Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Does anyone know why at the start of the long running Aussie soap Neighbors ---- they always have on the screen Ramsey street England?
I bet you know Cheers even though your a yank ;)

PS tomorrow the newest US aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush will cruise into my town Portsmouth and there gonna let loose 6,000 American Sailers on the city,
All the single Brit Yobs, Blokes better get out of there way, but they have to be back on board ship by 1 am every morning, :D

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

I don't get this last part? Are you saying the aircraft carrier crew are all gay so the blokes had better get out of the way? Gay cruise?

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

From the news room-

The bills are coming for the state visit.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13565326

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Copied from a post about things you like about the UK.

Also... I like being able to go see the doctor whenever I need to and not have to pay ANYTHING... not even a co-pay. The healthcare system here is satisfactory for minor things and is very convenient. Although, being a nurse and working for the NHS, I would also have to say that nothing compares to the medical marvels of the US.... so much more advanced and the patient care is awesome compared to other countries. It's just a shame you have to have really good insurance to benefit from it.

One last thing... I love thatched cottages... not to live in one myself (I'm still very American in that I love really high ceilings and open space) but to see them in the country side is really beautiful.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Now that saying is NOT British, it is an Australianism!!!! :ohmy:

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Phew I must book meself a train ticket post haste. :lol:

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Oh of course we can understand (notice I am saying the royal we :)) the need for the President's safety but we the British public (said in my best Royal voice) are not used to SEEING so much overt security, and not let's forget that Lord Louis Mountbatten and his family were killed by terrorist's and also the Brighton bombings of Maggie T, the London tube bombings etc............so we are not immune to threats and assassinations.......

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Trivia

The cost of obtaining a standard passport over the years has increased greatly. While consumer prices in the UK have increased by 24% from early 1998 to 2009, the price of a passport renewal increased by 269%.[28]


£77.50 – 3 September 2009 – an increase which the Government said was necessary due to a falling number of passport applicants, and also to pay for enhanced passport security measures.

Just sayin'

Cheers

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

And significantly cheaper than applying for a British passport from Australia:

Passport fees in Australia are:

Adult passport

32-page passport - $263.45
48 page passport - $306.45

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Quoting:

Best finds:
Haggis, red/black pudding
decently priced/tasting wine
smoked salmon
bacon and brie sandwiches
IRN BRU!!!!!111one
Yorkshire pudding
ostrich burgers
Cornish pasties (and any other pastry dish really)
NHS
salad cream
Parma Ham
Clothes that are not ill-fitting

Worst finds:
European cars (discounting German/Italian - rest are almost as bad as American cars)
council tax
petrol prices
TV "license"
price of beer
English mustard
MOT
toast racks (come on, really? WHAT'S THE POINT!?)

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Did you read about the Royal Protection Officers car being clamped in Portsmouth yesterday? They arrested the clamper!
I'm thinking what would have happened if they had had the opportunity to have done it to one of the Presidents cars?

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Come fly with me????

news item.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...-hour-delay.do

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

I see where you are coming from Barb, we were blown away by this when we first moved here as it all seems over the top, but we are used to it now, Obama is getting what is typical for any US President.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

7 hours? I'd mutiny too. They should have been off-loaded. I read that some were connecting from Canada. Mama mia!

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Beautiful video - well worth watching, right to the end:
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcar...6&source=jl999

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

How it is

http://www.loweswatercam.co.uk/11052...a_Mountain.htm

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

And significantly cheaper then applying for a UK passport in America too, I saved about £100 getting my British passport renewed here in England.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Yes cheers that clamper story made first page news in the Portsmouth local paper last night (The News)
Apparently the clapper refused to take off the clamp unless the officers would show him proof that they were on duty :rofl:
So the officers just arrested this IDIOT :D Off with his head I say !!!!!

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

He was arrested so I wonder if that was enough proof for the clamper that the RPOs were on duty?

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

how about Ramsey Street? and calm down its only 6,000 sailers :ohmy:

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Rod, about 6 months ago you wrote that in order to use your computer you had to sit on a suitcase in the hallway so as to be close to the power or computer connection. Is that still the way it is?

Did the Yanks leave Portsmouth yet? Its amazing to me that a ship with so many crew on board can swell the population of a city so much. I wonder if they were required to wear civilian clothes on the city streets?

Cheers mate

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Cheers Im here waiting on chit chat ---- where are you old bean?

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Portsmouth is the City with the highest number of emigrants, in the UK.

So you know.

