To ask overseas folk what British quirks they think are weird/funny? Thread 2!

[Burntmybiscuits]

First thread is now full: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3874603-To-ask-overseas-folk-what-British-quirks-they-think-are-weird-funny

But I've had some requests for a 2nd one. Here it is!

@Watchagotcha

That's so funny.
I cannot think of anything more French than a waiter telling you off for being too customer service friendly

@aurynne,

I'm trying to remember when I started regarding all the social niceties as normal and expected even (not meaningless or deceitful), probably when I completely switched to thinking in English myself, after about 9 years of living here, but was used to them long before...
Maybe it helped that DH is English, and he is very, very English in that respect, to the point where he takes lack of "good morning" from his own family terribly personally
Actually my Scottish and Welsh friends were usually far more direct and outwardly warmer(there's also North and South/East divide in England). However most English people are just as human as other nations 😊 and if you feel any kind of "click" with anyone, it's worth persevering trying to establish friendship even if they don't appear forthcoming by Spanish standards.

You can't take cultural traditions personally or judge them by the standards of your own nation - it's just that the Brits are European so maybe subconsciously you expect them to be less different than, say, Japanese, sure you wouldn't think that the Japanese were insincere because they have a much more roundabout way of getting to the point, you'd take it for granted...

Everyone mentioned tea already, but I remember it took me years to get used to the fact that you basically have to agree to a cuppa if you are visiting someone even if you are there only for half an hour -otherwise people literally don't know what to do with themselves, it's part of a ritual of holding a conversation and without tea or coffee it's just not the same.
Also that tea means tea, not tea with a piece of cake or a biscuit at least (I had never drunk tea not accompanying anything like a pastry etc before moving to England, felt very strange and pointlessly "wet" at first). However again, if I happened to be at a Scottish friend's house and she'd have nothing to serve with tea it would be a subject of fretting to the point of her wanting to make scones there and then or popping out to the nearest bakery so that not to leave me hungry and unwelcome 😁😁
At the same time it was completely normal for MIL to serve a cup of tea "with nothing" even if we drove three hours to see them, and she'd never agonise about not being hospitable enough because of it.
I kind of approve not eating outside mealtimes but myself try to have cake or some kind of goodies in the house if I'm expecting anyone round... it's cosier that way :)

@phoenixrosehere
How long is that going to work since it seems to get hotter every year? Almost 900 people died last summer in England
What's your point?
As a side note do you actually realise that England is NOT the U.K.

• What's your point? As a side note do you actually realise that England is NOT the U.K.*

Of course I do. Do you? The definition of British:

relating to Great Britain or the United Kingdom, or to its people or language.

England - a country that is part of the U.K.

Nowhere did I say that England was all of the U.K. and if that is how you took it, that’s your assumption not mine.

@phoenixrosehere
This is a thread about the U.K. not England. You've referred to England when you mean the United Kingdom. Your knowledge of the U.K. is patchy and your sarcasm is best left to a subject you have knowledge of, you clearly don't have an in depth understanding of the societal difference of countries that make up the United Kingdom.

his is a thread about the U.K. not England. You've referred to England when you mean the United Kingdom. Your knowledge of the U.K. is patchy and your sarcasm is best left to a subject you have knowledge of, you clearly don't have an in depth understanding of the societal difference of countries that make up the United Kingdom.

I’m sorry did I hit a nerve? I referred to England because it is in the UK. I know the societal difference between them. I’m sorry I didn’t add that it was also hot in Scotland last summer.

Saying a simple cardigan solves the problem is ridiculous at best. It was called a British cardigan so it lumped all the Uk countries together did it not?

I’ve only not been to North Ireland and have been to Scotland and Wales and notice the differences. Just because I was specific to one country doesn’t mean I don’t care or consider the others. That’s your thought process not mine!

I’ve lived here long enough to know the differences. Excuse me for going off different experiences while having lived here for about eight years.

This is also a thread about what those from overseas think about the U.K. which includes the countries and I have tried to be specific to said country knowing that all of them are different including the regions within them. Nowhere did I say I was an expert or said that England was more important or the only country in the UK.

Your knowledge of the U.K. is patchy and your sarcasm is best left to a subject you have knowledge of

I only responded with sarcasm because of you assumed I was ignorant and/or dim of what the UK is. I only responded accordingly.

*assuming

@MissHoskins any reason you just suddenly jump in with being rude?
Statistics in UK are more often than not split into England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.
Not Great Britain or even UK as a whole.
Quoting statistic from England on a thread about UK is absolutely fine.
I think you owe some apologies

The statistic about 900 deaths was indeed just for England.

• Berry drinks - squash, cider etc
• Kids restaurant meals being a separate (and often unhealthy) menu
• Helicopter parenting

I've been thinking about the kids menus. As I don't have kids I never realised. We have half portion options in ours, not separate menu as far as I know🤔 So kids eat same, but just small portion.
I don't think I had a chicken nuggets till 15 when I worked in Maccies😂

Anyone else think that some of these are getting a bit nasty now? I don’t think ‘quirks’ that people find ‘weird or funny’ extends to some of the stuff that’s being mentioned on here and I’m detecting quite a lot of superiority...

In some countries we refer to Britain as England and English people. Of course you get offended... a lot and think we are stupid, but it is just what we were tought.

Those who get most offended quite often refer to Holland instead of the Netherlands or mixes up the Scandinavian countries or even worse refer to them as they were united the way Britain is (shutters ).

This is a thread about what overseas think of you and it has been a lot of fun . I'm sure forrin quirks have never been mentioned on MN, but you can always make a new thread.

But thank you OP these threads have been great.

For the record I think children’s menus are great. If nothing else it says that “we assume kids are going to come” which I like. I had a fussy eater and knowing chips would be available was a godsend. I’ve often bought him full adult portions for loads of money here in Sweden, while asking for everything extra to be removed, still paying full price mind and him only eating half of it. So annoying and unaccomodating

I’ve often bought him full adult portions for loads of money here in Sweden, while asking for everything extra to be removed, still paying full price mind and him only eating half of it. So annoying and unaccomodating
That is quite crappy tbh

When someone stands up they usually say "right" or "right then"

Saying sorry.....for everything!!

So many accents!

Carpet in bathroom! No plug socket in bathroom!

Obsession with class. Obsession with celebrity.

Loved theses as a kid, nobody does it now

The ‘wedding scramble’ is traditional in most parts of Scotland. As the bride steps into the car, her father throws a handful of coins for the children to collect. Believed to bring about financial good fortune, it also takes place in weddings in Ayrshire where it is known as a 'warsel'.

Those three piece accessories for bathrooms in carpet that go around the basin stem, the loo and a shower/bath mat.

Knitted loo roll covers. My mil made me one. I didn't know what to do with it.

A 'warsel'?

Now off to google, Banana.

@Bananaman123 that sounds like a lovely tradition!

Let's bring back the bumps at birthday parties! Up to a certain age/size though

Prawn crisps and other assorted weird foods

How very dare they! Food of the Gods!
(Outraged of West London)

Love a prawn cocktail crips, love the bumbs. Carpets in bathroom is dying are dying out.