Being British #5

[rita_skeeter]

We went a little over the limit for thread number four...so you now have this shiny new one to play with. :)

As usual, this is where to come to find out about all things cultural: customs, school, food, work, etc.

There are lots of users from the UK and Ireland on our forums, and they've shown us how knowledgeable and willing to help they are ever since this started up. Therefore, please could ONLY Brits answer things in here.

Oh, and remember there's a time difference, so you may have to be patient for answers!

The latest query:

Hello there! I need a bit of urgent help. So, my newest (and as yet, un-submitted) story is called Sapphire Wings and it has a sub-plot line concerning the East End of London. The research I’ve done so far has only helped me find out things about the East End of the past – things like extreme poverty, cockney speech, murderers and muggers, and of course, immigrants. What I need to know is what the present day East End is like. Are there any cool ghost stories surrounding present-day places of the EE? Does extreme poverty still exist? Do the various foreign immigrants (Bangladeshis, Jews, etc) have special communities in the East End? How big is EE? Do people still live without homes there? Which parts of the EE are now for comparatively rich people (like, is Canary Wharf for high-class folks?) and which areas still have extremely poor people.

Please, help!!

Thanks, Amel

[emily_the_poet]

Would papa (refering to a father) be a british term? Also, would giving someone the bird mean flipping someone off in england?

[Poppet]

Would papa (refering to a father) be a british term? Also, would giving someone the bird mean flipping someone off in england?

Papa is generally considered obsolete as a term for "father" in Britain. However, if it was an upper-middle to upper class traditionalist family, it may be used. It is more commonly seen in these circles as a term for "grandfather". And "giving someone the bird", whilst would be understood, would not be used in Britain as such (unless you're like my colleague Ben, who is obsessed with using Americanisms). Flipping someone off is perfectly acceptable, but if you want to use a version of "giving someone the bird", "giving someone the finger" would be your best bet.

Hello there! I need a bit of urgent help. So, my newest (and as yet, un-submitted) story is called Sapphire Wings and it has a sub-plot line concerning the East End of London. The research I’ve done so far has only helped me find out things about the East End of the past – things like extreme poverty, cockney speech, murderers and muggers, and of course, immigrants. What I need to know is what the present day East End is like. Are there any cool ghost stories surrounding present-day places of the EE? Does extreme poverty still exist? Do the various foreign immigrants (Bangladeshis, Jews, etc) have special communities in the East End? How big is EE? Do people still live without homes there? Which parts of the EE are now for comparatively rich people (like, is Canary Wharf for high-class folks?) and which areas still have extremely poor people.

As for this, the East End is one of the poorest places in Britain today, and there is an enormous amount of homeless people there.But then again, in any large city there will be slums and the homeless.

Some parts of the East End have been subject to a number of urban regeneration projects, most notably Canary Wharf, a huge commercial and housing development on the Isle of Dogs. Many of the 1960s tower blocks have been demolished or have been renovated. The area around Old Spitalfields market and Brick Lane has been extensively regenerated and is famous, amongst other things, as London's curry capital, as well as being the home of a number of London's art galleries, including the famous Whitechapel Gallery.

Much of the area remains, however, one of the poorest in Britain and contains some of the capital's worst deprivation. This is in spite of rising property prices, and the extensive building of luxury apartments, centred largely around the dock areas and alongside the Thames. With rising costs elsewhere in the capital and the availability of brownfield land, the East End has become a desirable place for business.

This (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A513596) is a link to a site explaining the various areas of the East End. As to the modern ghost stories, the Jack the Ripper/Leaper/Stripper legends were recently re-surfaced due to a spree of killings which were signed "Jack". Also, Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" was set in London. These tales, whilst old, still scare people today. I personally, however, know of no new ghost stories. However, you could probably make a few up: I find that is how most stories as made now-a-days anyway.

[Rita Skeeter]

Would "bite me"--as in a response to an unwanted comment--be considered a phrase used in Britain? If not, is there anything similar?

[padfootsgirl1981]

Erm, I really don't think that I've ever heard "Bite me" be used here, but I'm having the hardest time of thinking of the phrase that would be used instead. I'll get back to you if I have a sudden moment of inspiration. :)

[LilykinsLove]

Is rubbish bin the correct term for a place to put trash in?

Emma

[AurorKeefy]

The small bins you would find in the corner of classrooms and bedrooms are rubbish bins. The larger ones you would put your weekly (or now bi-weekly) household waste into for collection are dustbins. Recently these have been replaced by Wheelie Bins, which are, essentially, dustbins with wheels. They only really became common in the last ten years.

If it isn't a house's dustbin, and it isn't a classroom's rubbish bin, then it's just a bin. It would also be quite acceptable to call either of them 'bins', and in reality most people would refer to rubbish bins simply as bins in conversation.

Bins contain rubbish. "Garbage" is not used to describe waste, though it may still be used in dialog to denote contemptuous disbelief. Equally trash is used extremely rarely to describe rubbish, but can be used to describe goods of little value or worth. An obviously cheap ring from a jewelry store is trash. A dress that is rather less elegant than it's contemporaries is trashy. A pair of shoes that were once expensive but are now worn to the point of being worth nothing are trashed.

Right, I'm off before my post turns any more materialistic, or before I turn into Stig of the sodding dump.

[Nutz-chan]

Um...I was wondering, what is the 'proper' way to brew tea in Ireland? Like if you have tea leaves...not bags....

[padfootsgirl1981]

Hi! I would say that it didn't really matter, as it would really depend on what the person prefers. There is no set way of brewing their tea, so which ever one you choose should be fine. :D

[Ron x Hermione]

I have a few questions about the weather in Scotland. How hot does it get/can it get during the summer? How cold can it get during the winter months? And how much does it rain? Just, you know, whenever? It's not like . . . not a lot, right?

Also, does Scotland have, like, shopping malls? Like they do in America with parking lots and cars . . . etc. . . I know I may be being thick, but I have no idea. I know it's not a different world, I just don't want to get anything wrong.

I'm so sorry. I'm American. ;)

~Lindsey :)

[KJRowling]

I have a few questions about the weather in Scotland. How hot does it get/can it get during the summer? How cold can it get during the winter months?

Basically the same as England - 60-70 degrees in summer and 4/5, sometimes reaching freezing during the winter

And how much does it rain? Just, you know, whenever? It's not like . . . not a lot, right?

It rains quite a bit... If we don't get atleast a light shower per week we are lucky. It's funny because at the moment it's raining buckets for hours every day bvut last week it was glorious sunshune all week - basically the longer the warm spell the longer the rain afterwards. We get alot of rain in Spring and Autumn, not much in Summer (but weatherwise we go from July to September for Summer) and a lot in winter - and this doesn't often turn to snow unless you live high up.

Also, does Scotland have, like, shopping malls? Like they do in America with parking lots and cars . . . etc. . . I know I may be being thick, but I have no idea. I know it's not a different world, I just don't want to get anything wrong.

lol, Yes there are shopping CENTRES - basically like a shopping mall but a different name and we don't have food courts, you just get coffee shops (quite a few coffee shops - you go shopping and at some point you always seem to end up in one...) and a Macdonalds or a KFC.

I'm so sorry. I'm American. ;)

It's ok, we Brits are used to Americans knowing nothing about us... Atleast you don't think we sit around drinking tea and eating scones all day 9I do actually know someone who thought that)

[CCCC]

It's ok, we Brits are used to Americans knowing nothing about us... Atleast you don't think we sit around drinking tea and eating scones all day 9I do actually know someone who thought that)
There are those of us who keep that grand stereotype alive as far as possible. Crumpets are better than scones though.

Also, would giving someone the bird mean flipping someone off in england?
It might, but it's an extremely uncommon term. More so in HP times.

[Hermione_Rocks]

I feel really American posting in here:p, but do you Brits have huge soda sizes? Like, could you go to a fast food and order a "Big Gulp" or something like that?

[Poppet]

Uh... we don't call them "sodas". Try just naming the drink (like Coke, or Sprite, or something), and the largest size drink that I have ever seen was at the cinema. My friend bought a Coke that was, like, TWO LITRES :eek: She couldn't walk after the movie... In McDo, you used to be able to order something "supersized", but they've banned those now. You would probably just call it a large, but in BK you can "go large for 40p!" (I am sad for knowing this - and 40p is like 80c), which takes you up to an XL, which is about, what, 750? 800ml? 'Though this was a fairly recent introduction - its only about three years (maybe four, I forget my age a lot) old.

[apollo13]

Remember, you can also call them soft drinks, if they're non-alcoholic. Yeah, I'd just stick to small, medium, large - that's the safest option.

~Evie

[nikkiolapotter]

I feel so dumb.

Okay, so in England, do you ever 'inch away from something'? Or do you just not use the term at all? Do you guys even use metrics? :confused:


So sorry for my ignorance.

[CCCC]

I feel so dumb.

Okay, so in England, do you ever 'inch away from something'? Or do you just not use the term at all? Do you guys even use metrics? :confused:


So sorry for my ignorance.
Yes very much so.

We're one foot in each camp with regards to metric, and have been for the past century or so. You measure long distances in miles, shorter ones in metres, a person's height in feet, an object's height in metres. Heavy weights in kilos, lighter weights in both, liquids tend to be metric.

It's also dependant on the age, older people go for more imperial measures, if you're buying something it's almost certain to be metric now (although that's relatively recent).

For some reason we're delaying fully metricating, so we still have a similar-ish system with the USA, Liberia and Myanmar, the only other imperial measurement countries.

[Nutz-chan]

Okay so my bata is British and has never mentioned htis to me, but then again...neither one of us are very observent sometimes... Do Brits spell "realized" like that? Or is a spelled like this: "realised"? My MS Word is set on English UK but it says both are right and I'm not sure...

Also would Remus as a 17 in England say "you guys" ? Is my timing off, do Brits even say that?

*rolls eyes* Man this all would be easier if I had just been born in England like I wish I had been...

[padfootsgirl1981]

Hi! The spelling tends to be 'realised', at least that's what I've always been taught. As for Remus saying 'you guys' I would say that it depended on the context that it is being used in. For example I could see him saying, "Oh come on, you guys, cut it out," but I don't see it being used in dialogue such as, "Hey, you guys," But i wouldn't take my word on the 'you guys' bit as I myself struggle on phrases being used in the right era. I'd just thought I'd give you my take on the matter. I hope I managed to help a little. :)

[Nutz-chan]

I've got Remus saying to (the first time) James and Peter and (the second time) to Sirius, James, Peter and Lily...hes talking about pretending everything is normal so that they stay friends with him. I dunno if that made any sense...

