at9

Nausea, shmausea!  I just feel sick. A word that doesn't happily cross the Atlantic. We could devote many column inches (column centimetres?) to US vs UK.

Such inncocent UK expressions as:

* A tramp in the woods.

* Some fags

* Beavering away

* Keep ypur pecker up

Take on a very different hue in the US.

PS: The forum software has appended my subsequent post, rather than showing it as a separate one.

Catastrophe! The Apostrophe Protection Society is closing down: https://www.apostrophe.org.uk/

The founder even won an IgNobel Prize for literature: https://www.improbable.com/2019/12/01/an-end-at-the-apostrophe/

A couple of pet hates.

1: There/their/they're

The last has that pesky apostrophe too.

2: I would of done it. Instead of I would have done it.

I found it really hard to type the first version. It grates whenever I see it. I can see why it's done, when you say it out loud it often sounds like "would of" and it could quite correctly be written would've. This may be a lost cause. Languages evolve and this could well become the standard usage over time. Ugh.

An example of usage that I've more or less accepted is "media" as a signular noun. The correct singular "medium" has detached itself from the plural. Though not as far as "datum" and "data" which are effectively divorced with different meanings.

The great George Bernard Shaw wanted to abolish the apostrophe. Although you can construct sentences where it matters, in most cases the sense is clear if you omit them completely.

Catastrophe? Apostrophe!

In the meantime, Ill carry on using the little blighter's correctly. [sic]

Somebody suggested that we start a thread for grammar fiends, spelling hounds, latinists and other pedants. So let's split the infinitive and take the Fowler* express to the land of the semicolon.

*Those from outside this Septic Isle** may not be aware of Fowler's English Usage: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fowlers-Modern-English-Usage-Re-Revised/dp/0198610211

**See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Sceptred_Isle

PS: When I wrote the OP, I'd forgotten that another Fowler was a railway engineer. A double meaning without even realising that I was doing it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Fowler_(engineer)

I have several of his books. Always fun to read.

From what I've heard, Fernando Berlin make very good quality boots, including sizes for most men. They're expenisve but probably no more so than Jean Gaborit.

Not sure how often you'd see women wearing heels like that, very rarely in the steet. OTK, high heel and platform is a very strong statement that some might misinterpret on a woman.

In Germany rather than the UK but this site has a lot of decent looking, non-extreme, larger sizes: https://www.schuhplus.com/damenschuhe/

Has anyone here bought from them?

They're being modelled by a man in that photo. Which is much more eye catching than the photo of a woman next to it. But they are being sold in US women's sizes.

https://jeffreycampbellshoes.com/

3 versions: https://jeffreycampbellshoes.com/collections/extended-sizes

Many of JC's other styles go up to USW11 (approx EU43, UK9) and a few to USW12. There are lots of photos of JC Lita platform boots being worn by men if you look around the net. Including some here at HHP.

For our friends in the USA they are in stock and the price isn't outrageous at $130: https://jeffreycampbellshoes.com/collections/ankle/products/alarm?variant=29550383464513

I wonder why they have put all their larger sizes as a separate entries in the online catalogue. Rather than just including them in the main listings for those styles.

Google is your friend.

SK is Slovakia, formerly one half of Czechoslovakia.

In 2015 women of the Chinese army paraded in black knee-high boots with a small heel. See picture 7 here: https://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/24/asia/gallery/china-military-parade-rehearsal/index.html

In the recent 70 year celebration parade they were wearing what look like 1960s white gogo boots. Couldn't find this pic online so snapped it from a newspaper.

I make no comment on Chinese politics or their approach to HongKong and the world in general.

Lived in the UK all my life and only ever walked out due to failed service on 2 or 3 occasions.

Service charge in the UK is typically between 10% and 15% though many restaurants don't add it. Then it's up to the customer to tip. Remember that service charge is levied on the price after sales tax (VAT). VAT is always included in the menu/sticker price so you don't see that you're being charged 20% VAT in the UK. In the US, sales tax is added at the till or on the bill.

Personally I'd prefer the Japanese culture of no tipping at all. Failing that I'd like to choose to tip. In theory, service charges are optional in the UK. But to demand that it be removed from the bill is something that rarely happens.

