7 British things we don’t have in America

[@RichardGadsden]

The purple grapes used in American grape jelly and whose flavour purple skittles mimic are an American species of grape ("Concord grapes") that are not generally available in Europe. They do exist, but they're in the same sort of "rare, specialist" foods category as blackcurrants in the US. Table grapes in the UK and Europe more generally are usually wine grapes, which have a much more subtle flavour than either blackcurrant or Concord grapes.

[@marmotarchivist]

In Europe the concord grape or 'uva americana' is known as the cat piss grape and let's just say, it is aptly named.

[@keithwarrington2430]

@@marmotarchivist as is the bilious attack chocolate

[@quietcat]

Table grapes are usually also different from wine producing grapes, they are different varieties. Wine grapes are much more flavourful than table grapes usually are, but also a lot smaller and invariably have pips. I don't know how they compare to either blackcurrant or American grapes, bit I've had both good table grapes and wine grapes and they can be plenty flavourful.

[@craigevans6156]

😂😂😂

[@krovidae]

US Grape flavour = 🙅‍♀️ Japanese grape flavour = 👍

[@elysianemily]

American here - I have a toiletbrush and my family always had one growing up. perhaps that was just me and my family?

[@christywillis1707]

Nah, I am American and I have always had one and I feel like most people do. They sell them in the cleaning aisle of every grocery store, and sell decorative covers and stuff. I think maybe it's just his family that didn't have one, not that we don't have them. Especially since he didn't go to college in the states, this could just be a blind spot of his.

[@evan]

I literally went to college 4 years in the states. Have a lil Google about Americans and toilet brushes and you’ll find many others perplexed about the lack of them!

[@gljames24]

​@@evan I've always had one and they are in every grocery store where I'm at in the Western United States.

[@jaycee330]

Same. Came with a tray to hold brush and plunger (just in case). I like the new Clorox brushes though.

[@MoonLiteNite]

I never have NOT seen them in a home in USA…. Every friend and family member. Like how else would you clean the bowls out??? Even more in places with hard water

[@ClintBandito]

Calling Blackcurrant mid is honestly the single most offensive thing Evan has ever said.

[@nadiayasminharris9881]

100% agreed. Grape flavour is actually revolting.

[@TalesOfWar]

Vimto is superior of course.

[@RNS_Aurelius]

He's not wrong about it being mid but definitely wrong about grape flavour being better

[@andrina118]

I was in love with Ribena as a kid. Compared to say, orange squash it was heavenly but expensive. And blackcurrant fruit pastilles are lovely too.

[@chuck1804]

UNSUBBED!

[@Dead-EyeJuncan]

Further disambiguation. Squash is also a racket sport that was invented in England.

[@sarabaldeschwieler7763]

Which is similar to Racket Ball played in the US.

[@LiqdPT]

​@@sarabaldeschwieler7763the US has both.

[@jujutrini8412]

@@LiqdPT What? I thought they were the same game but with different names! 🤦‍♀️

[@stewedfishproductions9554]

Squash is also what happens about 8.00am on the Piccadilly Line... 😂

[@missmerrily4830]

Or even a racquet sport... 😆

[@MssPenn4000]

The hot water bottle thing has blown my mind, it's not just for cramps, it's for when it's chilly, and it's amazing to take camping when the nights are cold!

[@beccabbea2511]

I totally agree. We have four. That makes two each, if we need two for really cold nights. One for my feet and one to snuggle with. They are even better with a cosy cover.

[@Wandering.Homebody]

​@@beccabbea2511 Ha ha, yes. I have 3. Two for myself and one for a guest, if needed.

[@iainsan]

Agreed. They're also very comforting if you are unwell. I don't really know how the Americans do without them.

[@reindeer7752]

Some Americans still have hot water bottles but micro-waveable pads and electric ones are more common.

[@iainsan]

@@reindeer7752 It's strange then that I've seen several Americans on here saying they've never heard of them - of any type.

[@lynn69jackson]

If you know your history, you know the reason why America has so many grape flavoured things. During prohibition the more intelligent vinyard owners kept their vines, and they used the grapes to make things like grape jelly, grape soda etc. They were counting on prohibition not lasting forever.

[@grahvis]

The can of grape juice would sometimes carry warnings on what you must not do to avoid the juice becoming alcoholic.

[@LuaanTi]

@@grahvis In very specific detail at that :D

[@ScottishVagabond]

Yup, combined with the fact Currents and Gooseberries were banned because they carried a rust fungus that was a threat to the White Pine timber industry.

