100 replies to this topic

[taffy1967]

I have yet to see a British house with screens (do you guys like Mosquitos!?).

No, but then again we don't really get them here in the UK thanks to our rubbish climate.



Anyway if anyone gives you any bother about the size of your Mini, then just tell them that you're not having to buy a big car to make up for any deficiency in the scrotum area.

[mini93]

or you could always fit them with a nice big larey engine and give the old 5litre engined cars a run for its money when they ask how much power u have give it in BHP per litre and see how their face drops

not always about the engines CC is it haha no serious...i wouldnt care if they have ancient suspension i would absolutly LOVE a 'stang or an old 50's styled chevvy pick up on little wheels...bench seat in the front, the works....im sure some of the americans would think its mudain wanting one of those as you may well see them fairly often...may well be an opposite attraction as you have with mini's who knows

Edited by mini93, 28 January 2010 - 01:01 AM.

[Trail of Dead]

I've been to Titusville ToD, went to the drake oil well museum. My dad has a "half-breed" oilfield engine from the pennsylvania fields that some friends of ours shipped over a few years ago. England does actually produce some of its own oil - there are a lot of wells around sherwood forest and up towards doncaster Most of the americans we know are really into old stuff, and would really appreciate the mini, its just the ignorant rednecks that give the country its reputation for stupidity - kind of like judging everyone in britain on the cranial capacity of your average chav scratter.

Holy crap! You've been to Drake's Well!?! I don't know if you remember the old well house there that has the old "Hit & Miss" engine in it. Right beside that is a small stream of water with a cement drain in it. Anyhow, when I was young (around 5) my family was having a cookout at Drake's Well Park. I was walking next to that stream and fell in, the drain was so powerful it pulled me to the bottom. All I remember was seeing the moss/algae that was growing on the side of the cement under the water and hearing the roar of the drain as it pulled water into it. It was so peaceful, I could see rays of sunlight beaming down from the surface then I felt it.....a hand had reached down into the water and grabbed me by the hair of my head. It was my Mom, she reached in a pulled me out. She saved my life.

Anyhow, you're right. The rednecks make things bad in the states. Not all of them are bad, I have quite a few in my family and they are cool. It is mostly the younger ones, the kind that like to go into a bar (pub) and start fights. That is basically all that won is, bars and churches.....and drug stores. It makes me feel good inside knowing there are honest, genuine good people in the world. To me it has nothing to do with British, American or whatever....if you make me feel like a human than your cool in my book! Cheers!

What time of year did you go to Titusville? I miss it during the fall.....the hills are simply breathtaking, Pennsylvania is so full of beautiful scenery. Nearly everywhere you look it is wonderful. Until you hit your eighth Whitetail Deer in your car.....then you hate it there. Lol! seriously though, I love Titusville. When I was young I always thought "It's boring here....it sucks here". Now that I am older I miss it, I've been to at least 20 states and two other countries and I have learned there really isn't anywhere like home.

Oh, and to the guy that was telling me why you guys don't use screens on your Windows.....I have a BIG pond in my backyard....Mosquitos LOVE my house. I'm installing screens on all the windows this Spring!

[Trail of Dead]

or you could always fit them with a nice big larey engine and give the old 5litre engined cars a run for its money when they ask how much power u have give it in BHP per litre and see how their face drops

not always about the engines CC is it haha no serious...i wouldnt care if they have ancient suspension i would absolutly LOVE a 'stang or an old 50's styled chevvy pick up on little wheels...bench seat in the front, the works....im sure some of the americans would think its mudain wanting one of those as you may well see them fairly often...may well be an opposite attraction as you have with mini's who knows

I MISS my old Mustang! It makes me want to sit down and cry sometimes. Before we left the states my wife promised me she'd let me get an even better one once we got back home! WooHoo! So it will either be a 2003/2004 Mach 1 OR a 2003/2004 Cobra. I'm aiming for the Cobra for a few different reasons. One, the engine is forged....completely forged rotating assembly. It might as well be bulletproof. Two, I really dig the "sleeper" look for the '03 Cobra....(they are also known as "The Terminator"), it is both sporty and luxurious. Finally, the third reason is they respond well to bolt-ons....you can spend $1000 on bolt-ons for the Terminator and end up with a 500 horse monster. The heads flow nicely and the factory Eaton supercharger isn't too bad, especially if you send it off to be ported.

