UK 2009. What I wanted to know about life there

I love my Crocs. They may be hideous (although there are some styles that aren't that bad), but they are soooo comfortable. I lived in Colorado (where they originated) right before and after they went national. I think between DW and I, we've owned a dozen pairs over the last 5 years including flip-flops, ballerina-style flats, and Mary Jane flats. One of my supervisors in Denver won a bet that he wouldn't wear pink Crocs to a meeting. He did....and for every meeting that year just to rub it in.

OK. #2. Someone mentioned plastic kettles and I couldn't figure out how you could put them on the burner and not melt but I think now I understand that they are the ones that have a heating element inside. Still wonder, if that is the case, why the hot water doesn't melt the plastic??? Possible answer, a heat resistant plastic. That is reasonable because they now use plastic for the radiators on cars I think.

LOL Jim!  This is fun!  I didn't know the "kettles" everyone talks about where plastic either...I expected people to be boiling water on the stovetop and hearing the kettle whistle.  Just as a bit of extra information, the plastic kettles boil water EXTREMELY fast...like for 2 cups of coffee it takes about 2 minutes (disclaimer:  this obviously varies from kettle to kettle but ours does it in 2 minutes - I timed it out of curiosity!).

I love my Crocs. They may be hideous (although there are some styles that aren't that bad), but they are soooo comfortable. I lived in Colorado (where they originated) right before and after they went national. I think between DW and I, we've owned a dozen pairs over the last 5 years including flip-flops, ballerina-style flats, and Mary Jane flats. One of my supervisors in Denver won a bet that he wouldn't wear pink Crocs to a meeting. He did....and for every meeting that year just to rub it in.

I think there is nothing cuter than a little kid in really colourful crocs, my little boy loves them in the summer time, and so do I!!! I have a pair by my back door, they are great for taking the bins out, or working in the garden!

I think it does depend on where you live.  Manchester seems quite "mod" to me, and the shoes can be very... cutting-edge (skyscraper heels with sparkles, thigh high boots etc).  I must admit I find it entertaining but stick to my personal comfort first mantra nonetheless.

They use to call them pumps in the UK or is that something different?
They were white and also called tennis shoes.

Now I think that pumps in the US is a shoe. DW just told me they are high heals and were called pumps.

Pumps in the US are a high heeled shoe, I think. Here, pumps are like tennis shoes, yes But it's a very outdated phrase. Younger people call them "trainers" and high heels are called "heels" or "mules" or "courts" or whatever, by the style.

I don't know how to post a picture in a reply but here's a link to a pic of crocs:

http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/2008/07/23-End%20of%20Month/crocs%20suck.JPG

Very good picture now I know what they look. I think I will look for them in Old Navy store.

I can't believe they would be comfortable or even stay on your feet.

Very good picture now I know what they look. I think I will look for them in Old Navy store.

I can't believe they would be comfortable or even stay on your feet.

They have magical powers that make them look that ugly and yet be that comfy.

We need Leahs help here. Always. Maybe not?
How do we show pictures/photos on here?
I want to see what crocks look like.
Geeta, wants a picture also of crocks.

Why do you say we need Leah's help?
Geeta did not ask to see what Crocs look like.

Q-G is right: I wanted to see a photo of these shoes Bmore_2UK had talked about.  Not Crocs.  I know what those are.

These hideous shoes are all the rage with the young people in Ireland and I HATE them!!! They are so ugly!!!

http://www.topman.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=false&catalogId=17551&storeId=12555&categoryId=111718&parent_category_rn=38998&productId=1252880&langId=-1

I just had a look see and my impression is if these are what people are are wearing they look like something you would wear to a Robin Hood casting call.

Here, pumps are like tennis shoes, yes

A.K.A. gym shoes or plimsolls.

OK. #2. Someone mentioned plastic kettles and I couldn't figure out how you could put them on the burner and not melt but I think now I understand that they are the ones that have a heating element inside. Still wonder, if that is the case, why the hot water doesn't melt the plastic??? Possible answer, a heat resistant plastic.

The plastic won't melt until much higher temperatures than boiling water are reached, but it often does impart a taste to the water until the kettle has been used a good few dozen times, if not more.  In fact the taste never really seems to go away with some of them.  The manufacturers normally suggest one or two runs with the kettle filled to maximum and the boiling water discarded before use to clear the films left on the interior of the plastic and the element during manufacture, but that's normally nowhere near enough.

Most of the plastic jug kettles have elements which are molded in place during manufacture and non-replaceable, so once the element burns out, the whole kettle is useless. 

They're not a patch on the old Russell Hobbs stainless steel kettles that you no doubt remember Jim.

They're not a patch on the old Russell Hobbs stainless steel kettles that you no doubt remember Jim.

They still make stainless steel electric kettles. I don't like the plastic ones, so I have a stainless steel one.

A.K.A. gym shoes or plimsolls.

The plastic won't melt until much higher temperatures than boiling water are reached, but it often does impart a taste to the water until the kettle has been used a good few dozen times, if not more.  In fact the taste never really seems to go away with some of them.  The manufacturers normally suggest one or two runs with the kettle filled to maximum and the boiling water discarded before use to clear the films left on the interior of the plastic and the element during manufacture, but that's normally nowhere near enough.

Most of the plastic jug kettles have elements which are molded in place during manufacture and non-replaceable, so once the element burns out, the whole kettle is useless. 

They're not a patch on the old Russell Hobbs stainless steel kettles that you no doubt remember Jim.

Plimsolls. Yes, but I wasn't sure how to spell it   

I have a stainless steel kettle. I hate the plastic ones, too.

My mum died in May and my dad's hearing isn't so good and he managed to boil dry his kettle because he couldn't hear it whistle, so I bought him an electric kettle for father's day through amazon.com. Made sure I got him a stainless one, too.