BS: Canadians crossing the Pond

Subject: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Charmion
Date: 09 Jul 15 - 08:19 AM

CET and I are firming up the itinerary of our trip of a lifetime, to England and Wales from 6 September to 2 October. We will spend the first three days in London, based in Woolwich, then go West for the Bromyard Folk Festival, three matches of the opening round of the Rugby World Cup in Cardiff, and a visit to Salisbury for a look at Stonehenge.

Any chance we might meet up with some Catters on our travels?

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Jul 15 - 09:38 AM

You're starting at Woolwich Arsenal, attending three rounds of hand-to-hand combat, and finishing with war games on Salisbury plain? I thought you retired.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jul 15 - 07:04 PM

Hit FB Mudcat too. A lot of old time 'Catters don't even come to Mudcat proper anymore.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Jul 15 - 07:21 PM

Woolwich is a long drag from W London , but if you can get out my way ,I'd love to meet up !

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Charmion
Date: 10 Jul 15 - 07:33 AM

Har, har, Rap. And Edmund still plods along in his suit of Dominion Tweed.

I had a chat with Micca through Facebook, and he has pencilled us in. Terry, we're renting a car at Heathrow for the bulk of our holiday, so passing by your way is within the realm of the possible.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: GUEST,Kampervan
Date: 10 Jul 15 - 07:43 AM

Hi there

I love Canada, spent a lot of time there, and I'm very embarrassed at the lack of response to your thread.

Unfortunately I live in the wilds of Kent, which doesn't feature on your itinerary, so I don't think that I can be of very much help.

But I hope that your trip goes well and that you have a great time, and if you want to pm me then I'll give you my email address and mobile number, and if you need any help,emergency transport or assistance with accommodation, then please contact me.

Regards

K/van

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Mr Red
Date: 10 Jul 15 - 01:23 PM

If you spot a flash of red - say hello. I will be stewarding, dancing (ceilidh) and in sessions in town, mostly.

Brad McEwen is usually over for Bromyard, but he will definitely be over for Stroud Folk Festival the week after so I expect he will be in Bromyard. He runs the Mill Race Folk Festival in Cambridge (Ont).

Failing that my Folk Map may be of help if you are in the Mid West - session, clubs, dances - but I don't list concerts. This is all I list on Salisbury but I link to better sites in their area. Otherwise click on a town you recognise.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 10 Jul 15 - 04:30 PM

you might perhaps like a singaround not too far from Woolwich ?. footscray social club every Monday night. it is called crayside folk , and there might be a thread about with contact details to sue tuckey.      myself and woodsie are other regulars and "catters" that are usually there.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Jul 15 - 08:51 PM

Charmion, I'm glad you are in touch with Micca. I am told he is an excellent host/resource.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Jul 15 - 09:28 PM

Micca's a good cook, too...

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: GUEST,Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 11 Jul 15 - 02:07 PM

Rapparee, Woolwich was the birthplace of our great-grandmother whose father was an armourer in the Royal Artillery. Unfortunately, the house in which she was born was blown up by the Germans.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Jul 15 - 10:23 PM

Andrew, knowing your sister I must ask, "In which war? One or Two?"

My paternal Grandfather-In-Law worked in the boiler room at the Springfield Army Arsenal in Massachusetts. Maternal relatives lived right down the road from the Rock Island Army Arsenal in Illinois; in fact I have a cousin who was assigned there and used to hit an unexploded atom bomb with a sledge hammer.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Jul 15 - 10:25 PM

Oh,yeah -- the money over there is even weirder than that of Canada to Americans. And they drive on the wrong side of the road -- be very careful in roundabouts because they go the wrong way.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: GUEST,Musket noting similarities
Date: 12 Jul 15 - 02:56 AM

Naw, ignore Rapparee. The money is very similar, even got the same picture of our Liz on it.

Feeling for you slightly though. The Canadian dollar has weakened against the pound quite sharply over the last few months.

Roundabouts are easy, we go round them the correct way, which makes it simple. Also, we don't have any of those four way junctions you revel in.

At least one Musket is hoping to get to Bromyard fingers crossed, so will pm saying which bar I shall be propping up and when. A mate is playing there and has asked me to help in a backing band for a few bookings and that is one of them.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Charmion
Date: 12 Jul 15 - 11:34 AM

Thanks for all the invites and news. Pete, could you post more info about your singaround? Mr Red, we will look for you at Bromyard, and you should not have too much difficulty in spotting us: I'll be the woman in the Canadian tuxedo (jeans & trucker jacket).

We're not worried about the driving on the left as we -- actually, I -- have done it before (twice) and no one died. As for the money, we have accepted the fact of the tourist's true role in society, which is to spew cash all over the place and thus bedew the local economy with plenteousness.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Jul 15 - 08:46 PM

Tourist = money volcano.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 12 Jul 15 - 10:09 PM

I've just had three weeks of driving on the 'wrong side' in AB and BC (not, by any means, my first experience, but certainly the longest at one stretch), and I have to say I prefer it to the left. I loved the uncluttered, empty roads, the courteous manner in which the Canadians behave on the road, and I thought the four-way stops are a brilliant way of dealing with junctions. It's a shame the UK didn't opt for driving on the right when it would still have been possible to convert (as Sweden did in the mid-60s).

