Original
OK to Europe adaptor
Converts 3-pin UK plugs and 2-pin British shaver plugs for use in Europe
It may be annoying if you travel from Britain to Europe or the other way round and discover that you cannot charge your phone or use your electric shaver just because you cannot plug it in.
Be alert and buy such an adaptor; they are always on sale at airports. They will not change voltage and do not provide an earth connection. They are very easy to use.
I always keep one of them in my suitcase and never take it out when I unpack.
Where is my bag? Please don’t leave your bags unattended as they may be moved or destroyed by security staff
You may notice that there are only a few waste bins at railway stations or shops in the UK. It is hard to find left luggage points either. Why? Since the 1980s, when the IRA was active, people have been afraid of terrorist attacks. Suitcases or bags may hide bombs. This happened recently at Brussels Airport when ISIS committed a terrorist attack, killing and wounding several people.
At the entrance of a lot of London hotels, there are metal detectors which you have to pass when you enter them. You may be searched at security checks before boarding a flight. Even so, tragedies repeatedly occur when suicide bombers are for some reason or other, allowed to board flights, causing aeroplanes to plummet.
If things get busy, you might need to get friendly. Be nice and share your table
It has happened to me many times that I asked someone if I may share a table with him or her, and I was turned down or people just fibbed to have the table just for themselves. ‘I am expecting my husband, sorry…’ comes the answer.
If you get on a bus, for example, in Africa and there is only a single person sitting on it, it goes without saying that you will take a seat near to that person. There is a different culture, I must say.
UK to Europe Adaptor
Converts UK three-pin and British two-pin plugs for use in Europe
It can be frustrating when travelling between Britain and Europe to discover that you can’t charge your phone or use your electric shaver simply because the plug doesn’t fit.
Be prepared and buy an adaptor—they’re always available at airports. Note that these adaptors do not change the voltage and do not provide an earth connection. They are, however, very easy to use.
I always keep one in my suitcase and never unpack it.
Where is my bag?
Please don’t leave your bags unattended, as they may be moved or destroyed by security staff.
You may have noticed there are very few waste bins in UK railway stations and shops, and that it can also be difficult to find left luggage services. Why so? The IRA and ongoing terrorism threats — including the horrific 7/7 attacks — made the authorities wary of explosives being concealed in bins and left in suitcases on station platforms.
This fear persists. A more recent example was the terrorist attack at Brussels Airport by ISIS, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries.
At many London hotels, you’ll find metal detectors at the entrance. Security checks are standard before boarding flights. Yet, despite there having been events like this, for example Lockerbie, which was – to my knowledge – a bomb stored in the hold, rather than bombs strapped to someone’s chest.
If things get busy, you might need to get friendly. Be nice, share your table.
It’s happened to me many times: I politely ask to share a table with someone, only to be turned down, or they pretend they’re expecting someone. “I’m waiting for my husband, sorry…” is a common excuse.
It is easy to understand why people want to keep their privacy at lunchtime; this is our culture: people get isolated, and they are not happy to communicate if it can be avoided. Food for thought.
By contrast, in some cultures—for example, in parts of Africa—if someone is already sitting on a bus, it’s natural for others to sit beside them. It’s simply a different way of thinking, and quite refreshing. I always smile to myself if this occurs to me.
What a different world!
