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Author Topic: US of A!!  (Read 7507 times)

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Sir Tigger KC

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US of A!!
« on: 22 July 2013, 08:58:33 »
So here I am for the first time in Houston, Texas! A good friend of mine lives here and has taken his family off for a few weeks holiday vacation and I'm here looking after the dog, 2 cats, house and swimming pool!!  8)

A few initial observations.

1) American people are extremely friendly and very nice!  :y

2) Things are surprisingly expensive. I'm really talking groceries and food in general which shocked me when I went to the supermarket and filled a basket with basics, bread, milk, eggs etc and it cost almost twice what I was expecting!  :o

3) I thought that the majority of cars would be American brands, but not so,it's mostly Japanese, Korean, and German marques.  The Americans dominate the big pick-ups and I've seen a few Dodge Chargers. I've found that surprising!  :-\

4) It's hot and it's humid!  :)

5) 1 dollar notes are a pain in the arse!  ::)

6) I don't know how much to tip the cute barmaid down the local! A pint costs $4 and I've given her an extra dollar....  :-\ She seems happy....  ::)

7) BMW drivers are cocks here as well!!  ;D

More to come I'm sure!!  ;)  Happy Days!!!  :y

PS: Just reliased it's 3am here!  :o  I got a girl back from the local, but she made her excuses and left... :-[ I think we're going mountain biking tomorrow, but it's not quite what I had in mind.....  :-\  ::)  ;D
« Last Edit: 22 July 2013, 09:07:50 by Sir Tigger »
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RossPhim

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Re: US of A!!
« Reply #1 on: 22 July 2013, 09:09:07 »
Lived in Houston for 2 years, 1999-2000.
Loved the place.
They don't call it the Silicone centre of USA for nothing, if you know what I mean!
Have fun!
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Rog

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Re: US of A!!
« Reply #2 on: 22 July 2013, 09:20:45 »
Quote from: Sir Tigger on 22 July 2013, 08:58:33


PS: Just reliased it's 3am here!  :o  I got a girl back from the local, but she made her excuses and left... :-[ I think we're going mountain biking tomorrow, but it's not quite what I had in mind.....  :-\  ::)  ;D

Please elaborate      :-X
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tunnie

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Re: US of A!!
« Reply #3 on: 22 July 2013, 09:25:59 »
Turn on more of the British accent, American ladies love that.

Although the not so bright ones do easily get confused, one lady was certain I was Irish  ::)
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Lizzie_Zoom

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Re: US of A!!
« Reply #4 on: 22 July 2013, 10:11:39 »
Quote from: Sir Tigger on 22 July 2013, 08:58:33
So here I am for the first time in Houston, Texas! A good friend of mine lives here and has taken his family off for a few weeks holiday vacation and I'm here looking after the dog, 2 cats, house and swimming pool!!  8)

A few initial observations.

1) American people are extremely friendly and very nice! :y

2) Things are surprisingly expensive. I'm really talking groceries and food in general which shocked me when I went to the supermarket and filled a basket with basics, bread, milk, eggs etc and it cost almost twice what I was expecting!  :o

3) I thought that the majority of cars would be American brands, but not so,it's mostly Japanese, Korean, and German marques.  The Americans dominate the big pick-ups and I've seen a few Dodge Chargers. I've found that surprising!  :-\

4) It's hot and it's humid!  :)

5) 1 dollar notes are a pain in the arse!  ::)

6) I don't know how much to tip the cute barmaid down the local! A pint costs $4 and I've given her an extra dollar....  :-\ She seems happy....  ::)

7) BMW drivers are cocks here as well!!  ;D

More to come I'm sure!!  ;)  Happy Days!!!  :y

PS: Just reliased it's 3am here!  :o  I got a girl back from the local, but she made her excuses and left... :-[ I think we're going mountain biking tomorrow, but it's not quite what I had in mind.....  :-\  ::)  ;D

Never been to Texas, but I am sure you are finding the same as in any other American State - well, maybe apart from New York City!!- that it is a great place with lovely people.  As you say the Americans are very friendly and welcoming, especially once they hear your British accent.  In fact the more isolated the place you are visiting, off of the usual tourist attraction areas, you will find the American welcome an even greater factor.

