The Just Thought I'd Share Thread

[Nikolaj]

Artemis,
Please accept my sincere 'thank you' for your wonderfully descriptive and patient reply, it was so interesting to read. I realize it required you to be generous in giving of your time to respond in such detail, and I appreciate it very much.
If you are open to 3 more questions; it would be lovely of you to indulge me, if you are not, please disregard the following. I won't bombard you with future inquiries.

1. I'm curious about 'shop hours' of stores; and for some reason, wonder about food stores, you know, supermarkets, grocery stores, whatever the term would be there. Are any open for business at midnight, or 24 hours a day? Are there any large grocery 'chains' of stores, like in the US, we have Safeway, Stop N Shop and quite a few, really, depending on the locale.
As for department stores, I have heard of Harrod's, of course, but wonder if you have the store Target there, or Macy's or Lord and Taylor?

2. Are taxi-cabs plentiful, or are there 'drivers' for hire, for Americans who maybe feel nervous about being capable of driving properly in your country?
3. Would you advise of 2 areas to avoid, because of them being dangerous?

Thank you, again, Artemis, your reply made my night!

[CreepingDeath]

Originally Posted by Meowi

Things are looking up,
And looking back to normal.

If you wan't, you can PM me about what's going on.

I'm glad things are going better with you, Matt.

[Meowi]

Originally Posted by CreepingDeath

I'm glad things are going better with you, Matt.

Thanks so much for your support Kimberly.

You're a real help!

[RickRobert]

Originally Posted by Artemis

What IS it with girls and shoes? I have about... 5 pairs. My friend has about 78. That's not a collection, that's an army.

I have... one two-year-old pair!

Originally Posted by Meowi

Things are looking up,
And looking back to normal.

Great to hear!

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by Nikolaj

Artemis,
Please accept my sincere 'thank you' for your wonderfully descriptive and patient reply, it was so interesting to read. I realize it required you to be generous in giving of your time to respond in such detail, and I appreciate it very much.
If you are open to 3 more questions; it would be lovely of you to indulge me, if you are not, please disregard the following. I won't bombard you with future inquiries.

1. I'm curious about 'shop hours' of stores; and for some reason, wonder about food stores, you know, supermarkets, grocery stores, whatever the term would be there. Are any open for business at midnight, or 24 hours a day? Are there any large grocery 'chains' of stores, like in the US, we have Safeway, Stop N Shop and quite a few, really, depending on the locale.
As for department stores, I have heard of Harrod's, of course, but wonder if you have the store Target there, or Macy's or Lord and Taylor?

I'll intercept even though I'm not a Brit. The retail landscape is pretty much similar to America's. I was in a tiny little village on the coast of Scotland, but they had this ginormous Tesco grocery store right in the middle of everything- looked exactly like any Stop n Shop in the States. Reasonably priced too. Booze is a bargain. There are also lots of O2 shops that are open 24 hours a day. As for department stores, Harrods is the behemoth and it is super-high end; it makes the Macy's on 34th Street in NYC look like a KMart by comparison. They have their own big department stores like Marks and Spencers (which seems like a Kohls to me, although some of them have a really nice grocery section). There's also Debenhams and Selfridges (like Macy's). My all-time fave store in the UK is Habitat, which is like a better, more stylish version of West Elm or Crate and Barrel. It is maddening that Habitat has not opened a store in the States. Oh, and for some bizarre reason, the UK version of TJ Maxx is called "TK Maxx."

2. Are taxi-cabs plentiful, or are there 'drivers' for hire, for Americans who maybe feel nervous about being capable of driving properly in your country?

There are drivers for hire, but they are costly. In fact, everything transit-related is costly except for the London Buses, which are plentiful and very convenient. I drove on the "wrong side of the road." It's. just. not. right. It's not for the faint of heart. I would definitely recommend taking the bus or train instead.

[Nikolaj]

^Thanks, HejiraNYC!

Since we all know that you're okay, please do go into more details about your driving incident there! It sounds like you have a story or two in you about it, I know I wouldn't be able to drive there. Add poor night vision to nearly 30 years of American driving habits, it'd be a disaster.
I am sure I'm probably wrong about the following, but I picture that all European cars have standard transmission, and I never did learn to drive anything but an automatic.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by Nikolaj

^Thanks, HejiraNYC!

Since we all know that you're okay, please do go into more details about your driving incident there! It sounds like you have a story or two in you about it, I know I wouldn't be able to drive there. Add poor night vision to nearly 30 years of American driving habits, it'd be a disaster.
I am sure I'm probably wrong about the following, but I picture that all European cars have standard transmission, and I never did learn to drive anything but an automatic.

I didn't drive in the UK; I drove in New Zealand, where they also drive on the wrong side of the road. I rented a Nissan Tiida, aka, "Versa" with an automatic tranny (thank Buddah!). It freaked me out while trying to navigate myself through the streets of Auckland. But once I was on the "freeway" and I was in the midst of traffic, I was fine. But once I started driving the narrow, winding state roads up and down hills, I tended to veer to the left side of the lane since that is where I am accustomed to viewing the road. Not cool when you are driving on a narrow shelf cut into the side of a steep cliff! You really have to remind yourself constantly that you have to stay in the right side of the lane. Anyway, I managed to drive the entire length of the north island- Auckland to Wellington- without incident. It's actually an incredibly lovely drive.

[ButterCookie]

Dad: Is that Dobby?

Me: No, that's Hoggle...

[APerfectLie]

I made a C+ in Statistics. I needed a B to qualify for my $2000 grant. FML. I quit.

[Silver Springs]

Oh no. Captain Beefheart died

[Meowi]

Originally Posted by APerfectLie

I made a C+ in Statistics. I needed a B to qualify for my $2000 grant. FML. I quit.

Don't give up!
Just be proud you made it this far mate.

You could be spending your life digging holes!

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by APerfectLie

I made a C+ in Statistics. I needed a B to qualify for my $2000 grant. FML. I quit.

I'm sorry. Stats was a bi*ch for me. The only class I never skipped once, and paid attention, every second. Because I knew I was going to drownd in a sea of failure, otherwise.

I know I've told the story, before, but the instructor lost my last assignment, and gave me a D+(C- is the minimum grade in your major, in order to not have to retake the class). I spent several hours, sitting on the floor of his office, until I found the paper he had lost. There it was, still ungraded!!! He changed my grade, and apologized, and I didn't have to retake that mutha!!!

[amberlemegan]

Oh boy I feel left out...

Everyone posting in the appretiation thread made me realize that I haven't gotten to know anyone here yet. I blame this on my shyness.

[TerraRhiannon]

Originally Posted by amberlemegan

Oh boy I feel left out...

Everyone posting in the appretiation thread made me realize that I haven't gotten to know anyone here yet. I blame this on my shyness.

Awh, if there's one place you don't have to be shy, it's here I've learned. I Kinda wish I knew more people on here a little better too, to be honest!

[CreepingDeath]

Originally Posted by amberlemegan

Oh boy I feel left out...

Everyone posting in the appretiation thread made me realize that I haven't gotten to know anyone here yet. I blame this on my shyness.

Don't worry about it. I've been here a long time and still feel the way you do. :/