I just got back from an enjoyable shopping trip to the vast metropolis of Front Royal Virginia to upgrade my appearance.
Eventually beat-up military sloth had to come back in style. My style has always been Jimmy Buffett /Hawaiian /Art School drag, more so since dropping out of Corporate and 
burning all my ties. Well, I didn’t actually burn them so much as allow them to turn green in the closet along with my loafers and nice leather luggage, but the point is that stores once again sell the attire I once found for next to nothing in military surplus stores. Today it costs extra though because everything comes pre-tattered, saving me the trouble of sleeping in it or rolling about in the garden to get the proper effect.
My brother has lent me his Volkswagon Jetta diesel, a car I may consider buying for myself – gas having become, in case you didn’t notice – quite dear. It’s fun to drive apart from an odd affinity for the wrong side of the road. After ten weeks in the UK my brain seems to have been re-programmed British. When driving alone I must be vary careful not to slip into autopilot and wake up happily cruising along the left-hand side of the road.
At last I can finally use American money again, I no longer confuse quarters with twenty-pence coins. When checking the price of something I don’t have to multiply it by two in order to figure out what it costs in ‘real money.’ Sales tax has to be considered though as in the UK VAT tax was part of the price charged. A loaf of bread here can be $3.20 while over there it could cost £2.75 (x2) so in fact some things cost less than in the UK.
One thing that’s cheap here is gas. Even at over four dollars a gallon, we have a long way to go to match their £2.98/litre (x2!). it’s the cars we drive here that ruin things. I didn’t see a single SUV or Hummer in Cornwall, nearly everyone drove little petrol-sippers like the Smart Car made famous by the DaVinci Code movie. They are so cute, you could park two in a single space or pick it up if you needed to make more room.
Everyone here is worried about what would happen if you have a collision driving such small car, and I usually respond; “You’ll either die or they’ll go over top of you.” Actually the lower mass and rigid crash cages in these “skate” cars can sometimes make them even safer than the multi-ton metal monsters we drive, and at 65 miles to the gallon, you will still be on the road after the SUVs are parked with their flashers on from terminal thirst.
The beer though… American beer is embarrassing. I’ve found a local Virginia ale, Old Dominion, that somewhat resembles a good Cornish ale, though it’s a pale imitation. And the tiny portions, my mates down the pub complained that it took two bottles to make a proper pint in the US. “And then ye’d jest ‘ave a pint uv cold shite!”
We found some Tangle Foot Premium Ale here, and found it pretty darn good. Its carbonation was more like soda pop that beer; perhaps a result of the trip half-way around the world. But quite tasty – just strong enough with enough bite and good flavor. Unfortunately at $7 a bottle I grabbed just one and therefore it never tangled my feet. Mahalo for the recommendation.
Good on ya! I have found Red Hook Long Hammer, an “IPA” or India Pale Ale.” Which I was told means, “British Ale.” It’s nothing too fancy, but has the bite and depth that I’ve been missing without costing a foot. and a hand. Try see.
Will look for it here. I saw another brew which was described as India Pale Ale but was afraid it might be curried instead of brewed. Will give it a shot, thanks.