Old but still brilliant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT0ay9u1gg4

Mate of mine was utterly shocked on his first visit to a London pub. He walked up to the bar and turning to the bloke next to him said, “It’s busy in here tonight, isn’t it?”
“Sorry, I’m not gay” was the answer.

The bloke realising his accent then apologised, he’d been living in London for ten years and had completely forgotten that strangers talk to each other in the north.

What would shock is the actual use of the English language in London. Very rare these days. Also in Manchester where I read that there are 200 languages spoken. Now that is diversity in the extreme.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 07, 2024 3:10 pm

What would shock is the actual use of the English language in London. Very rare these days. Also in Manchester where I read that there are 200 languages spoken. Now that is diversity in the extreme.

I'm pretty sure the use of the English language in London isn't very rare.

Exactly like my first experience on a Birmingham bus where I went to uni 1972.
It was a driver-only bus, no conductor and the driver wouldn't give change, which was new to me. When I asked how I was going to pay, he shrugged, pointed his thumb at the lower deck and simply said, "Ask."
5 mins later, having eventually got some change and paid the fare,
I sat down next to a bloke and commented on the weather. He looked at me like I'd arrived from another planet, said nowt and went back to reading his Evening Mail.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 07, 2024 3:10 pm

What would shock is the actual use of the English language in London. Very rare these days. Also in Manchester where I read that there are 200 languages spoken. Now that is diversity in the extreme.

Christ on a bike

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 07, 2024 3:10 pm

What would shock is the actual use of the English language in London. Very rare these days. Also in Manchester where I read that there are 200 languages spoken. Now that is diversity in the extreme.

Can someone please come and collect their Da

It might just be me but I don’t like strangers talking to me. Maybe I was secretly born down south!

claret2018 wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 07, 2024 4:00 pm

It might just be me but I don’t like strangers talking to me. Maybe I was secretly born down south!

Time and a place isn't there. For example I'll always say good morning when I'm passing someone whilst walking the dog etc, but if I'm sat on a train I don't want the person sat next to me to strike up a conversation.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 07, 2024 3:10 pm

What would shock is the actual use of the English language in London. Very rare these days. Also in Manchester where I read that there are 200 languages spoken. Now that is diversity in the extreme.

I agree. I came down here in 2009, asked for directions back up north but no-one could understand me so I've been stranded ever since like that film The Terminal.

I say regularly say hello to people when I pass them on my walks, but I don't think I would go around Burnley town centre doing the same.

Pickles wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 07, 2024 4:03 pm

I agree. I came down here in 2009, asked for directions back up north but no-one could understand me so I've been stranded ever since like that film The Terminal.

You could have followed the road signs but unfortunately they're now all in forin.

It’s not just a northern thing its an anonymous city thing.

Spending Christmas in Burnley I went for a couple of walks and everybody (bar none) gave a cheery hello when passing. Yesterday, similar country walk around Sheffield, despite greeting people passing we were lucky to get a nod or a grunt. Big difference. Cities are horrible places in that respect, despite their better facilities.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 07, 2024 4:05 pm

You could have followed the road signs but unfortunately they're now all in forin.

Drive on the other side of the road too, it's all very confusing.

claret2018 wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 07, 2024 4:00 pm

It might just be me but I don’t like strangers talking to me. Maybe I was secretly born down south!

A stranger spoke to me a week last Saturday while we were waiting for a bus. She was with her husband who had played for Burnley. So had she not spoken to me I would never have known.

Was in Sunderland for the game last season, just on my own sat in a pub with my burnley scarf pre match with a pint.
Quite a few Sunderland fans starting talking to me purely about footy, even cost of living etc..and impressed with our team, it was as tho I was their mate!
Had a lovely hour or so with them, so so friendly.
Well done Sunderland fans.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 07, 2024 3:10 pm

What would shock is the actual use of the English language in London. Very rare these days. Also in Manchester where I read that there are 200 languages spoken. Now that is diversity in the extreme.

Try a few facts for a change, Stayingup.
From the Ofsted website on last year’s state primary school result. Fantastic achievement by London kids, millions of whom are bilingual.

London was the highest performing region in 2023, as in previous years, with 67% of pupils achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (combined). In all other regions, attainment in reading, writing and maths (combined) at the expected standard ranged between 57% and 61%.

Ah yes many a true word as they say.