A LIMEY at the COURT of KING BUSH

By: Joe D. out of London, Middlesex, Wiltshire, Oxon, Toronto, Ohio, CA, MA. & CT.

 

As an Anglo-American (American-Anglo?) who has survived for many years in these New England Colonies I’ve been asked to provide my former countrymen, and ladies, with a few bits of pertinent information which will help ease the culture shock to be experienced by those of you who are first time visitors to this area.  This is one of the main regions where the colonial terrorists first made their presence felt in the late 1700s but fortunately we have moved on from those dark times and you will find that the natives are very friendly.  I suspect most of them regret the separation from the motherland.  Americans love to talk about England.   Your accent will frequently interest and excite those you meet as you travel the byways and you will be told that they are ‘English’ or ‘Polish’ or ‘Italian’, etc. etc.  I lived here many years before I finally met a man who claimed he was an American.

Other sources will provide you with basic tourist information but English visitors usually get a kick out of tracing the revolutionary past of our area with a visit to Boston to check the tea coloured water in the harbour together with a trip along the freedom trail.  A marked pedestrian journey around Boston’s early landmarks.  The excellent interstate road system, earlier than, but frequently less traveled than the M25, makes such visits a day trip from central CT.  Yes, our speed limit is only 65 but you may find yourself in traffic streams that seem to be much faster.

If you feel like a visit to the beach your American hosts will tell you that summer is past.  However, the Rhode Island beaches are close by and in October you are likely to find the air and water temperatures similar to a normal summer trip to Brighton or Scarborough and the beach will not be so crowded.  Be a little careful with your attire on the US beaches. The average New Englander is quite prudish in such matters and you would not feel comfortable as an exhibit to be talked of until the next whale beaches down the coast.

You should be aware that Americans go to work early.  Morning traffic jams are likely to be before 8.00AM.  They eat dinner early.  Restaurants can be crowded from 5.30 to 7.00PM  Eating out is both popular and readily available at very reasonable rates.  Tipping is expected at around 15% and is rarely included in the bill. The best restaurants are every bit as good as any you will find in this world and the typical local restaurants are good, cheap and plentiful.  Don’t order a pot, or cup, of tea. You will receive a tepid, stewed concoction or a do it yourself kit containing warm water. Don’t look for an English Pub.  The only place I ever found which came close was a bar in Detroit called O’Halloran’s and that’s not a day trip. Really Irish and I don’t mean Irish-American. Of special importance; the micro-breweries make real beer.

Irish?  That gets me to the FT matches.  You are all aware that our guns can be up to 20 ft.lb. energy.  PCPs are usually at 19-20 and Springers at around 15.  However, for the last two years the US National Piston Champ. has been an Irish immigrant shooting at 12ft.lb.  Power may help but this is a sport where a good little’un can beat a good big’un.  Not like football played with the hands by 25 stone persons clad in armour plate.

 

I live in New England because I love it here.  I’m sure you will too.