peacefuljeffrey 0 #1 June 12, 2004 I have lost track... Is Britain using the Euro or do they still use pounds and pence and shillings and farthings and stuff? When I was there, I loved the pound coin. I think it'd be a shame if they're not using their traditional British currency anymore because of this globalism crap. Blue skies, --Jeffrey "With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #2 June 12, 2004 When I was there in January it was still the british pound. In Scotland it was the pound, but apparently the banks there are allowed to print their own bills (as opposed to England, where I think it's uniform and centrally done). The one thing that sucks is having to exchange currency again. Other than that, I respect them holding on to their currency, and hope it stays.witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BASE813 0 #3 June 12, 2004 nope we still have pounds and pence!!! Euros are a great idea (for us travelling) as we can go around europe and use the same thing everywhere - but its a good idea for that and I am hapy keeping the pounds!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,146 #4 June 12, 2004 QuoteWhen I was there in January it was still the british pound. In Scotland it was the pound, but apparently the banks there are allowed to print their own bills (as opposed to England, where I think it's uniform and centrally done). The one thing that sucks is having to exchange currency again. Other than that, I respect them holding on to their currency, and hope it stays. IMO the best was the 5 pound bill from about 20 years ago that on the back had a picture of French troops running away at the battle of Waterloo.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #5 June 12, 2004 Reminds me of the joke about British officers' red coats and the French officers' brown pants.witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miked10270 0 #7 June 12, 2004 QuoteI loved the pound coin. I think it'd be a shame if they're not using their traditional British currency anymore because of this globalism crap. One of the funniest ones I heard was from Neil Kinnock, the Labour (think Democrat) leader in the 1980's. He closed the party conference with: "It has been decided to call the new £1 coin the "Thatcher".... Because it's thick, brassy, and thinks it's a sovereign!" Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
damion75 0 #8 June 12, 2004 Still using Pounds and pence - although I'm afraid that shillings went out with decimalisation in 1971! The threat of the Euro is unpleasantly close though. I hate the idea for two reasons: 1. (Ideological) We are a sovereign country and I want my monarchs head on the currency! 2. (Practical) I was based in Germany when they went over to the Euro and almost every single business from supermarkets to taxis used the confusion to raise prices by an average of 37%! Funny thing is, the politicians who want to bring in the Euro do not want a public referendum on it... because they know that they would lose. I thought that elected politicians were supposed to implement the will of the public, not just do what they want?!*************** Not one shred of evidence supports the theory that life is serious - look at the platypus. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #9 June 14, 2004 "In Scotland it was the pound, but apparently the banks there are allowed to print their own bills (as opposed to England, where I think it's uniform and centrally done)." Yep, thats more or less the case, The Bank of Scotland, The Royal Bank of Scotland, and the Cydesdale bank al print their own 'Scottish Money" which is legal tender everywhere in the UK, England and Wales use Bank of England notes. So this means that a visitor could have say 4 different 10 pound notes in their pocket, all basically the same colour, but printed differently, which I think is eccentric, but not really an awful lot of fun for visitors. -------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo 0 #10 June 14, 2004 QuoteI thought that elected politicians were supposed to implement the will of the public, not just do what they want?! Only if they want to be elected again. Otherwise, I think they're pretty much free to do what wish, at least within the bounds of the law. - Jim"Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimbarry 0 #11 June 15, 2004 >>1. (Ideological) We are a sovereign country What makes the UK any more sovereign than any other member nation of the EU? (Not pickin' a argument here, just curious) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peacefuljeffrey 0 #12 June 15, 2004 Quote QuoteI thought that elected politicians were supposed to implement the will of the public, not just do what they want?! Only if they want to be elected again. Otherwise, I think they're pretty much free to do what wish, at least within the bounds of the law. Within the bounds of the.. la-...la-...BWA-haha-ha-ha-haaa! When the hell have they ever let that stop them?! --Jeffrey "With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #13 June 15, 2004 Nothing much - it's just that the Brits appear to cherish that fact a little more than the rest of Europe. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyejumper 0 #14 June 15, 2004 I was just in Europe in May. I had to use pounds in the UK, and then Euros for a while, but in Switzerland they have Swiss Francs (haven't converted to the Euro yet), and then hopped into Italy and had to use Euros again, back to Switzerland, ugh! After that we went to France and were back to Euros once again. All my money got mingled together, so I kept giving shopkeepers the wrong currency, and they'd look at me like I was smoking crack. Switerland has the prettiest money EVER! It's all bright and colorful and has wacky leaders on it. Kinda like a fun European acid trip. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #15 June 15, 2004 Did you feel the Euro was a bit like monopoly money? I do. It kinda cheepens the whole concept for me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyejumper 0 #16 June 15, 2004 The Euro money is pretty colorful, but the Swiss money is a LOT fruitier and brighter. I'll attach a photo. It's hard to tell just how bright it is, but you can see the weird dude on it. It all totally looks like Monopoly money. Makes the US dollar pale in comparison. The only bad part was they didn't have 1 or 2 franc/euro units. You had to use these coins that looked like they were from a slot machine. It weighed down my bag! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miked10270 0 #17 June 15, 2004 QuoteWhat makes the UK any more sovereign than any other member nation of the EU? (Not pickin' a argument here, just curious) 1. We are an island (surrounded by water). 2. We have mines. 3. We have an undefeated (Royal) Navy. Even the French know that - that's who we are largely undefeated against!!! The Spanish also know that. They just need to learn that it's not just Gibraltan monkeys that can bite! Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #18 June 15, 2004 Quote3. We have an undefeated (Royal) Navy. Even the French know that - that's who we are largely undefeated against!!! Ummm....9/5/1781. Battle of the Chesapeake. French navy handed them their asses. Resulting in Cornwallis's supply lines being cut off, Washington defeating him at the battle of Yorktown, and the Treaty of Paris. That was a pretty significant defeat. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #19 June 15, 2004 Quote3. We have an undefeated (Royal) Navy. If you'd said "historically most powerful" or "most sucsessfull" or many other varitions I would have agreed with you. But "undefeted" is a massive claim that can only be made by countries who have nothing like the Naval provinence of Britain. Anyone who has fielded a navy as long as Britain will have suffered a defeat, somwhere. For an "undefeted" navy try the Swiss. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
damion75 0 #20 June 16, 2004 Quote>>1. (Ideological) We are a sovereign country What makes the UK any more sovereign than any other member nation of the EU? (Not pickin' a argument here, just curious) No sweat - as a couple of other guys have said, it is mainly a state of mind! We are the only (?) European nation which has not been successfully invaded in nearly 1000 years... We also do not wish to hand over that sovereignty (foreign policy, taxes etc) to some faceless beaurocrat in Brussels!! And a word on the battle of Chesapeake... QuoteOn September 5, Graves was astonished to find the French in possession of Chesapeake Bay. De Grasse realized that conducting naval operations within the bay's confines would be difficult and sailed into the Atlantic waters off the Virginia coast. Most authorities agree that the inept Graves should have struck as the French fleet proceeded in single file into open waters; he did not, which allowed them to form a battle line. From one perspective, the two-hour Battle of the Capes ended in a draw. The British sustained serious damage to six ships, one of which was later purposely destroyed, and suffered around 300 casualties. The French saw four ships significantly damaged, and sustained more than 200 casualties. Following the encounter and continuing for the next few days, the two fleets drifted south in sight of each other, but did not renew hostilities. We didn't lose!! But actually yes, we lost plenty of others... on balance though I reckon the Royal Navy have done pretty well...*************** Not one shred of evidence supports the theory that life is serious - look at the platypus. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kerr 0 #21 June 16, 2004 Quote in Switzerland they have Swiss Francs (haven't converted to the Euro yet) They'd probably have to join the EU first -- Kerr Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrunkMonkey 0 #22 June 16, 2004 My question about british currency is what is the usual tip for a british stripper? How many pounds? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #23 June 16, 2004 We don't tip in this country... Usual price round here (so I hear ) is £10 for a lap dance. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miked10270 0 #24 June 16, 2004 QuoteWe don't tip in this country... Usual price round here (so I hear ) is £10 for a lap dance. Maybe it is where you go... But (I am reliably informed) that the £10 topless lapdances are usually performed by a man!. I still maintain that the Royal Navy IS in fact undefeated. Our performance at the battle of Chesapeake Bay was in fact part of the cunning long term plan by that great military genius George III to ensure that \Liberace, Michael Jackson, GW Bush, Jimmy Carter, Etc... would NEVER hold a British Passport! Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimbarry 0 #25 June 17, 2004 QuoteQuote>>1. (Ideological) We are a sovereign country What makes the UK any more sovereign than any other member nation of the EU? (Not pickin' a argument here, just curious) No sweat - as a couple of other guys have said, it is mainly a state of mind! We are the only (?) European nation which has not been successfully invaded in nearly 1000 years... Hmm... Not sure if I understand the connection. So if there had been a time within the last 1000 years that someone did successfully invade the UK, then you'd have no problem accepting the Euro? Quote We also do not wish to hand over that sovereignty (foreign policy, taxes etc) to some faceless beaurocrat in Brussels!! As an Anglophile, I can certainly see your point there. But as an American, I realize being a member of a larger nation union has its benefits, but it also comes with some sacrifices to the needs of the whole. So then my next question must be, why did the UK join the EU at all? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
