The Ask Shauni about England Thread

[shauni]

Hey, Shauni. I've recently been to Tower of London in '06, any other interesting medieval UK places you'd like me to know about?

The UK has hundreds of medieval places of interest. There are way too many to list, but I would go and have a look at some of the old castles and forts in Wales if you get the chance, or have a look at some of the stately homes. Have a look at some of the old churches in London, or go and look at the palace. Even the subway is Victoriana.

[shauni]

Not sure if there's really a "official" right or wrong with knife and fork use. The reason a lot of people (in the US anyway) swap hands is because you tend to want to use your dominant hand (right for most people) for anything involving some measure of dexterity (ie. cutting with the knife and bringing food to your mouth).

I’ve looked into it, and in British Formal Table Settings, Forks will be on your left. Knives and spoons on your right It is considered rude to change this around. but then, Ive never attended a formal meal before.

[shauni]

Is "amn't" (means "am not") used often in the UK?

Um...no? Never heard that before, might be a regional thing down south. Up north we normally just say "am not" or "I'm not"

[shauni]

Yeah. Everyone's posting in the "Ask about England" thread instead of the "Ask aboot Kaneda" thread. That totally doesn't make me feel lonely... nope, not at all... *Sniff.*

Erm... right. Question. Living in a former British colony and all, I feel that I should know this but... Why does The Queen have two birthdays?

The Queen's actual birthday is on 21 April, she was born on 21 April 1926.

It has long been customary to celebrate the Sovereign’s birthday publicly on a day during the summer, when better weather is more likely.

Since 1805, the Sovereign’s 'official' summer birthday has been marked by the Trooping the Colour ceremony, normally held on the second Saturday in June. It is also marked by the flying of the Union flag on government buildings, a 42-gun salute and the publication of the birthday honours list.

No particular ceremony is held on The Queen's true birthday, although the Union Flag is flown on public buildings.

[Metalheadz]

Any similar prison-like places in England such as the Bastil in France?

[shauni]

Any similar prison-like places in England such as the Bastil in France?

If you mean the Bastille fortress-prison in Paris, there are a few in britan. I can't recall any names, but there were really horrible prison castles here in the UK. They used to keep people in there for years and torcher them.

[Giga-Gar]

Does Cardiff really have a rift in space-time?

[Metalheadz]

Know anything about the British Civil War? (if there was one?)

[shauni]

Does Cardiff really have a rift in space-time?

Every word in Doctor Who is true.

[shauni]

Know anything about the British Civil War? (if there was one?)

The English Civil War (1641–1651) was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. The first (1642–46) and second (1648–49) civil wars pitted the supporters of King Charles I against the supporters of the Long Parliament, while the third war (1649–51) saw fighting between supporters of King Charles II and supporters of the Rump Parliament. The Civil War ended with the Parliamentary victory at the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651.

The Civil War led to the trial and execution of Charles I, the exile of his son, Charles II, and replacement of English monarchy with first, the Commonwealth of England (1649–53), and then with a Protectorate (1653–59), under Oliver Cromwell's personal rule. The monopoly of the Church of England on Christian worship in England ended with the victors consolidating the established Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland. Constitutionally, the wars established the precedent that an English monarch cannot govern without Parliament's consent, although this concept was legally established only with the Glorious Revolution later in the century.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Civil_War

[Eclectric]

Are there any volcanoes in England?

[Giga-Gar]

Does Cardiff really have a rift in space-time?

Every word in Doctor Who is true.

I knew it! I also thought that the monarch had absolute rule untill sometime in the 19th century, what with the American Revolution and all.

So, how come the U.K. never spread toward the entirety of Ireland since the island is right next to the Great Britain?

[shauni]

Are there any volcanoes in England?

it seems some one else has a REALLY good answer to this. Text taken from mister_c http://www.answerbag.co.uk/q_view/32092

"Britain has a very lively volcanic history.

Its volcanic period mainly extended from the Late Jurassic into the Early Cretaceous, peaking in the Aptian stage, about 113-119 million years ago.

The landscape of Britain is dotted with long extinct volcanoes. The Scottish capital Edinburgh is built on an extinct volcano called Arthur's Seat. The mountains of north Wales are the remains of a huge volcanic plateau and there are volcanic rocks distributed throughout the British Isles. Even some of the Chalk of Southern England is now considered to be volcanic ash deposits.

Britain is not likely to become actively volcanic in the near future, as Britain is now far from the continental margins and rifts, locations where volcanoes are common. The tectonics of the region will have to change before lava starts pouring across the landscape again."

Britain is not on any tectonic plate boundaries. It's impossible to have volcanoes if there is no passage for the lava.

[shauni]

So, how come the U.K. never spread toward the entirety of Ireland since the island is right next to the Great Britain?

Actualy, they did go beyond Northern Ireland a few times. The current set up is due to a peace agreement. Britain left Ireland in 1922 after 800 years of occupation, when a peace agreement was made to grant the present day Republic of Ireland autonomy as the Irish Free State, whilst Britain retained control of Northern Ireland.

[Giga-Gar]

Does Britain have any knights in the since of soldiers? Of course you know I don't mean knights in shining armor wielding swords and slaying dragons, but I'm just curious.

*imagines if George Patton was from England so he would be called Sir Patton.*

Also, how much history from other countries, mainly America, is taught to students in Britain?