[kathyhermy123]

Nutzchan-

For the 'hey, you guys' thing, you might want to change it to 'hey, lads!' though NOT to laddies. One is English/Irish, one is Scottish. Very Scottish. Then again, when saying 'hello', it would usually just be 'Hey!' or something like that. 'Hey, lads!' would be more used in sentences like, 'Hey, lads, wait up!''

I'm not quite sure what you meant by your last post...it kinda confused me...

~Kathy

PS - mods, let me know if I can't answer here. I'm Irish, and I wasn't sure whether it was people from the British Isles or people from England who were allowed to answer.

[Nutz-chan]

Oh sorry. In the last post I ment that Remus was saying somthign along the lines of "You guys were my first friends." So would he then say "You lads where my first friends." But Lily is there to...so what then?

*facepalms* I'm sorry I'm being so confusing...

[padfootsgirl1981]

Hi! In that type of situation using 'you guys' would be perfectly fine, I'd have no arguments with it. :)

[Nutz-chan]

Oh yay!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I'm so glad this thread was made! *hugs Kathy and padfootsgirl1981* Thanks guys!

[Magical Maeve]

You know, I was trying to decide whether guys would definately have been used in the seventies, thinking it probably was but not knowing if my mind was playing tricks, and then I suddenly had Jimmy Saville (slightly bonkers seventies Brit DJ) in my head with one of his catchphrases "Now, then, now then, guys and gals." So I think we can categorically say that guys was used in most contexts back then.

(saying back then suddenly makes me feel very old indeed *weeps*)


Kathy, feel free to answer any question that you know the answer to. Ireland does have some differences, but only in the way that Wales and Scotland do. (and Cornwall. *eyes Cornish warily*) (Someone please don't give me a lecture on the Republic being a different country; I know this. ;) )

[Love_is_4ever]

Hi again! Me here with a new question... I have a story in which both Harry and Hermione work at the MoM. One time, Hermione visits Harry unexpectedly and Harry says something like 'what brings you to these parts of the building?'. Would that be a correct British expression? Or should he say something else?

Once again, I await eagerly your answers!
Thanks in advance!


Edit: Thanks Evie!!

[apollo13]

I would say that's perfectly fine. While it's American in essentials, the English do say it, and especially if it was in a joking way. Another phrase is "What brings you to this neck of the woods?" That's used quite a lot.

~Evie

[joybelle423]

What do you call the store where you buy food? Here, we call it the grocery store, but I know other places in the US refer to it as a supermarket, and sometimes just the market. Would supermarket be a fairly safe term?

And what do you call the people who run the cash register? Cashiers? I saw a fic that used the term "checkout assistants", but that's not a phrase I'm familiar with. Is it correct?

Thanks!

[CCCC]

................................
What do you call the store where you buy food? Here, we call it the grocery store, but I know other places in the US refer to it as a supermarket, and sometimes just the market. Would supermarket be a fairly safe term?

And what do you call the people who run the cash register? Cashiers? I saw a fic that used the term "checkout assistants", but that's not a phrase I'm familiar with. Is it correct?

Thanks!
Either's good.

[Magical Maeve]

I'd say grocery store was very American. Supermarket would be used, or, more likely, the name of the supermarket. The big four in Britain are Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons. You'd be more likely to say "I'm just popping out to Tesco" than "I'm just going to the supermarket". Although if you were unfamiliar with the area you would probably ask if there were any supermarkets around rather than get too specific. If it's a little store then you would just call it a shop.

Checkout assistant and checkout operator would, at one time, have been the most popular but cashier is becoming more common (especially in supermarket literature, because it's shorter;) ) However, the checkouts are usually called checkouts rather than cash desks, especially in supermarkets. In boutiques or high street stores then they would more likely be referred to as cash desks - or you would just say you were going to pay.

[Ginny Weasley Potter]

Hello!

I wanna ask about the most famous sport in Britain. Is it cricket, rugby or polo?

Thank you!

[CCCC]

Hello!

I wanna ask about the most famous sport in Britain. Is it cricket, rugby or polo?

Thank you!

Depends on the area. In most of it (particularly England) it's football (as in proper football/soccer). Wales is more rugby orientated, unsure about Scotland and Ireland (which have their own additiional sports etc).

Safe option is football.

Polo's restricted to the upper class/rich.

Cricket to a lesser extent is also quite middle/upper class. Football is easily first, I'd guess at rugby second but it splits off differently depending on areas.

[TyrannoLaurus]

Tennis is popular too during the summer. Wimbledon et al!

[AurorKeefy]

While Tennis is certainly popular as a spectator sport during Wimbledon, it fails to draw in the mass participation (certainly where I am from) that football, or even Rugby or Cricket, pulls in. Tennis is generally played by very few people at only certain points of the year, whereas football is played (to some standard or another) by just about anyone at just about any point of the year.

Of, and if you'd like a little piece of canon Britishness, Soccer (ie the football I mention above) is exclusively referred to as football, while US "football" is referred to as American Football. Any British male (and arguably female) referring to the UK sport as "Soccer" is acting superbly out of canon, as is any British person excepting American Football as "Football".

In my experience of teenage (and not so teenage) British males, the greatest crime the US has ever committed was it's attempt to rebrand football as soccer, and rebrand it's own padded version of Rugby as football. ;)

Just so you know. ;)

[Snape's Talon]

Christmas dinner is served when, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Seems silly to have to ask, but my husband's family does their big dinner on Christmas Eve while my family does Christmas Day. Between the two, we end up eating far too much food. :p And when do folks typically start decorating for that holiday? Here in the States, stores start carrying Christmas decorations before Halloween. :eek: It's downright unnatural!

To further elaborate on the soccer/football thing, it is arguably the world's most popular sport. Every four years FIFA holds the World Cup. It's so big an event that some countries come to a standstill when their team plays and a war was started over it once (in South America where it's referred to as futbol).

And yes, we're the only country (US) to rename the darn sport.

[TyrannoLaurus]

Christmas Day. Some of us even work Christmas Eve *cough*mymother*cough*

It depends when it comes to Christmas decs just how fantically ridiculous you are. I know some families do start just a little after Halloween, whereas I simply insist upon ours being up for my birthday (22nd). I know some of the more traditional families put theirs up just before Xmas Eve and keep them up only until twelfth night. Whereas others have put their tree up so blumin' early it has no pine leaves come Boxing Day. You really have quite a degree of freedom with it ... anytime after December 1st is reasonable. A family with young kids would probably put them up earlier. And don't forget to include cheesy neon lights plastered to the front of the house and garage <.<

And yes, I know what you mean about the country coming to a standstill for footie. England is ridiculous. Everybody waves silly plastic red and white flags - and so they get egged if they cross the Scottish border - and all huddle around one widescreem TV with beer and oud voices. Everytime they're convinced they're going to win. Everytime they get no further than the quarter-finals.

And I am talking too much as always. Really should go before I am charged 10 yuan instead of 5.

[Ginny Weasley Potter]

Ooh, thank you so much! It's interesting to learn more about Britons. And to add, along with tips for one of my fic, I've received even academic help over here. I recently changed from calling football 'football' to 'soccer' and if I would have written it in any english exam (one of hich is tomorrow... :eek:) *hackAmericanwordsnotallowed*

So football, right? I don't know, but I think I had expected it to be cricket :D . I enjoy watching the World cup and all. But this year, during the cricket world cup, was it all hyped up there? I know that there are die-hard Dhoni and Tendulkar fans in India, and I was wondering about the 'star players' in Britain. What's the atmosphere like, during the World Cup? And who are the most hero-worshipped players?

Football: Is football played a lot when it rains? In my area, I can actually hear the guys screaming 'goal' when the rains are really, really heavy. So is it like that there? Are guys all over the world same? ;)

Thank you!

[apollo13]

So football, right? I don't know, but I think I had expected it to be cricket . I enjoy watching the World cup and all. But this year, during the cricket world cup, was it all hyped up there? I know that there are die-hard Dhoni and Tendulkar fans in India, and I was wondering about the 'star players' in Britain. What's the atmosphere like, during the World Cup? And who are the most hero-worshipped players?

Football: Is football played a lot when it rains? In my area, I can actually hear the guys screaming 'goal' when the rains are really, really heavy. So is it like that there? Are guys all over the world same?

Oooooh, yes - it rains a lot in England, but people will play their sports in all sorts of weather. Yesterday, we had hail stones the size of marbles coming down, and I found out this morning that the school netball match still went ahead. :eek:

Star players, well, it depends a lot on the team you support, but I'd say... David Beckham, but not so many people like him anymore,maybe because he went over to Spain, then back toEngland, and now over toAmerica, so it's pretty obvious that he's only after money... Peter Crouch - people either love him to bits (my cousin) or hate his guts (my dad)... Terrie Henry(sp? He's French), but he's just left Arsenal (c'mon Arsenal!:D )... um... I'm sure some one who knows more about football can tell you more...

Unless... Johnny Wilkinson is really big, but I think he's a rugby player... yeah, I'm sure me and my mum were chanting his name while we watched the rugby world cup - the only thing I've ever seen England win.

~Evie

[AurorGirl101]

What would be the proper term for a maternity dress in Englad? Here in the USA we call them...er...moo-moos. They are really loose-fitting and usually a soft very breathable fabric (IE cotton ). I think I've heard the term 'house dress' before, but I would just like to confirm.

Thanks in advacned!!

[CCCC]

Oooooh, yes - it rains a lot in England, but people will play their sports in all sorts of weather. Yesterday, we had hail stones the size of marbles coming down, and I found out this morning that the school netball match still went ahead. :eek:

Star players, well, it depends a lot on the team you support, but I'd say... David Beckham, but not so many people like him anymore,maybe because he went over to Spain, then back toEngland, and now over toAmerica, so it's pretty obvious that he's only after money... Peter Crouch - people either love him to bits (my cousin) or hate his guts (my dad)... Terrie Henry(sp? He's French), but he's just left Arsenal (c'mon Arsenal!:D )... um... I'm sure some one who knows more about football can tell you more...

Unless... Johnny Wilkinson is really big, but I think he's a rugby player... yeah, I'm sure me and my mum were chanting his name while we watched the rugby world cup - the only thing I've ever seen England win.


Thierry Henry.

Crouch isn't really much of an icon.

