Leicester
 

Some photos of Merry Olde England. I've tried to take ones which I think will show up differences in daily life UK vs US.

Still very new to using my digital camera so please feel free to correct me/ make helpful suggestions.

An answer to the age old question, "Who ate all the pies?" and a pub advertising lunch (with nary a pie in sight)

This is a gallery that is ripe for destruction - despite there being many floors only a few shops are open on the ground floor. Most people just use it as a short cut without even noticing what is above them.

Lush (for the fans out there) on the charmingly named Gallowtree Gate.

Charming! One of the things I like the very BEST about England is that you dare to name something Gallowtree Gate! Post more! And, what's with the pies? What kind of pies? And, how much does a 'stone' weigh in pounds? And, how much alcohol is a 'unit'-? Is that like a shot? An ounce? What?? :)

It all seems so very pedestrian -- I love it!
*starts packing bags*

The pies ref is to a football (soccer) chant. Thinking about it, its probably not made it across the Atlantic. Essentially it goes "Who ate all the pies? Who ate all the pies? You fat bastard, you fat bastard, you ate all the pies!" So I was being quite mean actually (oops) I would expect the pies in question to be savoury.

A stone is 14 pounds. I try to remember to translate but sometimes forget!

A unit of alcohol is 10ml of pure alcohol. Its more difficult to translate because from what I remember there are different measures served in the US.
1 pub measure of spirit = 1 unit
1 pub glass wine = 2 units
1 pint lager = 3 units
The recommended intake for a woman per week is 14 units and a man 21 units.

Will look through my pics & find some more for you.

One of the oldest buildings in Leicester as seen from my office. The Guildhall is on the right & the Cathedral (under repair) on the left.

The second picture shows the reverse view with a glimpse of my ugly 80's office block.

A bus for you.

Note the advert on the side warning of fines if you don't pay your television licence (currently £126.50 a year, and yes - everyone has to buy one)

Leicester Market
Just a couple more then I'll quit.

Last one - another juxtaposition. The rather pretty Turkey Cafe next door to the fairly mundane BK.

I was tempted to crop the belisha beacon out of it, but realised thats probably an interesting foreign object for you!

Belisha Beacon? I assume you mean the yellow ball on top of the black and white pole ... what's it do?

Do you have to take a test to get a television licence?

Belisha beacons stand at either side of a zebra crossing. These are pedestrian crossings without traffic lights - just black & white stripes across the road. Technically pedestrians have right of way, but as I was hit by a car on one in 2002, I'm quite wary now!

Well, there's right of way, and there's might of way.

Loved the pics... I love England soooooooo much! Haven't visted Leicester yet, but I know how to pronounce it correctly :).

Ah but would you know how to pronounce Belvoir Castle?

I have to admit I didn't when I moved here, pronouncing the street of the same name exactly as its spelled. I was corrected loudly & in a very patronising way by a colleague. (Beaver apparently).

I let her carry on saying "tortiller" and "jally-penyo". Figured she deserved to be laughed at.

Was in London many years ago, and had heard about the "zebra crossings". I was wary, but all my traffic instincts were wired precisely backwards. How I managed to return home without a set of tire tracks running up the back side of my head, I don't know.

Outstanding SG.

Normal scenes from a place that you see everyday and dont even think about. The descriptions are helpful and the photos are clear and light enough to see.

It's often hard to imagine what other people far away might find interesting but you have done a great job with these.

The bus is fantastic.

"Lester" and "Bell-vwah", yes?

Pretty town!

I only know know it's "Lester" because of the Dead Bishop on the Landing.

I have this feeling that while Leicester looses letters in the pronounciation, Belvoir might in some mysterious way use them all, but not necessarily in the order as written? (like Bell-vee-or?)

Great job, SG. Thanks.
By the way.....is this a guaranty? :lol:

I answered the Belvoir question in the same post I asked it - but I can understand why you didn't realise it was the answer. Belvoir is pronounced Beaver. Hmmmmmmmmm.

