# Do they have \_\_\_ in England? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 17, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978 "2012-09-17T15:31:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/41 "2012-09-18T13:18:41Z")
I KNOW what Swiss dot IS, and yes, I am a home sewer. I merely question the idea of it being ubiquitous in American clothes, not having seen any garments made of it since the housedresses during the 50’s. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/42 "2012-09-18T13:42:40Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I KNOW what Swiss dot IS, and yes, I am a home sewer. And I’ll bet you’re flushed with pride. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/43 "2012-09-18T13:44:11Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I KNOW what Swiss dot IS, and yes, I am a home sewer. I merely question the idea of it being ubiquitous in American clothes, not having seen any garments made of it since the housedresses during the 50’s. I had a dotted Swiss dress when I was little, and I’m in my sixties, so I think you have the time frame down! I know the car is larger, and has good visibility, but some of those country lanes are narrow. Is it difficult to drive on them with the steering wheel on the wrong side? I imagine highway driving won’t be terrible. This makes me think that the next time I go somewhere as a passenger I should imagine I’m the driver and see hoe hard it is to see things. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/44 "2012-09-18T14:05:13Z")
Nah, it’s not difficult at all. The only tricky part is overtaking on a one-lane road, because you can’t see around the car in front. I doubt the OP will be doing much overtaking in a school-run hybrid anyway, though, and because it has a high driving position she should be able to see alright. It also makes certain things easier, like having the blind spot on the “slow” side for merging. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/45 "2012-09-18T14:17:02Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > And I’ll bet you’re flushed with pride. There are a lot of home sewers, that’s what we are. “Clothes maker” sounds like you tried really hard to think of the term and that was about the best thing you could come up with. ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/46 "2012-09-18T14:17:23Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Nah, it’s not difficult at all. The only tricky part is overtaking on a one-lane road, because you can’t see around the car in front. I doubt the OP will be doing much overtaking in a school-run hybrid anyway, though, and because it has a high driving position she should be able to see alright. > > It also makes certain things easier, like having the blind spot on the “slow” side for merging. You do have to be a bit more aware of the right side though, motorcycles tend to come up on that side, so when changing lane, turning right or overtaking you really need to check that right hand mirror. Loads of people do it though, it really isn’t a big deal, lots of Polish cars round my way and there aren’t piles of dead motorcyclists. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/47 "2012-09-18T14:50:11Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I KNOW what Swiss dot IS, and yes, I am a home sewer. I merely question the idea of it being ubiquitous in American clothes, not having seen any garments made of it since the housedresses during the 50’s. Sorry if I didn’t infer all the above from the ellipses around ‘ **swiss dot??** ’, your skills of subtlety are far above my pay grade. I see swiss dot pretty frequently but that may be a part of living in Utah among more traditional, less trend-following groups. Nonetheless, it’s a standard and easily recognizable fabric pattern in the States, and my point was that camo is likewise becoming one, so I questioned whether that was so in England. I said ‘clothes maker’ rather than dressmaker as I’ve seen swiss dot in more than dresses; WotNot was making a pun on sewer being a homonym. Do you have something to contribute to this GQ thread about England or are you just honing your gainsay skills? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/48 "2012-09-18T15:09:37Z")
You’re the one who keeps churning the waters. I initially questioned ‘swiss dot’ because it’s such a retro fabric to bring up. I sincerely hope some home sewer or clothes maker doesn’t now seek it out to whip up a pair of cargo pants, here or in England. Now, can we leave it at that and not derail the topic any more than it has been? My apologies for this sideshow, I am now all tapped out on the use of swiss dot in 21st century clothing. ---
**Author:** ![Abortion\_Fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@Abortion\_Fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abortion_Fanatic)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/49 "2012-09-18T15:37:33Z")
ANYWAY. **Nawth Chucka** , buy any electronics before you move (but obviously check that they’re not region-locked/region-specific), and also stock up on adapters. They’re much more pricey in the UK. Don’t be a queue jumper. Escalators. By God, escalators. Walk/pass on the left. Stand on the right. The Brits feel very strongly about this one. I do it because it’s efficient and logical, but it’s also considered common politeness. I pretend I’ve never met my husband when he stands in the middle of the step and gets dirty looks from everyone. In a lot of pubs, you order at the counter and tell them where you’re sitting. They’ll bring your drinks and/or food to you. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/50 "2012-09-18T16:07:37Z")