[@adrianjohnson7920]

Woolworths (dime stores, RIP) used to sell carnival glass or milk glass "juice sets" in "Harvest grape" pattern from Prohibition till the late 1960's. I have such a "Depression glass" set in white milk glass: a large, heavy pitcher with stout goblets; the key was you couldn't see through them like transparent glass. The idea was that you had you home-made wine from mustang or Concord grapes, and sat on your porch and enjoyed it in early evenings, keeping a mason jar of water on the floor by your chair. If "revenuers" or law officers chanced by, you just poured contents of your goblet and the pitcher into the shrubbery, splashed a little water to rinse the set, and smiled when the officers came up the walk to see what you might be doing. 'Sorry, we just finished our juice when you came, or we'd offer you some. . ." 😄

[@mizztab3677]

@@adrianjohnson7920 Remember the pattern but hadn’t heard this before.

[@stuartizon]

The British plug is great, but everyone who grew up in Britain has at some point cried after standing on a plug with their bare feet!

[@evan]

This is true

[@sallykins3800]

Yep shit that hurts

[@john_smith1471]

@stuartizon: with switched sockets no need to pull the plug out.

[@blackdragoncyrus]

Stop standing on the plug, you weirdo.

[@InsidiousEthereal]

I could walk on lego for the rest of my life. But someone threatens me with an upturned UK Plug on a random night in my life? I'm living on edge.

[@romanojamesmusic]

as an American who moved to the UK in September, when I discovered blackcurrant jam I decided to never go back. It's now my favorite thing, SO MUCH BETTER THAN GRAPE!!!

[@tojomelville3120]

My favourite too!

[@helenl3193]

Yay! One of us! One of us! 😜 Welcome to the fold 🥳

[@flygirlfly]

Yes! The Movenpick brand is amazing.

[@Serai3]

Grape jelly just tastes like sugar with some purple mixed into it.

[@garethtatler6886]

Have you tried damson jam or sloe jelly? If not you should give them a go.

[@ooslum]

Yeah, a flannel is what you wash your face with as a Brit.

[@AO2437.]

Yeah, you’d have to say flannel shirt

[@dutchdykefinger]

A jeanet is what you call a sissy in flemish

[@chandrasunny]

Flannel wash cloths actually sound really nice

[@InservioLetum]

[Aussie joke] What a bison? The thing you wash you hands & fice in

[@lizroberts1569]

Well it used to be, and other areas if you’re camping 😂

[@Zoom15000]

A thicker duvet vs a hot water bottle is like putting another jumper on vs sitting by the fire. One is just so much better than the other.

[@toothfairy10133]

the duvet takes a while to warm up after you get in!

[@vf1923]

@@toothfairy10133 If I get cold it takes me about an hour to heat up to a point where my body starts to heat my feet up to the point that I make a warm space around my feet. I use a water bottle from October to April (in Canada).

[@hannahvmh]

i get why americans use hot rice heated up for pain, we also have wheat bags in the uk which are in a soft fabric. they are often scented with lavender as well which helps you to relax and sleep easier

[@jartism]

I had one shaped like a cute owl that I used whenever I would (frequently) get stomach bugs as a kid

[@wendigee]

I grew up using a hot water bottle but we never had a way to heat water efficiently so we just filled it from the hot tap in the shower. It doesn't work very long and an electric heating pad you plug in near the bed is all I've used in forever.

[@yellow_monkey_]

I've had grape-flavoured stuff, blackcurrant is far superior

[@MarabuToo]

I suppose both must be an acquired taste. I grew up with blackcurrant yoghurt - and never stopped loving it. A while ago my favourite yoghurt producer added grape yoghurt to their range of yoghurts, and it's certainly neither disgusting nor repulsive, but among the 50 or so yoghurt flavours in my local supermarket I would place it maybe at number 20, whereas blackcurrant yoghurt continually fights with strawberry/vanilla and rhubarb for the number one spot on my taste buds. [P.S. no artificial flavouring in those particular yoghurts - which may be why I like the pieces of grape better than the rest.]

[@jujutrini8412]

I wholeheartedly agree!

[@Col_Crunch]

Depends on the grape flavoring used and the black currant flavoring. I have had absolutely revolting versions of both.

[@better.better]

American and I agree. but I'm not all that fond of concord grape as a juice anyway. however I do love them straight from the vine. partly I might be biased because Concord grape is the generic grape flavoring of the US, especially in things that we give to kids.

