Booze Britain

Drinking is a pretty big part of British life, and there are a handful of differences I've noticed in the culture here that I thought were interesting:

Going out for a Drink

In London, people go out for a drink directly after work, rather than going home first like we're used to. This is because London is such a massive city it just doesn't make sense to commute all the way home and back out for a drink. London's underground also closes shortly after midnight, so everyone times their nights out to be much earlier to start and earlier to finish. London pubs are at their busiest between around 6pm until 10pm, which is quite a contrast to the pre drink and go out around 10pm attitude back home. People also seem to go out for a few drinks most nights, rather than save it all up for the weekend like we do.

This doesn't include clubbing, which is an all night affair, and I think they stay out until the trains start up again. I wouldn't even really say they're comparable because I'm pretty sure it's more drugs than drinking anyways.

Pubs in London are also just a bit different, many have bizarre names and appear to be decorated just how they were 100 years ago. Drinking outside the pub is often more desirable than drinking in the pub, and is completely allowed. Some ask if you want your beer for outside and give you a plastic pint, others don't care. Some pubs are brightly lit and don't play music which is popular with a lot of people who just want to chat over a beer. London beers are all room temperature ales, but all pubs have a selection of lagers that are cold, but it's advertised as cold on the tap like that's special. Cider is also a lot more popular, Strongbow is on tap everywhere and most places have one or two others.

Events

Drinking seems to be much less taboo than in Canada. At the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland for example, there were countless stands set up selling beer and mulled wine. Everybody was drinking freely wandering around, amongst families and children. Even the cartoons on the fair rides were often holding a beer. Both times we were there, however, I didn't notice a single incident. In comparison, every time I have been packed into the beer garden at the PNE, where everyone would rather be wandering around with a beer in hand, there have been arguments and fights and tables of drinks tipped over.

They also charge the same price for a drink at a concert or event as they would at a pub, rather than doubling the price like we're used to.

Accessibility

Liquor can be bought in every grocery store, and most convenience stores are called an 'Off License' and sell until late at night. Not only is this incredibly convenient, but it means there's no over taxed government monopoly and there's actually competition and beer goes on sale. Of all the things more expensive here, booze is one that's cheaper. Goes to show the gouging we get in BC.

There are also so many more places to go. Where Vancouver has all it's bars centralized on Granville or in Gastown, and a shockingly low number of local pubs, London has dozens of entertainment areas and thousands of pubs. This means not everyone is packed into small spaces on the same street and forced out at the same time, which everyone knows leads to trouble every weekend in Vancouver. A few more liquor licenses and a little less bending over for the vocal minority crying NIMBY would go a long way. At a time when drinking and driving is such a major concern the radius between local pubs in rural BC seems a little bit ridiculous in comparison to the abundance available in the UK.

Public Places

While there are the occasional signs prohibiting drinking on the tube or in certain parks, it is generally accepted that someone having a beer at the beach or wine with a picnic in the park is not a problem. The rules seem to be in place to give police the power to use their discretion with groups of people drinking and being idiots in public. This is such a refreshing attitude compared to treating everyone with a beer like a criminal in BC. People here can't believe we're getting $230 fines for having one beer at the beach. Having a drink and being drunk and disorderly are two different things, and I've seen way less alcohol related incidents in this city that's 10 times the size than I've seen in an average Friday night in Vancouver.


Both countries have problems with drinking. Britain's seems to be a deeper issue of alcohol addiction that is more of a problem in the homes of people who can't draw the line. I suppose it could be argued that a relaxed attitude to social drinking can lead to alcoholism, but that's along the same lines as marijuana creating heroin addicts and video games creating criminals. As far as people being able to go out and have a drink without being hassled by police or beating each other up, they seem to have it pretty figured out here.

Canada's problem is an issue of trying to over control drinking and dealing with the backlashes. Treat people like adults and maybe they'll start acting like them. Maybe once they realize drug prohibition isn't working they'll have a look at the results of their oppressive attitude towards drinking. I'm not gonna hold my breath on that one though, my beer will get warm.

-Justin

The Queen's Garden Party

Possibly the most unlikely of candidates, Justin and I have been invited to the Queen's Garden Party on May 29th at Buckingham Palace.

So how the heck did this happen? A girl that Justin knows through his good friend Chris works for the Canadian embassy. She send Justin details on how to apply to the Canadian government, and then they put our names forward.

I received an email a few days ago from the Royal Events Coordinator saying we were successful in our ballot for an invitation and that our invitation pack with details on dress code and security etc will be available 6 weeks before the event.

What happens at a garden party? I didn't know, so I found this website that explains it all and even has a super cool neato video explanation! Sounds like it's not up Justin's alley at all, but it's definitely a unique experience and I think he's looking forward to that. We have to find him a suit to wear (probably from a charity shop?), and I have no idea what I am going to wear, but I do know I am required to wear a hat, so that's fun!

So Justin and I will be representing Canadians this diamond jubilee year at Buckingham Palace. Certainly not anything I expected to be doing in my lifetime. We will try our best to be proper and refined.