I think that is amazing because they are still a very small percentage of the population compared with what a city in the US would be.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Oh THERE U ARE, NO I got a power outlet put into the wall right under the phone so the modem sits side by side with phone, the outlet cost me £70 Yeah I know that was rather expensive and same thing would have cost me about $40 in U.S. but when we are living here we have to constantly remind ourselves that we are not in the States anymore and we have to try and not convert the sterling price of something to U.S. Dollars ---- Im still doing it 6 months later, that is the hardest thing to quit doing I think. --- everything I buy ---- say its a nice big whole chicken for £4 at the co - op the little cash reregisternside my head goes Hmmmm thats around $6.
Yes cheers I did read that they were required to wear civillian cloathes on the street so as not to upset the poor local lads he he he he

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Hmmmm are u sure mate? seems odd, they probably mean percentage wise per capita.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

So did you see any or are they in another part of town. They are easy to spot because of their haircuts and "go Raiders" jackets:D ...and dollar bills falling out of their pockets.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Well there ships the aircraft carrier AND THE DESTOYER sailed into Portsmouth at the gun warf area of portsmouth which is about 3 miles from where live but I did take a bus down there yesterday but I must have been too early so I came back home cause it was not a nice day --- very windy and chilly and cloudy, today the same, so here in the south the weather is changing for a few days.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

See Wikipedia-Portsmouth-demographics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth

^ BBC South Today 11/4/08

Portsmouth is the City with the highest number of emigrants, in the UK, particularly the most skilled.[50] According to 2007 estimates, the ethnic breakdown of Portsmouth's population is as follows: 86.4% White British, 3.8% Other White, 1.7% Chinese, 1.6% Indian, 1.3% Mixed-Race, 1.2% Bangladeshi, 1.0% Other ethnic group, 0.9% Black African, 0.7% White Irish, 0.6% Other South Asian, 0.4% Pakistani, 0.3% Black Caribbean and 0.1% Other Black.[51]

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Yes like I said cheers ---- they are saying percentage wise per capita, its not saying that there are more immigrants living in Portsmouth then any other English city, it is just saying percentage wise of the population of Portsmouth ---- we have the highest percentage thats all!!!!

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Can I immigrate on my Canadian passport? My UK one has expired and I don't really want to send it to Washington DC for renewal.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

What do you mean emigrate? If your British you are allowed back to UK to live permanently, you can enter on your canadian passport but if you do that you will get a stamp in your passport dated so you will only be able to stay in UK temporarily,
You better just get your UK passport renewed before you leave unless you want to give yourself unnecessary problems.
By the way when are you going home for good?

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Well I wonder if there is anyone that has already taken the plunge and are already over here in UK,
Its about steaks, I have bought steaks 3 times so far from three different places ---- last one was lidle ---- anyway each time I cook it in the pan it comes out as tough as leather, the one I cooked today was sold as a top sirloin, now we all know in America that top sirloin steak is so tender when fried,
This one bought over here was absolutely full of gristle and the little meat that you could actually kind of chew OMG it takes about 100 chews to just chew a little piece of meat, tough like leather,
Any comments from anyone about British Steak meat would be welcome.
Rodney.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

The UK steak cuts are named in a different manner. I found out the hard way just as you have. The best I can say is don't buy supermarket meat, but go to a reputable butchers shop. I have given up on supermarket meat, and only buy from the local butcher if I want meat. They understand the different names and can advise you correctly.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Jasper, I know what you mean about steaks. Meat in general. Whole different language

I've found the best one for frying is rump steak. A butcher recommended that to me. It varies, but most of the time it's as good as sirloin in North America. Had a nice piece last night.

Sirloin here, which was strip loin over there, is never good. I don't know why as it's the same cut, but it's always chewy.

But meat is cheaper in North America. Course it's probably packed with hormones and other bulk-up chemicals, which isn't good for us, but it can be awfully tasty.

OTOH, lamb is great over here, and doesn't cost a fortune.

Islandwoman, I do shop at a local butcher, but the two best rump steaks I've had have been from supermarkets. One was ASDA, the other Sainsbury's. Don't know why -- unless the animals were pumped full of the above chemicals!

Bev

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

The cuts are different Rodney.
Scroll down on here it has the cow and the cuts explained for UK and US
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beef It looks like the US sirloin is UK Rump steak.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Hey Rod, shoot them with hormones like they do in these parts and then the steak will melt in your mouth. Unfortunately you will also develop breasts.:lol: Come to think of it you will have no problem making friends then!

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Most definitely!

You will probably want to get a new British passport when you get there and use that from then on so no problem.

Hey thats what I'm going to do except I don't want to spring for a new passport. Economics and all.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

MITF thanks for that link, yes it looks like the American top sirloin is the rump steak in U.K. ----- well who would have thought that butchers here in UK have a whole different language for there cuts, well you learn something every day they say,
So next time I buy beef I will try the Rump Steaks and buy them from a butchers shop, and I will let you know how it turns out.
Take care,
Rodney.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Thanks Bev, good info on Asda's and Sainsburys, I will try a Rump from them, and see how it goes, yes I love lamb and next Sunday I will cook Me and Mum a nice Lamb roast with the roast potatoes and parsnips, Hmmm
That will be lovely, any tips on the temp and time to cook it in Oven, we have a gas stove, I think you can buy
(REAL) mint sauce over here too.
Rodney.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: