Moving to the UK (Lakenheath) from the US (with my horse?)

[Slightlyconfused]

If you want to have some roundabout fun, have a trip to England and try the magic roundabout in Hemel Hempstead. It is six small roundabouts arranged in a circle (there maybe other similar ones that I don't know about).

It becomes easier the more you do it, but you can tell the newbies by the white faces full of fear hanging on for dear life

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Also if you really want to test your driving skills have a play in Luton and Hemel Hempstead. I learnt to drive in Luton, nothing much phases me now ?

 

[SibeliusMB]

I don't even like or follow American football but I will say this....rugby is contact sport, American football is a collision sport. Two very different things. I'll leave it at that as I really do not want to dedicate another ounce of energy to either. It's hockey playoffs. Which probably no one here cares about. But I'm good with that. No one really cares in the US either.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

I don't even like or follow American football but I will say this....rugby is contact sport, American football is a collision sport. Two very different things. I'll leave it at that as I really do not want to dedicate another ounce of energy to either. It's hockey playoffs. Which probably no one here cares about. But I'm good with that.

I'm not really an either fan but my friend and her American best friend often have interesting discussions about rugby and American football. Both with valid and wild points.

A friends childern play ice hockey but I'm not sure on the UK pro scene.

 

[shortstuff99]

We have hockey too but you have to differentiate between field or ice ?.

 

[teapot]

Both field and ice hockey are pretty popular here.

We're also fans of watching six hour tennis matches on the BBC for two weeks solid (which starts a week on Monday), bemoan rain delays, and use it as an excuse to be pickled in Pimms.

Oh Pimms, that deserves a thead of its own.

 

[InklePickle]

Both field and ice hockey are pretty popular here.

We're also fans of watching six hour tennis matches on the BBC for two weeks solid (which starts a week on Monday), bemoan rain delays, and use it as an excuse to be pickled in Pimms.

Oh Pimms, that deserves a thead of its own.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Edit: riddled with typos.

 

[Trouper]

I'm laughing at all the advice coming at you as I am sure we must have totally confused you by now!!! The house and yard situation (that's livery yard as opposed to a green space attached to your house!) sounds perfect so I guess you are itching to get the boy here now. I know I'm impatiently waiting for a photo of him taking his first look at England.

 

[hobo]

If you want to have some roundabout fun, have a trip to England and try the magic roundabout in Hemel Hempstead. It is six small roundabouts arranged in a circle (there maybe other similar ones that I don't know about).

Great photo of that I think the most famous one is the Swindon one or maybe it is just because I used to live near it.

 

[hobo]

Just googled and Swindon was the first magic roundabout followed by Hemel Hempstead Swindon also won the worst roundabout follow by HH in second place!

Hopefully Sib will never have the joy of tackling them. Yes Sib do not do the left on the red light it will not go down well here. Teapot you turned my stomach this morning reminding me of the thick gloopy white gravy that they have on 'biscuits' yuk.

 

[littleshetland]

As a committed smoker, I'll never forget, whilst visiting the US some years back, asking somebody for a spare fag (english slang for cigarette) and phrasing it 'Can I bum a fag off you please?' (bum - in this context meaning 'have'). Oh how we laughed!

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I had to explain to a German friend the other day what it means to "take the piss"? Americans don't use that phrase either.

 

[katastrophykat]

OP, I worked in American barns for a summer and was amazed at the differences!

We feed less supplements, in fact, we generally feed less full stop and let the grass do it’s thing.

Wait and see is a good motto- if you’re not sure what to do, do nothing. Something else will change and you’ll see what to do next.

In fact, just wait. If you see a queue (a line!), join it- we all do, mostly with no idea why. ?

Whine about the weather. More than three days of any set weather pattern is just ‘too much’ here.

No one in any service industry will turn down tips, ever, but don’t feel rotten about not leaving one if the service isn’t up to it.

Rarely actually complain about anything (food/horrific haircut) just don’t go back. ?

Straight faces and sarcasm is our go to- if someone is ‘sarky’ to you, they either like you… or they don’t. Either fits.

We are at our most bolshy with our best mates, and our most polite to strangers.

Feel free to browse here for more info.

https://www.facebook.com/soverybritish/

 

[humblepie]

Ah, learning to drive in Swindon sets you up for roundabouts everywhere - or used to. I am not sure that is true now as the Swindon one works well whereas so many roundabouts just leave you in the wrong lane by suddenly sticking a directional restriction on the tarmac which does not tie in with what the road signs indicated about where lanes went to.

 

[humblepie]

Late to this thread but - being based at Lakenheath you have Mildenhall near you. That is of course pronounced Mildenhall. However should you find yourself in Wiltshire looking for the village of Mildenhall. That is not pronounced Mildenhall. It is Minal. No, never understood that one myself.