Thinking of everyone.
Gen

Career Choices

I've realized since moving to London that I know myself better than I thought I did. Working with two girls in their early 20's - who are awesome by the way - has forced me to think of myself when I was their age and note how different I am now. I am happy to be who I am now. I'm happy to be 'old'(er). It feels really good. And none of my reflecting has anything to do with what job I had or where I lived or how much money I made. It's something less tangible than that.

When faced with big or big-ish decisions I inevitably wonder what my Dad will think about my choice. Especially when it comes to work. Will he be proud? Will he understand? This current decision was no different...

I was offered a 2nd interview at Pilat Media. This was an amazing job, I know they liked me and I had a lot to offer them ... but I decided not to go. I didn't leave a great job in Vancouver to find another great job; I left to travel, to have fun, and to learn the things a job can't teach you. The Pilat Media job, although impressive and interesting, had one major flaw for me: It was up to 80% travel in the year. That meant leaving London, a city I'm just beginning to know, missing out on things I already have planned (friends visiting, meeting up with Kandis in Paris this June, the Queen's Garden Party!), and of course, most of all, being separated from Justin for months at a time instead of sharing this experience together.

Another factor is that I have been offered to manage the cafe I work at. It's still not great money, but it is a raise and I can have whatever weekends I want off. They are kind people, they respect me, and they are totally flexible. It's also close to home which is so important here. So today I accepted the job. It's certainly not the coolest one in the world but it fits well with where I'm at right now.

I am so excited to be able to enjoy my days off instead of looking for work every free moment. And to finally have days off with Justin.

Thinking of everyone back in Canada.

Genevieve S.
Manager, Artisan Coffee

PS - If you want to learn a lot about Wikipedia check out my almost completed presentation I did for my cancelled 2nd interview. Maybe my hard work can be of some use!

Canadian Content

I listen to my ipod a lot at work, and the last couple times someone asked what I was listening to it's been The Tragically Hip, and Sloan. Obviously they had no idea who they were and I was asked if I listen to a lot of Canadian music. I never really thought about it, but I guess I do. I decided to see what percentage of my ipod was Canadian to see what influence Canadian content has had on my musical tastes. Of 2099 songs, 381 of them were bands or artists I knew were Canadian, 18%. This falls short of the 35-40% that radio stations are now licensed at (Thanks wikipedia), but I didn't bother with the specifics, such as written by a Canadian or recorded in Canada, which might bump it to 25% or so.

Not quite up to CanCon standards, but pretty close I would say. I had never really thought about how much of the music I've grown to like has been forced down my throat by the CRTC until I got here, where Canadian music is just Michael Buble and Bryan Adams. It's interesting to think of all the music I've been introduced to by that law, as well as all the music I'm missing out on because of it. I can appreciate the purpose of it, but 40% seems unnecessarily high. When a band can be as big in Canada as the Hip, and unheard of elsewhere, is that law working? Or are we just creating bubble? Who gives a shit I guess is the obvious answer, the Hip rock.

-Justin

Differences Part 2...

Here are a few additions to our first list of differences between London and Vancouver...

• If you talk about hockey people assume you mean field hockey. You must say ice hockey.

• They use the 24 hour clock.
  
  
• On Sunday almost everything except restaurants close at 5pm (17:00).
  
  
• Almost every restaurant and pub sells a 'Sunday roast' on Sundays. This is usually eaten at lunch time and they usually have 2 or 3 roast options (pork, beef, chicken, veggie).
  
  
• You have to specifically ask for tap water or else they will bring you a bottle of water.
  
  
• Nandos is shockingly popular.
  
  
• They say Take Away instead of Take Out.
  
  
• Curry take away is everywhere, pizza not so much.
  
  
• They don't seem to have regular straws, only bendy ones.
  
  
• Stella is a very cheap beer here.
  
  
• Homeless people aren't on drugs but instead are drunks.
  
  
• Smoking is much more popular here, and it seems the cool thing to do is roll your own.
  
  
• They have strange little mini casinos everywhere. They look just like stores but you can play slots and bet on sports... Not totally sure haven't been in them.
  
  
  
• Tires is spelled Tyres.
  
  
• There are no street signs as we know them, but an occasional sign on the side of a building.
  
  
• Cars can park facing in any direction (which isn't helpful when you are getting used to the direction they drive here).
  
  
• They call trucks lorries.
  
  
• You have to flag down a bus.
  
  
• There doesn't seem to be a proper side of the sidewalk to walk down.
  
  
• Cashiers at grocery stores sit on chairs.
  
  
• A movie theater is called a cinema, and they have assigned seating on your tickets. There is a VIP section with the best seats and it's a bit more expensive. Also, they sell chips at the concession.
  
  
• Pantomime is a strange obsession during the holidays, and almost always includes a man dressed in drag.
  
  
• All kids wear school uniforms.
  
  
• They use 'us' singularly. For instance "Give us a call" could mean "Give me a call".
  
  
• Garden could mean garden, or backyard, or patio at a pub, or any outdoor space.
  
  
• Foxes are to London as racoons are to Vancouver.
  
  
• Clouds move so fast they look like they are on a time lapse.
  
  Hope you enjoyed...
  Gen & Justin