Beckham effectively had a argument with his manager and got the chance to play with the best players in the world (Zidane etc) so he went to Spain. He didn't come back to England but has gone to America, some say for the money, some say for the hollywood lifestyle (and back to an English speaking country).

Possibly because American Soccer is of a much lower standard so his diminishing talents won't get shown up as much (and he can stay playing football as long as he wants rather than having to fight for his place at a top club). He says he wants to be the face of American Football, expand the soccer schools he has over there and develop the game.

Football is a winter sport, so gets played in all but really heavy rain. Rugby matches are played under just about any conditions (I've played rugby matches on pitches it was possible to swim on in places).

Wilkinson is indeed a rugby player, probably the best known rugby player in Britain, but's been injured for the last 3 years or so. Still very famous.


Cricket world cup was quite hyped, nothing to compare to the Football or to a lesser extent the rugby ones though. Main famous players are Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff and Kevin Pieterson. But compared to India it's minimal.

It's important to mention the place in terms of heroes though, English/Scottish/Welsh/Irish fans would have heroes from their own national teams (exceptions made for players at the fans' preferred club).

What would be the proper term for a maternity dress in Englad? Here in the USA we call them...er...moo-moos. They are really loose-fitting and usually a soft very breathable fabric (IE cotton ). I think I've heard the term 'house dress' before, but I would just like to confirm.

Thanks in advacned!!
Only term I've ever heard is maternity dress.

[thegirllikeme]

Quick question about English punctuation. I've heard that Mr and Mrs are spelled without the period. Is that the same with all abbreviations like St. and etc?

[AurorKeefy]

A quick answer would be "It depends." The Harry Potter books I have don't use periods for Mr and Mrs, and though I don't have an example on hand, I would be astonished if this didn't apply to St or Dr. Of course I've seen other pieces where the period is used, in which case it's probably used throughout. My advice would be to just remain consistent in your approach. Periods for all, or periods for none. A grammar expert will be here soon to prove me wrong. :rolleyes:

And now, a return to the magical world of football!!!

It's worth bearing in mind that star players like David Beckham, Thierry Henry and even - to a lesser extent - Zinedine Zidane, were all knee high to a grasshopper when Harry starts Hogwarts...well, maybe not, but they certainly weren't famous then.

Philosophers Stone = 1991/2
Deathly Hallows = 1998/9

From the mid-eighties to early nineties (say, 1994). I'd suggest that the main English superstar would be Gary Lineker, a mild mannered striker who went on to be the second highest scorer for England. Also of note is Paul Gascoigne (popularly known as "Gazza"), who was a flamboyant midfielder, known for his skill, cheek, drinking, and - oddly enough - crying. See "Italia 90 semi final" for details.

In the mid nineties, your main superstar has be Alan Shearer, a mild mannered striker. For some time he was the most expensive footballer in Britain, consistently top scorer in the league, and reliable at international level. Clubs had their stars, but of the England national side it has to be Shearer.

By 1998-2000, Shearer is still around but it getting on a bit, and the England team is focused around the two new young stars of David Beckham, whom it's fair to say you know, and Michael Owen, yet another mild mannered striker.

Mid 2000s to present. Although Beckham is the celebrity of the England squad, the players the fans respected most at this time are probably Wayne Rooney - a delightfully obnoxious though undeniably talented youngster, and Steven Gerrard - an extremely aggressive and yet somehow still mild mannered midfielder.

------

It is worth pointing out that in reality kids are more likely to think of the superstar of the team they support, rather than their country. So while Alan Shearer might have been ten times the player Don Hutchinson was, Dean Thomas is more likely to cite the latter because he plays for West Ham. Equally, while Harry was at school, any kid who supported Manchester United would have wanted to be Eric Cantona - a frenchman. If you're going to go into real specifics, I'd be happy to help, but as a rule you might find it easier to not drop too many names. It depends on how much detail you want I suppose.

------

Finally, there is the world scale. This is nice as simple thankfully. Although there have been a whole host of "the best player in the world"s over the years, and they have come from all manner of countries - George Weah from Liberia, Andrei Schevchenko from the Ukraine, Marcelo Salas of Chile, to name but a few - most of them won't be remembered, because the only ones the history books have any time for in the last two decades, are Brazilian forwards whose name begins with Ro.

So.

1990-1996 - The best player in the world is: Romario
1997-2002 - The best player in the world is: Ronaldo
2003-2007 - The best player in the world is: Ronaldinho

That's about the long and short of it. Obviously those in the know will disagree with the specifics, but that's just about the way it works. Sorry George. First the General Election, and now this.

[Poppet]

Mr and Mrs no longer need a full stop (period) after them in general use. St (as in Saint) doesn't either, and neither does Dr (for Doctor). However, when the abbreviation St. is used for street, it should have a full stop after it. Otherwise, it looks like you've got confused as to were the title goes (and some streets are named after saints anyway - there's one near where I live called Saint Edeyrns Street. It abbreviates to St Edeyrns st. ;))

[CCCC]

And now, a return to the magical world of football!!!

It's worth bearing in mind that star players like David Beckham, Thierry Henry and even - to a lesser extent - Zinedine Zidane, were all knee high to a grasshopper when Harry starts Hogwarts...well, maybe not, but they certainly weren't famous then.

Philosophers Stone = 1991/2
Deathly Hallows = 1998/9

From the mid-eighties to early nineties (say, 1994). I'd suggest that the main English superstar would be Gary Lineker, a mild mannered striker who went on to be the second highest scorer for England. Also of note is Paul Gascoigne (popularly known as "Gazza"), who was a flamboyant midfielder, known for his skill, cheek, drinking, and - oddly enough - crying. See "Italia 90 semi final" for details.

In the mid nineties, your main superstar has be Alan Shearer, a mild mannered striker. For some time he was the most expensive footballer in Britain, consistently top scorer in the league, and reliable at international level. Clubs had their stars, but of the England national side it has to be Shearer.



Eh, late mid-late 90s were when Zidane was in his prime (and best in the world) and Beckham was absurdly famous then, marrying a popstar etc etc. I think Giggs was also highly popular before that, had his own television show etc.

One day I won't argue with people;)

[AurorKeefy]

David Beckham, Thierry Henry and even - to a lesser extent - Zinedine Zidane, were all knee high to a grasshopper when Harry starts Hogwarts...well, maybe not, but they certainly weren't famous then.

;)

fiftyfiftyfiftyfiftyfiftyfiftyfifty............... .................................................. ...............

[Gmariam]

What might be some common holiday traditions (for Christmas or the New Year) that one might incorporate into a story set during this season? The year is 1979/1980 as well. I imagine there are several, so I'd just like a few that are celebrated by a majority of people and might translate well into a mixed Muggle/Wizard household. Thanks so much!!
~Gina :)

[Diamond Quill]

Weeeell, to start with there's Christmas Dinner. Turkey, chipolatas with bacon wrapped round them, cranberry sauce, stuffing, sprouts, roast potatoes and Christmas pudding with brandy on top that is set alight are all good examples of traditional Christmas food in the U.K.

Dinner is served around 1.00 pm and before hand many British families (more so in the time period you've mentioned than nowadays) go to Church in the morning for a special Christmas service, some even go at Midnight on Christmas Eve. This is known as Midnight Mass.

Another Tradition is to go carol singing to raise money for charity.

Other winter traditions include: ice skating/sledging/watching lots of films on television, partying on New Years Eve and eating a LOT of food.

Hope that helps!

[moonymaniac]

I was wondering if anyone might know about the railway system in the UK. Specifically, do you know if there are any places that the track would go through tunnels that would be dug through the earth? Our system runs through tunnels under the mountains in various regions, ie the Smokey's and Rockies, etc...But, I'm not sure how mountainous any region of the UK is, never having had the pleasure to visit. :(

[crazy_purple_hp_freak]

^^ I don't think so, well not on any trains that I've been on ...
Tracks tend to go around the mountains, not through them. They can go through tunnels *above* ground, but not under.

In London and some other cities, there's the under ground tube-train system which runs below the ground. And obviously, there's the Eurotunnel system between England and France. :)

Hope that helps.

[apollo13]

England is pretty flat. In the west, it's very hilly, but I think the mountains are mainly in Wales.

Where I live, what we consider a mountain is nothing more than a gentle slope to most people. Seriously, it's like Holland.

I agree with Suzie, they're more likely to go around a mountain or hill than through it. However, the London Underground is all tunnels, and you sometimes get tunnels under bridges and motorways in the cities.

~Evie

[AurorKeefy]

*Shakes fist impotently at other British Members of the board*

Bloody southerners!

Ahem. (;))

In actual fact there are quite a few train tunnels in Britain, frequently for things a great deal less grand than the rockies. On my weekly train ride to manchester I go through at least one tunnel. When I've been further afield toward Leeds, I've gone through several more, some of them quite long - though I would imagine that is relative compared to the trains through the Rockies. Often the hills and valley landscape of Northern England mean that it is easier to make a long tunnel through a hill than it is to find a way around it. So down south might not have them, but I assure you we do. :rolleyes:

Of course, even further north is Scotland, though I'm not entirely sure what the situation is here. I went to the south of Scotland, and the landscape was a great deal more mountainous compared to the hills of Lancashire and Yorkshire, and obviously the case is far more extreme in the Scottish highlands. Whether or not this means more tunnels however, I couldn't really say. As far as my limited knowledge of train lines north of the boarder goes, there isn't nearly as much in the way of railway lines in Scotland as there is in England. Of course the lines going up to Fort William and Inverness have to go through a fair bit of mountainous terrain, so it would seem plausible that there would be more than the odd tunnel.

And, of course, Hogwarts is doubtless more isolated than either, so unless you can think of a better wizarding way of negotiating such problem as valleys, hills and mountains, it's fair to say you can expect a few. :)

For everything else you could ever need to know about train tunnels in the north of England, feel free to drop and email to Keefyborestheworldsenseless@departmentofnortherntr ainsandtunnels.co.uk . Thanks for your time.

[Magical Maeve]

Completely agree with Keefy. There are lots of tunnels in the UK; not all of them are used nowadays, but this is more the fault of line closures than the tunnels themselves. They had to cut many tunnels cross country through the pennines from Lancashire to Yorkshire, the pennines being one of the most invonvenient ranges in the UK. (as anyone crossing the M62 Manchester to Leeds will attest to). There are even the occasional tunnel fires or collapses which, if they happen on a busy route, can cause huge disruption.