[@TheErador]

​@@MarabuTooMmm rhubarb yoghurt is great. Blackcurrant is nicer than grape for sure. Of the grape flavours I'd rather choose white grape over red or black grapes any day

[@RCassinello]

"Welly" is short for "Wellington", after the Duke of Wellington who popularised tall water-proof boots in the 1800s.

[@lottievixen]

well thank you, british and i never really thought about it but was curious when the section came up in the video!

[@xheralt]

Northern US states have similar gear called "galoshes". More of a thing for dealing with snow than rain.

[@FHT1883]

Arthur Wellesley, the guy who defeated Napoleon, or another Duke of Wellington?

[@NavnUkjent]

@@FHT1883 The same.

[@cmykimberly]

Duke of Wellington aka that statue in Glasgow that always has the cone on his head

[@paxperbellum1661]

Highly diluted squash is a core children's-party memory. You knew you were getting a plastic cup of basically slightly tinted water and a slice of birthday cake.

[@annetoronto5474]

Similar to frozen juice that is sold in North America. In my part of Canada 🇨🇦, we buy 4 litres of milk that comes in bags. One large plastic bag, with 3 smaller plastic bags of milk in it. The Americans really thinks that is crazy!

[@cpsedmonds]

Equally, undiluted squash is a core early teenage party/sleepover memory.

[@AlexaFaie]

@@annetoronto5474 Its not the same as frozen juice at all though. Its a concentrated syrup, a bit like Monin coffee syrups, but fruit based, not simply concentrated juice that you dilute until its back to regular juice. There's no dilution at which it resembles actual fruit juices at all.

[@annetoronto5474]

@@AlexaFaie , I see. So you don’t need to water it down as much?

[@QueenMegaera]

I had plenty of memories of highly diluted squash when I came to the UK from Sweden, but was stunned by the option of HOT SQUASH. Sounded gross, was surprisingly nice.

[@alexanderBlue5204]

I have lived all over the US and always had a toliet brush.

[@RyanDB]

Potentially unpopular opinion: Grape flavoured things (which absolutely do exist in the UK, but they're quite a recent import) are absolutely fucking revolting They just taste waaay too strong and aggressively artificial to me, in a way that makes my brain think it's being poisoned.

[@starparodier91]

I refuse to eat anything “grape” flavored from here. I don’t know how people can stand it. I had something grape flavored once as a kid and that’s all it took.

[@Tillyard86]

Hey got any grapes?

[@nicktankard1244]

yeah, I like fresh grapes and grape juice, but it's not great as a flavor for other things. Blackcurrant works better as a flavor

[@dimchemilevski8780]

@@nicktankard1244 because grape flavour that americans are using in their food, doesn't at all taste like the grape. like, at all...

[@nicktankard1244]

@@dimchemilevski8780 that’s very true. It’s different here in North America. But I lived in Europe most of my life and only recently moved to Canada.

[@Dan-B]

Evan talking about U.K. things as if he hasn’t lived in the U.K. since Freddo’s cost half a penny and a handshake

[@liammattinson1059]

Wait.. you don't have a hot water bottle.. that's like legit when you are poorly

[@PandorasFolly]

Bags of rice hold the heat longer and never leak. Just heat them up in the microwave

[@cheyennemoore8380]

For real. I guess being a woman has its perks, like knowing what a hot water bottle is.

[@violetskies14]

@@PandorasFolly I have chronic pain and have used all the heating things over the years because heat is one of the only helpful things and hot water bottles stay hot waaaay longer in my experience. Also the rice inevitably burns when you're using it as often as I need to even if you microwave it with the glass of water like you're supposed to. The long 2L hot water bottles win every time for me.

[@marmotarchivist]

I like to use hot water bottles for their long warming capacity and energy efficiency but I also own an electrical heating pad that gets fast really hot and instantly helps relieving craps. Where I come from, cherry stone pillows are also popular.

