I’ve sent most of the last couple of months working off the main site at work. I was in my regular office for the first time in a week. A friend dropped by my desk, we used to work together on a project for a year or so. She is one of those I’ll go to for advise and help, or when I want an independent review.
She’s very smart, has good insights, get’s the politics at work and has helped me a lot. While we don’t talk every week, we exchange the occasional IM and I will find the time when she drops by. As she did today.
While she is smart, educated and so on, she’s not seen that much of the world. It just does not contain much of a fascination for her. But her daughter is heading to London for a year in college and she had a few questions.
She talked about the eye watering expense of living in London, I could do little but sympathize there, but then she got s very serious look…
G “Dave, I’m really worried about what she’s going to eat.”
Me: “What do you mean?”
J: “You know what the British diet is like. It’s full of cholesterol. Eggs, bacon, all those fries and deep fried food. I think that’s about all people there eat.”
Me “That’ what you think? Really?”
G: “So it’s not true?”
Me: “No,.”
G: “Will she be able to get any fresh fruit and vegetables?”
I think she caught my “incredulous/dumbass” look at this moment
G: “What?”
Me: “They have grocery stores, of course she’s going to get fresh fruit. Everything you get here, you can get there. And then some.”
G: “Really?”
Me: “Yes, London is one of the great cities of the world, it has every type of food you can imagine. It’s the home of curry, you can even find great sushi. We even have indoor plumbing and sealed roads you know.”
G: “Stop it Dave, I get it… The next problem is how is she going to afford it?”
I really do wonder where people get these views of London. It’s fair to say that British food had a deserved bad rep, but that was 40 years go. London is one of the greatest cities on the planet, full of incredible sights, food and places to eat.
It’s long time since food rationing went away and twenty years since the Jamie Oliver and his like became mainstream. Her daughter is certainly going to have a great time. I’m awaiting the updates.
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4 Comments
Thanks for sharing my (self confessed) ignorance. Just remember you’ve got to help out on the where to go, I’m looking at you as the expert now.
As you say Dave, stay classy. You think the british food myth is blown, what about dental hygiene?
I will have to destroy the dental hygiene myth in the future, you will notice after having them replaced last year my front teeth are almost perfect.
Very good, not everyone has this narrow view you know? I’ve had some great meals in England, it’s a great place to visit and I always have a good time there.