All I would say is that if you do use a tunnel, double check your location for feasability. Here's a list from Wikipedia of train tunnels in the UK:

Tunnels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnels_in_the_United_Kingdom)

[TyrannoLaurus]

Just to argue, there really isn't that many tunnels. I know there's one between Wombwell and Sheffield but all the way up to Newcastle or down to Peterborough on the main north route (one of the biggest train routes in England that runs straight up from London King's X to Edinbrugh and stops at main cities like York, Newcastle and Peterbrough) you don't encounter tunnels. England can be quite hilly in parts but tunnels aren't something you expect on a train.

[AurorKeefy]

With due respect, the fact that there are very few tunnels on one of the biggest train routes in England shouldn't come at that great a surprise. If you're going to plan to make a track the length of the country, it's probably best to plan a route that is as easy as is feasibly possible. Furthermore, a lot of the cities on that route are as large and as old as they are as a direct result of being on a transport route. ;)

[nikkiolapotter]

Is it normal to use the term 'grown-up' as a noun, or would you just say 'adult'?

[hermy_loves_ron]

If you don't mind, I think I could answer that. :o

I'm not sure for England over all, but it is used in the Harry Potter books by Harry himself as a noun. In OotP, after the snake attack on Mr. Weasley, Harry gets starts yelling at Phineas's portrait, and he says something about standing by while the grown-ups sort it out...so they do it in the HP world, and I can't imagine that it'd be any different from the Muggle England.

Hope that helps; someone else feel free to contradict me. :)

[Magical Maeve]

*nods* I concur that grown-up is used quite frequently.

Okay... on the subject of train tunnels - we are in serious danger of confusing the poster who asked the questions. We've already told moonymaniac that the occurence of tunnels varies widely and that there are specific routes that do have more tunnels than others - namely the cross-pennine routes. The list provided gives an accurate and up to date list of what tunnels are where. The mainline north-south route takes the path of least resistance, as you would expect. That route in one form or other has been around since Roman times (although without the trains - obviously ;) ) and I don't recall the Romans being reknowned for their tunneling skills. :D

I think the question about train tunnels has been answer concisely enough now without further disagreement. The nub of the question was do we know of any places where the train tunnels run through earth; the answer - clearly - is yes and a list has been provided.

[moonymaniac]

*absolutely loves the Being British thread*

Thank you all for all the information. I definitely got what I needed. I don't know why I couldn't find that list when I tried googling for a good half hour before posting here. :o *curses her non-existant skill at searching* Anyway, just fyi, I settled on Derbyshire as the setting I was looking for, :cool: and someday, I want to get over there and ride all the trains before they close anymore of those tunnels; they are beautiful. Yes, I looked at every one, not to mention bouncing around for over an hour through all the various links within. *easily distracted but learned a lot* *keeps mouth shut that the Pennines look more like foothills* <.<

:D

So this isn't total spamming of the Being British thread, I have a question on puddings. *proudly uses Britishism* I need a truly decadent, comforting treat. It should be warm and gooey and make you close your eyes and go "Ummmmm". I searched and the closest thing I could find from descriptions was a bread and butter pudding with warm custard sauce. I've also heard of something called sticky-toffee pudding that sounds yummy, but can't find anything to suggest whether it is served warm or not, and as Haagen daas has made an ice cream flavor of it, I'm doubtful. Oh, and it should have been around a while. I'm writing Marauder Era. So, do people generally love bread and butter pudding with warm custard sauce or is there something much better?

*wonders if opinionated Brits will disagree on yumminess of desserts* LOL

Oh, one more thing...Would one use grub in reference to food? I know Aunt Marge called it nosh. Would that be more common? Again, this would be one of the Marauder Era teenagers.

[Magical Maeve]

Bread and Butter Pudding would be perfect as a warm comfort food. It's been around for a long time and was popular in the seventies. Other desserts would include treacle pudding, spotted dick (more prevalent in the seventies - fallen out of favour in the nineties), and the favourite of school dinner ladies the land over jam roly poly. There's also the less sticky stalwarts like apple pie or apple crumble, summer pudding, treacle tart, black forest gateau (typical seventies that one), varieties of fruit fools, cheesecakes... the list goes on.

For a brief overview - Linkage (http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/food/puddings.htm)

That site as a whole is a great resource for English culture. It's been done by a primary school and contains some nice nuggets of information.

Nosh and grub are both acceptable usage. Nosh less so now, and used mainly by people of Aunt Marge's type. That was a good bit of observation on Jo's part. Grub is still used; not commonplace, but definately still in use.


I wait patiently for someone to come along and disagree with me. ;)

[CCCC]

I've also heard of something called sticky-toffee pudding that sounds yummy, but can't find anything to suggest whether it is served warm or not, and as Haagen daas has made an ice cream flavor of it, I'm doubtful. Oh, and it should have been around a while. I'm writing Marauder Era. So, do people generally love bread and butter pudding with warm custard sauce or is there something much better?

It is served hot. Personally I'd like to flag up the pleasures of upside-down cake.

Also if you use spotted dick at least one immature character will snigger at the name (I think, the use of 'dick' in slang for a certain male organ may have been less prevalent in the seventies (a bit before my time).

[StaceyLC]

What's another term for "going up in smoke"? Like, a secret's been exposed. In the US, we usually say "the cats out of the bag" or "the whole thing's gone up in smoke". Sorry if I sound ignorant, but I thought that other than that, there was another saying that you have.

If anyone's confused, here's an example:

“How does he even know about the Order, at all?” Harry demanded. “I thought it was supposed to be secret?”

“Well, everything goes up in smoke eventually, Harry,” Lupin said. “Obviously, someone let slip.”

Is that okay? Or, is there another way of saying it.

[Magical Maeve]

Letting the cat out of the bag or going up in smoke would be perfectly fine.

ETA: The posts below this were getting out of hand and completely spammy. They have been moved. Please, if you are going to disagree, do so with corroborated facts. If anyone has any questions, please PM me rather than add more confusion to this thread. Thank you.

[Lobena Bricatta]

What are the tittle most commonly used for grandma and grandpa in england?


I may be dense but at least I'm cute
Lobena Bricatta

[**plotbunnies**]

StaceyLC,

You could say that 'everything gets out eventually, Harry'. I don't know if that's much better, but I tried.

Lobena Brittaca,

Gran, Granny, Grandmother, Grandfather, Grandad, etc. I don't know exactly, since I don't live in England, but I do live near there.

~Anne

EDIT: Granny would probably be more Irish...

[AurorKeefy]

Another expression, which may well be used more prominently on the American side of the atlantic, that is used predominantly by people amongst the working class (though hardly exclusively) is "Nan" (grandmother).

Personally, I always referred to my grandmother as my grandma, though many more of my friends have used the word Nan.

In my area, Granny is used, but rather to describe an older non relative informally. For example, Albus might refer to his "Grandma Molly", but is unlikely (again in my circles) to refer to Granny Molly - unless he is VERY young. Equally, Scorpius - ruling out any other prejudices, might not know who Mrs Weasley is, but would refer to her as "a Granny".

[apollo13]

I've always called my Grandmothers "Nanna" - Nanna Brown and Nanna Todd. But Grandma and Grandpa would be perfectly fine.

~Evie

[**plotbunnies**]

I would disagree with you, Keefy, abouy Granny. I live in Ireland, and a lot of my friends use 'Granny' to describe their grandmother. Actually, almost all of them do. This may be a difference between the US and Ireland, because I have never heard Granny used as an older female who isn't related to you personally. For Lobena Brittaca, however, Granny might be good to use because although it might be slightly more Irish than British it is from the same area of the world.

Here I am, rambling. Probably the same place I'll be in an hour or two.

~Anne

[Atomic01]

Common titles in the South of England are Gran, Granny, Nanny and Grandma, also Grandad, Grandpa and Gramps.

Regarding the puddings.... Spotted dick, jam rolypoly, steamed suet pudding with jam on top, bread and butter pudding or indeed just bread pudding, apple/blackberry/rhubarb crumble or pie... all will go nicely with custard (we don't call it warm custard sauce tho... just custard :) )

[Werewolf_sympathiser]

I would use gran or nan. Grandma is more formal but sometimes still used. Um for grandad it's generally just that- grandad. Although I called mine Gamp (because I never could pronounce grandad when I was little) and my other grandad (who's still alive) is Papa because he's Scottish and I believe that's more common there. My godmother and step-grandma I've always known as Nonni but I think that's a variation on an Italian name for grandmother since her son in law is Italian so I would stick with Gran or Nan (or maybe Nana if they're little).

[butter_beer_drinker]

When Prince Harry was once asked, as a child, if he was intimidated by the Queen when he went to see her, I believe his response was "you mean Granny?"


Hope that helps.

[Lobena Bricatta]

I've decided to give you all cookies

*throws cookies at everyone in a non violent way*

I thank you for your help, I call my own Grandmere and Papa and Nonny and Gradpa so I guess I needed the help *Smiles*

Octagon...who knew that such a simple practice can take years to learn and a life time to prefect

Lobena Bricatta

[R_Ravenclaw]

HELP! Do British people use the word "idiot"????? Please tell me they do!!

[padfootsgirl1981]

Yes we british do use the term 'idiot', or at least I tend to do a lot. :p

[R_Ravenclaw]

Thank you so much!! You have no idea how crucial that was.... Now I think that everyone is going to assume I'm crazy because the word "idiot" is so important...

[FounderDisagreement]

Um... Just a quick question from an ignorant American, who happens to know zip about anything besides the US... :D

Would you say that cats or dogs are most popular ((as in, most owned)) in Britain... :cool:

I know this is random, but it would help me to make a small decision in my ((that probably screams "An ignorant American wrote this!":rolleyes: )) fanfic.

Thanks a ton,
-Lady Panda, who knows nothing about anything british...

[SiriuslyMental]

Erm, nasty dogs are popular with Chavs?
Dunno about which one is the MOST popular, but it depends on who's got what kind of animal, and what kind of person they are, and how old they are, and if they are allergic to cats or dogs or both.

[padfootsgirl1981]

For some reason I have a feeling that dogs are more popular, at least around the area where I live they are. Most of the people that I know own dogs instead of cats, whereas I own three cats. Like siriuslymental said, it depends entirely on what sort of person they are. Old people tend to have cats due to the fact that looking after a (taking it for walks etc) is hard work for them. I would also say that it depends on the location where you live. Cat people generally tend to not want to live near busy roads, and dog owners need to live in an area which is surrounded with good walking locations.

But in general I get the feeling that dogs are the most popular pet.

Hope that helped. :)

[apollo13]

Labradors are the most common dogs, but there are actually more cats in the UK all together. However, this is always changing, so you can't be sure.