I'll keep my camera with me anyway, and I may have some more to post when I'm back at work on Monday (in the local library right now!)

I'm going to try & take some pictures of Diwala (Hindu, Jain & Sikh festival of light coming up) which is a big deal here. And also of the temples/ places of worship here. Partly because I want them to show my own family when I'm there for Christmas (there are no large non-Christian places of worship there) but I may post them here too.

Thanks for your kind words & encouragement - I could get interested in photography through this......

I admit I don't know what Arriva means......? Does it mean quickly or something? I just always saw it as a promise that you'd arriva when you got there, regardless of what the timetable says.

Hi Sundae girl - really refreshing look on merrye olde Englande - nice photos that show England as it is. Don't stop - want to see more. You have a way of capturing the little things that make the big difference. Wish I could do that.

I think it means 'we'll nearly get you there' - 'arriva' is not quite 'arrival'

They're certainly spreading their wings - we have their buses down south as well!

I live on a main road, but this is the street just round the corner (my short-cut to the launderette).

Thought the cars & style of houses might be different to what you see in the US.

The power of stereotyping: when I was a lad in Britain, a girl who was a friend of mine said she wouldn't like to live in the US because all the houses are cookie-cutter exactly alike. She lived on a street just like this.

I like it. You can really get to know your neighbors! Hopefully, you get along with them. And, this reminds me--it's trash day today.

But surely this proves how diverse the houses are? You can paint your door and windows any colour you like after all......

I'd live there.

Goddamn it I need to invest in a camera! Great pics Sundae, soon as I acquire a camera I'll post some piccies of Halifax in Yorkshire (Calder Valley)

YAY!!!! I can't wait!! Kinda Bronte country, isn't it?

One of my best friends lives in Sowerby Bridge - thats the same part of the world I think? Its certainly a beautiful. Looking forward to it!

The Cathedral spire reflected in the windows of the BBC buidling opposite.

New pics
 

I moved offices in March, but what with being off with depression and all, I haven't been taking any pics. Anyway, here are a couple from my office window.

They don't show anything special, but figured you might as well see what I see every day!

First is literally my view, although it looks closer in real life :)

The second is from my Manager's office, showing the road I walk home along and the corner of the station (sand coloured building lower right).

I gotta get to England. I feel like it's an obligation, since I speak the language. Any good pubs near work?

Then the Leicester County Court (new red brick building) and our closest NCP carpark!

If you were here, you would be able to see Victorian Leicester on the first and second floor of modern shops. And the lines of green hinting at Leicester's parks and avenues. But of course photos (at least my photos) only give you the nearest buildings.

Lots of cranes, is there a lot of building going on?:D

Yes - they are renovating a part of the city that used to be run down factories. Some are being converted into flats but they are also building a new theatre. I'm quite excited by the project, but mostly because they've put coloured lights on all the lamp-posts, which made me go "oooh!" when I first saw them. Easily pleased, me.

For me a good pub is somewhere I can sit down, hear the conversation of the person/ people I am with, and I can afford to get a round in. By my criteria there are lots nearby :) But even my fussier colleagues seem to think we're well placed.

Am meeting my friend at the station tonight, we often walk home together and we'll probably stop in a pub on our way that does Beer n Burger (or Beer n Curry) with a pint of lager for £2.95 - $5.56 to you. I know it's cheap to eat out in the US, so let me put that in perspective here. A McDonalds meal costs £3.19 and a foot long Subway £4.10

Meh, we have to put up with students (2 Universities here) but if you go out after work they haven't even got up yet.

Sunset from the Office
 

Nothing special, just what I'm seeing tonight.

My kids tease me from time to time about how I'm so easily amused. I keep telling them that those who are easily amused will go through life happy.

Well , I am British , and thank Gawd I do not live there .

Any particular reason?
Everyone's entitled to their opinion of course, but I'm pretty fond of my adopted home.

Don't ask, Sundae....just forget it.
Buddug is not a Brit. Expat spawn, shacking with a frog in the Caribbean.
You, like the rest of us, are beneath her. Sort of a troll. :crazy:

Great pics, SG. Keep 'em coming, please. I'll likely never go much of anywhere, but I do get to live vicariously through the eyes and digicams of my fellow Cellarites.

