Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
Oct 19th 2006, 5:03 am
#1
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
You always get the questions (even silly) asking if you can get Cheesits or something in Australia.
I am finding after more than 8 years away from the UK that I know far less about the UK than I ever did and more about Australia or Europe. Having got married, had kids here and bought a proper house here, I feel that I am more equipped to deal with Australia than the UK.
My questions:
i) Can I get colorbond in the UK? What is the local name? (I have a sneaking suspicion that it is a backward, cheap nasty Strayan thing and that the Uk is so far advanced it is not called for).
ii) What wood do I buy? What is the grading system used. Here it is F5/F7/F17 etc?
iii) What are the building spans used? Are they similar? (But see i)
iv) What make is a decent chainsaw?
v) If I want to buy a new cheapo power tool, what is the local equivalent of GMC or Ryobi?
vi) Do UK retained firefighters have decent gear? What size is all their hose fittings and diameters? What sort of Breathing Apparatus are they on? Vehicles? SoPs?
vii) Where do I buy all the various cement mixes and toppings? Do they have similar stuff.
viii) Can I buy a cypress pine post in Great Mills? Or ripple iron?
xi) Does the UK have BPay?
x) What's the UK Met Office website like - is it as good as the Australian one? Haven't got the time to check.:-(
Funny. I know nothing (in the detail I know about Strayan weather) about the UK weather - NEVER checked it - or complained about it either. What I got, I got.
xi) Do they have child maternity nurses for each village or town with monthly or weekly house vists?
xii) Do you get free community creches?
It doesn't stop!
Answers please - and more if you can think of them...
I am finding after more than 8 years away from the UK that I know far less about the UK than I ever did and more about Australia or Europe. Having got married, had kids here and bought a proper house here, I feel that I am more equipped to deal with Australia than the UK.
My questions:
i) Can I get colorbond in the UK? What is the local name? (I have a sneaking suspicion that it is a backward, cheap nasty Strayan thing and that the Uk is so far advanced it is not called for).
ii) What wood do I buy? What is the grading system used. Here it is F5/F7/F17 etc?
iii) What are the building spans used? Are they similar? (But see i)
iv) What make is a decent chainsaw?
v) If I want to buy a new cheapo power tool, what is the local equivalent of GMC or Ryobi?
vi) Do UK retained firefighters have decent gear? What size is all their hose fittings and diameters? What sort of Breathing Apparatus are they on? Vehicles? SoPs?
vii) Where do I buy all the various cement mixes and toppings? Do they have similar stuff.
viii) Can I buy a cypress pine post in Great Mills? Or ripple iron?
xi) Does the UK have BPay?
x) What's the UK Met Office website like - is it as good as the Australian one? Haven't got the time to check.:-(
Funny. I know nothing (in the detail I know about Strayan weather) about the UK weather - NEVER checked it - or complained about it either. What I got, I got.
xi) Do they have child maternity nurses for each village or town with monthly or weekly house vists?
xii) Do you get free community creches?
It doesn't stop!
Answers please - and more if you can think of them...
Oct 19th 2006, 5:34 am
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2004
Location: I'm right here
Posts: 380
Re: Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack
What's the UK Met Office website like - is it as good as the Australian one? Haven't got the time to check.:-(
Oct 19th 2006, 5:40 am
#3
Fighting my corner
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 11,948
Re: Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack
You always get the questions (even silly) asking if you can get Cheesits or something in Australia.
I am finding after more than 8 years away from the UK that I know far less about the UK than I ever did and more about Australia or Europe. Having got married, had kids here and bought a proper house here, I feel that I am more equipped to deal with Australia than the UK.
My questions:
i) Can I get colorbond in the UK?
I am finding after more than 8 years away from the UK that I know far less about the UK than I ever did and more about Australia or Europe. Having got married, had kids here and bought a proper house here, I feel that I am more equipped to deal with Australia than the UK.
My questions:
i) Can I get colorbond in the UK?
I think the most sophisticated alternative you can get over here is corrugated iron. 
iv) What make is a decent chainsaw?
v) If I want to buy a new cheapo power tool, what is the local equivalent of GMC or Ryobi?
xi) Does the UK have BPay?
x) What's the UK Met Office website like - is it as good as the Australian one? Haven't got the time to check.:-(
Oct 19th 2006, 5:50 am
#4
Australia's Doorman
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: The Shoalhaven, New South Wales, Australia
Posts: 11,056
Re: Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede
No, unfortunately. You have to pay the old fashioned way - by phone or post. Drives me up the wall. And there's no pre-paid envelopes, either.