[@orangew3988]

A fully filled hot water bottle with kettle water, will keep warm in bed for at least 12 hours

[@Sophie_Cleverly]

Brit here, who has both a uterus and chronic pain 😅 used to use hot water bottles and microwave wheat bags for most of my life but they had some massive problems. Mainly going from too hot to too cold really quickly, and in the case of hot water bottles - breaking and covering me in hot water! (Have to wonder if this is a recent quality thing because this didn't happen to me my whole life until a few years ago, when all the old ones I had burst/leaked and all the new ones I bought kept doing the same - and yes I know about the instructions and the expiry date thingies). Electric heat pads are a GAME CHANGER. Just a flick of the switch and it's the perfect temperature. No getting up in the middle of the night. It times out for safety and efficiency but then you can just switch it back on whenever you need. I was in hospital with severe pain last week and having my heat pad with me was a blessing 😭 My only issue with them is they sometimes break (but at least all that means is they don't switch on lol) and mine aren't wearable. Considering investing in a wearable one though because I love them so much. TLDR; friendship ended with hot water bottles, electric heat pads are my new best friend

[@colonelfustercluck486]

rubber hot water bottles... do not put boiling water in them, and fill them about 2/3rds full. Squish down as you screw the stopper in to remove air. That will extend their life. Just to be sure, throw it out and get a new one periodically. (no pun intended). You should be safe from leaking or exploding hot water bottles, or 'hotties' as they are often named.

[@Sophie_Cleverly]

@@colonelfustercluck486 yeah that's why I said I know about the instructions and expiry dates 😆 but I got like 3 new ones after my previous lasted years and they all split within a few weeks of using them. I just think the quality has gone downhill.

[@colonelfustercluck486]

@@Sophie_Cleverly .. hi Sophie, I luckily have a good one and haven't had the problem. Must be down to the supplier, and in some products, quality has gone down hill. I wrote the instructions more for other readers who may have been curious but lacking the knowledge of how to use one. You were obviously an experienced hot water bottle user. Back to a wheat bag then?

[@KristelViljoen]

In South Africa we in general do not have heated buildings. During winter we reuse a plastic cool drink bottle filled with warm tap water or boiled water that we carry around to keep us warm until late morning. We also place cooldrink bottles with tap water outside in the sun and use the warmer water to fill our kettles to reduce energy usage.

[@wendigee]

I grew up with a good thick rubber hot water bottle. It would sometimes leak around the screw in plug, but it also doesn't hold heat that long. I prefer the electric heating pad/blanket

[@debrabarron7061]

California, here - I have a hot water bottle- they're not like unicorns. You can find them in just about any pharmacy. 😊 I also have an electric kettle -

[@curmudgeon1933]

Maybe it's because you're living in one of the civilised parts of the US. Many areas appear to be attempting to regress to the 1800's.

[@willguggn2]

Here in Europe you can expect most families to own at least one per household member. It's rather odd not to own one.

[@aileenrobertson5368]

It takes you twice as long to boil water.

[@Thegreatercheese]

But surely kettles are a rarity in the US.

[@debrabarron7061]

@@Thegreatercheese Well, I am 70 years old - so, maybe 😆

[@danstratyt]

In my experience, small, local pantos are almost always better than "real ones". The fact that you've seen the main character in your day-to-day life and that the jokes become ridiculously localised really add to the 4th wall breaking. They're way better than the fancy stuff big theatres put on with B/C list celebs. Independent theatres can do some good ones too.

[@ChoobChoob]

Sometimes you get an ex-Eastenders actor in local panto's!

[@wyterabitt2149]

Pantomimes don't tour the country. Even big ones are just done in that area, and are rarely not localised. And some of those celebs really are popular for a reason, especially if they truly care about it and become regulars like a lot do. Billy Pearce in Bradford pantos is a legend for a reason as a panto regular. I agree that small shows, and pantomimes, can be great. I don't as much anymore but I used to go to tiny theatre performances all the time and would always encourage people to try it and support. But you don't need to unnecessarily disparage what can be incredible large productions to do it.

[@richardhockey8442]

getting a rise out of the local MP, or personality :)

[@danstratyt]

@wyterabitt2149 I'm not saying that big ones are bad, just that in my opinion smaller ones are better. I know that a big one in a town theatre will still have some local humour but it's not as localised as a village am dram production.

[@HelloHello-vk3ci]

Grant Scott’s always in the pantomime I go to

[@Bunnybananabunny]

Blackcurrant tastes "too healthy" to me, because in Finland we often drink hot blackcurrant juice when we are sick😅 They're packed with vitamin C!

[@clovermark39]

We used to have hot ribena when sick. Lovely.

[@violetskies14]

That's actually how it became so popular in the uk. In WW2 when we couldn't import fruit we were at risk of vitamin C deficiency so the government promoted blackcurrant squash as an easy way to get our vitamin C. People loved it and after the war it stuck as one of the most popular flavours and 95% of blackcurrants in the uk go into making squash.

