I THINK I NEED HELP

[EnthuZiaZT]

Hi Frankie, this is the web address for the John Barleycorn Inn:- www.johnbarleycorn.co.uk You can see what a quaint pub it is.

The email address is;- info@johnbarleycorn.co.uk

You can call them if you want as the telephone number is on the site.

Mike & Sandy

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

Sounds like your farewell dinner on Sunday 27th at the 'John Barleycorn Inn' at Duxford is gradually gathering momentum, Frankie.

May make a separate thread especially for the event if it continues!

Mike & Sandy

 

[Stormy_be]

I think I'll take your advice and rent a car. Perhaps there is a web site that can prep me for driving in England. Being older and having driven a car for such a long time has its plus and minus points. I have a lot of experience but have formed many driving habits that no longer require thinking. If these accidently take over while driving, I could make the wrong move at the wrong time. I'd like to hear from other forum members on how they found driving on the continent or the US. How long did it take them to adjust? Maybe there isn't any adjustment time. Just do or die.

I've driven 10-20 times in the UK now. Always only for 1-2 days. So I have to re adapt every time.
I do have the benefit of driving my own car (left-hand-drive) and having foreign plates on the car helps people realizing you are not used to driving in the UK.

You have to remind yourself in the morning when getting behind the wheel that you have to drive on the left side.
No real problems once you are driving, but I can give you 2 attention points (mistakes I have made in the past, luckily until now without any real issues, but better to know):

* Special attention on T-junctions, looking at the correct lanes for oncoming traffic and when going to the left or right, you must position again on the left of the road (it seems no problem on a normal junctions - it's more when you have to fully stop and start again).

* When you want to make a U-turn at a junction or in the middle of the road. Best is to turn anti-clockwise.
Us, driving on the correct side of the road (I know I will get some reactions on that one), when making a U-turn, we drive up a driveway of a house on the left-hand-side of the road, reverse and off we go. Or in the street, you would turn clockwise.
In the UK, it's better to take a house on the right-hand-side of the road. Of if you turn on the road, do it anti-clockwise.
This has caught me out once. Wanted to make a U-turn just after leaving my B&B in the morning. I was on the main road and there was a small street on the right.
I went in clockwise into the street on the right, and found myself on the right-hand-side of the small street wanting to go back left. Not the best place to be.

For the rest it's more or less "go with the flow".

I haven't had any serious issues until now.

Regards, Koen

 

[FRANKIE]

I've driven 10-20 times in the UK now. Always only for 1-2 days. So I have to re adapt every time.
I do have the benefit of driving my own car (left-hand-drive) and having foreign plates on the car helps people realizing you are not used to driving in the UK.

You have to remind yourself in the morning when getting behind the wheel that you have to drive on the left side.
No real problems once you are driving, but I can give you 2 attention points (mistakes I have made in the past, luckily until now without any real issues, but better to know):

* Special attention on T-junctions, looking at the correct lanes for oncoming traffic and when going to the left or right, you must position again on the left of the road (it seems no problem on a normal junctions - it's more when you have to fully stop and start again).

* When you want to make a U-turn at a junction or in the middle of the road. Best is to turn anti-clockwise.
Us, driving on the correct side of the road (I know I will get some reactions on that one), when making a U-turn, we drive up a driveway of a house on the left-hand-side of the road, reverse and off we go. Or in the street, you would turn clockwise.
In the UK, it's better to take a house on the right-hand-side of the road. Of if you turn on the road, do it anti-clockwise.
This has caught me out once. Wanted to make a U-turn just after leaving my B&B in the morning. I was on the main road and there was a small street on the right.
I went in clockwise into the street on the right, and found myself on the right-hand-side of the small street wanting to go back left. Not the best place to be.

For the rest it's more or less "go with the flow".

I haven't had any serious issues until now.

Regards, Koen

Koen, Its great that you sent this. I'll have to go over it several times to fix it in my mind. If you've been following the threads, you'll see the massive screw-up I just made. Still think I can make it over there but not the week of Silverstone, but the day after. Frankie

 

[FRANKIE]

Sounds like your farewell dinner on Sunday 27th at the 'John Barleycorn Inn' at Duxford is gradually gathering momentum, Frankie.

May make a separate thread especially for the event if it continues!

Mike & Sandy

Well here's the latest. I can't come for Silverstone. Its impossible to take that much time off from work and not risk losing my job. They can't take a joke. I had switched my flight from the 21 of July to the 28th when I thought Silverstone was a week later than it really was. So I just left the booking stand as it is and I'll miss Silverstone. I gave my tickets and hotel reservations to another forum member. They would be lost otherwise. This member has never been to Silverstone so he'll have a good time. I arrive the Monday after Silverstone and leave the following Monday. The only things I really have planned it to stay with Miller 1098 Tuesday night and later in the trip see Duxford and hopefully have dinner with several of you on Sunday. Perhaps I'll meet other members of the forum at other locations earlier in my stay. I'll have to see if the East Anglian Crew or other groups in other areas are interested it a small get together. We'll see what happens. I'm more than happy to get other suggestions. Frankie

 

[FRANKIE]

P.S. I hope you guys take some pictures and video to show me what I missed.

 

[Aceman]

Aww what a shame Frankie I was looking forward to showing you the delights of Silverstone. Not sure I will get to meet you now but will keep an eye on your arrangements for that week.

 

[FRANKIE]

Aww what a shame Frankie I was looking forward to showing you the delights of Silverstone. Not sure I will get to meet you now but will keep an eye on your arrangements for that week.

Thank you so much for all the help you have already given me. If It wasn't for you, where would I be? Frankie

 

[Rev]

Well we know the start and finish of Frankies Tour... and now we've even got the dates!!! (Ihope!)

All we need now is a few volunteers to fill the bits in between or point him in the direction of some good entertainment and drives.

Any ideas anyone? It can be the Frankie Baton week. Hand him over around the country.

We could do with someone in the west to take on Wednesday night, and so on. Yorkshire/Derbyshire moors would be nice. Cotswolds? As he heads over to the East I'll be host for an evening if he'd like. Maybe throw in a ride around Rutland or and Sandringham North Norfolk? Then to Sandy & Mike and a day at Duxford?

 

[Aceman]

I'm up for Yorkshire/Derbyshire if you can make this far north.

 

[GazHyde]

I can do Cotswolds, not too far from me

Swindon doesn't offer much excitement though...

 

[Brian H]

Great idea Rev, sorry you cannot make silverstone FRANKIE, hopefully you will have a great trip anyway.

 

[t-tony]

I'm not a million miles from Derbyshire/Yorkshire so if anything is happening in this region I would try to make it to meet some forum members ,especially Frankie, seeing as he is a guest in our country.

 

[FRANKIE]

Well we know the start and finish of Frankies Tour... and now we've even got the dates!!! (Ihope!)

All we need now is a few volunteers to fill the bits in between or point him in the direction of some good entertainment and drives.

Any ideas anyone? It can be the Frankie Baton week. Hand him over around the country.

We could do with someone in the west to take on Wednesday night, and so on. Yorkshire/Derbyshire moors would be nice. Cotswolds? As he heads over to the East I'll be host for an evening if he'd like. Maybe throw in a ride around Rutland or and Sandringham North Norfolk? Then to Sandy & Mike and a day at Duxford?

Rev said: "and now we've even got the dates!!! (Ihope!)"
I really better get my a** in gear and make sure I've got things straight. I must look pretty shaky from over there. But I really think everything is correct. I'll double check tonight. For anyone new to this forum, they have only to look at these past responses above to gauge the degree of merit in this forum. It would be difficult to find anyone better!!!!

 

[badman gee]

Well we know the start and finish of Frankies Tour... and now we've even got the dates!!! (Ihope!)

All we need now is a few volunteers to fill the bits in between or point him in the direction of some good entertainment and drives.

Any ideas anyone? It can be the Frankie Baton week. Hand him over around the country.

We could do with someone in the west to take on Wednesday night, and so on. Yorkshire/Derbyshire moors would be nice. Cotswolds? As he heads over to the East I'll be host for an evening if he'd like. Maybe throw in a ride around Rutland or and Sandringham North Norfolk? Then to Sandy & Mike and a day at Duxford?

Id like to meet up with frankie Nick.

Especially if he's over in lincolnshire.

Mark

 

[badman gee]

It's best to setup a new thread.

Call it the great Frankie tour of the uk!

Or pass round Frankie!

 

[Rev]

I agree.

Just need to make sure that Frankie is completely booked up and the dates are confirmed first!

;-)

I wonder though if he'll need a car? Maybe better if he's passed via days out and pub meets along the way? A hire car would mean he'll have to drive and not be with the people showing him "Their little part of Britain".

I know though it's a much bigger commitment and so may not work, but it would make many of us meet up that wouldn't normally and be quite a community making project from this end.

We'd just need half a dozen of us to take responsibility for a single day. I know not everyone would be able to put him up, but they'd just need to find him a nice friendly pub or hotel for the night.

Thoughts anyone?

Frankies Little Britain Tour!

Haha

 

[miller1098]

Hi guys I think Frankie is going t head up to see me first ,my thought was that he came up on a train to Shrewsbury I could pick him up and drop him off on the Wednesday somewhere north wales, midlands or at a station,I'm "easy "(allways been a problem) .take it from there?

 

[Rev]

Badman and I can take over Friday and Saturday if someone can get him to the Rutland water area for Friday lunchtime? Maybe pick him up at the Finches Arms Hambleton Peninsula? He can stay with me Friday night and then we'll head to Norfolk and do a little cruising on the Saturday. Fish 'n' chips by the seaside! Maybe even the Hunstanton "Gambling Scene!"... The 10p slots are always good for overseas visitors!

Hopefully Mike and Sandy could meet us there and look after Saturday nights accommodation and head towards the Sunday venue?

 

[Aceman]

I tell you what Frankie I think this week is going to turn out even better than your original plans for Silverstone. This will be a great experience for you if we can all get together and make it work for you.