Hola!

The English - A Definition

Sign spotted on the Chester-Liverpool Merseyrail train

Railway Bye-Laws : FEET ON SEETS

Feedback from our customers shows us that people putting their feet on train seats is a habit they find particularly annoying.

This also includes framework sections between, and either side of, the seat cushions.

Enforcement officers are on the Merseyrail network and may film and interview people who put their feet on seats, and any part of the seat structure, as evidence for prosecution.

Feet on seats falls within Merseyrail Electric 2002 Ltd. Railway Bye-Laws. Failure to comply with these instrucitons may lead to prosecution.

Which sums the English up quite neatly. I spent twenty minutes straining myself to resist an overwhelming urge to put my feet on the framework sections between, and either side of, the seat cushions.

The New Year

I spent New Year´s in Dublin. We had an Argentinian BBQ at my house, with my Argentine flatmate´s Argentian friends and guests. Some latin timing ensured that we were halfway between the house and the city centre when the fireworks went off. I had a quiet one, because I had to catch a ferry to Liverpool the next day.

Confusion

Well, I thought that I was getting the ferry to Liverpool. When I got off the ferry at Hollyhead I noticed that the signs in the terminal were in two languages, and that one of the languages looked particularly odd. I figured that it was an indictation of how many Polish people lived and worked in England these days.

Then I left the building and noticed styleised dragons everywhere. I checked the signs again and noticed the far-too-high ratio of constenants to vowels. Bugger, I was in Wales. Of course, if I hadn´t had to take a two hour train journey to Liverpool I would have missed out on seeing the aforementioned sign, which amused me more than you would reckon.

I was in town to watch Liverpool play at Anfield. To be honest, it was a poor display against Wigan, that ended in a draw and got some boos from the fans at the end of the game. But it was great to be in the stadium and watch the players I have always watched on the telly up close and personal.

Spain, Again

I have returned to Spain for a couple of months familiarising myself with the Spanish ways. My Spanish is improving all the time, but the more I learn the more it seems that I have to learn. Conversations are making more sense, and I don´t have any problems in shops, buses and with public transport. I now have to get the hang of the much subtle art of conversation... and making jokes.

I popped up to Portugal very briefly to see my buddy Krys (a girl´s name), though I can´t really say that I have been to Portugal. She was staying with some Irish friends in The Algarve, which is the Portugese equivilant of the Gold Coast. Lots of tourists, everybody spoke English, the beer was English, her Irish buddies just played pool in the pub all day, the beaches were cleaned daily by machines. Not exactly Portugal, though it was easy to find a half-decent English fry-up for brekkie!

This weekend Krys and I are going camping at Cabo De Gata (Cape Cat), on a beach that is surrounded by dessert. Then next weekend Fred (my buddy in Granada) and I will be going to the carnival in Cadiz, which promises to be over the top.