[@carolineskipper6976]

@@violetskies14 As a small child in the 1960's we got a daily drink of Rose Hip Syrup to boost our vitamin C . I think it must have been given out at clinics, because although I loved it, it was just given to my younger sister (I got Ribena)

[@Brian3989]

@@violetskies14 Majority of blackcurrent drinks produced in one factory, with locally grown fruit, in Forest of Dean area of Gloucestershire.

[@johnd6487]

Hot Ribena was our drink of choice when we got back from the beach when we were on holiday as kids.. then again, we were just north of Skegness in July, we needed all the warmth we could get

[@DavidJCane]

One American who definitely knows the meaning of Pantomime is the the Fonz. Henry Winkler came to England each year from 2006 and 2010 to play Captain Hook in the pantomime of Peter Pan.

[@mildredthegoat8340]

Blackcurrrents: There is a big difference between "blackcurrent flavoured" things and the real fruit. You must try some homemade blackcurrent jam if you can find some, before you cement your opinion of this lovely little fruit. (local town and village events such as craft fairs might have some) The real fruit does have quite a strong flavour and I love it! The smell of blackcurrents always takes me right back to when I was little, picking blackcurrents in a friend's garden with my mum and sisters on warm summer evenings! Wellies: the advantage of wellies is that they have no seams, which means you can tramp around in puddles several inches deep for as long as you like without any danger of water seeping in. You're never too old to splash around in muddy puddles! Just going by the picture, It doesn't look like you can do that with duck boots.

[@MTTT1234]

As somebody living on continental Europe, I luckily also never had any troubles with electrical sockets. I never even imagined that the power could arc out of it towards you? That sounds scary.

[@G6JPG]

Depends which part of continental Europe. Though some devices do have two-pin plugs (usually intrinsically safer ones), many European plugs _do_ have an earth connection (and design features that make it connect first and disconnect last) - it's just less obvious; German ones have strips down the side of the plug, Dutch actually a pin in the socket (and a hole in the plug!), and other variations.

[@notllikethat]

We have two points of connection in my country, but I've never experienced anything similar to what Evan said Maybe they are very different to what they use in America

[@InservioLetum]

they dont call it the white taliban for nothing. ;)

[@AndersJackson]

@@G6JPG In Sweden we do use the German Security Plugs. Danes do have other kinds of plugs. I do believe we share the German standard with Finland.

[@colonelfustercluck486]

if an electrical appliance is a) heavy duty (high current) ; and b) turned on as you plug it into the wall socket, it can can arc due to a heavy load being put onto the electrical fitting, without being fully connected (high resistance connection) This may cause sparks or a small fire..... The arc is not coming towards you.. it is arcing between the fixed wall socket and the plug going into it. This may happen at the instant you plug something into the socket, if it is turned on. So do it fast. And with the appliance turned off......... then there is no problem.

[@MatthewJBD]

No British child has ever said they want to drink soda 😂 But yes, pop or a fizzy drink

[@1234cheerful]

Wouldnt that be the stuff your father adds to his whiskey and soda?

[@MatthewJBD]

@@1234cheerful soda water is just fizzy tap water (not the same as sparkling water)

[@1234cheerful]

@@MatthewJBD Ah! Thanks.

[@tobynorris]

I've never heard a Brit call it pop either, only fizzy drink

[@lordolxinator]

@@tobynorris Pop if you're from the 1970s maybe. Apparently some parts of Northern England, South Wales, and the Midlands still use "pop" as a term.

[@MultiMidden]

Certain Americans would have a fit about pantomines, the principal boy (leading male character) is played by a woman and the pantomime dame (often the leading characters mother) is played by a man. Crossdressing is way more normalised in the UK than the US.

[@keithwarrington2430]

where you been the last few years Them yanks have caught up now theys so crossdressing some of 'em think they're the other sex

[@MsPeabody1231]

Oh and if you know anyone who does or has played pantomime dames in real life, they have a wardrobe of their dame costumes.

[@fredbear3915]

Yes it came as a bit of a revelation to a young teenage me when I discovered not only that the principal boy wasn't a boy, but she had no principles either!

[@Blanchy10]

Are they politicians?

[@jca111]

The US (certain parts anyway) is weird. They banned the Queen video for 'I Want to Break Free' because Freddie and the band were dressed as women. In the UK it's considered one of the band's (or even the 80s) best videos.