Not sure how to delicately ask this, but you *did* mention a certain malaise earlier, so...are you feeling better, then?

I'll certainly post more pics now that it's my favourite time of year again.

And yes - with the help of friends and drugs I am working my way out of depression. About a month ago I was suddenly struck with a feeling of happiness - and realised it was the first time in 2006. I've stopped thinking about killing myself and I think it's fair to say I'm on the mend :)

SG--I am glad you had a feeling of happiness (it feels GREAT, doesn't it? So free!) and that you are coming out of your depression. If you could see yourself the way I see you, you'd know how smart, witty, sweet and special you are. :comfort:

Not really. I am sure there is a street someplace that looks just like that. One of the things I saw I didn't see here was on the menu sigh. We havn't had the pleasure of eating jackets yet.:p Or at least I havn't. What are they?

Jackets are Baked Potatoes (in their jackets - see?)

Very popular lunch here - Jack's Potato Shop (see what they did there) has queues outside every weekday lunchtime for takeaway. Most popular fillings- beans, chilli, or cheese & coleslaw (bleurgh)

What, no jellied elvers or Spam?

Great pics. I love the city... I miss going. Spent a lot of time in NY, New Orleans, Miami and many others. I have lived in Tampa and Los Angeles.
Mainly because it is so forien to me... growing-up in the forrest the way I did.
How handicap accessible is London, does anyone know?

Is there a 'Rearsby" in Leicester? My Maternal Grandma was from Rearsby, Leicester. Is that a village in a larger city or an area or just some other anomalie?

Probably not very, I'm afraid. Only some tube (...er ... subway) stations have wheelchair access. I think all taxis are supposed to be able to take passengers in/with wheelchairs, but this may be the fold-up, non motorised sort. Suburban railways now have to provide ramp access to their carriages when required. All shops and museums are supposed to provide step-free access now I think. Pavements (sidewalks) in the centre of town are not always all that wide. I could find out more if you like.

Elspode - jellied eels are a London speciality. Coming from a family of native Eastenders I've eaten them in my time. Traditional food for this part of the world is Melton Mowbray Pork Pies and Red Leicester cheese. I can see why they stick with the jacket pots.

Foot - there certainly is a Rearsby in Leicester. My local shop sells a type of bread called the Rearsby Loaf, although this is made in a different village now (by my best friend's husband's family bakery!) I was there this summer for a drink with friends, it's only about 10 miles out of Leicester but it's a beautiful little village.

Rkzenrage - I'll back what Limey says. Things have improved in London, and there is all sorts of legislation in place to make it easier for disabled travel, but it's an old city and space is at a premium. The major attractions will have good access, but you will need to plan travel carefully.

There's bound to be websites or agencies that can provide detailed information on Underground stations with access. I'd like to think it would be worth the effort anyway :)

A couple of pics of the new Cultural Quarter currently under construction/ renovation- with fancy lampposts as previously mentioned.

The first pic shows how things are progressing - from left to right is a very nice restaurant with flats above, a space awaiting development (with newly refurbished flats peeking through above it) and a nasty old row of shops/ offices showing 20th C architecture isn't holding up very well.

The second pic is a bit busy, but shows work being done on existing (ugly) offices, a poster for Diwali - Leicester has a large Hindu population and our celebrations are apparently the largest outside of India. The pub on the right is the Rainbow & Dove, a friendly gay pub.

And finally (for now)
Looking up London Road to the station on the right hand side. This is the way I choose to walk home most days. It looks grimmer than it is, as it's a grey overcast day.

And my office, doing its best to blend in with the city's Victorian architecture - not. Someone was actually paid to design this I suppose...

It would appear food plays a big part of the Diwali celebration..... I'm all for that.
Taking an oil bath in the middle of the night doesn't sound all that appealing, although I have, after an evening of heavy partying or during an all nighter in the garage. :D