british paving - is it just me

[alan ditchfield]

Is it just me, i have only been a member for a few months, but when i first joined there was no posts from America that i noticed and now there seems to be a hell of a lot. Ps..Not that i dont like Americans, i have American friends i was just interested if it was a new thing or i just never noticed before. Alan.

[hooly1]

Been a member over a yr and think ive noticed a few, and a few from else were, read the guest book, theres a few from all over, but yes ive noticed more lately.

[84-1093879891]

A colleague in the States told me that the site was featured in some DIY mag recently and I think maybe that's attracted a bit of attention.

We've always had Merkins and Canadiadiadians visiting the site. A few have joined the Brew Cabin, but they never seem to stick around for long. I get 5-10 emails each day from Merkins who haven't worked out that the English language is used by non-Americans too!

Because of the significant differences in both methods and materials that exist between Britain and Ireland on one side and N.America on t'other, I emphasise the British/Irish origin of the site, both in its title and in the Brew Cabin, but it seems that geography isn't a core subject in some American schools. Most correspondents are reasonable when they receive my standard email explaining that I can't offer any advice with whatever it is they have, but there's always one, about every 10 days or so, who seems to think I shouldn't be running a website if I'm not a god-fearin' Merkin, and who let the Limeys on the web, anyway (despite the fact that I'm actually Irish although resident in the Uk for most of my life!)

I've now learned that "wanker" and "bollocks" are terms not properly understood by some on that side of the pond! ;)

[alan ditchfield]

I have seen your posts answering questions from abroad it is obvious that our needs are different, but there just seems to be a lot of questions from
America this must be the advert in the American destroy it yourself mag you mentioned. Is there any clarification from the other side? like i say there is no probs it is just my curiosity getting the better of me. Alan Ditchfield

[84-1093879891]

I don't even know which magazine was involved - I had an email from the CEO of a large block manufacturer based in the US asking if I had any plans for invading N.America as he'd seen a feature on my site in Home Repair magazine.

Obviously, I've no such plans, but I've not heard anything else from this contact for around 3 weeks. However, a firm of consulting engineers were in touch on Friday night to tell me that the site was being 'promoted' via tender documentation for a large contract which suggested I could supply recess tray covers to the eventual bid winner (I can't!)

[alan ditchfield]

i suppose it is flattering from your point of view that you are being promoted against your will elsewhere in the world, this can only say you are doing the right thing. As for invading America i would wait untill G.W.B.Junior is out of the casa blanca, the trigger happy t**t would not appreciate it. Alan.

[84-1093879891]

I really don't like to get too political, but you have to wonder if there's summat in the water in the States. The rest of the world (with the exception of Thatcher-in-men's-clothing-Blair) can see that Dubya is a complete and utter tit, but they don't seem to realise just how deeply unpopular he is. I mean, even the French have worked out that he's a gobshite....! ;)

[TarmacLady]

Careful, gentlemen....

I can only hope that those of us Merkins who know what bollocks, wankers, gits, and t**ts are (as well as a whole lot of other words that are unknown "over here" but would be unseemly for a Lady to post, although I can utter them!) , who know how to spell aluminium, organise, and colour, can think in metres and litres, and *who can drive on the left-hand side of the road from the right-hand side of the car* are allowed to stay round the Cabin...We're painfully aware of our warts, but hope to be forgiven eventually.

(did I mention that my kitchen cupboard holds HP Sauce, Branston Pickle, and a jumbo box of PG Tips? I've already eaten the HobNobs and the Jaffa Cakes, sorry.)

[alan ditchfield]

No offence intended like i said i was just wondering why there was so many posts from america recently, by the way I like the way you will write bollocks and wanker but not t**ts.

PS. did you take all these things with you when you left Ireland or can you buy them over there. Regards Alan.

[TarmacLady]

No offence taken, ta -- just a gentle clearing of the throat. ;) The words were taken from prior posts, written the same way they'd been posted earlier.

And I'm afraid Customs on both sides has fits at my luggage, as I take gifts to friends and business partners outbound -- whilst I could buy all those lovely things here (except the Jaffa Cakes) -- they are far less pricey if I drag them home with me!

[LandscapeMann]

I can understand that we may have a poor image around the world. And a good bit of it is probably deserved due to the nature of the current administration.

But for the most part there is a mix of the good the bad and the ugly. I have enjoyed learning about your methods and culture. I hope that we are not all seen in such a bad light.

Communication goes a long way toward understanding.
LM

[alan ditchfield]

Quote: from alan ditchfield on 11:36 pm on Aug. 12, 2004
. Ps..Not that i dont like Americans, i have American friends i was just interested if it was a new thing or i just never noticed before. Alan.

[LandscapeMann]

Yes I understand. We are all not happy over here with the current Dubya and his arrogant admin. Just wanted to make sure we were not all being colored with the same brush.
LM

[84-1093879891]

...or "tarred with the same brush" - a much more appropriate metaphor, given Amy's involvement!

I think that the vast majority of people throughout the world understand that one eejit running a country is not representative of the entire population, but is simply the one they put at the top of the pile so they know where s/he is.

As for the errr.... let's call them "ungrateful isolationists", it's not just the US that is blighted with them: we have plenty of them in Britain and in Ireland, and to be fair, I'd hazard a guess that the top 5 most offensive emails I've ever received all came from these islands.

Two items from today's paper that shed some light on social attitudes on both sides of the pond - The International Geographers Conference heard that 46% of US students could not locate the Pacific Ocean on a map of the world, and a letter from a Briton claiming that the proposed installation of wind-powered turbines was all part of a dastardly plan to blow Britain closer to Europe and force it to conjoin with France. :)

[alan ditchfield]

hooly1 sorry mate but ive just been reading through this old post and you say youve been a member for over a year i assume somehow your profile has been modified like mine as it seems you have only been a member for 4 months. Alan