[@conallmclaughlin4545]

Hot water bottles are amazing.. Cold winter nights pop one into he bed, nice toasty and warm. Camping, it's essential. Sitting out in the garden on a dry October evening, fire pit, and a hot water bottle under a blanket, so so good

[@cindystuder9090]

I've got a heated mattress pad for that. It's much nicer and doesn't go cold.

[@SophieMelissa]

@@cindystuder9090You can buy those here too, but they plug in so wouldn’t be safe to have on whilst sleeping and when camping with no plug, it wouldn’t work at all!

[@G6JPG]

@@cindystuder9090 I expect your campsites come with sockets 🙂

[@butterbeanqueen8148]

@@SophieMelissaI sleep with an electric blanket every night. They are perfectly safe. And a battery heated vest is what I use camping. Before I got that I just used a hand warmer. No way I’m using a hot water bottle that can potentially leak onto my clothes.

[@natashadavies9569]

A winter evening curled up under a layer of hot water bottle, blanket cat. And no I don't want to put the heating on if I'm going to bed within a few hours, I prefer to sleep in a colder room

[@chriswalker2753]

For an answer to the blackcurrant vs grape question, look to a country where both are common. In France they use grapes to make wine, while blackcurrants make delicious things like sorbet, and, most importantly, crème de cassis, the flavouring in the delightful drink called a Kir.

[@howesy]

American toilets definitely agreed that they do a better job, but what on earth is up with public restrooms having massive gaps around the cubicle door 🥴

[@jaycee330]

Do your urinals have closed stalls as well, or are they just as open and exposed as everywhere else on the planet.

[@TesterAnimal1]

Especially at work, so you don’t get too comfortable and take long poo breaks with your phone!

[@Yickbob]

The main reason UK plugs have so many safety features is because the voltage is double - 220 vs 110. As a kid you probably wouldn't have gotten a 2nd chance to learn to avoid shocks...

[@wbfaulk]

No, the reason is because of ring wiring, which requires that the house wiring be able to carry far more current than is allowed at an outlet, which means that many safety features have to be pushed to the outlet side instead of being centralized.

[@john_smith1471]

230 - 240 volts

[@slhope64]

The rest of the world that is not the US has the same higher voltage as the UK without needing the expensively overengineered plugs the UK does. We put our safety in the switchboard instead, where it also covers wire shorts. Not that we don't have switches on outlets as well, not doing that is just weird

[@willewiking98]

@@slhope64 exactly, we also dont have switches on the outlets etc because our wiring is already safe

[@willewiking98]

buyt tbf american outlets are also incredibly extra bad, never had any sparks in sweden

[@KathleenMc73]

Pantomimes are plays that they say are written for children, but there's lots of innuendo stuff that goes over the kids' heads and the adults get. A lot of the character's names are for the adults too.

[@dutchdykefinger]

Then again A lot of entertainment for children also has something for the parents to.enjoy Some older entertainment does not. infantilize children

[@nankosa82]

​@@dutchdykefingermany children are actually infants....!

[@lizroberts1569]

Like the carry on films! Or Captain Pugwash cartoon when was a kid and his side kick Seaman Stains !

[@TheCyberGoblin]

They're written for families, not children. Its a subtle but important distinction

[@KestralKuthule]

ITV Pantos are the best. Julian Clary kills it.

[@sallykins3800]

Duck boots are not only ugly, mud is going to get in the laces and all wet , Welliies can be hosed down and now come in loads of colours. What’s not to love

[@Eskatologist]

Don't know about these specific ones, or them in general but the few I have seen are basically lace up short wellies... (so the tongue is part of the boot without any gap round the sides) but then they were a British brand and we're just generally better at wellies than the US... ;)

[@helloimdillon]

I don't love welly rash

[@bethbovey7566]

You can slip your dirty gumboots (wellies) off at the backdoor, not so easy with Duckboots and all those laces.

[@colonelfustercluck486]

in NZ, although we know what 'wellies' are, we call them 'gumboots'. Very imaginative. Duck boots are not known here.

[@patrickhayes7838]

Duck boots look better imo. Weirdly I own wellingtons (the long kind, it looks like you have different lengths over there) exclusively for duck hunting in combination with waders.

[@StormhavenGaming]

Having been to the US and consumed several "grape" flavoured items, I can categorically say that Evan is a crazy person. "Grape" flavour is the kind of flavour you would eventually settle on after years of trying to develop a nice one.

[@trudypowell8303]

Generally it is one preferred by children more than adults. Commonly combined as peanut butter and (grape) jelly sandwiches.

[@martabachynsky8545]

I've taken to calling "grape" flavored things "purple-flavored" because they don't taste like grapes.