Charmion, by sticking close to our south coast, you are missing huge tracts of some of the UK's finest scenery (not to mention people) in the northern half of the country. Contrary to what our beloved politicians would have you believe, the world doth not end at Watford Gap.

IMHO, YMMV.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: GUEST,Musket to BWM
Date: 13 Jul 15 - 03:07 AM

Yes but regarding four way junctions.. I am in hire cars when driving in Canada so have to be polite and courteous, which confuses most UK drivers.

If I were in my Beemer, everyone would give me right of way and defer to me, just like they have to in The Isle....
😎

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Jul 15 - 08:42 AM

😄😄

I always defer to Beemer drivers - I feel far safer with them ahead of me than behind! 👍🏻

It's the politeness and courtesy of Canadian drivers that impresses me most. a refreshing change from the 'F**k off out of my way, me first, me first' driving we see so much of in the UK. I've been seriously impressed every time I've driven in Canada, and that's quite a few times.

I can't think of anything about Canadian drivers and the Canadian driving system that I don't regard as superior to that of the UK.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Mr Red
Date: 13 Jul 15 - 09:04 AM

And what does BMW stand for?

Charmion, the standard of driving in the UK is good, when it is good. But the idiots are numerous enough to annoy the hell out of the natives. Tourists are advised to assume the next car is driven by an idiot, and be pleasantly surprised when it is not. Cities are to be wary of, SatNavs very useful. If Post Codes are known - use them.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jul 15 - 09:40 AM

Black mans willy?

A bit below you Mr Red, if you don't mind me saying.

I have to say, driving round Toronto is no different to any European city.

So- A beemer eh? They defer to my Humvee more quickly!

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Charmion
Date: 13 Jul 15 - 10:38 AM

I will be driving a Fiat 500 -- indubitably the humblest, weeniest vehicle on any given thoroughfare in the world, today's answer to the Deux Chevaux (if better built). I will be doing it with Edmund riding shotgun, clinging to the dashboard and pleading with me not to let him die in a tangle of foreign coachwork. I plan to be the most defensive driver the Sceptr'd Isle has ever seen.

I learned to drive in the 1970s while serving in the Canadian Forces, and obtained my first civilian driving licence in Germany. Intercity travel on the autobahn (a frequent indulgence) meant driving as fast the car would safely go: no hello, no goodbye, no kiss my arse. In a 1975 Beetle, that meant 140 km per hour (downhill with a tailwind) in sometimes bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Sorta like the Don Valley Parkway toward the end of rush hour.

We are taking this staggering risk because we intend to move around a bit and British Rail is just too expensive, not to speak of far less convenient. Edmund wants to have a pint in a pub his father remembered fondly, the Trip to Jerusalem in Nottingham. We've been reading about Richard III, so a visit to Tewkesbury is on the agenda. Also, we are (of course) going to Wales, and with a car we can go to places we could not otherwise get to -- such as the stretch of Offa's Dyke that Edmund has been eyeing on Google Earth. Walking boots are on our kit list.

We are also taking our own Garmin satnav, being unwilling to pay Europcar four quid per day for 23 days for the use of theirs. I have already loaded a package of UK maps into it and laid in the address of our B&B near Bromyard, which required the post code because they don't do address numbers on that stretch of country road.

But I'm going to buy an up-to-date road atlas, too. The satnav isn't good at telling you where another place is in relation to where you are, something an old-fashioned map does at a glance.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Charmion
Date: 13 Jul 15 - 10:58 AM

Backwoodsman, I have seen the politeness and courtesy Canadian drivers are capable of, and it is, in fact, remarkable.

A couple of Christmasses ago, Edmund and I drove from Ottawa to Windsor, an epic journey of more than eight hours that takes us almost the entire length of the notorious Highway 401. The misery of driving through Toronto can be avoided by taking the 407, a toll road that runs north and west of the megacity as an extension of Highway 7. To take the 407, you get off the 401 at the Brock Road in Pickering and head north to the eastern end of the toll road.

It was the 23rd of December, one of the heaviest shopping days of the year, and one day after the Toronto area was hit by an ice storm that shut down the entire regional power grid. The Brock Road exit lies beside an enormous shopping centre. The torrent of traffic on the Brock Road flowed like the Amazon heading for the sea -- and not a single traffic signal was working at any of the many four-way junctions we had to pass on our way through Pickering.

