Country better than the city post peak oil?

[emordnilap]

On a recent visit to England, I quickly noted the lack of eye contact and responsiveness.

I've got used to total strangers smiling and greeting and can't help doing the same back; how easy it is.

When asking directions, for instance, the Irish take time getting to the subject, sometimes ending up knowing you better than you know yourself. The English tend to be abrupt and, if polite, coldly so.

England's the city, Ireland's the country. (Both are economically shagged, though).

[Ludwig]

When asking directions, for instance, the Irish take time getting to the subject, sometimes ending up knowing you better than you know yourself. The English tend to be abrupt and, if polite, coldly so.

I recently had a conversation with a recruitment agent from Ireland. It was delightful. He spent 5 minutes saying what he could have said in 30 seconds, but it wasn't pointless waffle: he was establishing a rapport and just being, you know, friendly. That feeling of "We've got all the time in the world" was in such sharp contrast to normal interaction in Britain and like a breath of fresh air. You used to get it, to a lesser extent, in northern England, but these days people there are generally as sour and gruff as in the South.

[emordnilap]

Tip: if you're driving round rural Ireland and ask for directions, stop your engine and be prepared to hand over your life story. Don't worry about other traffic - get them involved too.

[RenewableCandy]

When asking directions, for instance, the Irish take time getting to the subject, sometimes ending up knowing you better than you know yourself.

I remember noticing this in Dublin when I bought two books (The Generation Game and Changing Paces, both about Ireland and I highly recommend) from a chain bookshop. The guy behind the counter seemed genuinely delighted that I'd come into "his" shop that day and bought these two particular books.

[snow hope]

The Irish are (generally) still a very nice nation of people. But don't tell too many how nice it is over here (we don't want a big rush over).

Now if only we could have some global warming over here (much too mild and wet), things would be sweet!

[emordnilap]

The Irish are (generally) still a very nice nation of people. But don't tell too many how nice it is over here (we don't want a big rush over).

Now if only we could have some global warming over here (much too mild and wet), things would be sweet!

But that's contradictory, shurely. Any improvement in the weather would make Ireland more attractive to the discontents. Actually, I rather enjoy the weather here. It's got more life, somehow (unpredictability I suppose). And I like cycling in the rain. Our ducks like this weather too. They stand up and face into the rain, they seem to enjoy it.

Thought: there was an idea bandied about of extending the Irish free travel for pensioners to all pensioners, no matter where you're from. I wonder what happened to that?