Labrador is a pretty safe bet, though - especially black ones. They're very common. I have one myself. :rolleyes:

~Evie

[AurorKeefy]

Cats vs Dogs? I would file it the negligible difference category. Apollos assertion that there are more cats than dogs sounds reasonable. Of course it might be that dogs are seen as more popular because when you see dogs out on the street they are, 99% of the time, with people. Cats of course have free reign to do as they will, and perhaps without seeing their owners with them, we don't make the connection.

[miss padfoot]

I realise questions about the weather in England have been asked quite a lot here, but I have a rather month-specific one that I think wasn't covered. Sorry if it's already been asked, but how long do the winters last? Will it still be snow-y in February? The year's 1980 if that helps.

Thanks in advance!

[padfootsgirl1981]

Hi! Well it usually differs quite a bit. But I do know that we had some snow where I live at the beginning of February. It really depends on where a bouts in Britain. The highlands of Scotland tends to get rather a lot of snow from November time probably all the way through to the beginning of February. Generally I think you're safe with having it snowy in February.

Hope that helped! :)

[L_edge]

Hi there, I was hoping if you could give me some help…

Is there a place somewhere in Britain where well off (although not necessarily very rich) people can buy themselves a cottage? The equivalent of cottages for the middle class outside of Toronto (Wasaga) or New York (Hampton’s). It doesn’t have to be near a beach, but somewhere in the country, maybe near a forest. The place should have a "reputation" for being a respectful place for a family to spend their time there...

In Agatha Christie's books I read about Devon, is that place anything like what I’ve described?

Thanks…

[AurorKeefy]

As a general rule, possibly. :rolleyes:

It depends where you are of course. Being about fifteen miles from the sea and in a relatively low area, it's unlikely to snow here, but it happens. Go further inland, especially in the higher areas, and it becomes much more likely. If, to be reasonable, we're talking the Hogwarts area, I would say that it would quite likely for it to snow during February. It still counts as the British winter, and I certainly wouldn't say it was unrealistic. If it works for your fic, then go with it.

EDIT: And on cottages, Devon doesn't sound unreasonable. If you have the money, you can find a cottage in a respectable place just about anywhere. Cornwall would be another classic one, some parts of wales, and - if you prefer your cottages a little more isolated and inland, you could do worse than just out in the country in Lancashire/Yorkshire.

[Nutz-chan]

I know poof and pounce and shirtlifter are all terms used to refer to gay men, but I was wondering if there was a specific one that was popular in the mid 90's?

[emmaholloway]

i've only ever heard poof... it probably changes depending on where abouts you are

[Nutz-chan]

Thanks, now I've got another question. I know I saw the answer in (I think) the Being British #3 thread, but I can't find the thread. If two inexperienced young wizards sat down at a bar in Southwest England, how would they ask for a beer...like just a beer in a smallish city?

Does that make any sence...I know there was a long post about this in a previous thread...if someone can find me the link to the thread, I don't mind searching through it...

[rita_skeeter]

Does that make any sence...I know there was a long post about this in a previous thread...if someone can find me the link to the thread, I don't mind searching through it...

Sorry, but all previous Being British threads were deleted in the recent spring-clean.

[emmaholloway]

they would probably ask for a pint but i am not really sure.

[AurorKeefy]

You...you deleted that?

:(

That post was my finest hour! The only time I've actually been able to contribute something of worth and make a flatulence joke on these boards! I'm tempted to curl up into a ball and cry at it's loss!

For the meantime, I am going to give you a one paragraph version of it, that misses all the brilliant subtleties of the full length version.

Drinks of beer in the UK are served in Pints and Half-Pints (a Half). If a guy goes into a pub for a beer he almost exclusively has a Pint. These days girls will have Pints too, though in Harry's day they would probably of had a Half. Ninety percent of beer served in pubs is Lager - the other ten percent making up Cider (effectively beer made from apples rather than hops), Bitter, Mild and Stout. To all reasonable intents and purposes a male under the age of fifty will drink Lager. All, again to reasonable extent and purposes, will be called beer in the context.

For your example, the wizard would ask for either "A pint of Lager", "A pint" or "A lager". With the multitude of different brands on offer, you would do well to avoid using anything more than "A pint", and to avoid the actual ordering process altogether.

If you really need to know the specifics, please pm me and I will try and repeat my last post here with the details. I would gladly repost that here, but - in a piece of irony not lost upon me - I am too p****d (where in England said word equates to drunk rather than annoyed) to be capable of posting the entire thing.

For the moment I will sit here and lament the loss of my finest hour here on the boards. :cool:

[Diamond Quill]

If this year was any indication then yes it WOULD snow in February. This year where I live we got about a foot and a half of snow in the first week of Feb which was the most snow some Brits had ever seen lol. Also when it snows in Britain the whole country practically shuts down because noone knows how to deal with it. One thing to note about the snow in England is that it will snow on a random day between late December and late Feb and then the snow will melt after a couple of days. It doesn't tend to stick around for weeks and weeks. It's different in Scotland though, I think snow lasts a lot longer there.

[emmaholloway]

i dont remember it snowing at all ... except like a little bit in december. hmmm.
I think it depends. I mean last year it was snowing in like april, and this year it was the hottest april ever.
One important note though.
It never snows on christmas in like the south east. So if you've got a fic set in london having it snowing is so so unusual.

[cmwinters]

Were any comets visible with the naked eye, preferably easily visible and easily discernable as a comet (preferably like Hale-Bopp was) in the UK in the years 1965-1970?

(How's that for random?!)

[mankytoes]

Thanks, now I've got another question. I know I saw the answer in (I think) the Being British #3 thread, but I can't find the thread. If two inexperienced young wizards sat down at a bar in Southwest England, how would they ask for a beer...like just a beer in a smallish city?

Does that make any sence...I know there was a long post about this in a previous thread...if someone can find me the link to the thread, I don't mind searching through it...

Two pints please mate/love, i'd say.

As for snow, February is our most common month for snow, i'd say. In the South, ie London, we don't really get much proper snow anymore. You might get one of two decent amounts (ie an inch) a year, and a few times when it will sprinkle but not properly settle (ie you couldn't make a snowman or snowball). Thats one of the reasons Hogwarts has to be in Scotland, it snows so much.

[Werewolf_sympathiser]

I realise questions about the weather in England have been asked quite a lot here, but I have a rather month-specific one that I think wasn't covered. Sorry if it's already been asked, but how long do the winters last? Will it still be snow-y in February? The year's 1980 if that helps.

Thanks in advance!

It changes yearly. Where I live we've had sun in january and snow at Easter, so really it all depends. I would say that there is quite frankly rarely any sun (although here we've been quite lucky not to have loads of rain like the rest of Britain has been getting because if we were flooded the island would sink...) in winter or autumn. It's still very cold in Spring too a lot of the time. But for snow in February...if it isn't snowy it will be at least very cold as though it could snow and we'd be likely tog et a lot of wind, rain and eprhaps hail or slush. Hope that helps :)

[Stubbornly_appeared]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but would a girl refer to her best friend as her "best mate"? I've only heard guys use it, so....

Thanks!

[apollo13]

Yeah, I would. But then, you have to look carefully at the character. I can't see Hermione saying that.

Also, if it's in a serious way, i.e, an apology of some sort, they're more likely to say best friend.

~Evie

[miss padfoot]

What would be considered a late-evening snack? Say, if someone unexpected turns up at 7 PM-ish, and they're not invited to dinner or anything, what would you serve them?

[padfootsgirl1981]

I would say a sandwich to be honest. It's quick and easy to rustle up and it can be quite filling depending on what it's got on it.

Hope that helped. :)

[emmaholloway]

isn't seven like the time when people would be having dinner so surely it would be easier to just serve them dinner...??

[miss padfoot]

Well, yes, it would be easier to serve them dinner, but like I said earlier, the guests are unexpected and they're not staying there for a long time or anything, just for a few minutes. So a snack would be better, no? ;)

[apollo13]

Well, it depends on your family - my family always has dinner at about six, sometimes earlier and just snacks on toast for the rest of the evening. It's really bad, actually.

Another family I know doesn't have dinner until half eight! :eek:

A sandwich is a good idea, or possibly just get the biscuit tin out with a cup of tea/coffee.

~Evie

[miss padfoot]

I think I'll go with biscuits and tea. That's what I originally had in mind, but didn't mention it in case it was really out of order. :p

Thanks for your help, everyone! :)

[emmaholloway]

whats wrong with dinner at half eight...??
my cousines usually dont eat dinner before like 10... its quite fun really
tea and biscuits is probably best. Very easy. and it sounds all english like. I do like tea and biscuits

[R_Ravenclaw]

Here's a few random questions and I'm sorry if they've been asked before!

Do the British drink coffee in the morning, or do they usually have tea?

Do you (by "you" I mean the British) ever use the phrases "hanging out" (like with friends) or "shut up"?

How about "guys" in the sense of friends? Like "Do you guys want to go somewhere?" Or how about "guys" in the sense of not a kid anymore but not really men yet?

What slang is there for hot? In America we say hot, of course. Really good looking. I always find myself typing the word hot and then realising I shouldn't be! :eek:

Um, that's really all I can think of. I'll probably be back with more later

*thanks God for this thread*

[apollo13]

Yes, we drink coffee a lot. We don't drink as much tea as you American's make us out to! ;)

Hanging out, shut-up and guys are all used, but guys is probably only in the last twenty years.

Hot, well it is used a bit today, mainly by Paris Hilton wannabes, you're better off using the word fit. If you want to stress it, then use the word well in front of it, eg.

"That girl is well fit."

~Evie

[rita_skeeter]

Just be wary of the phrase 'well fit'. I'd say it's more what a man/boy would say. If you're writing [particularly teenage] girls, 'cute' is a good option.

[Diamond Quill]

The way us teenagers speak has been completely Americanised recently. I'm as British as they come but my friends and I call guys (we always call boys our age guys) hot as well as fit. We don't tend to call inanimate objects hot though. *thinks Paris Hilton* We also say 'hanging out' and 'shut up'. Having said that, it's probably best to stick to the words Jo uses in the books if your worried about being accused of using Americanisms. :)

[cmwinters]

How recent is "well-fit"? Is it something that would have been said during the Marauder era? During the Dark Lord's era? Only since 1999?

[Stubbornly_appeared]

I know "barrister" is the term for "lawyer", but if someone had a nameplate on their desk that would, in America, read this:

LEWIS ZELLER
ATTORNEY AT LAW

what would it be in British terms?