[@MoonLiteNite]

I am 38 years old lived in Texas my full life . Always have had a brush by the crapper… like how else would you clean it?….

[@Primum]

The pantomime ad was unironically a highlight of the video. 😄

[@mirensummers7633]

The reason they're stronger in the US is because they use more water for the flush, in the UK and EU there are efficiency standards which prevent them being as strong

[@MeppyMan]

@@jwb52z9oh so that’s why your ex president made it a big deal. But wait, why was something so small and silly it such a big deal for him?

[@notsolm]

​@MeppyMan it's one of the little things that are part of the "culture wars". "Dem liberals want to take away my ". It's much easier to defend wanting to keep a "superior" physical thing, than to defend "but I want to destroy the environment".

[@Thurgosh_OG]

Skid marks are definitely a thing in US toilets, so this is still strange.

[@towerdave4836]

Many American toilets are symphonic so have much more water in the bowl. There’s no delicate way of explaining this but the lack of water in UK loos means that turds hit the bottom of the bowl and leave skid marks. Turds falling out of American backsides decelerate in the extra depth of water and there’s less likelihood of leaving skid marks. The volume and duration of the flush in Euro WCs rarely removes these. Of course it does depend on the consistency of the turds! I think that’s probably all I need to say about this.

[@Phiyedough]

America does not consider the concept of conservation!

[@twk4977]

We do not use them after every poo. Only for the sloppy diarrhoea ones... 😂😅

[@elaineb7065]

And every now & then what normally happens in the lavatory leaves a little scummy bit. Just a go-over with a lavvy brush & flush & you're done!!!

[@miriamjenkins7337]

Aye, Evan, what's up with your pooing technique? Sounds like that's the part you got wrong.

[@Maynards_so_blue]

Bleach usually does the job

[@margaretford1011]

Every family had hot water bottles in the US before microwave ovens became ubiquitous. I still have one, though I have not had cause to use it because the more modern methods of getting a spot heater are so much more convenient.

[@AndersJackson]

@@margaretford1011 electrical hot water pots are so easy and fast. Thus convenient.

[@TheEulerID]

Switches on UK power sockets are NOT mandatory. There are UK power outlets available which do not have switches. Generally they are used for things, such as refrigerators or freezers that you do not want accidentally turned off. They are quite rare, but are available.

[@thebookworm5048]

I'm an American and I have never been shocked by an outlet. Not negating your experience at all, just letting Europeans know that it's not something that happens to every American kid

[@davidioanhedges]

The first leafy plant that was grown and eaten in space on the ISS was arugula, but all the astronauts were American so they missed calling it Rocket!

[@FutureProofJake]

British plugs also have to be safer than American ones due to the voltage generally being higher. If you were to get shocked it's going to sting a tad more

[@HweolRidda]

They are compensating for a style of building wiring system that is illegal in many countries and substandard in many more.

[@nutgone100]

@@HweolRiddaBritish wiring standards are among the best in the world.

[@kakarikiyazoo]

​@@nutgone100At least they sell appliances with the plug attached now. They used to be sold separate and the consumer had to attach it to the wires!

[@davidwall2919]

@@nutgone100 ring ccts safe?, "the best in the world"? Hahaha

[@shonunezekiel]

@@kakarikiyazoo I enjoyed being an amateur electrician growing up and helping my dad wire plugs whenever we got new equipment!

[@catbeara]

I wouldn't really see a panto unless I was going with kids? That's the most fun part, how excited they are to get involved haha. And if you're going to a local one it gives you a nice sense of unity and community. :)

[@MsPeabody1231]

Take one or more foreign adult friends to see a panto.

[@colonelfustercluck486]

the 'Panto's" that I have seen are written on two levels. The first, is a story that the kids will understand and even get caught up in it and get excited. The second level is that that there is a lot of innuendo/situations for the adults to enjoy and laugh at... far above the childrens understanding. That way everyone enjoys it.

[@IcedPhoenix]

UK houses also come with RCD (residual current device) which will trip the breaker if there's a disparity between L-N. This means that even if there is an electrical fault, and it travels through you/ finds another path to ground, it will trip immediately. American houses sometimes have GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) which is effectively the same thing, but only used in those weird bathroom plugs. Additional notes about the UK plugs/sockets: • Ground pin is longer, so that always contacts first. So if anything is wrong, the device will be grounded, causing the current to flow to ground, tripping RCD. • There are little doors in the L-N sections, that prevent anything going in. These lower when the ground pin is inserted. So you physically cannot stick a fork in, and plugs without ground pin wont' work. • The pins have little sleeves where they meet the base of the plug, so even if you stick your fingers round it while plugging in/out, it won't shock you. • UK plugs also often have Fuses in them. Either at their face, with a little door, or embedded in them, replaceable only if you unscrew it and take it apart.