> [@Abortion\_Fanatic](#): > > Escalators. By God, escalators. Walk/pass on the left. Stand on the right. The Brits feel very strongly about this one. I do it because it’s efficient and logical, but it’s also considered common politeness. I pretend I’ve never met my husband when he stands in the middle of the step and gets dirty looks from everyone. I don’t think this is an American/British issue. It’s a metropolitan/suburban issue or a city dweller/tourist issue. In the suburbs, escalators really only appear in shopping malls and airports, and people just stand and ride them. It’s only in crowded metropolitan transit stations that the stand-on-the-right thing comes into play. ---
**Author:** ![Abortion\_Fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@Abortion\_Fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abortion_Fanatic)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/51 "2012-09-18T18:09:12Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I don’t think this is an American/British issue. It’s a metropolitan/suburban issue or a city dweller/tourist issue. In the suburbs, escalators really only appear in shopping malls and airports, and people just stand and ride them. It’s only in crowded metropolitan transit stations that the stand-on-the-right thing comes into play. The passing/standing part is not uniquely British, no. The cold fury directed at people who don’t or won’t follow the rules seems to be. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/52 "2012-09-18T18:28:08Z")
> [@Abortion\_Fanatic](#): > > In a lot of pubs, you order at the counter and tell them where you’re sitting. They’ll bring your drinks and/or food to you. That is almost universally the case for food and **also almost universally not the case for drinks** - you can get them at the bar. Actually if they told me to sit down and they are going to me drinks then I would be very suspicious that I was doing something wrong. P.S. Don’t tip people in pubs. P.P.S. If you do find out you are in Mildenhall or Lakenheath post here and I will recommend pubs. P.P.P.S. While you can get very good pub food, in most pubs it’s crap. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/53 "2012-09-19T08:49:01Z")
> [@Abortion\_Fanatic](#): > > ANYWAY. > > **Nawth Chucka** , buy any electronics before you move (but obviously check that they’re not region-locked/region-specific), and also stock up on adapters. They’re much more pricey in the UK. Be careful here. If the electronics require 110/120V you’ll be needing transformers, not adapters. They can be expensive, messy, inconvenient and unreliable. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/54 "2012-09-19T09:03:58Z")
OP: Have you been in contact with your sponsor? You say the AF is sending you to the UK. The receiving unit is required to appoint a sponsor to assit you with questions like yours. One thing to check on is how close you will be to a US military exchange. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/55 "2012-09-19T09:11:43Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > The receiving unit is required to appoint a sponsor to assit you with questions like yours. That would be _assist_, not assit. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/56 "2012-09-19T09:59:11Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Are you sure that will work? I moved from America to the UK last year, and having a clean driving record of many years in the US did me no good whatsoever with getting a “no claims bonus” in the UK. Admittedly, I did not have a special “letter”… It worked for me in 1995. I used a walk-in insurance broker, not one of the online companies such as Direct Line. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/57 "2012-09-19T13:15:42Z")
> [@kferr](#): > > It worked for me in 1995. I used a walk-in insurance broker, not one of the online companies such as Direct Line. Those are less common these days, and usually using one for motor insurance will be considerably more expensive than buying online. However, in this very unusual set of circumstances it may well be that using one is your best bet. If you are interested I know a very good person who works in retail car insurance to ask for advice about this? ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/58 "2012-09-19T14:20:13Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Be careful here. If the electronics require 110/120V you’ll be needing transformers, not adapters. They can be expensive, messy, inconvenient and unreliable. Yes, though most things like cellphones, iPads, laptops and so on can handle voltage from 110-240V. The acceptable voltage range is usually printed on the transformer/wall wart. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/59 "2012-09-19T14:47:13Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > … WotNot was making a pun on sewer being a homonym. [nitpick]It’s not a homonym, which means the two meanings would have the same pronunciation. I don’t know what subdivision this pun would be.[/nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978/60 "2012-09-19T14:56:38Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > [nitpick]It’s not a homonym, which means the two meanings would have the same pronunciation. I don’t know what subdivision this pun would be.[/nitpick] It is a homonym. It is not a homophone. It is a homograph. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-have-___-in-england/634978.md?page=4)