Thanks!

-Stubby (hoping she is right with the info she already has)

[mankytoes]

How recent is "well-fit"? Is it something that would have been said during the Marauder era? During the Dark Lord's era? Only since 1999?

"Well" as a slang prefix is quite recent- I can't see any of the marauders saying it, you might get away with it in the Harry at Hogwarts days, but that would be tight, i'd say its more appropriate for the next generation.

What does an Attorney at Law actually do?

In terms of using Americanised speech, its more common in urban areas than rural, and i'd say more girls than boys, though some may disagree, that might just be people I know.

For English teenage slang speech, i'd recommend listening to the Arctic Monkey's, their songs are full of it.

[Stubbornly_appeared]

Attorney at law is just a fancy way to say lawyer. Here is the Wikipedia definition:

An attorney at law (also known simply as an attorney or lawyer) in the United States is a person licensed to practice law by the highest court of a state or other jurisdiction. Alternative terms include attorney-at-law and attorney and counselor (or counsellor) at law.

It then goes on to say that the American legal system has a fused/united profession,and therefore does not discriminate between lawyers that do/do not plea in court. The British system does, so there is the solicitor and barrister/advocate split. The barristers rarely become involved in a case unless they are needed to provide advocacy for their client; the barrister give the solicitors specialized advice and solicitors have more direct contact with the client.

As you've probably already guessed, I'm doing the August One-Shot Challenge. I think I've figured it out now, so you don't really need t make a comment unless you've got something you need to tell me.

-reads up on British court procedure and realizes why I don't want to work in law-

-Stubby

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

This is an extremely important question because an entire STUPID GAG (pun on the phrase 'fantastic beasts and where to find them') depends on this line!:eek: So you must handle this question with borderline reverence an possibly rubber gloves!

No. I'm kidding. It's really not important at all... stupid gags can easily be removed.

But anyway, do British kids use the word 'beast' to refer to something really good (ie. Jenny does a triple-backflip dive into the swimming pool; Bob says "That was beast!") or to refer to someone really, um, attractive (ie. Bob walks past in his swimsuit, Jenny goes "Oh wow, what a beast!")?

Where I live, people say those things all the time (and they turn up obnoxiously prevalently in my strange abridged musical revue version of "Beauty and The Beast" that I'm in), but I'm not sure if this is an international thing, an American thing, or a thing started by this guy named Adam who was in my math class two years ago and constantly said stuff like that.

Oh yeah, and this story is future-gen...

[whatapotter]

But anyway, do British kids use the word 'beast' to refer to something really good (ie. Jenny does a triple-backflip dive into the swimming pool; Bob says "That was beast!") or to refer to someone really, um, attractive (ie. Bob walks past in his swimsuit, Jenny goes "Oh wow, what a beast!")?

Very sorry, but I'd have to say no. I've never even heard of it used in that context. It might just be my sheltered corner of Britain, but I've never used it.

To refer to something really good: I'd use 'cool' or 'amazing' - (amazing, has actually become one of the most irritating words, because everyone around where I live uses it (with a very annoying aaaamaazing drawl to it). Of course, I'm one of the biggest criminals, lol)

To refer to someone attractive: I'd stick with the old favourites, 'fit', 'hot' or 'cute'
(helps a lot that it's a future-gen fic!)

Hope that helped a bit, (and my reverant rubber gloves were pink, sparkly and had little flowers all over them...)
xx

[L_edge]

OK, I was wondering if someone could help me out on this.

I’ve never been to a wedding so I don’t know, is there a specific, set number of bridesmaids or does it vary? How many usually are there? How many is considered proper or traditional in Britain?

Thanks…

[whatapotter]

There's not a set number - I think it's up to each bride's personal preference. I know a lot of women who choose to have one Maid of Honour, and then two bridesmaids. However, it's up to you how many you'd like your fic to have really, as I don't believe there's a proper number (not having been a bride yet, heehee!, anyone please correct me!). Most people just choose the number based on who they want to be their bridesmaids - I know one girl who had only one - her sister, and another who had four - a sister, cousin and two best friends.

Hope I helped!
xx

[MrsRuebeusHagridDursley]

I know that in Britian they used the word "snog" sometimes for "kiss" but is it used commonly. And (I think it is) but is the word "kiss" used as well? Would a snog be more serious than a kiss? Also, in America, a the phrase "make-out" is used to describe a more serious kiss. Is the phrase "make-out" used in Britian, or is there a different phrase/word?

Sorry about all of the questions, and thanks!

~Morgan:)

[rita_skeeter]

The word 'kiss' is definitely used in Britain, and would have been in pretty much any HP era. 'Snog' would be fine for Trio-era and perhaps the Marauders too. Snog implies a more serious kiss, yes.

However, 'make out' isn't used in Britain at all - we use the phrase 'get off' instead - but this is a very recent phrase, so definitely not good for use in any Trio-era or earlier.

[BloodRayne]

I wanted to ask about Social Security and Life Insurance - how does Social Security work in Britian? For example, if someone died, would their family get a certain amount of money each month, or is it only for people who retire, e.t.c?

Also, is it even called Social Security, or is it known by another name?

[Courtneyyy]

I wanted to ask about Social Security and Life Insurance - how does Social Security work in Britian? For example, if someone died, would their family get a certain amount of money each month, or is it only for people who retire, e.t.c?

Also, is it even called Social Security, or is it known by another name?

My dad works in social security so I know some stuff. :D

Well, social security, in the UK, is mainly the government's system of helping people who are less fortunate or have a financial difficulties for one reason or another Eg. old age, disability (so they can't work), single parents, unemployment etc.

If the sole provider for a household (ie. the person that brought in all the money) died, the family would get some financial help of the government, but not for a lifetime. Another family member/s would be expected to get a job and earn money. If no one else in the family can get a job for example if they are all disabled, they would get disability allowance, to help them. A financial grant, like disability allowance/job seekers allowance etc, is paid weekly and are called benefits.

Life insurance is completely different :P
Life insurance is optional. A person can decide to take out life insurance and they pay the insurance company a sum of money ever month or so. Then if the person dies, the money that the person paid the company gets paid out to the family to help with funeral expenses etc.

Retired people get pensions. I won't explain pensions lol unless you want me to?

I hope this has helped :D
Any other questions, don't hesitate to ask ;)

[nikkiolapotter]

Do you ever say 'scooped up'?

Like, 'Has another man scooped you up before I have?'? :confused:

[**plotbunnies**]

As far as I know, no.

I don't exactly live in England, as I have said before on this thread, but Ireland is close.

I don't have time now to elaborate, sorry!

~Anne

[kathyhermy123]

MrsRuebeusHagridDursley, yes, kiss is used, anyone with a half-decent TV would know what 'make out' means (though it's not used as much over here), snogging is more serious, and an alternative is to 'meet' someone. At least in Ireland, if you say that you 'met' a guy, that means that you were making out. As rita_skeeter already pointed out, 'getting off' would be the most common.

BloodRayne, the life insurance buisness is alive and running. Social Security is called the DWP (department of work and pension).

nikkiolapotter, I have never heard the phrase before, so I assume that, if it is used, it is uncommon. More likely, however, is that it is just an Americanism.

~Kathy

[R_Ravenclaw]

So British have any slang for the Police. In America we call them "cops" (well, I don't. I have a tendency to use the old 60s and 70s slang and call them the "fuzz". But I'm just weird that way :rolleyes: )

[Amber0_o]

Okay, random question here, but are there any really popular children's games played for two people.

And when I say games, I mean things like 'duck, duck, goose' or 'tag', but I need something that would be fine for only two people to play together.

It doesn't have to be played only in Great Britain, but it should be relativly well-known there.


(Thank you all)

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

In Britain, is the person in the school who gets top grades called the valedictorian, and does he get to make a speech at the end of the year at graduation?

If not, who makes the speech? I want to write a graduation at the end of one of my fics. Since it's from Hogwarts, I can bend tradition, but I want to know what's typical.

[AurorKeefy]

Do you ever say 'scooped up'?

Nope. If that has been said then I can only assume it's a very recent Americanism.

So British have any slang for the Police. In America we call them "cops" (well, I don't. I have a tendency to use the old 60s and 70s slang and call them the "fuzz". But I'm just weird that way)

There are, alas, probably hundreds, and they vary from place to place. Cops would be alright in the modern era, because though it is an Americanism it's a fairly long standing one, though I don't know if it would stand up for the Marauders. Pigs (to be ever-so-slightly derogative :rolleyes:) is another recent one. Other more common ones to North England are "The Busys" (?) and "Dibbles" (?!?!?). Of course it is possible that my friend simply made the latter two up, since I had not heard them prior to living with him.

Okay, random question here, but are there any really popular children's games played for two people.

I think the girls here might be able to answer this slightly better than I, because when I was young playing with a friend, we'd usually just play small-scale versions of team games like football and cricket. I have vague recollections of watching the girls in my class play bizarre looking games involving string or folded pieces of paper, but I was a boy, and it was lost on me. (Past tense there to denote I'm older, not a change of sex)

In Britain, is the person in the school who gets top grades called the valedictorian, and does he get to make a speech at the end of the year at graduation?

The person who gets the top grades is usually called a swot, boffin or teacher's pet, and by graduation has usually been bullied into submission so much that speech making is quite out of the question. :rolleyes:
Again, the graduation ceremony at our high schools and colleges (where college denotes the NEWT years, rather than university) would appear to be vastly different to the American system. At our high school, when we finished our final exams we simply left and only came back to pick up our results (although ironically our year came back after the last exam for a "prom", but that was very recent and previous years hadn't done so). There is no graduation ceremony and certainly no speeches, or at least there wasn't at my school. Again, there might have been a prom that a select few attended at college - but no-one I knew went. We just popped in for fifteen minutes the day our results came in, and we might share them with our friends if any of them happened to be around in that fifteen minute window.
University was different, with a massive graduation procedure, but then there were several hundred graduates at my graduation, and that was basically just one department. No-one got awards for top marks as I can recall, and all speeches were made by Deans. Chancellors and all other host of useless people who contributed nothing to the University, and some roped in half-celebrity.

Sorry about that.

[Amber0_o]

I think the girls here might be able to answer this slightly better than I, because when I was young playing with a friend, we'd usually just play small-scale versions of team games like football and cricket. I have vague recollections of watching the girls in my class play bizarre looking games involving string or folded pieces of paper, but I was a boy, and it was lost on me. (Past tense there to denote I'm older, not a change of sex)

Are games like Simon Says played over there?