A buddy of mine back home has a '55 Chevy Bel-Air "Nomad" that puts out roughly 750 horse to the rear wheels BEFORE he hits the nitrous! It pops wheelies!

[Trail of Dead]

I built some minis for guys that worked at mildenhall and they have now taken them back to the states.mildenhall is like little america but on our land.Do we have the same setup in your country?.trail of dead.

You have some great stuff in those shops down there.
I made some good friends down there and just because they are american and different to us doesn't really matter.

Well the only thing on RAF Mildenhall that reminds me of home is the Taco Bell on base and the Stop sign by the laundromat, everything else is British. I wouldn't call it "Little America" but I am happy there is a Taco Bell!! I haven't really been out of the house enough to make friends....I never have time. My Son takes all of it away from me, there are a few dudes I get along with but I really don't know them. They could be axe murderers for all I know. It kinda sucks cause I still have roughly 2 years and 10 months left here and I still don't really have a real friend. It has been about 8 years total since I have had a real friend to be honest. Ever since I got married, had a kid and became the stay at home Dad everything has changed. All my friends back home have all moved away, they all work all kinds of hours.....never able to hang out. I'll be 30 years old next year and I only know two people in this country. My Wife & Son.

Before we came here I told myself I would make at least one good friend that was British. Someone that would want to keep in touch even after we PCS back to the states. So far though it seems the fact that I am a "Yank" has become some sort of barrier. I never would have guessed this could happen, it never crossed my mind but it seems to be some kind of obstacle. I just wish I could hang out with someone my own age that is cool and not close minded like some of the people I have met locally. When I went to the Stoneleigh show this past Christmas I had high hopes. I thought "Maybe people will want to get to know me cause I am a member on the forum" after all, there were other TMF members there and they were all having a good time drinking Baileys and eating free chocolates. But that didn't happen for me, I tried to talk to a few members that I didn't already know but they only made me feel like I was wasting there time. I thought we were there to have a good time chatting about Minis! Heck, my wife HATES hearing about them and I have nobody else to talk to. That is why I frequent this forum so much, it is an escape....it is really all I have right now. I work from home, I raise my Son from home...I am trapped in this country for the next 2 years 10 months. Does anyone find it strange that I am keeping track of the time we have left here? My wife has it down to the exact DAY we leave. Prison inmates do the same thing! Lol!

Honestly we just are super depressed here....the Sun never shines, it always rains, the Summers last about two hours then it's fall again. Then there is the whole thing where the days last forever then the nights start at 4PM. It is REALLY hard to get used to, I have an easier time standing in snow waste deep back home than learning how to deal with the weather here. It is crazy! We have talked to people that actually have to go to the hospital once a week for light therapy! They actually got so depressed they need light therapy!!! I am going back home for a visit this coming March. The first thing I am doing is getting some trees and rolling a bone. I'm going to go to my chill spot and partake in self medication by myself and reflect. I can't wait. I need to relax. Then I am going to my cousins house down the road and shred some power chords on my Les Paul (that I have stored at my Mother-in-Laws house). I hope when I come back I can make a friend that is into similar things as me and that LOVES to talk about guy stuff. All I hear about all day is school, crayons, carrots, and milk from my Son and from my wife all that goes on at her shop. I have really short hair but I still want to pull it all out sometimes. I just want to buy a one way ticket to Amsterdam most days. (which I am going to before we leave...preferably in November!)

Anyhow, phew! It felt good to let some of that out. It's late, I'm crashing. See you all later on. Sorry for the triple post......I'm not too good at the whole copy and paste feature on forums.

Edited by Trail of Dead, 28 January 2010 - 03:46 AM.

[Dan]

What do you do to work from home if you are on a military base? Why do they make you come over here if you work from home?

[shorty]

What do you do to work from home if you are on a military base? Why do they make you come over here if you work from home?

his wife could be the one who works on the military base

[Dan]

Good point, can't believe I overlooked that. Especially since ToD describes himself as a stay at home dad. Sorry about that.

ToD, come to another show with us. You are more than welcome honestly, I wasn't at Stoneleigh but the first time I went to a show that TMF were at I had a similar experience to yours. It's just because you don't recognise anyone but it is a friendly bunch really. Maybe we should have everyone wear a badge with their current avatar on at shows.

