Thread: This is Britain!

I wonder what those in the rest of the world make of us Brits? The authorities here seem to miss the fact that we live in a seasonal climate - in winter they are suprised by snow, in autumn leaves fall, and now it is summer the temparature is rising so wWe have gritters on stand by as the roads are melting, and the trains are running slow because the rails are buckling!

I recently had a holiday in Tucson and the temparature was over 100f most days I was there - I didn't see one road melting!

We have the reputation that we are always talking about the weather - perhaps the reputation should be that we are always suprised by it!!

I know here that Vermonters are constantly complaining about the weather. You cant talk to anyone without someone mentioning weather. Top starter of most conversations...actually its a pleasure to come here and not hear about the weather!..lol..
As I type, the radio disc jockey is complaining of the heat index...now give him a couple months as summer in the mountains here is very short, he will be complaining about the cold..lol
Ive never heard of roads melting...must use different material here..I remember walking on tar roads as a girl and my feet were getting sticky with tiny black dots on them as the tar would stick to my feet..but never heard of melting..thats curious...

We live by the weather channel.
So what do we think of the Brits? Nice country, good brews, a sense of humor that is unsurpassed.

p.s. in all my trips never once had to open an umbrella.

Awwwww Bill ...what a nice thing to say :o)

A good example of why we arent ready for the weather is today....yesterday it was so hot the roads were melting and we couldnt get enough windows open to let some sort of breeze in ...today its pouring down with rain and the temperature has fallen from 100 down to 60 and it feels cold....criky we never know what to wear! lol

Sounds about the same as here Lin. Well, except the road melt thing..never heard of that..but it does sound like something that needs to be addressed!..lol
Hazy-Hot-Humid...then a thunderstorm comes thru and like magic...nice again...up here we went from 87F down to 62F degrees...and it snows most every day in the winter...mountain effect snow...lol
What to wear lincs? All you have to do is have a closet full of everything from skimpy to full cover...and I do understand how hard it is to find the desire to shop!...lol
I must change my clothes at least 3 times a day, usually more.
OH - What do I think of Brits? - Lovem'...well, there is one...well, I wont get into that!...lol

Your lucky lincs, down here it's still to bloody hot!

Now originally I'm from your part of the country (grimsby/cleethorpes) and it always seemed to be windy for about 8 months of the year. Actually I mean it is WINDY and it's a very cold wind. Now down here and thats what less than 200 miles it's more like the med, we don't get snow and for the last three new year days I've been on the beach in a t-shirt, try that in Cleethorpes!

Well its hot again here now Nick lol ....where are you then? ...south coast? ...I used to live in Southampton for many years and Porstmouth.

Originally Posted by limebrook1

I wonder what those in the rest of the world make of us Brits? The authorities here seem to miss the fact that we live in a seasonal climate - in winter they are suprised by snow, in autumn leaves fall, and now it is summer the temparature is rising so wWe have gritters on stand by as the roads are melting, and the trains are running slow because the rails are buckling!

I recently had a holiday in Tucson and the temparature was over 100f most days I was there - I didn't see one road melting!

We have the reputation that we are always talking about the weather - perhaps the reputation should be that we are always suprised by it!!

I asked my mom about the melting road thing as it was interesting to me. What her thought was that here in the states we use tar mixed with sand/stone type mixture that when the hot sun bears down,the tar will get hot but the extra in the mix allows it to keep its solidity.
One hundred thousand and fifty years ago when she was young - they used to harden the dirt roads, then spray moulting tar in about an eight foot spray across the dirt, and continue until the road had a layer of smooth tar across it...after it reached a certain thickness..it was flattened as such ... but due to the fact that they only used tar without any fillers, it would in fact on extremely hot days melt...
Forgive my inept way of explanation, thats why I never do public speaking and or teach the young!....lol

Originally Posted by Lincslady

Well its hot again here now Nick lol ....where are you then? ...south coast? ...I used to live in Southampton for many years and Porstmouth.

Got it in one, well almost, I'm in a small town called Hythe on the edge of the New Forest just across Southampton water from Southampton.

And it is still hot and I've got to go out a give someone a driving lesson in this.....................