Basically this is for a Lily/Severus story, (and they are about nine or ten years old) and Lily is suggesting a bunch of games they can play. So girly games would probably work. :D Does anyone know what those games are called. I keep thinking of 'Cats Cradle', but I don't know if this is the same thing your thinking of.

[AurorKeefy]

Cat's cradle was around - though again I never understood it. Nor indeed would young Severus, so it might take some very patient explaining from Lily. Simon says was also there, but I always thought that was played with a group. *Shrugs*

[Amber0_o]

Well, Snape ends up shooting all the game ideas down anyway, so that isn't really the problem. The problem is that I tended to make up my own games with my friends, or played games that required large groups, so it's taxing my brain to come up with 'two people' games. *dies*

Thanks for your help! :D

[R_Ravenclaw]

There are, alas, probably hundreds, and they vary from place to place. Cops would be alright in the modern era, because though it is an Americanism it's a fairly long standing one, though I don't know if it would stand up for the Marauders. Pigs (to be ever-so-slightly derogative :rolleyes:) is another recent one. Other more common ones to North England are "The Busys" (?) and "Dibbles" (?!?!?). Of course it is possible that my friend simply made the latter two up, since I had not heard them prior to living with him.

The time period I have in mind is the summer before Draco's seventh year. Theoretically, would he say something like "cops"? Because—believe it or not ;) —this is important to the story. Any other slang? Suggestions? Advice? Thanks!

By the way, this will be in a humour fic, so even any random slang would work :D

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Keefy, your posts in this thread absolutely crack me up. Your tone is ridiculously hilarious.

In any case, there's no need to say 'sorry' about the fact that there's no valedictorian at British schools.

I was hoping there wouldn't be! I really did not want to have to invent a valedictorian and give him a speech... it would be MUCH better if the headmistress gave a speech (Because a marvelous prank occurs during the speech.)

So thanks very much for your help.

[AurorKeefy]

Well, Snape ends up shooting all the game ideas down anyway, so that isn't really the problem. The problem is that I tended to make up my own games with my friends, or played games that required large groups, so it's taxing my brain to come up with 'two people' games. *dies*

Well as my previous answers suggest, I feel your pain. I think with two kids it's all about improvising and imagination, so examples may prove hard to come by. Someone else might have some ideas, or else it's back to the old standby of.

Yadyadyadya thought Severus, as Lily Yadyadya.
'...or cats cradle?' finished Lily.
Severus Yadydyadya'd.

The time period I have in mind is the summer before Draco's seventh year. Theoretically, would he say something like "cops"? Because—believe it or not —this is important to the story. Any other slang? Suggestions? Advice? Thanks!


*Sighs* Yes, but no, but yes I suppose. In the time frame, I think cops would have been more than appropriate for a Muggle to say. If this is Draco though, a pure blood with no interest in Muggles, he's highly unlikely to know the word. It's not beyond the bounds of possibility that he doesn't even know the word "Policemen", and refers to them as the Muggle Aurors, or something. Of course if this is a humour fic, I would presume you have a little artistic license in the matter, so it's not out of time, but maybe a little out of canon.

Keefy, your posts in this thread absolutely crack me up. Your tone is ridiculously hilarious. In any case, there's no need to say 'sorry' about the fact that there's no valedictorian at British schools.

I was hoping there wouldn't be! I really did not want to have to invent a valedictorian and give him a speech... it would be MUCH better if the headmistress gave a speech (Because a marvelous prank occurs during the speech.)

Compliments on a postcard to the usual address. I'm also pleased to hear you didn't need said valedictorian, and if anyone was going to do a speech, then the Headteacher would be very appropriate.

[Magical Maeve]

Cop is British. It's one of those terms that left these shores for America and in the modern world has somehow become Americanised rather than the other was around. You can also use coppers for a more nostalgic feel. The fuzz (American in origin but here for the entire HP period), the Old Bill and the Filth are commoner in London and there's always the bobby, which is old-fashioned and now used only by older people in rural areas (in the main). But I agree with Keefy, if it's Draco he wouldn't know these terms unless he took Muggle Studies seriously.

Bizzies and the dibble are real enough. If you're a Liverpudlian criminal then you do not want to see the bizzies and if you happen to be a miscreant from Manchester then the Dibble are anathema. To be a bit more precise, the Dibble is used more in the city of Manchester and its immediate environs rather than Greater Manchester.

As for games, I'm a girl and most of them went straight over my head too. There was a slot of hand slapping to songs going on in the plaground, but I couldn't recall a single one of those daft rhymes. That would be a good game exclusively for two people. There's always things like marbles and hopscotch, which while playable in groups don't exclude just two players.

[cmwinters]

(Popping in with a comment even though I'm not British)

Severus would probably have a good frame of reference to marbles, too, given that Eileen was captain of the Hogwarts Gobstone Club.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

WOW, I'm really becoming a regular here.

Who is a famous Muggle decorator that everyone in Britain knows? (The time of the story is 2001-2002.) I used Martha Stewart in my first draft, but I don't know if there's a British alternative.

EDIT: It's been quite awhile, and I kind of need to submit this fic, so I'll just submit it and say 'Martha Stewart,' and go back and edit it in the story after it gets corrected if Martha Stewart isn't a good choice.

[AurorKeefy]

My initial lack of response stemmed from me not watching home decorating programs at all, so I didn't feel I was remotely qualified to speak on the matter. Then, alas, my masculinity was thrown into question by remembering the one famous person who - I believe - fits the bill.

His name is, though I'm likely to spell this wrongly, Lawrence Lleywellen Bowen. The middle one being pronounced Lu-ell-inn.

He does, or at the very least did, home decoration programs on television and attained a certain degree of fame in doing so - not least because I have heard of him. He became famous because of his flamboyant style (*shrugs*) coupled with the fact he was a heterosexual male with long, curly, dark hair, and a penchant for wearing suits with lacy collars and cuffs.

This is, of course, the opinion of someone who has never watched any of his programs, but perhaps that speaks volumes.

EDIT: And a quick facepalm after Maeve pointed out what should have been the bleeding obvious about the cops stemming from coppers. That can go hand in hand with her more accurate placement of the bizzies and dibbles. *Applauds*

EDIT 2: Yep, spectacularly wrong on the spelling front. It's Laurence Llewylen-Bowen. Bizarrely, the bloke has his own website http://www.llb.co.uk/ and, very interestingly, when his daughter was born in 1998, he named her Hermione! Heh! Strange world!

[Magical Maeve]

*nods agreement* You'd be hard pressed to find a bod in Britain who hasn't heard of Mr Bowen. He surfaced mid-nineties and shows no signs of disappearing. The only other interiors person I can think of off-hand is Terence Conran. He has a chain of shops and is generally considered to be middle-market and classy. Bowen has a more chavtastic (low-end)reputation, despite a lot of his work being lovely. This probably stems from his work on Changing Rooms - which I believe you have stateside.

[apollo13]

Bowen tends to be laughed at though, not least because out of all the home decorating programs, he has the highest amount of people that didn't like what he done to their homes.

Can't say I blame them, to be honest.

~Evie

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Bowen tends to be laughed at though, not least because out of all the home decorating programs, he has the highest amount of people that didn't like what he done to their homes.

Can't say I blame them, to be honest.

~Evie

Well, that's kind of the point, actually... Hermione is trying to fix up Ron's flat, and she says it's a good thing she watches decorating shows. And Ron asks about the decorator (who's that?) and Harry replies that Ron doesn't want to know, that Aunt Petunia was obsessed and... he goes on to describe what she did to his room.

Thanks, people!

[Crows]

Would anybody refer to acne as anything other than zits, blackheads, or the like. My parents always say that my brothers are spotty, but I'm thinking on more of terms of a single blemish (I'm not really about to ask my parents this. It's a wee bit embarrassing) like ie: Remus randomly scratched at a zit on his chin. Would he think of it in any other way. I know this seems silly, but I want to know.

[apollo13]

Just a spot would be fine, or a pimple or boil.

~Evie

[emmaholloway]

zit really isn't an english word. I've only ever called them spots. Or blackheads if that is what they are.

[SlytherinTears]

Would the word "Aunt" be converted into something else, partically in the Cotswolds region? Would using the word "Auntie" be appropriate? It's spoken by a little girl, if you were wondering.

[apollo13]

Yes, Auntie would be prefectly fine. :) I still call some of my aunts (the ones I have strong relationships with) Auntie, and I'm fourteen. :p

~Evie

[cmwinters]

I wanted to ask about Social Security and Life Insurance - how does Social Security work in Britian? For example, if someone died, would their family get a certain amount of money each month, or is it only for people who retire, e.t.c?

Also, is it even called Social Security, or is it known by another name?

Copy-and-pasting from an IM from someone who used to be known round these parts as GaryF:

You don't get anything if someone dies, unless they were covered by life insurance which would be paid to named peoples in the policy as instructed by the deceased.

If you don't have a will, you are said to have died "intestate" which means a court decides how things are done, how any property is distributed and who the beneficiaries would be.

If you die without children or a spouse, but are survived by your parents, they will usually receive all of the assets.

If you are survived by a spouse, they would receive everything of the estate

If you are survived by a spouse and children, it is divided between them, as determined by the courts.

If you aren't survived by any children, parents or a spouse it is split equally among your siblings.

It isn't a legal requirement to have life insurance, and only 40% do - and are covered by a work insurance policy which pays out in the event someone dies while working for that company.

If you retire, you are entitled to a state pension, which is £350 a month.

If you die the state gives you nothing (since you're dead). They might help with funeral costs as long as your taxes and national insurance was paid, but that would be about it—and then the amount the family would get would come from the deceased's national insurance contributions.

(Then he posted this):

Bereavement Benefits
What are they?

There are three types of bereavement benefit. These may be payable on the death of a husband, wife or civil partner. Whether you are entitled will depend on the National Insurance contributions your partner paid.

The three benefits are shown below.
Bereavement Payment is a lump sum of £2000 we pay to people who have been bereaved who qualify. Widowed Parent's Allowance is a weekly benefit we pay to widowed parents who qualify. Bereavement Allowance is a weekly benefit we pay to people who have been bereaved who qualify.

Basic State Pension (per week from 9 April 2007): Based on your own or your late husband’s, wife’s or civil partner’s NI contributions, £87.30 Based on your husband’s NI contributions, £52.30 Non-contributory Over 80 pension, £52.30 Age Addition, £0.25

Ultimately, they give you nothing that will ultimately help with bereavement; I think the current bereavement benefit is £87.30 a week.

