Thursday, September 29, 2005

What the??

Here are some what the??? observations I've made since arriving in York:

1)
The only means of saving files when using the public library's computers is through a floppy!

Not only are there no readily accessible USB ports on any of the computers, but it specifically says you are not allowed put any such device into the back of the PCs. Furthermore, none of the computers have CD writers... (Hence, there will be no photos on our blog until we get internet access in our permanent flat... and since we don't move in to the flat until this Saturday, it may be a few days yet...)

2)
No one wears helmets when riding bicycles.

The complete absence of helmets has surprised Ben and me so much that we are currently having a points based competition for spotting people on bicycles with helmets. I am on 15 points, Ben is on 20 - the first to 200 gets a 'prize' from the other person!

(The scoring system, which started off being 10 points for each person riding a bike with a helmet quickly became more complicated.... suffice to say I have seen two people with helmets, after two days of looking, and Ben has seen three... when we have each seen at least 50 people riding.)

5)
Recycling seems to be pretty much non-existent, which surprised me because in the past I have found Europe to be more environmentally conscious than Australia.

4)
We can't get a debit card until we have a credit rating in the UK (which will take 6 months to a year) ... we can, however, use ATM's.

5)
I've never seen so many chocolate shops concentrated in such a small area (there are at least 5 in the City Centre, which is about the size of Civic!). The same goes for Jewellery shops.

6)
Women have to pay 20 pence to use the public toilets in town! Men do not!!!!

- nic

Sunday, September 25, 2005

We have arrived in York safe and sound


Our first night in York, behind us is a dim River Ouse. Posted by Picasa

Spent our first night in an 8 person dorm in a backpackers. This was all we could get when we arrived - apparently there is a Bookfair and also a Food and Drink Festival on this weekend, and these two events are enough to book out nearly all the accommodation in town!

Sleep was pretty average given one hell of a snorer, we both thought he was going to die!

We were up and about early this morning, keen to get a look at the place we are going to be calling home. It was very quiet, probably because it was 8 am on a Sunday morning...

And yes, everyone who told us it was 'a very pretty town' before we left are right - it is!

Some photographic evidence will be up to support this claim soon enough.

For now we are about to head over to the B&B we are staying in for the next week til our permanent flat is available next Saturday.

(The B&B is a compromise between wanting some privacy, a secure place to leave our stuff and some quiet to get some decent nights sleep, and not wanting to break the budget straight off).

Then, we have some exploring to do... may even have a look at the bookfair!

- nic

Monday, September 05, 2005

Blog Created!

Lo For The Blog Was Made, And there was much rejoicing!