next »

[qrypt]

in denial in the Midlands...

Welcome to the Midlands... I'm in the Midlands. Avoid the M6

I'm in the Midlands too.  Avoid the M1.  And the M42, the A38, and the A50.

hmm - best just to stay put.  And don't even think about the trains.

[the_walrus]

One of the first strategies I adopted last summer:  NOT to do the mental conversion.  So, I can say pleasantly to myself, "Oh, only 2 pounds 30 for a pint?  I'll have a couple."

in denial in the Midlands...

About the only thing I find that *is* rewarding for doing the mental conversion is a pint, actually.  First, in a reverse of the typical pattern whereby American size=supersize and the British one=mini, the imperial pint is 20oz, while the American is 16.  Additionally, at least where I was, a pint would routinely cost around $4.50, plus throw in at least the next $.50 or even $1 for tip.  Even at today's exchange rate of $2.10/£1, from this perspective your £2.30 pint (for which you needn't leave a tip) is looking like a pretty good deal.

I find it very, very fitting that beer is one of the most affordable things here.  :)  Coffee, on the other hand, is a complete disaster, particularly if doing the in-head conversion...  I find that also fitting.

Now, back to my back-of envelope calculations about in how many days at the current rate of devaluation the fiver in my pocket will buy me a swank co-op in manhattan...

[wegie]

One of the first strategies I adopted last summer:  NOT to do the mental conversion.  So, I can say pleasantly to myself, "Oh, only 2 pounds 30 for a pint?  I'll have a couple."

About the only thing I find that *is* rewarding for doing the mental conversion is a pint, actually.  First, in a reverse of the typical pattern whereby American size=supersize and the British one=mini, the imperial pint is 20oz, while the American is 16.  Additionally, at least where I was, a pint would routinely cost around $4.50, plus throw in at least the next $.50 or even $1 for tip.  Even at today's exchange rate of $2.10/£1, from this perspective your £2.30 pint (for which you needn't leave a tip) is looking like a pretty good deal.

And if your last US pint was in Manhattan at $7.50 plus tip you suddenly feel even better!

[the_walrus]

And if your last US pint was in Manhattan at $7.50 plus tip you suddenly feel even better!

That's obscene!  At that price, I'd have to guess you were at a baseball game in a stadium located in an airport in Manhattan.  Seriously, is that the standard price for a pint in Manhattan?  London, at least where I've imbibed, isn't nearly that bad.

[qrypt]

And if your last US pint was in Manhattan at $7.50 plus tip you suddenly feel even better!

That's obscene!  At that price, I'd have to guess you were at a baseball game in a stadium located in an airport in Manhattan.  Seriously, is that the standard price for a pint in Manhattan?  London, at least where I've imbibed, isn't nearly that bad.

Not only that - unless it was British or Belgian, it was probably a crappy beer. 

[wegie]

And if your last US pint was in Manhattan at $7.50 plus tip you suddenly feel even better!

That's obscene!  At that price, I'd have to guess you were at a baseball game in a stadium located in an airport in Manhattan.  Seriously, is that the standard price for a pint in Manhattan?  London, at least where I've imbibed, isn't nearly that bad.

Not only that - unless it was British or Belgian, it was probably a crappy beer. 

It was OKish,  but by no means brilliant. It was the house bitter at The White Horse in Greenwich Village.

The best beer I had that trip was almost as expensive, but it was at MOMA; a really nice spiced pumpkin brown ale from a brewery somewhere up the Hudson Valley.

London, it has to be said, isn't as expensive . . . in fact it's the only thing in London that isn't more expensive than New York . . . unless you end up drinking Guinness at The Toucan in Carlisle St, of course.

[normative_]

I'm waiting to see if the euro will hit 1.48 today. It's seriously flirting with it.

[normative_]

And it did!  Solid at 1.48, folks.

I think it will bottle out before 1.50 for a while.