Martha Ryan (76)

Spend a Penny - meaning and origin

The phrase "spend a penny" in British English means to urinate. For example, before leaving the house, someone might say "please wait, I need to spend a penny", or asking a child before a long journey, "do you need to spend a penny?". The origin…

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Units of Measure used in the UK

Here in the UK we have a curious mix of units of measurement, some metric, some imperial, which is unique to Britain and reflects the older imperial measurements slowly giving way to considerable use of metric (SI) units of measure, with some notable exceptions stuck…

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Tower of London latest queue video August 2021

The Tower of London, London's top tourist attraction, which has been closed to visitors due to the pandemic reopened on 19th May, 2021. Tickets can be booked at: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/visit/tickets-and-prices/ UPDATE: 9th August, 2021 - latest video of the queue at the Tower of London. I have…

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Does the UK have a Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving, as celebrated in the United States, is a unique holiday deeply rooted in American history, particularly associated with the Pilgrim Fathers' successful crossing of the Atlantic Ocean and their early years in America. This celebration, which occurs every fourth Thursday of November, is a…

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Do all UK swans belong to the Queen?

The Queen's Swan Markers - Swan Upping 2021There is confusion and myth surrounding swan ownership in the UK and the association of swans with the Royal Family. The facts, though, while ancient in origin, are clear and precise. All unmarked mute swans on open waters…

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