 

[littleshetland]

I had to explain to a German friend the other day what it means to "take the piss"? Americans don't use that phrase either.

This reminds me....pissed in the UK means ..er..over refreshed by alcohol, pissed in the US means bloody cross/annoyed about something.

 

[teapot]

This reminds me....pissed in the UK means ..er..over refreshed by alcohol, pissed in the US means bloody cross/annoyed about something.

Pissed also means annoyed too in the UK though. So you can be pissed that you got pissed. ?

 

[Annagain]

Pissed also means annoyed too in the UK though. So you can be pissed that you got pissed. ?

In the annoyed context it's usually, but not always, followed by "off"

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I completely confused a friend the other month, when the farmer got struck down with COVID and we got low on hay, I went to get some hay from her and exclaimed that she had really saved my bacon ?.

I swear they must all think the English are very odd ?

 

[Zuzan]

The magic roundabout is starting to make sense to me, but only after studying the aerial view for 10 minutes. I can't imagine rolling up to that with no warning.

Umm hate to add confusion but The Magic Roundabout is a quite trippy Childrens programme .. that was actually French...

 

[pansymouse]

Great photo of that I think the most famous one is the Swindon one or maybe it is just because I used to live near it.

I used to work in Swindon and had an American friend - if we went out to lunch I made her drive round the Magic Roundabout just for the amusement value, it was frequently a near death experience. Despite living n the UK for many years she had never really mastered changing gear, roundabouts, parallel parking or driving on the "wrong side of the road". I think she kept a body shop in business single handedly.

 

[Cloball]

Back on the subject of what to wear shopping the last time I was in tesco in my boots, jods and a thin film of dust and sweat, I was very surprised to be asked out by a very attractive man... I highly recommend it.

What do you guys call flip flops that's usually the one that entertains me with my Aussie and kiwi pals.

Also some roundabouts are not round they are tear drops of dumbbell shapes.

 

[SibeliusMB]

Back on the subject of what to wear shopping the last time I was in tesco in my boots, jods and a thin film of dust and sweat, I was very surprised to be asked out by a very attractive man... I highly recommend it.

Excellent! I look forward to Tesco dirty riding clothes dating because I've given up on the online crap!

What do you guys call flip flops that's usually the one that entertains me with my Aussie and kiwi pals.

Flip flops! First conversation with an Aussie and they said "thongs" I was like Good for a laugh!

 

[Dreckly]

So lovely to read that you are settled. I am very close to you a couple of miles outside Thetford. If you need any help regarding the forest or anything at all, just shout

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

The Hemel roundabout is a real eye opener, you have to have your wits about you.

Lots of terms differences


USA " hit the light ..................................... ....... UK " turn light off
USA " Pants ....................................... ...... UK " Jeans/ trousers
USA " Faucet ....................................... . UK " Tap
USA " Fall ........................................ UK" Autumn

 

[Carmen6]

I had to explain to a German friend the other day what it means to "take the piss"? Americans don't use that phrase either.

Some Americans do know what "taking the piss" means, but I'm not sure if that's just because of their own personal exposure to Brits...

On a similar note, "got the shits" in Australia means that somebody is upset.

I have many foreign friends; swear words and phrases are the first things you work out between you. Hilarity ensues! Then after the swears, you educate each other about food. It's the law of foreign friends.

 

[SibeliusMB]

Well no new real updates other than I am now the proud owner of a MINI Clubman. I am so amused by this I can't stop ??



To be fair...she's just big enough to fit my ice hockey kit or a tack trunk. Practicality! ? I tried my friend's Fiat 500L, and just didn't like it. A great family car, sure, but just felt awkward to me. The Mini felt natural right from the start and it's fun enough to drive. Licensed, road tax paid, I'm all legal now...it's nice having my own wheels and I celebrated by heading to a local wildlife reserve and enjoyed the sunshine. ? No more driving around in the rental car, which had it's company's logos plastered all over it...which screams "I'M NOT FROM AROUND HERE." ?

Had a lovely hack last weekend with a work friend of mine. Was SO nice to spend the afternoon around horses!



Sig is doing fine, enjoying his last two weeks of holiday before he flies over. I am really missing him and just can't wait until he's settled and we can get back to our usual routine.

 

[teddypops]

Working in hospitality, tipping is Always required as us pub/restaurant staff are woefully under payed and tips make a huge difference to our shifts. It's miserable English people (I'm English) that don't tip mainly and it's really frustrating tbh. You will also find far fewer 'Karens' over here, But they are still her none the less

Tipping is not required. It is most definitely optional.

 

[DizzyDoughnut]

Love the car, I've got a clubman and love it, If you put the back seats down you can fit a surprising amount in the back, just nothing to high ?