Category: Rant

…anything.

There are very many people who do anti-UK/London blogs and videos and who constantly complain that Londoners keep to themselves and will not engage in random conversations with random strangers. The implication being, of course, that in other places in the world they do.

So, first of all, let’s be clear. If you need help eg directions to “Lie sess sess ter Square” and you ask someone, you will probably get directions. If you are sitting next to someone in (eg) a theatre watching a play and the interval comes, it’s definitely possible, though unlikely, you will be engaged in a conversation about how good or otherwise the performance is. These things can happen regardless of whether you are a holidaymaker or not.

What the moaners mostly seem concerned about is talk on public transport, tubes etc. In general, travellers have a book or music or e-mails to look at, probably on the way to work, so they get their heads down and hope for a quiet time. This is their routine, a daily routine. It’s not fun.

Honestly, if you’re on a twenty minute tube journey and can’t keep your mouth shut for that time, you have problems. Others don’t appreciate the noise, the intrusive, loud voices that disturb their routine. They have had a long day, so why do we now have to have you?

But we have travelled to many places in the world, and really it’s the same. People generally don’t chat. Visitors do, but locals don’t. And if you’re on a train in New York, or London, or Paris or whatever, and someone engages you in conversation then you either assume they are vagrants or beggars or drunks or thieves or people with other problems, and you would be cautious, no matter what they looked like.

Tomorrow, February 14^th is St Valentine’s Day, or just Valentine’s Day.

It is the day when you are supposed to show to your loved one, if you have such, just how much you love them, by buying sexy and impractical red underwear, chocolates, teddy bears, flowers (roses) and soppy, padded cards.

And you can do this, and why not, good luck to you.

If you are in London, an evening meal may also be expected. Here are a few (helpful) thoughts about this. We are not picking out any restaurant or chain, just noting things from our own experiences:

• restaurants will be busy. It’s one of the busiest times of the year and an opportunity to make huge profits. At anywhere even half decent, booking is probably essential. You may already be too late.
• the ‘best’ slots will be gone, and only late or early may be available.
• you will probably be given a limited time slot eg “we need this back by 8pm”. They will be strict about this.
• the place will be packed. Tables will be jammed together to get as many people as possible in. It may be uncomfortable and very noisy.
• staff will be stressed and over worked.
• the regular menu may not be available. The ‘special’ menu will consist possibly of two alternatives for each course, drinks not included.

• food may have been bought in, pre-packaged or maybe frozen. The microwave is your friend.
• the demand for tips may be excessive.
• the same restaurant will be quiet the next night and back to normal.
• in tourist places, people do come round selling single roses, past their best, in plastic tubes. The last time we saw this, many (20) years ago, it was £10 a stem.

We have written before about our experiences on VD. You may have a great time, and we hope you do. Why not tell us about it?

Whenever we write a blog, we read it, correct it, spell check it, re-read it, publish it and then read it yet again.

And, despite our best endeavours, mistakes get through, tiny ones but annoying all the same.

If we find something, we correct it. If you find something, tell us.

Thank you.