I think that, by definition, that is the antithesis of the Argentinian view!Are you expressing the Argentinean view?
I think that, by definition, that is the antithesis of the Argentinian view!Are you expressing the Argentinean view?
I think that, by definition, that is the antithesis of the Argentinian view!
When I started working on the railway, distances were measured in the wondrous mix of miles, quarters, chains, and either links or yards. Although links were obsolete for new work, you could still find them on old records (100 links in a chain, 20 chains in a quarter, and of course 1 chain is the length of a cricket pitch). Even to this day, you can still see the chainages painted on retaining walls and such-like.Well, if we're going down that route it's time to post my favourite graphic from Wikipedia:
(Image shows the confusing relationships between units of Imperial measurements)
Nuts. Or to be precise, not handing them out as freebies like they do overseas. In just about every bar have been in abroad they give you free salted nuts and resins (raisins, correctly spelled this time...!). Obviously to make you thirsty, but not many bars do that here. We have to buy a tiny packet instead. Taken for mugs on that one!
True. I remember going to a Oxfordshire pub in the not too dim and distant past and they would put roast potatoes on the bar at weekends. Tbh I should have just moved in.Most pubs used to put cheese, nuts, black pudding, yorkshire pudding (and a jug of gravy) etc on their bars on Sunday lunchtimes.
Trains running late. As that never happens abroad. Ever.
Not true - I've been on trains that have run late in France and Germany. I've even known German trains to be cancelled.
True. I remember going to a Oxfordshire pub in the not too dim and distant past and they would put roast potatoes on the bar at weekends. Tbh I should have just moved in.
Indeed, mainly regarded as silly...[…]
School uniforms - common in many countries throughout the world, but again pretty rare in mainland Europe at least in state schools. Certainly in France and Germany, for example, being allowed to wear what you like (within reason) is the norm.
Not true - I've been on trains that have run late in France and Germany. I've even known German trains to be cancelled.
School uniforms ..... in France and Germany, for example, being allowed to wear what you like (within reason) is the norm.
There is the good reason that with uniforms, children won't get bullied for not wearing the latest fashion or expensive designer clothes by those with wealthier or more indugent parents, or pressurised into doing so.Indeed, mainly regarded as silly...
Is that why school uniforms were introduced? & how are they paid for?There is the good reason that with uniforms, children won't get bullied for not wearing the latest fashion or expensive designer clothes by those with wealthier or more indugent parents, or pressurised into doing so.
Ireland used to have white at the front and red at the rear - but both are just white now.Do any other countries have different colour front and rear number plates? (I know France used to but they’re just white now.)
What about those electric showers with a separate box mounted on the bathroom wall? I can’t recall seeing those anywhere else.
They were originally associated with upmarket schools, but tended to be loosely specified (colour and style, but not specific items from specific off-the-peg suppliers). Even once ordinary schools had them, some grammar schools used expensive uniforms as a way of keeping out undesirables who passed their 11+, though more socially progressive grammar schools believed part of their purpose was to help deserving people overcome their backgrounds by erasing them (hence teaching RP and so on, though that went out of fashion in the 1960s). The progressive aspect was watered down when comprehensives were created, but erasing social distinctions was part of the point of creating them (cutting the cost of technical schools and an inter-union fight also played their part).Is that why school uniforms were introduced? & how are they paid for?
Hmm... I'm not so sure. Reason being that school uniforms are still universal for all levels of school at home and we would have inherited that practice from colonial days.They were originally associated with upmarket schools...
Did any other countries hang onto such an absurd system of currency as long as the UK did in Pounds/Shillings/Pence pre-decimalisation?
According to Wikipedia there are still two non-decimal currencies in the world (in Mauritania and Madagascar), though neither is non-decimal on a practical level since the smallest currency units aren't in regular use. Looking at the page on Decimalisation it appears that Nigeria was one of the last countries to switch to decimal currency, in 1973.Did any other countries hang onto such an absurd system of currency as long as the UK did in Pounds/Shillings/Pence pre-decimalisation?
Did any other countries hang onto such an absurd system of currency as long as the UK did in Pounds/Shillings/Pence pre-decimalisation?
Ireland decimalised at the same time as the UK - but was effectively in a de facto currency union with the UK at the time.Did any other countries hang onto such an absurd system of currency as long as the UK did in Pounds/Shillings/Pence pre-decimalisation?
Uniforms are far more rigidly specified now at my old school than back in the 60s when it was a grammar school. Then you could just wear a shirt and sweater under the blazer in a prescribed range of colours now it is white shirt only and a sweater from a nominated supplier with the school badge embroidered. Similarly PE kit has to be badged when in my day it was just black shorts and T shirt.They were originally associated with upmarket schools, but tended to be loosely specified (colour and style, but not specific items from specific off-the-peg suppliers). Even once ordinary schools had them, some grammar schools used expensive uniforms as a way of keeping out undesirables who passed their 11+, though more socially progressive grammar schools believed part of their purpose was to help deserving people overcome their backgrounds by erasing them (hence teaching RP and so on, though that went out of fashion in the 1960s). The progressive aspect was watered down when comprehensives were created, but erasing social distinctions was part of the point of creating them (cutting the cost of technical schools and an inter-union fight also played their part).
Bless... I hope you've a big tray to hand because every bully will be asking you to hold their beer!There is the good reason that with uniforms, children won't get bullied for not wearing the latest fashion or expensive designer clothes by those with wealthier or more indugent parents, or pressurised into doing so.
My memory is that almost all the schools you are talking about most certainly specified exactly which supplier you went to, because badges for blazers etc were only obtainable through them. In my case, I remember being dragged to Harrod's by an equally reluctant mother so she could purchase the uniform for some outlandish price. I've had an aversion to Harrod's ever since. About twenty years ago I was killing time in John Lewis on Oxford Street, and decided to visit all parts of the store to see exactly what they had for sale, and discovered a huge school uniform department with lists of the requirements of hundreds of schools both in the U.K. and, I suspect, abroad. Whether it's still there, I've no idea.They were originally associated with upmarket schools, but tended to be loosely specified (colour and style, but not specific items from specific off-the-peg suppliers). Even once ordinary schools had them, some grammar schools used expensive uniforms as a way of keeping out undesirables who passed their 11+, though more socially progressive grammar schools believed part of their purpose was to help deserving people overcome their backgrounds by erasing them (hence teaching RP and so on, though that went out of fashion in the 1960s). The progressive aspect was watered down when comprehensives were created, but erasing social distinctions was part of the point of creating them (cutting the cost of technical schools and an inter-union fight also played their part).
The easy divisibility within the old system was extremely handy in olden times when prices for most day-to-day things were in pennies (and ha'pennies) or just a few shillings and all daily calculations had to be done by mental arithmetic, or paper and pencil (or maybe an abacus, if you wanted to be exotic).In one respect the old system was not absurd, 240 is divisible by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 16, 20, 24, 30, 40, 48, 60, 80 and 120. Hence apparently odd amounts like 6/8d and 13/4d.
I am not advocating its return.