Yes, I noticed the last time I was there in the States in 2010 that the "American" car brands had been overtaken by "foreign" makes.  When I went to the States for the first time in 1990 it was still a time for big American made beasts - we hired a Ford Crown Princess Victoria 5.5 litre 6 seater all electric beauty then - in 2010 we hired a Toyota 8 seater as there was little other choice as far as the hire company was concerned. What a change in the home of the automobile, and no wonder Detroit has gone bust! :( :(

If you tip staff my American friends reckoned it should be in the order of 10-15% of the total bill.

Just enjoy your time there Tigger! :D :D :D :y :y
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05omegav6

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Re: US of A!!
« Reply #5 on: 22 July 2013, 10:11:45 »
How long are you there for? Might have some excess baggage for you ::)
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omega3000

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Re: US of A!!
« Reply #6 on: 22 July 2013, 10:18:05 »
Quote
PS: Just reliased it's 3am here!  :o  I got a girl back from the local, but she made her excuses and left... :-[ I think we're going mountain biking tomorrow, but it's not quite what I had in mind.....  :-\  ::)  ;D

 ;D

Oh you jammy budda , id love to go to the states and in fact would like to live there .. surprised at what you said about the cost of things  ???

Ps I love silicone  :-* :-* ;D

Have a great time
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aaronjb

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Re: US of A!!
« Reply #7 on: 22 July 2013, 13:37:01 »
Quote from: tunnie on 22 July 2013, 09:25:59
Although the not so bright ones do easily get confused, one lady was certain I was Irish  ::)

I got asked if I was Australian.. while the Australian I was with got asked if he was British..  ??? ;D
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Sir Tigger KC

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Re: US of A!!
« Reply #8 on: 22 July 2013, 15:30:56 »
Quote from: Emd on 22 July 2013, 10:18:05
Quote
PS: Just reliased it's 3am here!  :o  I got a girl back from the local, but she made her excuses and left... :-[ I think we're going mountain biking tomorrow, but it's not quite what I had in mind.....  :-\  ::)  ;D

 ;D

Oh you jammy budda , id love to go to the states and in fact would like to live there .. surprised at what you said about the cost of things  ???

Ps I love silicone  :-* :-* ;D

Have a great time

I really mustn't post when inebriated!  :-[  I guess better here than facebook!  ;D

Petrol is of course very cheap, about 50p a litre so filling up the big beasts isn't breaking the bank!  :y  They moan about the cost of 'gas' though....  ::)  but they are very shocked at how much we pay for petrol...  :o  ;D

I havn't seen a diesel car yet and even if you had one I'm not sure where you'd buy fuel as I havn't seen a diesel pump at the filling stations...  :-\  I'm driving my mate's wife's Audi Q7 3.6 V6 which is veeery nice!  :y  I also have the keys to the Jag XK and it will be very rude not to take it for a spin, after all it's a Jag a needs a run now and again!  ::)

I havn't really got my head around the healthcare situation here yet.  The neighbour told me that he pays $3600 a month for him and his wife!  :o :o :o  They're in their late 50's and in good health, so it must be a top notch policy or there's something he's not saying.....  :-\

I was asked for ID yesterday in Walmart when I bought some beer, confused the hell out of the girl at the checkout when I presented my British driving licence!  ;D  I'm 44...  :)  God Bless America!!  ;D ;D ;D
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omega3000

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Re: US of A!!
« Reply #9 on: 22 July 2013, 16:37:46 »
Quote from: Sir Tigger on 22 July 2013, 15:30:56
Quote from: Emd on 22 July 2013, 10:18:05
Quote
PS: Just reliased it's 3am here!  :o  I got a girl back from the local, but she made her excuses and left... :-[ I think we're going mountain biking tomorrow, but it's not quite what I had in mind.....  :-\  ::)  ;D

 ;D

Oh you jammy budda , id love to go to the states and in fact would like to live there .. surprised at what you said about the cost of things  ???