By the way, we really don't have many mosquitos. I've probably only seen three or four here in my life. If you mean midges, good luck getting them to stay the other side of a screen! You just have to accept midges, or buy a midge eater but they use a huge amount of gas.

[timmins]

I built some minis for guys that worked at mildenhall and they have now taken them back to the states.mildenhall is like little america but on our land.Do we have the same setup in your country?.trail of dead.

You have some great stuff in those shops down there.
I made some good friends down there and just because they are american and different to us doesn't really matter.

Well the only thing on RAF Mildenhall that reminds me of home is the Taco Bell on base and the Stop sign by the laundromat, everything else is British. I wouldn't call it "Little America" but I am happy there is a Taco Bell!! I haven't really been out of the house enough to make friends....I never have time. My Son takes all of it away from me, there are a few dudes I get along with but I really don't know them. They could be axe murderers for all I know. It kinda sucks cause I still have roughly 2 years and 10 months left here and I still don't really have a real friend. It has been about 8 years total since I have had a real friend to be honest. Ever since I got married, had a kid and became the stay at home Dad everything has changed. All my friends back home have all moved away, they all work all kinds of hours.....never able to hang out. I'll be 30 years old next year and I only know two people in this country. My Wife & Son.

Man, I'd start trying to see things in a positive light. See it as an opportunity to see some of Europe... When my wife moved over to the UK she hated it. As soon as she consciously tried to change her attitude, and get something positive out of it, everything picked up. Now I'm stuck in North Carolina, I miss the ability to get a 40 quid plane ticket to Berlin/Madrid/Paris/Wherever.

As for Rednecks looking to cause trouble with Minis, that's really not the case. I had so much hassle living in the UK with old cars. I had four Allegros (don't laugh). One was stolen and wrecked just for kicks, another vandalized, another was written off in a hit and run. People over in the US seem to have more respect for the automobile, and people's property in general. Joyriding is practically non-existent. Car brake-ins are unusual. Most people leave their cars unlocked in my neighborhood. Everyone here drinks and drives though, which sucks. Plus the standard of driving in general is *melon*.

But It's it's a relief be away from the chavs, for sure.

[roofless]

What do you do to work from home if you are on a military base? Why do they make you come over here if you work from home?

his wife could be the one who works on the military base

jackpot

[Dan]

Man, I'd start trying to see things in a positive light. See it as an opportunity to see some of Europe...

I agree with that ToD, and I'm sorry to say but from your description of England it doesn't seem like you've seen very much of it. Choose not to be that typical 'xenophobic Yank' and get out a bit. When I go somewhere, especially if I'm working there, I try to see as much of and learn as much about that country as I can. I enjoy it. I've seen some brilliant parts of the world and some not so brilliant ones. Everywhere's different and that's why it's interesting. I prefer to avoid tourist spots and anything in a guide book and find out about what it's really like there. Like the Cambodian Water Festival. Tourists just don't really go but it's amazing. Although I haven't been to much of it I've found some excellent things and had a great time in your own country. But I've also seen slums and shanties in LA that make you wonder if it really is a first world nation. Britain isn't tiny, it's just not massive. We may only be geographically the size of one mid size state but we have 1/5th of your population so the difference isn't as large as you might think. I can't help but find it amusing that at the same time as deriding your countrymen for usign a big car to show how big and manly they are you started on about how big the US is and how small the UK is. It's the same thing and it's that which might make people treat you as 'the Yank'. It's just not friendly. A San Francisco Cable Car Grip last year asked me where I was from and when I said London he came out with 'Oh that's a little village by a River isn't it?', again saying 'look how big America is'. Greater London is 3 times the size of the equivalent region of San Fransisco and has a million more people. Honestly, I'm not having a go at you or at Americans and as I said you are more than welcome to come out to shows with us all and we are friendly really. But if you wan't people to forget that you are 'the Yank' you have to forget it too to some extent. Don't go to other people's countries and bang on about how great yours is, it's not nice! Which nation do think might have the most experience of getting into trouble like that? (clue: find an old atlas and look for the pink bits)

[Trail of Dead]

Man, I'd start trying to see things in a positive light. See it as an opportunity to see some of Europe...

