You know you’re in England when…

…your toaster has a crumpet setting.

Foreign English words

My vocabulary has expanded a bit since moving to England, and I find myself adapting – sometimes intentionally for survival (to save myself from being embarrassed), other times instinctively.  Here’s a few unusual or non-American phrases & words that come to mind.  They’re not all new words per say, but new in meaning to all of us “non-English” speakers.

English words = American equivalent or the British definition.

fringe - bangs

trousers – pants

pants – underwear

tunic – more formal shirt (still not sure on the exactness of what constitutes a tunic)

suspenders – are “suspenders” to keep up your pantyhose.  Who actually wears those anyways?

braces – suspenders or braces for teeth.  However, braces for ones teeth are very uncommon here.

boot & bonnet – trunk & hood of car

squash – a concentrated juice drink that is diluted prior to consuming; also squash the vegetable

biscuit – cookie

pudding – can refer to any dessert

tea – people often refer to dinner as tea in the NE of England, also just means tea

wellies – rain boots

crisps – chips

chips – fries

nappies – diapers

pram – baby stroller

cheers – thanks, hi, bye, excuse me

ta – thankyou

posh – the rich upper class are posh; also an adjective in describing someone

jumper – sweater

loo, or toilet - when referring to using the bathroom/restroom

bathroom – implies a bathroom with an actual bath or shower

“you alright” or “alright“? – “what’s up?”  You don’t really expect an answer but you can give one.  It’s just something to say in welcoming someone.

fanny - an extremely crude word for female genitalia

bum bags - fanny pack

lady bird – lady bug

pavement – sidewalk

terms of endearment (depending on where in England you live): pet, love, me duck, flower, me lover. Most of the time I hear pet & flower in the NE.  I’ve never actually heard anyone in Durham use the phrase, me lover, but I’d love to hear it.  It’s more in the SW of England.

Peanuts

In looking for peanuts at the grocery store, this is what we found instead – roasted monkey nuts.  Hmm.  And that’s all I’ve ever been able to find in regards to peanuts at the store.

UPDATE: Just in case it wasn’t clear. In England, peanuts are called monkey nuts. Who knew?

Locked up safe

“Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken.  If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal.  Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness.  But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change.  It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.  The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation.”  C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves (Harcourt, 1960), p. 123.

St. Andrews, part 4

Besides being known as ‘The Home of Golf’, St. Andrews is also home of Scotland’s Oldest University.  St. Andrews University was founded in 1413 & is only preceded by Oxford and Cambridge in England.  It was fun walking around and wondering what it would have been like had we decided to go there instead of Durham.  Whilst (new British word I’ve recently noticed) on our walks along the coast, I couldn’t help but dream about how great it would have been.  And, how much more motivated I would be to actually go on my runs!  I guess I’ll have to keep finding my happy place in order to get out running.  But, we both think we’ve made the right choice in being at Durham.  Plus, we love Durham!

As you can see from all the pictures & multiple posts, I was a bit camera happy.  So, enjoy!

We found a live baby starfish whilst on our walk. It was teeny-tiny. I threw it back into the Sea. Hope it lived!

Up close.

Allen & Mandy drove us to Anstruther (pronounced 'Enster) where we had the best fish & chips we've had yet. Then, we hiked the trail to Crail, a nearby coastal town.

Ruins of an old cottage off to the right; whilst on our hike.

Water break

Allen & Mandy

The town of Crail.

Back in St. Andrews; street view. I loved all the buildings.

St. Andrews, part 3

Here’s a few more pictures of our time in St. Andrews a few weekends ago.  Enjoy!

The beautiful coastline.

The Cathedral.

From inside the Cathedral at sunset.

I liked this shot.

Out on the pier. It was really narrow - I wasn't a fan. I guess I don't like heights. It doesn't look as narrow in this picture as it is, and as you keep walking it gets pretty high up. Yikes!

Starbuck's (thanks to Lisa's gift card) and a famous "scottish fudge donut" from the bakery down the road.

I love tug boats! They remind me of being a kid. Remember the mall in Seattle that has a kid play area with the tug boat? I'm not sure which mall it was, but I have a vague memory of being there with Nana & the "squealers". Hmmm...good times.

First week

My first week of work was great.  I’m being trained right now, so I’m mostly shadowing and doing some reading up on the Trust’s policies and procedures & other things relevant to my job.  I love the team of people I’m working with, and think it’s going to be a good fit.  It’s fun doing nursing in a different capacity.  Also, it’s a nice change to have normal hours.  Plus, I get the bank holidays off!  I’m having to readjust to the new schedule a bit, although I do like it.  It’s mostly getting used to being at work five days a week instead of three long days and trying to fit in all the other things of life & not saving all the chores for the weekend.  Plus, trying to be social and spend time with people.  I’m just finding I’m really tired in the evenings and don’t have as much time or energy as I thought I’d have to get other stuff done plus finding a bit of rest.  But, I’ll get used to it.  It’s just great to have a permanent, full time job that I enjoy!  It’s a bit strange to realize that we are settling into life here, and sometimes I forget the original novelty that we both felt in living here.  Now, it’s becoming normal.  I guess that’s good, although I never want to forget the craziness of getting here & what a blessing it is to be where we’re at.

Accents

It’s been interesting and strange to be the one with the accent.  Very often people will stop me and ask where I’m from – the usual guess is either Canada or America.  It’s a good conversation starter.  I’m surprised how often people tell me I have a lovely accent, and that they can’t figure out where it’s from.  Today I was thought to have an Irish accent.  The man also swore he had met me before and though it had been at a pub.  Awesome.  In addition, I’ve had multiple people ask me if I’m Scottish.  I guess this just confirms to me that all accents sound somewhat the same to ears that aren’t in tune to hearing them.