Ps I love silicone  :-* :-* ;D

Have a great time

I really mustn't post when inebriated!  :-[  I guess better here than facebook!  ;D

Petrol is of course very cheap, about 50p a litre so filling up the big beasts isn't breaking the bank!  :y  They moan about the cost of 'gas' though....  ::)  but they are very shocked at how much we pay for petrol...  :o  ;D

I havn't seen a diesel car yet and even if you had one I'm not sure where you'd buy fuel as I havn't seen a diesel pump at the filling stations...  :-\  I'm driving my mate's wife's Audi Q7 3.6 V6 which is veeery nice!  :y  I also have the keys to the Jag XK and it will be very rude not to take it for a spin, after all it's a Jag a needs a run now and again!  ::)

I havn't really got my head around the healthcare situation here yet.  The neighbour told me that he pays $3600 a month for him and his wife!  :o :o :o  They're in their late 50's and in good health, so it must be a top notch policy or there's something he's not saying.....  :-\

I was asked for ID yesterday in Walmart when I bought some beer, confused the hell out of the girl at the checkout when I presented my British driving licence!  ;D  I'm 44...  :)  God Bless America!!  ;D ;D ;D

 :o :o :o This is good enough reason to emigrate and live off scraps of food whilst running a V8  ;D ;D There's been a heatwave here since you went  ::) Sooner be in the usa though any day , sitting by the Olympic size swimming pool with me gal from hooter's  :P :D
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05omegav6

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Re: US of A!!
« Reply #10 on: 22 July 2013, 16:45:58 »
As I understand it, it is almost cheaper to eat out than buy food and prepare it yourself. Really must get over there at some point, sooner rather than later ::)
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BazaJT

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Re: US of A!!
« Reply #11 on: 22 July 2013, 19:01:17 »
My son who lived in Stockholm for quite a few years moved to Los Angeles at the beginning of last year,after a brief sojourn there he then moved to a place called Dublin in San Francisco.I'd love to go see him [and his new wife and stepdaughter]but sadly the dragonladies health issues preclude this.Shortly after his move to Los Angeles he bought a new Ford Focus which oddly enough came with the winter pack fitted!!I'm sure that'll come in really useful where he's living!
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MR MISTER

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Re: US of A!!
« Reply #12 on: 22 July 2013, 20:32:20 »
I'm really jealous. I'd love a trip llike that.
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kevinp58

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Re: US of A!!
« Reply #13 on: 22 July 2013, 21:30:08 »
Quote from: Sir Tigger on 22 July 2013, 08:58:33
So here I am for the first time in Houston, Texas! A good friend of mine lives here and has taken his family off for a few weeks holiday vacation and I'm here looking after the dog, 2 cats, house and swimming pool!!  8)

A few initial observations.

1) American people are extremely friendly and very nice!  :y

2) Things are surprisingly expensive. I'm really talking groceries and food in general which shocked me when I went to the supermarket and filled a basket with basics, bread, milk, eggs etc and it cost almost twice what I was expecting!  :o

3) I thought that the majority of cars would be American brands, but not so,it's mostly Japanese, Korean, and German marques.  The Americans dominate the big pick-ups and I've seen a few Dodge Chargers. I've found that surprising!  :-\

4) It's hot and it's humid!  :)

5) 1 dollar notes are a pain in the arse!  ::)

6) I don't know how much to tip the cute barmaid down the local! A pint costs $4 and I've given her an extra dollar....  :-\ She seems happy....  ::)

7) BMW drivers are cocks here as well!!  ;D

More to come I'm sure!!  ;)  Happy Days!!!  :y

PS: Just reliased it's 3am here!  :o  I got a girl back from the local, but she made her excuses and left... :-[ I think we're going mountain biking tomorrow, but it's not quite what I had in mind.....  :-\  ::)  ;D











1 Most are.  :y
6 Usually anything over $10 its 10% and below that its $1.  :y :y But if you really want her to be your friend  ::)  ;) tip more than 10%  :y :y
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omega3000

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Re: US of A!!
« Reply #14 on: 23 July 2013, 18:46:06 »
Quote
1 Most are.  :y
6 Usually anything over $10 its 10% and below that its $1.  :y :y But if you really want her to be your friend  ::)  ;) tip more than 10%  :y :y

Just make sure she's not married to the bouncer  ::) ;D

Not heard from Mr.T today , he must be out driving that jag  :D
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