[paulg]

Vampyr, on 2012-November-01, 09:51, said:

I am ashamed to say that my knowledge of English regions and terminology is very poor. I thought Merseyside was part of the Midlands.

bluejak, on 2012-November-01, 17:15, said:

Eeek!

Scotland
North [including Merseyside]
Midlands
South
English Channel

As anyone who watches the BBC Weather knows, the UK consists of London, the South-East, and suburbs of London, some of which may be north of Watford and without Tube stations. The BBC remains that biggest supporter of devolution in 2014 without even realising it.

[gnasher]

paulg, on 2012-November-02, 03:43, said:

As anyone who watches the BBC Weather knows, the UK consists of London, the South-East, and suburbs of London, some of which may be north of Watford and without Tube stations.

Isn't this because we already know that it's going to rain in Manchester and snow in Scotland, supposing that anyone there is sober enough to care?

[NickRW]

paulg, on 2012-November-02, 03:43, said:

As anyone who watches the BBC Weather knows, the UK consists of London, the South-East, and suburbs of London, some of which may be north of Watford and without Tube stations. The BBC remains that biggest supporter of devolution in 2014 without even realising it.

They must broadcast this subversive version especially to Scotland. The version I get down here gets quite a lot of attention outside the London area!

Or perhaps it is a question of perception. When I lived in Ipswich, my father would comment that the local News slots (BBC and ITV as well) were the "Norwich" News.

Anyway, Scotland will be a nuclear free foreign country soon.

As for Merseyside being in the Midlands, I can only say that it is good job that my Scouse born good lady doesn't play bridge and therefore doesn't read this forum.

Nick

[NickRW]

gnasher, on 2012-November-02, 05:13, said:

Isn't this because we already know that it's going to rain in Manchester and snow in Scotland, supposing that anyone there is sober enough to care?

Ouch. I may be English - but I've lived and worked in Scotland - and, hmm, well if this was football, that would be "inappropriate" language.

[Cyberyeti]

gnasher, on 2012-November-02, 05:13, said:

Isn't this because we already know that it's going to rain in Manchester and snow in Scotland, supposing that anyone there is sober enough to care?

The ones that have had insufficient Buckfast (or Tennent's super) on the street corner and still care are unable to hear the forecast over the sounds of their Mars bars deep frying

[Zelandakh]

Cyberyeti, on 2012-November-02, 06:02, said:

The ones that have had insufficient Buckfast (or Tennent's super) on the street corner and still care are unable to hear the forecast over the sounds of their Mars bars deep frying

For those that do not get this reference, watch this clip from 6:22.

As far as the weath forecast goes, I believe some statistics were done on this and it is indeed a matter of perception. FWiiW, I have lived in both Manchester and Scotland. In both places the locals thought there was a strong London bias and my own (imho somewhat less biased) appraisal of this matched that of the statisticians. Also, as someone born near Wigan I object strongly to the North being a single region - no Lancastrian should ever be forced to be in the same grouping as a Yorkist. Similarly, as someone who lived for many years in Dorset I object to being lumped in with London - North West and South West please!

[blackshoe]

Perhaps "British regions" - but then you'd have to include Wales — and Cornwall if it's not considered part of some other region ("South"?) And Scotland, of course, is comprised of the Highlands and the Lowlands.

Forgive me if I got it wrong. I am, after all, one of those barbarians from the wrong side of the Pond!

[paulg]

blackshoe, on 2012-November-02, 09:04, said:

Forgive me if I got it wrong. I am, after all, one of those barbarians from the wrong side of the Pond!

Please, non-criminal colonial is fine.

[Cyberyeti]

paulg, on 2012-November-02, 09:47, said:

Please, non-criminal colonial is fine.

Thought that was reserved for Canadians

[Zelandakh]

paulg, on 2012-November-02, 09:47, said:

Please, non-criminal colonial is fine.

I prefer followers of the terrorist leader Washington. We needed a proper war on terror in the 1700s!

[aguahombre]

Zelandakh, on 2012-November-02, 10:04, said:

I prefer followers of the terrorist leader Washington. We needed a proper war on terror in the 1700s!

We waged one. The terrorists aren't always the smaller entity.

[mycroft]

I was going to mention that my Geordie ancestors are spinning in their graves at "Oop North" including anything out West. They're probably some upset at me lumping them in with those bastard Tynesiders, but from 6000 miles away,...

[lalldonn]

This probably takes the record for most random thread drift I have ever seen. It's mildly entertaining though.

[bluejak]

gordontd, on 2012-November-02, 01:25, said:

I think the Eeek! you will get from the Scots for describing their country as part of England will be much louder and angrier than that provoked in you by suggesting that Liverpool is in the Midlands!

If you care to look again at my small geography lesson there was no suggestion that Scotland was part of England any more than the English Channel is.

[paua]

bluejak, on 2012-November-01, 17:15, said:

Eeek!

Scotland
North [including Merseyside]
Midlands
South
English Channel

So, is Kent in "South" or "English Channel" ? Hampshire ?
Norfolk ?

What about Somerset ? Wiltshire ? Gloucestershire ?

and Wales ... ?

[Vampyr]

paua, on 2012-November-02, 15:58, said:

So, is Kent in "South" or "English Channel" ? Hampshire ?
Norfolk ?

What about Somerset ? Wiltshire ? Gloucestershire ?

and Wales ... ?

Bluejak's list had five categories. Do you think it is reasonable to expect it to include individual counties?

[paua]

Vampyr, on 2012-November-02, 19:27, said:

Bluejak's list had five categories. Do you think it is reasonable to expect it to include individual counties?

Certainly. Words are important. And I expect a map ...
Also a map of Stayman x County bidding should be generated immediately.


But I now understand that "Scotland" and "English Channel" were his top and bottom lines, so it is only three categories. North / Middle / South.
http://en.wikipedia....s_%28England%29

[Vampyr]

paua, on 2012-November-03, 05:02, said:

Also a map of Stayman x County bidding should be generated immediately.

I suggest you get right on it. In London we bid hearts first. In Merseyside they shuffle their bidding cards and turn over whichever one ends up on top.

That's a start.

[bluejak]

paua, on 2012-November-03, 05:02, said:

Certainly. Words are important. And I expect a map ...

I would have done a map rather than such a simplistic diagram which [regrettably] assumed a certain level of intelligence [apologies ] if I could have thought of a way of drawing in this forum.

Vampyr, on 2012-November-03, 07:50, said:

I suggest you get right on it. In London we bid hearts first. In Merseyside they shuffle their bidding cards and turn over whichever one ends up on top.

Does everyone bid hearts first? I bet they don't.

In Merseyside a lot of people have no agreement. That does not mean everyone, of course. When I play with a client I bid my stronger suit.

[Vampyr]

bluejak, on 2012-November-03, 08:05, said:

Does everyone bid hearts first? I bet they don't.

Possibly not, but enough do that to bid spades would be very unexpected, and it would not occur to most people to ask. Perhaps this last is a pretty good threshold of alerting when unsure.