I give this report, quintessentially English, exactly as it appears in the Daily Telegraph:
Dog escapes fall
A dog had a lucky escape when it leapt from a car after its owner drove off a cliff. The 42-year-old man suffered two broken legs in the fall at Chapman's Pool, near Swanage,Dorset, and was rescued after people on a yacht heard his cries for help. The dog was found at a farm.
[ BTW Were the yachtsmen on the 'dog watch'? Dog watch ]
Did he intend to drive off the cliff? Owning a Vauxhall will do that to people, you know. It's a weird story, because, apparently, he had to go to a lot of trouble to get to the cliff in the first place. I agree, it's just one of those typically English stories, where you shake your head in disbelief.
And another... OAP ORDERED TO REMOVE FLAT-CAP BECAUSE OF PUB SECURITY THREAT
quote:
Bar staff ordered pensioner Harvey Talbot to take off his flat cap because it posed a risk to pub security. The 81-year-old was enjoying an afternoon pint when he was told his hat could obscure his face in the event of a crime. But Harvey, who has mobility problems and was dressed in a suit, had only popped in to Yates's, in Newcastle, for a drink on his way home from the shops.
I agree, it's just one of those typically English stories, where you shake your head in disbelief.
It wasn't the story but the report which I thought quintessentially English.That's why I gave it verbatim.
The headline is that the dog had a fortunate escape. Forget the driver,thinks the ever-so-English Telegraph, he's only a human .No matter that he was hurt,breaking both legs, the important thing, the thing that makes the headline, is that the dog wasn't hurt and had a lucky escape
That, to me, is English.
Without the dog, the story would never have made it the paper.
Er..google the story, Fred. I doubt all the reports came from The Telegraph. Before I moved here, I thought it was just the English that were crazy about their pets. Not so. If you ask Canadians or Americans, they will proclaim themselves nations of pet lovers too. The English created the stereotype about themselves being the world's biggest pet lovers, but I doubt it would come up on a list of characteristics of Englishness outside the UK.
The other one is the weather myth..the English think they are the only nation that constantly talks about the weather. Again, not true.
The reason I thought the story was typically English, was the inept way the guy 'appeared' to try to take himself out of the gene pool. He just sounded like a typical whimp of a man, calling for help after he messed up on his plan.
( Just in case anyone reading this is wondering, I had a really bad morning at work, btw )
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,
Because they are made by General Motors,who've owned the marque since 1925, and we know how good they are . The factory used to be in Luton, Bedfordshire.
You may be thinking of such gems as the Vauxhall Velox, of years ago, so wonderfully made that it that it didn't so much rust as melt once wet
Nowadays they are rebadged Opels, designed and mostly made in Germany.
Originally posted by DorianGreyed: They still make Vauxhalls? Why?
DG Vauxhalls are Badged General Motors Vehicle in the UK I think the Chevette Ex Ellesmere Port (opposite Liverpool Airport,across the Mersey)was exported to the US in Big numbers Ireland Gets the same Models But they are all badged as Opel (Thanks Fred) Rere are the rest!...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Chevette And they have a reputation in the UK for Being a New model same Bland car mechanically To keep their customer loyalty All the Major car makers Have the same method of selling Cars If its dated put a New grille or rebody it...but keep the engine Give it a few more horses and tell the Mugs it can Pedal faster(In real terms its 5 to 10 mph) and about 2 mpg better "economy"...Added another 1k to the Price! No radical Vehicles bar from some of the smaller Makers in say France or Italy They have Common engines too and the prices are steady... If the Public Mindset looks here for some sensible basic vehicles (Like the Cars of the 50's) They laughed at them a few years ago when they came out in France Netherlands and Italy but It was strangely the Younger generation that saw the value of these(as Insurance costs is bad if you are below 25) Throughout Europe These have been classed as Group 1 to 3 Maximum .Conventional cars go from 3 to 12 average is a Group 9 to 10.10 to 20 (sometimes 22 with some companies) are Large Family car to Sports cars(SUVs too).And I'll guess at the Top end of the Scale it will be 1 off quotes of the "! sorts" to us cheapo or Average drivers Anyway whats the chance of America driving one of these? as I say you can scoff and laugh now But once somebody sees the value in these The demand will pick up exponentially. And the likes of Ford and GM will have to reply in kind. And break out of their New year, same motor policy! For Ford that means going back to the Likes of the Model T for the 2000's which was a Peoples car also the Beetle ,early Mini(Which borrowed off the Post War Austin A30 and A35) and several More. So the next "Big" thing to hit both North America and UK will be these (I have no doubt) and explore the different makers and there are vehicles for almost everybody which Ok they are only good locally but reliblility wise could do the odd long trip Diesels are Slow Top speed 40!(Keeps up with the local Buses) but there are electrical versions too. Petrol good for the Legal limit at full speed Cruising about 50? MPG expect 60ish average .Handling? Several Vids on YouTube showing Kids Throwing these about (They can be driven @ 14 in Europe but only on the diesel? versions which are "restricted")
The reason I thought the story was typically English, was the inept way the guy 'appeared' to try to take himself out of the gene pool. He just sounded like a typical whimp of a man, calling for help after he messed up on his plan.