Oct 19th 2006, 6:22 am
#5
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
Originally Posted by Hutch
No you don't. The equivalent of BPay is Direct Debit - or a standing order in some cases. Both piss easy to set up - details at the bottom of all your utility bills.
My impression is that you give the bank permission to set up the first DD but once you cancel it, its between you and the organisation- it can't be reinstated by either them or the bank.
Oct 19th 2006, 6:23 am
#6
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
Originally Posted by jib
The time it took to write this thread you coul have
It's prettier, but the data - stats not quite so readily available or in a format you can grap quickly.
Last edited by BadgeIsBack; Oct 19th 2006 at 6:29 am.
Oct 19th 2006, 6:29 am
#7
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,533
Re: Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
Lawn shears; you know the ones on a long handle that trim the edge of the lawn? Can't get them here.
Oct 19th 2006, 6:30 am
#8
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
Originally Posted by TraceyW
Lawn shears; you know the ones on a long handle that trim the edge of the lawn? Can't get them here.
Oct 19th 2006, 6:38 am
#9
Mozzie magnet
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Brisbane 'burbs
Posts: 1,690
Re: Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
I'm hungry so...
1. Can you get calamari rings in the fish and chips shop?
2. Are smoothies popular in the UK?
3. Can you get gelato ice cream stuff?
4. Do they have non-stop sales in the UK?
5. Can you get turkish bread / pide?
6. What are yabbies called outside of Australia?
7. Can you get basil / rocket / aubergine / artichoke dips in the UK or is Australia just dip-mad?
8. What's the equivalent of hard jubes (fruit pastilles come close, but jubes are harder)?
9. Is there an equivalent to Mersey Valley crumbly vintage cheese with pickled onion?
10. Cheese kranskys - an Aussie invention?
must go and eat something before I begin eating keyboard...
1. Can you get calamari rings in the fish and chips shop?
2. Are smoothies popular in the UK?
3. Can you get gelato ice cream stuff?
4. Do they have non-stop sales in the UK?
5. Can you get turkish bread / pide?
6. What are yabbies called outside of Australia?
7. Can you get basil / rocket / aubergine / artichoke dips in the UK or is Australia just dip-mad?
8. What's the equivalent of hard jubes (fruit pastilles come close, but jubes are harder)?
9. Is there an equivalent to Mersey Valley crumbly vintage cheese with pickled onion?
10. Cheese kranskys - an Aussie invention?
must go and eat something before I begin eating keyboard...
Oct 19th 2006, 6:39 am
#10
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 10,158
Re: Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede
No, unfortunately. You have to pay the old fashioned way - by phone or post. Drives me up the wall. And there's no pre-paid envelopes, either. It's like living in the 50s.
I can transfer any amount to anyone at any time through my First Direct account. It's easy and most banks do it through internet banking.
Oct 19th 2006, 6:43 am
#11
Gutter Gob!!
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Perth
Posts: 13,098
Re: Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
Originally Posted by TraceyW
Lawn shears; you know the ones on a long handle that trim the edge of the lawn? Can't get them here.
Oct 19th 2006, 6:45 am
#12
has lost The Game
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Chippendale, Sydney
Posts: 8,735
Re: Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack
You always get the questions (even silly) asking if you can get Cheesits or something in Australia.
I am finding after more than 8 years away from the UK that I know far less about the UK than I ever did and more about Australia or Europe. Having got married, had kids here and bought a proper house here, I feel that I am more equipped to deal with Australia than the UK.
My questions:
i) Can I get colorbond in the UK? What is the local name? (I have a sneaking suspicion that it is a backward, cheap nasty Strayan thing and that the Uk is so far advanced it is not called for).
ii) What wood do I buy? What is the grading system used. Here it is F5/F7/F17 etc?
iii) What are the building spans used? Are they similar? (But see i)
iv) What make is a decent chainsaw?
v) If I want to buy a new cheapo power tool, what is the local equivalent of GMC or Ryobi?
vi) Do UK retained firefighters have decent gear? What size is all their hose fittings and diameters? What sort of Breathing Apparatus are they on? Vehicles? SoPs?
vii) Where do I buy all the various cement mixes and toppings? Do they have similar stuff.
viii) Can I buy a cypress pine post in Great Mills? Or ripple iron?
xi) Does the UK have BPay?
x) What's the UK Met Office website like - is it as good as the Australian one? Haven't got the time to check.:-(
Funny. I know nothing (in the detail I know about Strayan weather) about the UK weather - NEVER checked it - or complained about it either. What I got, I got.
xi) Do they have child maternity nurses for each village or town with monthly or weekly house vists?
xii) Do you get free community creches?