At every junction, each rank of the cohorts of cars halted under the blinded signals, waited politely for its turn, and advanced through the intersection. There were no police to direct traffic, but nobody honked, nobody cut anybody off and nobody drove on the shoulder of the road. It took forever to clear Pickering and I never got above second gear until the 407 turn lane was in sight, but we were never in any doubt that we would arrive at our destination on time and intact.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Jul 15 - 11:37 AM

Not at all surprised, Charmion. As a Brit, well used to the Hell-on-Earth that is our national road system, and the brain-dead small-dick drivers that infest it, it's always a real pleasure to drive in Canada. Very relaxed.

BTW, my Brit bro-in-law is a Toronto cop, drives the Harleys during the summer, and the big lumbering barges-posing-as-police-cars in the winter. He has some interesting tales about the traffic in Tronna and its environs! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: GUEST,Pete from seven stars link
Date: 13 Jul 15 - 02:47 PM

Well charm ion, it starts 8 pm or a bit later and finishes 11 pm. There is a bell on side door for entry. Usually a raffle but no charge other than buying a drink. Sit in a circle and perform in turn. Others may join in unless requested otherwise. Some very talented , some not so. There is often locals who might listen, though sometimes can be a bit noisy.   The folk is widely interpreted, so it might not suit traditionalists. "Craysidefolk" does have a website, but I don't know how to do links. Depending on how many turn up, dictates how many turns you get , but on average , I would say about 4. Hoping your holiday over here goes very well for you.    Pete.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Jul 15 - 05:43 PM

People respect my Hummer -- it's ex-military and still has the .50 (12.7mm) machine gun.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: GUEST,Musket your tourist guide
Date: 14 Jul 15 - 02:36 AM

The Trip to Jerusalem is a decent boozer and should be on everyone's list. If you are getting up as far as Nottingham, the extra 30 or so miles to the Home of the Wesleys isn't a leap and you can buy me a pint and Backwoodsman a coffee at Ep'th folk club in Epworth.

Try not to come on the night he regales us with his holiday snaps from Canada though...

😴

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Mr Red
Date: 14 Jul 15 - 04:15 AM

CraysideFolk GUEST,Pete from seven stars - links - you can generate them fairly easily Mr Red's hyperlink / blickie generator and you can make it open in a new tab/window like that one, &/or have the visible text different.

Bavarian Motor Werk - since I didn't want to state the obvious. We is polite with our castigations in  Rouge Towers .

Charmion - if you are in Tewkesbury the Abbey is an interesting diversion. They have a peel of 13 bells, numbered 1 to 12!
However the superstition I was told was that Bell 5a is there to change the key if necessary. Yea right!

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Charmion
Date: 14 Jul 15 - 10:28 AM

Thanks for posting the link to Crayside Folk, Mr Red; if we are not totally lost by then, we might make the Monday night singaround.

We have identified a flop in Tewkesbury that is right across the street from the Abbey. Not cheap, but what conveniently located commercial hostelry is? I am toughening up my personal undercarriage for the challenge of many hours of moving slowly across medieval flagstone floors.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: GUEST,Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 14 Jul 15 - 04:32 PM

"Andrew, knowing your sister I must ask, 'In which war? One or Two?'"

The Second War, Rapparee, they missed the first time round. That line of the family (the last to arrive in North America), however, had already made good its escape to Canada in 1908.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 15 Jul 15 - 12:41 PM

thanks mr red, but it still looks complicated to a technophobe like me !.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jul 15 - 01:39 PM

Most 12 bell are 13, all 8 are 9 etc. For the reason you stated.

It's a ring of 12, not a peal. A peal is a sequence of change ringing.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Charmion
Date: 15 Jul 15 - 01:55 PM

Hi, Mr Red -- if the Tewkesbury ringers practise on Wednesdays or Thursdays, we will be on hand to catch their act; we're booked in at the Royal Hop Pole up the street.

However, I can't right now think of anything less royal than a hop pole -- I assume that would be the agricultural implement that supports a hop plant?

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Jul 15 - 08:25 AM

Just pre-paid the car hire and two hotel bills for our trip.

Doing it up front feels virtuous and surely makes it more enjoyable while one is actually on holiday, but the stingy bourgeois part of me quails when I do the pounds-to-dollars arithmetic and plunder the savings account.

Ouch!

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jul 15 - 08:32 AM

:)
I imagine it was originally called the Hop Pole (a popular name for pubs in this part of the world) and was upgraded after a Royal visit:


This well-known landmark is an amalgamation of historic buildings dating from the 15th and 18th centuries. It's been known as The Royal Hop Pole since the 1890s, following a September-1891 visit from Princess Mary of Teck, later Queen Mary, royal consort of George V.

Tewkesbury is a small market town, situated at the meeting of the rivers Severn and Avon, in Gloucestershire. The town retains its medieval layout, with the whole of the town centre being in a conservation area. Tewkesbury has more than 350 listed buildings, including Tewkesbury Abbey.

Wires are strung between tall hop poles for the hop vines to climb up- you may well see hop fields on your travels through Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadians crossing the Pond
From: GUEST,Noreen
Date: 16 Jul 15 - 08:35 AM

Oops- above post was from me, cookieless at work.