10 common misconceptions about Britain

This amused me slightly. It seems to be aimed at educating the yanks about us.

http://listverse.com/2009/04/14/10-common-misconceptions-about-britain/

My favourite bit is the one about tea.

 

My own No.11 with reference to No. 10........ Misconception......Although it might not seem so, the Isle of Man does exist and is part of the British Isles.

Why is my adoptive island always overlooked, be it maps, weather forecasts, technology etc. The BBC is one of the worst culprits! This little island of ours is up front producing new technology and it never gets acknowledged in the rest of Britain even though it makes use of it.

Rant over!

 

You've got a good shipping company on the isle of man, see one of the Bens offen

 

Jiffy, we've only got one passenger ship the Ben-My-Chree which is run by the Isle of Man Steampacket and it hires two sea cats during the summer. These vessels only run between the island, Liverpool, Heysham and Ireland. If you heard the rumpus that goes on here about the company, believe me you wouldn't think it good! The company is not (excuse the pun) buoyant and has been in financial difficulty for some years.

On the other hand our freight company, Mezeron, has a much better reputation, which is where the ship you see comes from probably.

 

When you read some of the comments at the bottom you start to wonder who is right and who is wrong.

 

The EU missed the whole of Wales on a map last week

No mention of the brits taking the tea bag out of the cup before serving?

 

I thought they were all a little 'iffy' and didn't amuse me and can't see where it would 'the yanks' of whom I am married to one and I lived there for 20 years.

Did you know about tea however ... ?

http://www.gorreanatea.com/about/portugals-tea.html

... and how about Marmalade ... ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmalade

... and how about rice, Portugal being the biggest consumers of rice in Europe... ? ... this is the area where we have holidayed for five years ...

http://novarroz.pt/en/mundo-do-arroz/historia-do-arroz/a-producao-de-arroz-em-portugal/

 

Victoria , you forgot about the fish and chips imported by the portuguse

 

None of this surprises me to be honest. Here's why.

The Portuguese, historically, got pretty much everywhere. They were a very influential people, but also very resourceful. Everybody knows about Portuguese influence in Latin America, but I think less people realise that the Portuguese also colonised many parts of India and south east Asia. The island of Taiwan was, I believe, Portuguese for a chunk of history going way back.

In many Indian curry dishes now, you will find tomato forming the base for the sauce, to which various spices are added, including chilli. Prior to the Portuguese arriving, the Indian folks were not using tomatoes or chillis (I'm not even sure if they had them), and the 'heat' for curries came almost exclusively from mustard seed instead (vindaloo anybody?).

So the Portuguese took the toms and chillis to India and left a lasting influence on Indian cuisine so ingrained that we now take it for granted that our chilli and tomato based 'Indian' curries are authentic Indian and not European in the least. Or American. The Portuguese 'discovered' chilli peppers when they occupied America.

Of course the influence was not a one way thing. While on their jollies in America and Asia, and Africa and pretty much everywhere they went (they're a well travelled bunch), they found things they liked, and brought it home with them.

 

I even like warm lager, it actually has a flavour then.

 

Maybe in an high street bar chain you do get a warm lager , but be honest if I go to any local pub i can sit drink a nice beer and relax , last time i was over there i just wanted to drink and leave , after I had to show my ID even for buy sigarettes , not to say that most of the case I was always drinking Pilsner beer .
If you go to USA don`t ask for wine

 

Where?????

 

Vindaloo actually came from the Portuguese going to Goa I believe and it means 'vinho e alho' ... ie, wine and garlic!

I agree with you Sal, they haven't got a clue about wine in the US ...

 

Its easily done. It is after all only a tiny part of South Yorkshire.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?sugex...a=X&ei=HxjWUITzB9GR0QWgsoCYAg&ved=0CDkQ8gEwAA