They were also an indication of social standing. Only wealthy and powerful men wore heels. Hence the expression "well heeled".

Looks like you got a good solution for London's public transport.

Bodiam Castle is in an area with a lot of vineyards. We make some excellent sparkling wine in England, definitely rivalling champagne.

Hope you have lots of fun in London and elsewhere.

This weekend we've got visitors from the Midlands. We're taking them to Borough Market, the Sam Wanamaker Theatre and Mail Rail. https://www.postalmuseum.org/discover/attractions/mail-rail-ride/

The Croydon stations are in Zone 5 and you're unlikely to go to any zones further out than that unless you take the tube to Heathrow which is in Zone 6. most of what you'll be seeing is in Zone 1 or posssibly Zone 2.

A 7 day travelcard will normally be cheaper than 7 days of capped travel on Oyster or contactless. Not sure what requirements there are for photo ID when loading a 7 day or longer Travelcard on to Oyster. Also not sure what requirements are for Child rate Travelcard. It should all be there on the website. AFAIK you can't put a 7 day Tavelcard on a Visitor Oyster but you can on a normal Oyster. You can get paper 7 day Travelcards: https://visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/help/ticket-comparison/

The prices you quoted are for Zones 1-6 which incldues Heathrow.

This page gives pretty good guidance. Apologies for London public transport ticketing being so complex. We've got a big and complex network that isn't all controlled by the same authority. https://www.londontoolkit.com/briefing/oystercard.htm

One person's centrist is another person's dangerous communist and yet another person's rabid right winger.

Remember you'll be shifting with the "wrong" hand.

Complete guide to Oyster Cards: https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-pay-and-where-to-buy-tickets-and-oyster/pay-as-you-go/oyster-pay-as-you-go

You could choose to get Visitor Oyster Cards but I'm not sure it's worthwhile: https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/visitor-oyster-card

I've never had to use trains from Croydon (I live in the northern suburbs of London) but it looks like there are loads of trains to several London termini. Waterloo for the Southbank. London Bridge for Borough Market, Bermondsey, the City etc. Charing Cross for Covent Garden, Soho and the West End. If you travel in to London Bridge and follow the river on foot towards Waterloo (or vice versa) you will find lots of interesting places. If I have visitors from outside London I often take them there. Loads of places to eat on that route. I can recommend Borough Market itself, especially on a Saturday. Lots of free samples there too:-) Also the small group of Tas/Tas Pide/Ev Turkish resturants. Various locations around the Southbank, look them up. My favourite of those is Ev. For a view over the river there's an almost secret free viewing gallery in the Oxo Tower. Go to the top floor restaurant and ask for the public viewing gallery. It feels like you're gatecrashing the restaurant but it's 100% public and free.

There are 100s (thousands?) of restaurants in the West End, Theatreland etc. If you like indian vegetarian food then I recommend Sagar: http://www.sagarveg.co.uk/covent-garden/ They have other branches but you're less likely to be near them.

You could easily spend your entire trip in London and still have lots of interesting things to see and do. For theatre, go to the TKTS booth in Leicester Square. Lots of reduced price tickets for the same day. Apart from the major museums and galleries there are lots of smaller and quirky places. A few favourites of mine:

John Soanes (now need to book a timed ticket online. Still free entry) https://www.soane.org/

Grant Museum of Zoology : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/culture/grant-museum-zoology

Last Tuesday Society. Weird and wacky. I love it. Not recomemnded for younger children: http://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/museum-curiosities/

Also found a nice cafe near there recently. It's vegan but don't let that put you off. https://www.loveshackldn.com/

Wellcome Collection: https://wellcomecollection.org/

Time Out magazine is distributed free on Tuesdays. Lots of theatre, music etc lsitings. Available at many stations and elsewhere. The paper magazine is backed up by a big website.

London is like a huge all-you-can-eat buffet. There is more happening and more places to see than you'll manage in half a lifetime. So don't try to rush round as many as you can. Choose a few and really enjoy them. Within central London distances are fairly short, so consider walking rather than using the tube. You'll see all sorts of things.