Originally Posted by kassi59

I asked my mom about the melting road thing as it was interesting to me. What her thought was that here in the states we use tar mixed with sand/stone type mixture that when the hot sun bears down,the tar will get hot but the extra in the mix allows it to keep its solidity.
One hundred thousand and fifty years ago when she was young - they used to harden the dirt roads, then spray moulting tar in about an eight foot spray across the dirt, and continue until the road had a layer of smooth tar across it...after it reached a certain thickness..it was flattened as such ... but due to the fact that they only used tar without any fillers, it would in fact on extremely hot days melt...
Forgive my inept way of explanation, thats why I never do public speaking and or teach the young!....lol

Ahhhhh................. Your Mother is indeed wise in the ways of road and highways maintaince.

Originally Posted by nick1346

Got it in one, well almost, I'm in a small town called Hythe on the edge of the New Forest just across Southampton water from Southampton.

And it is still hot and I've got to go out a give someone a driving lesson in this.....................

oh nick! thats sound like a trying day! But from what Im learning about travel there maybe thats a good thing for the inexperienced at least!..hehe!...
I know one lesson here is on back dirt roads - the edges are very soft and can literally suck you into the ditch - and there are the 'washboard' areas that will bounce you all over if your not careful...oh the fun I remember doing that!...lol...

Nick
Talking about driving lessons.
I once asked a lady pupil
"What signs do you see on country roads"

She said
"Eggs for sale"

Originally Posted by royb

Nick
Talking about driving lessons.
I once asked a lady pupil
"What signs do you see on country roads"

She said
"Eggs for sale"

My instructer asked me to read the signs as we were going down the street (I was 16yrs)
I told him "How am I supposed to concentrate on driving and read at the same time!"...lol
Yes, I got better...lol...

Originally Posted by nick1346

Got it in one, well almost, I'm in a small town called Hythe on the edge of the New Forest just across Southampton water from Southampton.

And it is still hot and I've got to go out a give someone a driving lesson in this.....................

Ooooh posh...very nice area ..love the new forrest area..I still have family n friends down there ..sister in Hamble...brother in Eastleigh n my best friend in Botley..used to date a guy in Romsey ..he was a berk ..but Romsey was nice lol

Its hotter than hell here today! the heat is shrivelling my bushes lol

This gives me a perfect business idea.. I'm gonna try to export 'Road Ice-Packs' to the UK in summer.. keeps them from melting.. Thankx Trish..;)

Originally Posted by ez-ez

This gives me a perfect business idea.. I'm gonna try to export 'Road Ice-Packs' to the UK in summer.. keeps them from melting.. Thankx Trish..;)

Either that or begin a business of road control!...beging a whole new way of road construction!...hmmm...

Originally Posted by ez-ez

This gives me a perfect business idea.. I'm gonna try to export 'Road Ice-Packs' to the UK in summer.. keeps them from melting.. Thankx Trish..;)

Great idea! Glad I could help! But air conditioning on the tubes would be a good idea. Apparently there was a sign outside one tube station warning people that the temparature was over 40c down on the trains, and if that might make them feel ill better find another mode of travelling! Yeah, right! London buses or overground trains ain't a lot better!

Wherever you are in the UK has to be better than the middle of the city (in an office without air con!).

Anyway, home now, the end of the week. Oh yeah, and rain all day is forecast tomorrow! C'est la vie!

Originally Posted by kassi59

I asked my mom about the melting road thing as it was interesting to me. What her thought was that here in the states we use tar mixed with sand/stone type mixture that when the hot sun bears down,the tar will get hot but the extra in the mix allows it to keep its solidity.
One hundred thousand and fifty years ago when she was young - they used to harden the dirt roads, then spray moulting tar in about an eight foot spray across the dirt, and continue until the road had a layer of smooth tar across it...after it reached a certain thickness..it was flattened as such ... but due to the fact that they only used tar without any fillers, it would in fact on extremely hot days melt...
Forgive my inept way of explanation, thats why I never do public speaking and or teach the young!....lol

Oh, and Kate - I'm sure you are right! We are cheap so and sos over here, and yes, I think our roads are mostly tar. Smells great when they're laying it though! The roads crack in winter, and melt in summer! Get your mom over here to sort them out! LOL

Originally Posted by limebrook1

Oh, and Kate - I'm sure you are right! We are cheap so and sos over here, and yes, I think our roads are mostly tar. Smells great when they're laying it though! The roads crack in winter, and melt in summer! Get your mom over here to sort them out! LOL

lol trish - I wouldnt even mention it to her as she would be on the next plane!...and you dont want to deal with my mom! she is quite bold..well maybe you would if you wanted something done...she doesnt quit until its as she sees it should be!...lol
Up here we will get cracks and potholes. due to frost heaves..but then in the spring they all magically smooth out!...and the roads seem to reglue themselves..lol...funny stuff...