter to the ceiling. We asked the the only person there behind the counter if she would put our money in the hotel safe (visible behind her) and she said, " Oh, you have to ask that on the other side of the counter (on the other side of the column)" So we walked the four steps to the other side and so did she, and then she asked again if she could help us (like she didn't remember talking to us three seconds ago). So we asked her again to put the money in the safe, and this time she took it and put it in the safe. Then we asked for directions to someplace and she said, "oh, you have to go to back to the other side for directions." So we walked back the four steps to the other side of the counter and so did she, and again she asked, "may I help you?" We felt like we were in a Stephen King novel. <BR> <BR>Any other stories out there?........... <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Gosh, they really are loveable, aren't they? I always fondly remember the time that British soldiers called my Irish husband a stupid f*ing Paddy. Ah, memories.

Gulp! Wow, Karen...sounds like you have a good story there...want to share it?

Laura <BR> <BR>Thanks for the compliment but I am not sure I want to be thought of as endearing.... not by complete strangers anyway. <BR> <BR>And the hotel woman sounds psychotic to me not endearing!!!! <BR> <BR>Kavey

Sounds like an episode of Fawlty Towers to me....

That's what we like to see Karen, sweeping hatred towards all Brits on a national scale. It's always useful to blame an entire nation for the actions of a shameful few, isn't it.

To Kavey: you're welcome, and I want to compliment you on your Mum's recipes...they look wonderful. <BR> <BR>Still looking for more stories.... <BR> <BR>

Thanks Laura... <BR>Hope you find them useful... <BR>We have had 176 visitors to the site now (we're counting unique visitors rather than hits). <BR>No one has signed the visitors book yet, so please do... <BR> <BR>I think the thing is that people will always be more friendly and open if thats the vibe they get from you, so if you come to UK expecting us to be quaint stiff upper lip people or all complete nutters a la fawlty towers you might be disappointed but if you come with a smile and openness you will hopefully get that in return... <BR> <BR>Kavey

Kavey.....you're right about visiting Great Britain with a smile and openness. We have been there over twenty times in twenty years and have thoroughly enjoyed each trip, meeting truly warm and wonderful people (including a few "stiff upper-lip types" and some "complete nutters"...all of whom have enriched our visits.

Ha haaa <BR> <BR>Sadly I think I fall into the complete nutter category... <BR> <BR>My accent used to be a strong Luton accent (to outsiders not far of a cockney but to locals different enough) but years away from home in the midlands and then france, have dulled it into a fairly standard SE/ london accent... <BR> <BR>which means more people can understand me these days <BR> <BR>the teenage I aint got none has become I havent got any <BR> <BR>!

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Kav <BR> <BR>Do you raise the pitch of your voice at the end of every sentence a la many Se/Londoners? You know, as if you're constantly asking a question, yeah? <BR> <BR>

I just have to join in here. This habit of ending a sentence as though it is a question really originated in Australia. <BR>It isn't really a London thing at all. If you hear it maybe the person talking is an Aussie or is a person who watches the prolific number of Australian soaps on daytime TV in UK. If Iam wrong and lots of people think we speak this way I would like to hear about it. One thing I love about the way British people speak is working out which part of the country they are from. Originally I came from Liverpool and that accent is most distinctive.

Tony, eeeuch, no I dont... <BR> <BR>Actually not that many Londoner's do, mainl those who have a lot of Antipodean friends. But whereas this sounds fine where it is native to accent (as in Australia) it just sounds like a pretentious affectation on Brits. <BR> <BR>Actually its something I really really hate as it just doesnt work with a British accent... <BR> <BR>There is actually a proper linguistic term for it but I forget... <BR> <BR>PS Tony, I thought you were going to ask about the nutter credentials for a moment there... <BR>

Hi Kavey, what is URL of your web site? I am ALWAYS on the look out for new recipes and even returned the favour on this forum a year or so ago re almond slices. Promise to sign the visitors book!

I realised it's an Antipodean creation but maybe it's big in London owing to the number of Australian and NZ bar staff? <BR> <BR>

That rising inflection at the end of the sentence is also very characteristic of teenage American girls. The theory is that it's a mechanism to elicit approval, agreement and consensus. But that thing about ending a sentence with a follow-on question is very London-ish, i'nt it?

Any more funny or weird stories about the people from that fabulous country?

Re anniel's comment: "Originally I came from Liverpool and that accent is most distinctive." <BR> <BR>I'd read somewhere that one of the things that made the Liverpool accent so distinctive in England was the number of Irish immigrants arriving in England via Liverpool. And this interesting article I found on the web -- "Scouse is threatened by the rising tide of Estuary English", from The Independent (London), 1 June 1999 -- seems to confirm that. <BR> <BR>http://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/estuary/marks.htm

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