Queen's just a few minutes' walk up the road. I'd drop in, but she's a bit busy what with the prime minister just resigning and the leader of the opposition dropping by and everything.
Nothing even remotely this historic ever happens in my neck of Canada. At least nothing that doesn't involve hockey. Oddly enough, though, we're the ones more likely to riot. I'm thinking that people in England have enough experience with real civil unrest not to see the appeal of enjoying it recreationally on civic holidays.
Yes, in Edmonton Alberta people riot over the sheer outrage of a paid day off. Either that or maybe it was all the red from the Canada Day decorations that set them off. That doesn't seem as likely, though. Canadians aren't big decorators. Canadians are the mom that buys a bag of balloons and a box of candles and calls it a birthday party of civic celebration.
Also the toilets are different here. In England. Sorry, could have segued better there. Sociological comparison just became overwhelmingly boring to me very suddenly. The toilets here, on the other hand, have held my fascination since I arrived a week ago. They use less water and they work better, and there's no splash back. Just what's with the flushable swimming pools we feel the need to cannon ball our offerings into in North America, anyway? Knowing these alternatives exist, I'm amazed they're even still legal.
Also I've seen some of the greatest works of art on the face of the earth. I dare say that was even more interesting than the toilets here.
More coherent posts about more interesting topics will be forthcoming. I just like that even when I travel half the world away my cyber home sweet home is right where it always is, and I can always get here right away for a little comfort and companionship.
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Mindful Consumption
3 days ago
37 comments:
well hello there. i bet the art is amazing..and it sounds like the toilets are a piece of art as well. lol. safe travels.
I'm kinda intrigued with how come there's no splash back!
"enough experience with real civil unrest"
You what? The unrest I've been experiencing can be blamed on my little daughter.
And as for your claim of no splash-back, you should have seen my chinos that time...
I want to see the art! ...and toilets. haha
I'm so envious! I was in London once... for a full weekend! Still, it was amazing, what with seeing the Tate Modern and eating those strange ice cream things... Not to mention the fact that their pizza comes with corn on it! And just in case you didn't know, the toilets in Ireland are more like our North American variety. At least they were many years ago when I was there...
By the way, I tagged you in a blog award I received. I know those can be a bit chain-lettery so don't feel obligated... I just wanted to tag blogs I really like!
A video of the toilet experience is called for.
You do play by the rules so well in England.
I don't remember much about their toilets (it was more than 15 years ago) but I did love England very, very much. Enjoy your trip!
I'd riot over a paid day off, seems like the right thing to do.
Safe travels. No splash back, eh? I hope that doesn't mean higher chances of skid marks (Ewwww!). Sorry for the visual... I can't think of which is worse.
I lived in London for 53 years so I'm interested in your reactions! Yes, Brits are getting the hang of dual-flush toilets now, about time too. And yes, the range of art on view in London is amazing. But tell me, what do you think of the chronic congestion on the streets, the tube and the buses? And the extortionate cost of the last two? London Part 2 please!
Wait, people rioting in Edmonton because of paid holidays? Did I miss something?
I wondered when you'd be back around. So enjoying the trip. are you?
Have fun and enjoy those toilets. And the art. And the history! I'm so envious. Are you going to Liverpool? Being a Beetles fan, I'd have to.
Boo hockey riots. Yea toilets. Funny stuff.
Pictures of the potty, please?
(I'd prefer a video of the flush, but that would have messed up the alliteration I had going on there.)
Aw girl, we really need to schedule our time tables better - I had no idea you were coming! Next time holler, okay?
I knew there was something wrong with my toilet.
no splashback - my that would be a treat. I used a toilet a few months back that apparently had an issue with the thingy that senses if you are still "going" and it kept flushing over and over with lots of splashback :-(
Oh get the names of those toilets! We can start a wave here in New Mexico by offering low-flush-no-splashback toilets!
I hope you are having a wonderful time in Old Blighty. But your post got me in a ranting mood about toilets. We recently remodelled a bathroom, and put in a new dual flush toilet. It uses 5 or 3 litres, depending on, ahem, what one is flushing. Most North American toilets use 12 litres per flush!! I can say confidently, properly designed toilets work just fine with less than half that amount of water.
Rant over. Thanks.
V.
Well my goodness, I hope you're having a good traipsing all over the world. Are the toilets polite, at least? In England, I mean.
I'm very confused over the toilet business; I've only ever known Armitage Shanks... but I'm very pleased that you're having a good time.
Sx
We are very similar ... I too would devote more time writing about toilets than art! HAHA!
hockey and drinking is what I associate with Canada is that wrong!! sounds like funn
Ah - jolly hockey sticks and all that. You should visit some of the public loos in England - they are still the old-fashioned pull-the-chain variety...
But yes - all toilets should have the economy flush option!
Scarlet - Armitage Shanks? He was a goer and no mistake....
Just popping by to see if you are back yet - can't wait to hear all about your travels, hope you took lots of pictures?
Canadians riot? Who knew? Not my perception at all!
You should have dropped by to say hello to her Maj, just tell her I sent you.
Did you say paid day off??
Do they still make those?
I have one normal toilet, and one water saver toilet..I'm saving no water, as the one that uses less water has to be flushed twice!
Well, toilets are interesting. I remember being fascinated when I went to Europe to discover the water in the toilets swirls in the opposite direction! How interesting is that? ;-)
Have a great week!
I happen to be a scholar of the toilet. My first toilet was a hole in the ground with a shack built around it for privacy. Happy to say I now have a modern toilet and I have no splash back issues. I do have an issue with my dog who prefers to drink from the toilet and then wants to kiss me. Art and toilets first intersected when Marcel Du Champ exhibited a urinal. Sociologically, the toilet is an interesting concept, in that, when you flush it down, it magically disappears! We are just now figuring out that it piles up somewhere else. If you are on a septic system, the rule of thumb is that "If it's brown, flush it down....if it's yellow, let it mellow." I learned that in primitive quarters in the south of France.
Have a great vacation and try to stuff one of those potties in your luggage - sounds like it would be worth the extra baggage fee.
Yay for word travel and better toilets! I'm all for traveling places wherein the plumbing exceeds my daily expectations. I do worry over visiting places where toilets do not seem to hold the place of esteem that they do for me.
LOL
:-)
Traci
What an intersting blog. Thank you for letting me visit.
Susan
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http://susan-livinghealthywithchallenges.blogspot.com
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