Well, thanks Being a wimp of a man who behaves like that is quintessentially English is it ?
I doubt whether the English think themselves uniquely animal loving. Their richest charity, by far, is a donkey sanctuary and their Society for the Protection of animals is the Royal Society for.. whereas the childrens' one is merely the National Society... but that's by the by.
Unconsciously or not, The Daily Telegraph wrote this sad tale as a story where the dog was more important than the human.That, accidentally or otherwise, correctly assesses the priorities and interest of their readership.My guess is that it was unconsciously written that way.
It was an American journalist who observed that he knew he was in Britain when he arrived to find the national press and media spending a week and more headlining the story of the two pigs, the Tamworth Two, to the exclusion of all else.
It's difficult to assess what foreigners think of as a stereotypical image of your own country. You may be as surprised as I was to read that, apparently, the British don't have any spice in their food Vindaloo anyone?
Well, thanks Being a wimp of a man who behaves like that is quintessentially English is it ?
I think you might have read my post before DG got to it.
quote:
PS Enjoy the rest of your weekend !
Thank you, DaHling It was terrible; first the computers crashed, then I lost the keys to the drop box. After all that, a guy had the gall to try to return several volumes of books on the English canal system ( what the heck was he thinking, even borrowing them.. he lives in Ontario for goodness sakes), that I had got for him from the university, WITHOUT the paper work that was in them when he took them home. Ah well, no papercuts today.
In my defense, I was asked to do this... O DG Vauxhalls é veículo Badged de General Motors no Reino Unido que eu penso que o porto ex de Chevette Ellesmere (oposto ao aeroporto de Liverpool, através do Mersey) estêve exportado para os E.U. em números grandes Ireland começ os mesmos modelos mas todos badged como (agradecimentos Fred) Rere confundido Opel são o descanso! … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Chevette E têm uma reputação no Reino Unido para ser um modelo novo o mesmo carro agradável mecanicamente para manter sua lealdade do cliente Todos os fabricantes de carro principais têm o mesmo método de vender carros se seu datado põr uma grade nova ou rebody ele… mas mantêm o motor para lhe dar alguns mais cavalos e para dizer as canecas que pode Pedal " de mais rapidamente (em termos reais seus 5 a 10 mph) e aproximadamente 2 mpg melhor; economy" … Adicionou um outro 1k ao preço! Olhos do rolo Nenhuma barra radical dos veículos de alguns dos fabricantes menores diz dentro France ou Italy Têm os motores comuns demasiado e os preços são constantes… Se o Mindset público olha aqui para alguns veículos básicos apreciáveis (como os carros do 50' s) Riram d alguns anos há quando saíram em Países Baixos e em Italy de France mas era estranha a geração mais nova que considerou o valor destes (porque os custos do seguro são maus se você está abaixo de 25) Durante todo Europa estes foram classificados como o grupo 1 a o máximo 3. Os carros convencionais vão 3 a 12 médias são um grupo 9 10.10 a 20 (às vezes 22 com algumas companhias) são carro de grande família aos carros de esportes (SUVs demasiado). E I' suposição do ll na extremidade superior da escala será 1 fora das citações do " EEK! sorts" a nós cheapo ou excitadores médios Em todo o caso que é a possibilidade de América que conduz um destes? como eu digo você pode scoff e rir agora Mas uma vez alguém vê que o valor nestes que a demanda pegarará exponencial. E os gostos de Ford e do GM terão que responder no tipo. E estoire de seu ano novo, a mesma política do motor! Para Ford que significa ir para trás aos gostos do modelo T para o 2000' s que era um carro dos povos igualmente o besouro, mini adiantado (que pediu fora do Austin de após-guerra A30 e A35) e diversos mais. Assim o " seguinte; Big" a coisa para bater America do Norte e Reino Unido será estas (eu tenho sem dúvida) e para explorar os fabricantes diferentes e há veículos para quase todos que aprovado eles seja somente bom localmente mas o reliblility sábio poderia fazer o sorriso longo impar Diesels do desengate está a uma velocidade superior lenta 40! (Prossegue com as barras-ônibus locais) mas há umas versões elétricas demasiado. Gasolina boa para o limite legal na velocidade cheia que cruza aproximadamente 50? MPG esperam a média 60ish. Manipulação? Diverso Vids em YouTube que mostra os miúdos que jogam estes aproximadamente (podem ser conduzidas @ 14 em Europa mas somente no diesel? versões que são " restricted") Mim pessoal eu quero o Chatenet Speedino em minha meia do Xmas Aquela é a parte superior da pilha de Italy fresco
Posts: 1059 | Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada | Registered: 06-06-02
The next 'big thing' in the British motor industry will be more of the same The likelihood is that the trend towards diesels will continue.