[**plotbunnies**]

I am asking all ye Londeners whether or not there is a street that's fairly big in the middle of London which is mosltly pedestrianised. Like Grafton Street, in Dublin Ireland, if that's any help. If there isn't, I'll just make up one, but I wouldn't like to make one up if I don't have to.


~Anne

[emmaholloway]

oh, i do love grafton street.

there's Carnaby street, which is pretty famous.
It's in Soho and is right by Oxford and Regent street. It's not that big... but it is also surrounded by smaller pedestrianised streets and a plaza.

I think there are also plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street (totally ridiculous, how am I supposed to get the bus from one end to the other) so that could work if you are writing after 2010 or something.

and there is also Covent garden. Which has a few markets and indoor areas and then some pedestrianised streets.

[Magical Maeve]

I agree with Emma, Carnaby Street would be your best bet. It's now a fairly dull street compared to the mad rush that is Regent Street and Oxford Street, but it's pretty much at the heart of the shopping district, and it's the closest thing to Grafton Street I think you're going to get. (and if you continue down towards Golden Square there is a GREAT bead shop, but I digress... :p )

Leicester Square is also pedestrianised and is usually a very busy area. It has a lot of cinemas, restaraunts, ticket sellers etc. I'd say it had more of a buzz about it than Carnaby Street, but it's a square rather than a street.

[**plotbunnies**]

Thanks!! :D I'll go and change my street names now. :)

Thanks again,
Anne

[R_Ravenclaw]

Another question:

So when you have a crush on someone, in America we would say, "He has a thing for you", which I'm not entirely sure is common in Britain. Is there anything unmistakably British that would work in this case?

This is for a Marauder Era story, if that makes a difference.

[SlytherinTears]

I think it'd be like "He fancies you."

That's not an entirely factual answer though, being I live in America.

Moderator's Edit: Please refrain from answering questions in this thread if you are not British.

[LuckyRatTail]

'He has a thing for you' would work fine, I think. Also, as SlytherinTears said, 'he fancies you' is probably the most common, or 'he has the hots for you' (though the latter is less common). If teenagers find someone attractive then they tend to say things like the person is 'fit' or 'hot'. Erm, hope that's helped ;o)

[R_Ravenclaw]

I need another question answered!

Blame my stupid American culture for all my questions! *hides*

What exactly is Boxing Day (the more specific the better)? Is this like super important and needs to be mentioned in a fic about the holidays?

[Magical Maeve]

If you are talking Christmas then you really can't ignore Boxing Day. It is the 26th of December, a bank holiday and otherwise known as St Stephen's Day. In terms of modern life, it's the day for being even more slothful after Christmas Day. The only other major modern tradition I can think of is the Boxing Day Hunt... but there is currently a ban on hunting with dogs in England.

Link (http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/xmas/boxingday.html) to Boxing Day info.

[cmwinters]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day

/me wonders why she keeps posting answers to this thread as she's not British, and wonders if she's going to get in trouble for it. . .

I'd always heard that Boxing Day was the day you, er, boxed up your new gifts. :rolleyes:

[emmaholloway]

I actually know nothing about boxing day except that it is the day after christmas...
I don't think many people actually know, except like old people... I have been told on many occassions but I just forget.
For most people boxing day is just another day off, where you can eat left overs of christmas dinner, all the chocolates you got for christmas, and familys often have like little tradition. My family always go on a walk on boxing day. One of my friend's family always go and play cricket in the cold. So having some sort of tradition that is commented on would be an idea.

[whatapotter]

Boxing day used to have traditional value, but I don't think that many people keep to it anymore. Generally, it's a time for family - we always make a big buffet meal with all the left over Christmas food, and have whichever side of my parents family over for dinner that we didn't see the day before at Christmas.

Like emmaholloway said - many families have their own little traditions that they keep to. We also always go for a walk before dinner (that's such a strange coincedence emma, lol!), and there's always some trashy Christmas film on TV in the evening.

Many people have to go back to work the day after Boxing Day, so it's the last holiday day for many people - which makes it more special!

I'd say Boxing Day, although nothing major happens, is still a very important day in the Christmas season. If you're writing a fic around Christmas, it's best to include it.

Hope that helped!
xx

[apollo13]

there is currently a ban on hunting with dogs in England.

Yes, and it should stay that way and if anyone disagree's with me, they should PM me and I will yell at them.

To be honest, I don't think it's worth mentioning. It's never mentioned in the books themselves, and very little happens. Some families take all their Christmas decorations down on boxing day, but my family likes them too much and keeps them up for AGES - I think our record is currently the first of Feburary.

~Evie

[Werewolf_sympathiser]

In Britain, is the person in the school who gets top grades called the valedictorian, and does he get to make a speech at the end of the year at graduation?

If not, who makes the speech? I want to write a graduation at the end of one of my fics. Since it's from Hogwarts, I can bend tradition, but I want to know what's typical.

Well in my expererience, we don't have a Valedictorian, but we do have a Head Boy and Girl. Generally, one of them (usually the more confident) makes the speech at the end of the eyar. At my school, it was the Head Girl, but it could just as easily be done by the Head Boy. Like I said, whichever one is the better public speaker generally. Our Head Girl did the speeches whilst the Head Boy occasionally played guitar (not at the same time that would be weird). We also got presented with a little folder with a statement from our teachers and our certificates from the year in. As far as I can remember anyway, I left in May.

EDIT: Oh yes, and Head Girl and Boy aren't necessarily the cleverest in the year (although they came pretty close). At our school, the students vote for the prefects, then the teachers see who have the highest votes and they become Head Girl and Boy, Deputy Head Girl and Boy (of which we have two) and normal prefects. If anyone who the teachers think is unsuitable is voted in then they can vote against them and they don't get a badge.

[**plotbunnies**]

Hello!

'He likes you' works, but I don't know if that's British enough.

You're welcome!

~Anne

[garyf]

Well in my expererience, we don't have a Valedictorian, but we do have a Head Boy and Girl. Generally, one of them (usually the more confident) makes the speech at the end of the eyar. At my school, it was the Head Girl, but it could just as easily be done by the Head Boy. Like I said, whichever one is the better public speaker generally. Our Head Girl did the speeches whilst the Head Boy occasionally played guitar (not at the same time that would be weird). We also got presented with a little folder with a statement from our teachers and our certificates from the year in. As far as I can remember anyway, I left in May.

The valedictorian isn't something that is commonplace in schools in Britain, although some will have adopted it, as many have done with other north American schooling traditions, it isn't something you're likely to find easily.

At my school, the Head Boy and Head Girl gave speeches in the summer to the rest of the school in July, and in August, during the Sixth Form End of Year ceremony to award the students that achieved the highest grades in each subject and to wish everyone well for their Higher Education endeavours.

[Flobberworm93]

This is probably a really stupid question, but is Victoria's Secret as common over in Briatain as it is here? This is for a humor fic about Voldy's 85-pound girlfriend (think Paris Hilton with less clothing)

[Toasty]

Victoria's secrets? I can't say I've heard of it, but then, I live in a really scabby part of England... Checking the wiki page though, there doesn't seem to be a massive worldwide campaign, and they don't have a British website... There might be a few shops, but it can't be as big as over there.

If you were after sexy lingerie though, your best bet'd be "Ann Summers"... Although, that might be a bit too kinky, so... D:

[Cedric'sGirl]

is Victoria's Secret as common over in Briatain as it is here?

Most people would know what Victoria's Secret is, so you could probably get away with referencing it, but as far as I know we don't have any branches here. The two main high street underwear shops I can think of are Ann Summers and La Senza. Like Toasty said, Ann Summers is quite kinky, and it's also rather cheap and tacky, so unless that's what you're going for (which if if it's a Paris Hilton-type person I guess it could work, and who knows, Voldy might be into that kind of thing), then you might be better to use La Senza as it's a bit more up-market.

[harrypotterfangirl21]

*pops in*

Does anyone know any common British surnames for a MWPP-era fic?

Thanks. :)

*pops out*

- Katie

EDIT: Thanks, Toasty! That really helped!

It is for a pure-blood, but it's an OC pure-blood, so I'm taking some canonical liberties and creating a new pure-blood last name.

[Toasty]

Work based

Archer, Bailey, Carter, Chaplin, Fletcher, Gardner, Proctor, Ward

Common

Smith, Jones, Williams, Taylor, Brown, Davies, Wilson, Roberts, Robinson, Thompson, Wright, Walker, White, Hughes, Edwards, Green, Lewis, Campbell, Stewart, Anderson, Scott, Reid, Murray, Macdonald, Paterson, Mitchell

Rare

Angelo, Boulstridge, Clayworth, Domville, Garrot, Gauge, Hollingberry, Helling, Lowsly, McQuillen, Witte

If you're doing a pure blood though, best steer away from them, eh?

Have fun. xD

[Horsesbella219]

Cat's cradle was around - though again I never understood it. Nor indeed would young Severus, so it might take some very patient explaining from Lily. Simon says was also there, but I always thought that was played with a group. *Shrugs*

Cats cradle, Hopscotch, French skipping, skipping in general, clapping games, Jacks, marbles, it, truth and dare.

Some clapping rhymes:

When Suzie was a baby, a baby suzie was
And she went waa waa waawaawaa
When suzie was a toddler, a toddler suzie was
and she went scribble scribble DOT DOT DOT!
You get the idea. This went on and on until finally :
When suzie was an angel, an angel suzie was
and she went Amen start again

Erm, what else...

Thats the way uhuh uhuh i like it uhuh uhuh etc. I never liked this one.

Pepsi cola... what were the words? I cant really remember... I think it went something like:

Pepsi cola, pepsi cola
ee i ee i pepsi cola
Girls have long hair boys have short
Boys have long legs, girls have short
Pepsi cola, pepsi cola, ee i ee i pepsi cola....or something of that ilk

Uh...

Down in the jungle where nobody goes
Lived a big fat elephant picking his nose
With a pick pick here, and a pick pick there
Thats the way he was picking his nose

A sailer went to sea sea sea...but everyone knows that.

Oh, and the french skipping one:

Engand Ireland scotland wales
Inside outside inside on

And there was a rhyme, when just skipping:

In a little bumper car, number 49
Take it round the corner
Dont be late

Um, Grannys in the kitchen, doing a bit of stiching, how many stiches can she do? 1, 2,3...

Thats all i can remember for now