I agree with that ToD, and I'm sorry to say but from your description of England it doesn't seem like you've seen very much of it. Choose not to be that typical 'xenophobic Yank' and get out a bit. When I go somewhere, especially if I'm working there, I try to see as much of and learn as much about that country as I can. I enjoy it. I've seen some brilliant parts of the world and some not so brilliant ones. Everywhere's different and that's why it's interesting. I prefer to avoid tourist spots and anything in a guide book and find out about what it's really like there. Like the Cambodian Water Festival. Tourists just don't really go but it's amazing. Although I haven't been to much of it I've found some excellent things and had a great time in your own country. But I've also seen slums and shanties in LA that make you wonder if it really is a first world nation. Britain isn't tiny, it's just not massive. We may only be geographically the size of one mid size state but we have 1/5th of your population so the difference isn't as large as you might think. I can't help but find it amusing that at the same time as deriding your countrymen for usign a big car to show how big and manly they are you started on about how big the US is and how small the UK is. It's the same thing and it's that which might make people treat you as 'the Yank'. It's just not friendly. A San Francisco Cable Car Grip last year asked me where I was from and when I said London he came out with 'Oh that's a little village by a River isn't it?', again saying 'look how big America is'. Greater London is 3 times the size of the equivalent region of San Fransisco and has a million more people. Honestly, I'm not having a go at you or at Americans and as I said you are more than welcome to come out to shows with us all and we are friendly really. But if you wan't people to forget that you are 'the Yank' you have to forget it too to some extent. Don't go to other people's countries and bang on about how great yours is, it's not nice! Which nation do think might have the most experience of getting into trouble like that? (clue: find an old atlas and look for the pink bits)

Lol, I wasn't trying to stir anything up. Also, I wasn't the one that posted about Americans using bigger cars in a negative manner. That was the guy that posted above mine, he said something about how Americans drive bigger cars as if it makes you more of a man or something. In reality they drive bigger cars because that is what is available and that is what is in demand. Dan, referring to England being tiny and the states being huge. In Pennsylvania we have over 1 MILLION deer hunters, our deer hunters out number many countries Military forces including our own! I'm not trying to say I don't like England or that I haven't traveled anywhere. I have been to London, Trafalgar Square was cool. I took some pictures of my little family standing next to those Lions. I had some fun in London, although it will be better next time we go as we won't have the Mother in Law or my Son. I plan to hit up quite a few museums. I love museums! About being friendly, I am a pretty friendly guy. I never say anything "off the wall" unless provoked. I have had LOTS of encounters where people say awfully rude things to me for no reason at all. Often times I am standing somewhere minding my own business not saying a word then it happens, someone shouts something rude. One time I was sitting on a bench in Oil City with my girlfriend (now wife) and some guy drove by, rolled his Window down and screamed "F*** her, I did!". I was bowling at our last base and I walked up to the counter to see if they had a 9 pound ball. The guy looked at me and said "What, do have an arm like a girl or something?" I said, "Uh, no I just find the 9 pounders easier to spin". I was at a Greyhound Bus Station in Virginia once and out of nowhere one of the bus drivers walked up to me and said "LIFT UP YOUR SHIRT!....NOW!" I looked at him with a VERY confused look and said "Why?". He said "You have a knife under there don't you?". I was soooooo confused, I said "No, what the hell is going on here?!". So I lifted my shirt up to show him I had no knife and he stormed away all pi$$ed off. I can go on and on about really strange things that people have said or done to me.

What does that guy in Snatch say about London? "Fish, Chips, cup 'o tea....bad food, worse weather...Mary F****** Poppins, LONDON!" Lol! I never go around anywhere thinking "I'm the Yank!" I just go about my daily life...simple really. At our last house a Pikey smashed out the back Window of my brand new truck (which is US Spec by the way). About a week before that a delivery man knocked on my door to leave something for my neighbor. He asked me to sign for it, so I did. We chatted briefly about something trivial and then he stopped and looked at me strange and asked "Are you an American?" I said, "Yep, sure am". He shook his head and walked away. What was up with that?!

