THE BRITISH THREAD II

Hey Mac - you hooked three huh - but no strike a?

Hope you and Fiona had an enjoyable Crimbo - loved your new look by the way - you still got the apron strings done up! HA!

It's probably too late to ask this question but I'll have a try. This thread seems like the right place to do it; I see no reason to start a new thread for it.

The point is I will be in London from 31/12 to 08/01. My third visit to this city but it will be not a business trip with a standard airport-hotel-office-hotel-airport agenda, this time I will be with my wife and we are going to be fully on our own. Fully independent, at last

Can somebody recommend where it will be worth going this time? Besides standard tourist guide places of interest. Just in your opinion.

If I am commiting such a fingerprintable offence as visiting the UK from outside the EU, I still want it to pay

Hope everyone had a merry Christmas and wish a happy New Year to all.

I can't I'm afraid. Nowhere I know is worth going.

We are all down in the dumps and almost prostrate with despondency.

You must be really desperate to come visiting London of all places. Watch your pockets mate is the best advice.

Still--with only 9 days there's a good chance you won't get any veneer peeling off so it could look I suppose like a civilised country.

Don't forget to buy a framed picture of our great leader. You can hang it on your dining-room wall when you get back as a momento of your stay here.

And don't answer the telephone. People eager to answer telephones are easy pickings. If there's an emergency you'll hear the screams before anybody thinks to warn you.

And don't smile at anybody who looks like Elton John.

You could contact Steve. You could go on a bike ride with him. He has two good bikes. 30 miles to a pub, 12 pints of Abbey Well best bitter and 30 miles back. Usually with nothing worse than a light bruising and the skin off your elbows. You won't need to go to the Tower to see the grisly torture instruments. You can experience the modern version for yourself. And Mrs Steve can show your good lady how to make a proper cup of tea and how best to deal with a nut-case.

Just the once. So you could say you had done it. When you get back it could provide better conversational fodder than our magnificent historical record allows.

Fishing with Mac is another option but I think you might find it a bit drab.

Sorry I did not see this post before now.
Without knowing your tastes and interests, likes and dislikes, it is impossible to recommend anything, but there is a wealth of information in City Life and suchlike publications to cater for all tastes.

London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, which you probably know already, and the museums and art galleries are splendid, but unfortunately when the schoolchildren are on holiday they tend to be a bit hectic.
Your wife would like the Victoria and Albert, I'm sure. And you can have nice meals and snacks there, when you need to rest your feet. Not too far from Harrods, either!

Very old pubs- Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (Fleet Street) and the Cittie of York (High Holburn) date from before 1660.

Enjoy! And please tell us how you got on.

Oh, and it is worthwhile to get a Day Ticket or a Weekly on the underground (The Tube) to get around easily, rather than paying for individual journeys. Saves time, too.

Go to Euston Station or Kings Cross/St Pancras on the Tube and see the British Library and the renovated St Pancras Station, they are nearly adjacent and both interesting in their own way. St P is now the Eurostar terminal.

Midges are interesting in their own way Mac. A midge is a mighty thing compared to these buildings you mention.

My todger is a mighty thing compared to your brain, Spendy, but what does that prove?

It proves nothing.

There's not an institution on your recommended itinery for our visitor which can compare for complexity of design with a hair on a midge's testicles. Not in the same ball-game.

And your todger is even more complex than that.

Thanks, McTag. I will certainly consider your advice. Actually I was asking because I was afraid that I could miss something interesting and never expected that somebody would know my personal tastes. I can hardly define my likes and dislikes; I like to see different cities on the whole, feeling them as living beings with all their history and modernity. London is special, maybe because it has pubs dating from XVII century. It does have its own soul.

My wife tends to make assessment on the basis of modernity and did not like New York and modern Paris and was fascinated by today's Berlin. I really wonder what she will say of London. I am more into history and only dislike Soviet industrial cities, which were quickly built on a grass field.

As to the fares, I think I will buy a week Travelcard. Is it possible to buy an Oyster card with a 7-days Travelcard that would only start the next day, and additionally top up the Oyster for a single passage from Heathrow to Hampstead?

Will try to keep you updated if I can. Unfortunately the first impression is already somewhat negative due to the new visa procedures. The first time the embassy simply asked about the purpose of my visit, the second time they wanted a salary certificate from my employer, now they also photographed me, took my fingerprints and their questionnaire included structure of my monthly living costs, date and place of birth of my parents as well as all those who was going to accompany me to the UK (fortunately I am not member of a big traveling team) etc. Next time they will probably ask for results of my medical tests. My fellow-workers tried to talk me out of taking this trip saying that the country is now unfriendly to visitors.

Hoping, you all have a relaxed last day of 2008!

And - of course - a Happy New Year!

I'm sure we still like Americans despite Mr Bush's antics over the last eight years....memories are longer than that, although you might find the occasional froideur. I'm glad our immigration people are doing their job, but apparently if you came in a container from Albania you would have little trouble.
I hope you have a lovely time, Serso. Also try window-shopping up Regent Street and Bond Street. And Burlington Arcade, where's that, can't remember, Pall Mall I think.

Spendy, if you look up itinery in your dictionary you may be disappointed. I think the word you were reaching for is itinerary.

A foggy day, in London Town
Had me low, had me down
I viewed the morning with alarm
The British Museum had lost its charm...

But then I saw Spendy standing there
And in foggy London Town the sun was shining
Everywhere

Er...why did I assume SerSo was an American? Apologies.

I don't know anything about the London Oyster Card system, I'm afraid. (I'm afraid doesn't mean I am afraid....but you probably knew that )

Hampstead? Sound posh.

Okay tata

Good evening brits
all the best for what promises to be a tough year ahead. Get yer heads down and yer asses up, theres work to be done!

I notice dp that you Aussies have stopped mentioning cricket.

Our government must not think there's work to be done otherwise they wouldn't be looking after the increasing numbers of the unemployed as they do.

Okay will you please get the words right, this time?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

You will be tested later, but only on the first and last verses, and the chorus.

Cricket - it's a national tragedy - the whole country is in mourning. It was hardly worth getting out of bed to face the New Year, and some probably haven't.

How will we ever re-coup to beat the Poms again?

A mere glitch in the system. We gladly pass the mantle of world (cricket) dominance to another "colony" who deserve their time at the top. We shall retire our cricketing gods and develop our young guns.

As Arnie is wont to say "I'll be back"

Yeah--you were pretty woeful. Just wait till we get that lot of crocks on our pitches. And living in cheap hotels.

Happy New Year Brits !