It doesn't stop!
Answers please - and more if you can think of them...
I am finding after more than 8 years away from the UK that I know far less about the UK than I ever did and more about Australia or Europe. Having got married, had kids here and bought a proper house here, I feel that I am more equipped to deal with Australia than the UK.
My questions:
i) Can I get colorbond in the UK? What is the local name? (I have a sneaking suspicion that it is a backward, cheap nasty Strayan thing and that the Uk is so far advanced it is not called for).
ii) What wood do I buy? What is the grading system used. Here it is F5/F7/F17 etc?
iii) What are the building spans used? Are they similar? (But see i)
iv) What make is a decent chainsaw?
v) If I want to buy a new cheapo power tool, what is the local equivalent of GMC or Ryobi?
vi) Do UK retained firefighters have decent gear? What size is all their hose fittings and diameters? What sort of Breathing Apparatus are they on? Vehicles? SoPs?
vii) Where do I buy all the various cement mixes and toppings? Do they have similar stuff.
viii) Can I buy a cypress pine post in Great Mills? Or ripple iron?
xi) Does the UK have BPay?
x) What's the UK Met Office website like - is it as good as the Australian one? Haven't got the time to check.:-(
Funny. I know nothing (in the detail I know about Strayan weather) about the UK weather - NEVER checked it - or complained about it either. What I got, I got.
xi) Do they have child maternity nurses for each village or town with monthly or weekly house vists?
xii) Do you get free community creches?
It doesn't stop!
Answers please - and more if you can think of them...
S
Oct 19th 2006, 6:48 am
#13
has lost The Game
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Chippendale, Sydney
Posts: 8,735
Re: Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
Originally Posted by iPom
I can transfer any amount to anyone at any time through my First Direct account. It's easy and most banks do it through internet banking.
Then watch as they come along and cancel your services because you didn't pay, despite the fact that you have the transaction receipts and that your bank says they transferred the money.
NTL=NTHELL
One thing I certainly don't miss!
S
Oct 19th 2006, 10:32 am
#14
Now a Mummy!
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Beautiful Sunshine Coast!
Posts: 586
Re: Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
I'm hungry so...
1. Can you get calamari rings in the fish and chips shop? Probably in London!
2. Are smoothies popular in the UK? Yup!
3. Can you get gelato ice cream stuff? eerr no!
4. Do they have non-stop sales in the UK? Yup
5. Can you get turkish bread / pide? No - but I'm looking forward to it in Oz
6. What are yabbies called outside of Australia? crayfish?!
7. Can you get basil / rocket / aubergine / artichoke dips in the UK or is Australia just dip-mad? no and yes
8. What's the equivalent of hard jubes (fruit pastilles come close, but jubes are harder)? American hard gums?
9. Is there an equivalent to Mersey Valley crumbly vintage cheese with pickled onion? are you mad?
10. Cheese kranskys - an Aussie invention? we've got the Krankies? are they the same?
must go and eat something before I begin eating keyboard
1. Can you get calamari rings in the fish and chips shop? Probably in London!
2. Are smoothies popular in the UK? Yup!
3. Can you get gelato ice cream stuff? eerr no!
4. Do they have non-stop sales in the UK? Yup
5. Can you get turkish bread / pide? No - but I'm looking forward to it in Oz
6. What are yabbies called outside of Australia? crayfish?!
7. Can you get basil / rocket / aubergine / artichoke dips in the UK or is Australia just dip-mad? no and yes
8. What's the equivalent of hard jubes (fruit pastilles come close, but jubes are harder)? American hard gums?
9. Is there an equivalent to Mersey Valley crumbly vintage cheese with pickled onion? are you mad?
10. Cheese kranskys - an Aussie invention? we've got the Krankies? are they the same?
must go and eat something before I begin eating keyboard
Oct 19th 2006, 11:51 am
#15
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Berkshire, UK
Posts: 4,260
Re: Things you don't know about the UK but DO know about Australia
Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack
viii) Can I buy a cypress pine post in Great Mills? Or ripple iron?
Answers please - and more if you can think of them...
Answers please - and more if you can think of them...