Otherwise, there's nowhere else to go.
The Ford Focus is being touted by Ford in America as an answer yet it has a 2 litre engine as standard. The European version of the Focus has 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 litre engines too, and, of course,a diesel versions of 1.8 litres. There's no need for 2 litres in a standard car. However, it may be that Americans have yet to be sold on that idea
I have a 2L Focus, Fred. It was considerably cheaper because it has a manual gearbox. Most people here won't drive stick shift. Our "van" (can't remember what you call them ..people movers, maybe? ) is 3.6 L.
They are making smaller vehicles here, but it's going to take a while for people to come around to the idea of a smaller engine. We only recently got the Toyota Yaris. It's a 1.5 L Toyota
Originally posted by dg: Most people here won't drive stick shift.
Me neither. Doesn't matter what size the car is.What's the point of a manual gearbox in towns (or at all)? Haven't anything but an automatic in thirty years or more.The Infanta has a manual car, because she had to pass her driving test on a manual (that being the rule unless she was to be stuck with a restricted licence) and so far has not switched (at her age they tend to fancy themselves as rally drivers) but, given time, she'll wonder why she needs a left foot to drive a car
There are plenty of "small" automatics here. Ford do a Focus 1.6l automatic, for example.Unless you are seeking a performance car with a small engine (MG sports, Alfa Romeo spyder etc) you'll find an automatic version of most cars. (Hiring one is another matter!)
Returning to my Last Post I forgot to say those little cars vans whatever Have a simple Belt drive auto transmission In the Old Daf Car way If you can drive a dodgem /bumper car You can drive this. Gear shift is up or Forward to go fore wars and Down/ back to reverse and Middle is Neutral And if you read through the link I have provided despite its size comes with many big car type extras as standard equipment from the link..
quote:
It took a while (about 20 years) before Dutch car enthusiasts figured out that the DAF passenger cars were something special and worth to be conserved. The Dutch tend to be very dismissive of their own achievements and up to very recently it was perfectly normal to smash up still working DAF cars in reverse driving races in huge numbers. Why reverse driving races you ask? Well, because of their special transmission DAF cars go as fast forward as they do in reverse. Concerning reverse driving, nothing beats a DAF, not even a Ferrari.
Thats a challenge Top Gear(The UK TV programme) has never tried!
Posts: 13108 | Location: 6 miles west of Wigan UK | Registered: 06-05-02
Prince Charles has just paid a debt left by Charles II. The late King owed £453 and 3 shillings to the Clothiers Company of Worcester for troop uniforms ordered in 1651. The Prince settled the debt but did not pay any interest.
The Royal Society for the Protection and Care of Animals is playing recordings of the dawn chorus to young birds left in its care. Every year it receives about 4,500 fledglings, mostly birds handed in by well-meaning members of the public who mistakenly believe that fledglings left sitting on the ground have been abandoned by their parents. Birds learn to sing from hearing their parents and master the art by listening to other birds of the same species.Reared in captivity they don't learn how to sing properly. Playing CDs to them, of birds singing at dawn, benefits the youngsters and helps them to survive once released.
A milkman has been cautioned by police because he was delivering pints of milk in the nude. Customers who saw his doorstep antics at lunchtime [lunchtime? Where had he been?Milkos are supposed to be out at dawn, getting the pints on the step for breakfast ],called police to South Cerney, near Swindon, Wiltshire. The man, aged 60, was arrested for indecent exposure and given a warning.
(News of the World, Sunday, June 23rd).
[Legal note:What was he doing? Flashing his yogurts at innocent housewives? 'Indecent exposure' is exposing himself 'with intent to insult a female'. It's no offence at English law to walk around in the nude in public (It is under Scottish law). Maybe there's a local by-law for naked milkmen in Wiltshire.He could, just, have been done for 'conduct likely to occasion a breach of the peace', which rather predicates a lot of irate householders storming the dairy in consequence , but 'indecent exposure' ?? Bet the sergeant in charge thought 'We'll only warn him, so it doesn't matter what the offence is' .]
Why?
! sorts" to us cheapo or Average drivers
