Why Brits Live Longer Than Americans and Other Stories

I couldn’t sleep last night and, as often happens when I can’t sleep, I ended up reading a huge succession of random web pages.

How to Not Look Like an Idiot in America Part 2

A while ago I wrote How to Not Look Like an Idiot in America, a slightly silly guide to how not to embarrass yourself as a Brit in the US. It was a long time ago but I’ve finally got around to writing a second part based on more things that I’ve embarrassed myself doing since. If you are a Brit living in the US you might just find this relevant.

That Awkward Moment When You Forget You Live in a Foreign Country

Sometimes I am a total idiot and I forget that I live in a foreign country. Sometimes this doesn’t come back to haunt me and sometimes it does.

An American Experience

One of my favourite things about living in a foreign country is that people are always suggesting American cultural experiences that I can’t miss but I have to admit I’ve been pretty lax at doing them so far.

The Matter of a Small Election

Like many people I’ve been watching US politics over the past year with a kind of horrified fascination, shocked but unable to look away.

“I love your Aussie Accent!”

Sometimes when I meet someone new here I have this terrible moment of realisation when they say something like “I’ve always wanted to visit Sydney” that they have misinterpreted my British accent as Australian. I don’t have anything against Australians of course but I’m really awkward and when that happens I am left with three choices.

The Joys (and pitfalls) of Speaking British English in America

Language is a wonderful thing ladies and gentlemen and in today’s post I am going to demonstrate why, hopefully without boring you to death in the process.

Two Years in the USA

Two years ago today I landed in the United States as a new immigrant to these lands, clutching two suitcases which contained everything that I wanted to bring with me.

Sergeant Squeaks

Last autumn I posted about impulse buying an hamster and naming her Sergeant Squeaks, if you want to find out more the post is here.

Anniversary

It’s our third wedding anniversary today and yesterday someone asked what anniversary it was and I replied that it was the third. “I know that you idiot, which gift is it?” was the response.