On Sunday one great area to be is Brick Lane/Spitalfields/Petticoat Lane. Lots of vintage fashion, unusual art etc. The Old Truman Brewery complex has many interesting stalls. Loads of food stalls but the Brick Lane Beigel Bake, one of the few remnants of the old Jewish East End,  is a "must do". Open 24/7 every day: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d717862-Reviews-Brick_Lane_Beigel_Bake-London_England.html

Most of the Indian (mostly Bangladeshi) restaurants in that area are not very good, whatever they may claim. Tayyabs, walkable from Brick Lane, is good. http://www.tayyabs.co.uk/

Also in that area, Dennis Severs House is a unique experience: https://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/

Also nearby is an urban farm: https://www.spitalfieldscityfarm.org/

" Journalism in its current form has devolved into so much group think heavily slanted toward left-wing liberal thinking and skewed against straight, white, conservative men in so many countries "

In the UK HiH seems not to have noticed the Mail, Telegraph, Express, Times and Sun, all of which have conservative policies. They account for the vast bulk of national daily circulation. Of the national printed daily papers in the UK only the Guardian and Mirror have a left of centre position. The other 2 significant dailies (Star and FT) are really soft porn and finance specialists respectively.

The "How I spend it" weekly feature in the Guardian has covered a wide range of people. Rich and poor. Gay and straight. Male and female. Young and old.

Cali, London public transport (TFL) ticketing is more complex than that. If you have a contactless debit or credit card (you need a different one for each of you in the group) then this will always give you the best fares. There's a daily cap, which depends on various factors.

If you don't have contactless (also some non UK cards don't work with the TFL system) then get Oyster Cards when you arrive at Heathrow or at any station or at many shops. Then you load them with money and they give you the same fares and caps as a contactless card. In most cases you can cash in any money left on them and get your deposit back at any tube station when you go home.

Buying individual tickets is hopeless and expensive. All buses are cashless - Oyster or contactless only.

It's a little more complex because trains to Croydon and some other areas, mainly in South London, are not part of the TFL network. However AFAIK Oyster and contactless work seamlessly with these services within the London boundaries.

In all cases, you must touch in and touch out on trains and tubes. Even if there are no barriers. If you don't, you'll end up with excessive charges. With buses and trams you just touch in. I think there is something a bit complicated at Wimbledon when you change from tram to train. I've never been there (and I'm now old enough to have a free London travel pass) so don't know the details but you might be using it during your stay.

All information is on the TFL website. https://tfl.gov.uk/

Google maps is a better journey planner than the TFL site.

Don't know if you've driven in the UK before. We drive on the correct left side of the road, unlike Americans and continentals :-) Also, you'll get a manual (stick shift) rental car unless you have specifically booked an automatic. Petrol (gas) is a lot more expensive here than in the US due to high taxes and the weak pound. Though the weak pound means your dollars will go further.

Croydon is quite a long way out from the centre of London. It's also known, sarcastically, as "The Manhattan of South London". Assuming the A23 and M25 are not too crowded you'll be able to drive down to Surrey, Sussex, Kent etc fairly easily, counties that are south of London. Getting to places north of London will be much slower.

Although distances in the UK are small compared to the US travel times can be surprisingly long. If you're planning to rent a car please remember that London is not a good place to drive. London's outer orbital road, the M25, is often badly congested. You definitely don't want a car in central London. Parking is difficult and expensive, plus you have to pay the Congestion Charge. Public transport in London is good, even if we Londoners always complain about it. Outside London public transport is very variable. Some areas have good services, others not.

Have a great time in England but plan your journeys carefully in advance to avoid frustration about how long it can take. For example see this for Heathrow airport to Warwick Castle: https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Heathrow-England/Warwick-Castle

Seen in Saturday's "Guardian": https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/sep/14/starting-a-business-has-made-me-a-lot-more-frugal

Practice.

These are the sort of ultra high heels that not many people (male or female) can walk in gracefully. There's a big difference between being able to walk in a particular heel and doing it gracefully. Yesterday I was at a party where one guy, probably in his 50s,  was wearing approx 4.5" ankle strap stiletto pumps without platforms. His walking was utterly natural and effortless, even on grass. He must have put in a lot of practice to be able to do that.

@Pierre1961 your inch/cm conversion seems to have gone slightly wrong. 4" is 10cm. Actually 10.16cm but I don't think we need to worry about that level of accuracy.