I am always on the BBC to check the news. at least once a week I see multiple comments regarding what dumb things the Americans are doing. I remember this one topic that was all about how the Americans butchered the English language. I saved all the comments on my computer, out of the 50 or so comments 45 were anti-American and 5 were pro. SO I guess because I spell "Tire" instead of "Tyre" and "Color" instead of "Colour" I am butchering it. I read posts here on TMF every single day, I have noticed that there are ALOT and I mean ALOT of people here that cannot spell...not even if there lives depended on it.

Anyhow, my whole point is I'm not saying my country is better. Keep in mind it is home to me though.....home is always going to be better. I really do look forward to seeing more of Europe and we will. My wife is in the USAF by the way....a Staff Sergeant. We don't make a whole lot of money and we get paid in Dollars so to travel and buy from British shops actually costs us even more since the Dollar is weak. To you guys a tenner is like a ten dollar bill to me. BUT your "tenner" to me is like having $15 dollars. To the guy "stuck" in North Carolina......what is so bad about North Carolina? It is nice there, my Mom and cousins live there....the weather isn't bad. I like North Cacalakki!

The things about England that can be difficult for some Americans living over here are the same things that make Brits amazed about the states. Like Walmart.....it is INSANE and there REALLY isn't anything like it here. Do you guys have a store where you can go buy a battery, oil filter, tires, eggs, milk, beer, a couch, a TV, computer and a Hot Rod magazine....ooh and a fresh HOT rotisserie Chicken all in the same store? WalMart is awesome. Walmart actually owns ASDA but they aren't anything alike. ASDA has "Rollback" pricing but the similarities pretty much end there. I like your country don't get me wrong, your Pubs are actually pretty cool (I'm not big into calling Soccer football though), the food here isn't too bad. TV shows are, well interesting....I really think "Wheeler Dealers" is a cool show. I like that you guys aren't as censored as the states are. I like seeing Boobies on my TV! I do miss having 110 volt outlets though. I could never understand why you guys use so much electricity. A 110 volt toaster does the same job as a 220 volt toaster right? Am I missing something? My clothes dryer runs on 220 volt! Really, if the weather was better and stuff didn't cost so much than we'd have more time and money to enjoy it here. We recently ran out of fuel oil for our house.....talk about freezing cold for WEEKS. Back home it is either natural gas or Propane, and neither of them cost too much. Anyhow, I am taking a break from typing....I need to eat! Besides....I've gone off topic enough! I look forward to meeting more of the TMF people. Is there ever any shows near Stonehenge?

Oh, and I am pretty sure they are Mosquitoes I am seeing, not midges. When I start to see them again I'll catch one and put s picture of it on here, one of you guys can tell me what it is.

Edited by Trail of Dead, 28 January 2010 - 04:57 PM.

[Dan]

Well sorry that you seem to have such a bad time, but I'm a little relieved it's not just at the hands of the British frankly.

There are shows not too far away from you. Get yourself up the M5. This weekend there's one and another at the end of March. Check our events section.

[Trail of Dead]

Well sorry that you seem to have such a bad time, but I'm a little relieved it's not just at the hands of the British frankly.

There are shows not too far away from you. Get yourself up the M5. This weekend there's one and another at the end of March. Check our events section.

Dan,

Actually more of the British I have met have been pretty cool. I have met some screw balls, but all in all I have met some nice people here.

I have met probably THE rudest people EVER in my life in the south. Southern hospitality is RARE, trust me. We lived in Georgia for nearly 5 years, and prior to getting married and moving there I lived in Florida for 1 year and South Carolina for a year. I really try not to let people bother me a whole lot, but sometimes the armor plating doesn't hold. I'm going to have to wait until I get Dexter completely stripped and rebuilt to take him to a show....I've got some plans for him. But I would like to catch some shows in the meantime. I'd like to be a bigger part of the "community". I really like the idea of networking with others, it makes things easier.

[mini93]

you type alot it hurts my eyes...but having said that (and only read it after i had posted...and i know, my bad) i do like your posts and how you talk about stuff, just rather interesting...and walmart sounds awefully convenient

but as dan was saying, as one of the folk who regualy goes to all the shows if you reconise the car go and introduce yourself i remember this weekend for example at bingly it should be relitivly easy to spot folk, theres a meet for a photograph at a set time and some will have name badges cleverly crafted by one of our staff members

Edited by mini93, 28 January 2010 - 07:53 PM.