[@lavenderoh]

Not sometimes, GFCI is the standard now. All new homes + apartments must have it, and most older homes are being corrected to have it.

[@biscuit715]

We get taught in school how to rewire a plug, and replace a fuse in a plug too. Though with the rise of more and more plugs just being glued instead of screwed it's a bit more difficult annoyingly. Not that I've ever blown a fuse in a plug, though I have managed to explode a plug socket.

[@christianeedel5160]

I used to use a hot water bottle, but switched to a pad filled with buckwheat (rice works, too), which can be heated in a microwave. In my experience they keep the warmth longer and of course, there’s no danger of leaking water (hot water bottles will wear out eventually).

[@stephenlee5929]

Hi, Re hot water bottles, a substitute can be a 'hottie', a plushie toy animal, designed to be microwaved, it can work well for reliving pain, I believe (have been told). Hot water bottles aren't really about making the bed warmer in the same way as a thicker duvet, but removing the cold feel of the sheets when you get in. They are more like an electric blanket only more localised.

[@Spider_mother]

In Sweden the bag is filled with wheat not rice and we heat it in the microwave. Hot water bottles are not really common here.

[@PandorasFolly]

Same. that's how it works in the US. Bag of rice in the microwave. Never leaks

[@thorstenjaspert9394]

In Germany we have both. Hot weat can't run out. We heat the weat bag in the microwave stove.

[@retrogiftsuk4812]

You can get wheat bags in the UK, but they're not that common. Annoyingly the makers seem compelled to add lavender, which makes them smell terrible! Yuk!

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

@@PandorasFolly You have indestructible bags?

[@Spider_mother]

@@retrogiftsuk4812 I hate lavender to. Apparently it’s supposed to be soothing but it’s not for me. Fortunately my wheat bag comes without.

[@synthiandrakon]

Blackcurrant is idk an aquired taste, its one of those flavours where i've always drank blackcurrant squash, and at one point in my life when i was younger i would have probably agreed with you about blackcurrant but i've come to appreciate it. Blackcurrant squash is probably the most refreshing, most "better" flavours of squash end up being too acidic or too sweet to feel refreshing for me. And like as i've gotten older something about blackcurrant sweets has just started to hit for me its a flavour that is unqiue but not too much for me. Beyond that blackcurrant jam is genuinely fantastic especially with cheese. Also every american candy ive had grape is like the worst flavour

[@evan]

Are you purposefully forgetting banana-flavoured candy?

[@synthiandrakon]

@@evan banana is so bad most American candies I've had don't even bother using it

[@thaloblue]

Grape IS a cursed flavor thank you.

[@thaloblue]

@@evanWho are you to talk? You forgot Americans clean their toilets and wear rainboots.

[@Magpudding]

This will blow your mind Evan: Prices S C & Sons bakery in Ludlow that has a through draft and they offer chilly customers a hot water bottle at their table, and also sell them in their gift section! I was enchanted by this and think more places should pick up this service. ❤

[@dontuno]

Most kids in the UK are weaned on Ribena as many carpets will testify! Great video, gave me plenty of laughs. 👍

[@topmandog1]

skittles were created in the uk

[@1234cheerful]

Justifiable candy pride!

[@G6JPG]

@@1234cheerful Except of course we'd never call it candy!

[@1234cheerful]

@@G6JPG sweets?

[@briannam3140]

I’ve actually seen more bathrooms with brushes and no plungers recently in the us lol

[@katwitanruna]

We used hot water bottles in the 60/70s but in the 70s many began using an electric heating pad.

[@aurora6920]

Electric blankets are not as hot, you have to keep them turned on, they are also a fire risk if left on whilst sleeping. I'm from the UK, but much prefer a hot water bottle that stays hot all night long. Although you do have to replace them every few years as they wear down. They work really for when I have fevers or back pain too as they're so hot. You can buy ones for your neck and and extra long ones for the bed.

[@Judymontel]

I was using a hot water bottle for cramps in the 80s & 90s in the US. So it varies.

[@johnlabus7359]

My elderly other has the thick fabric bags of uncooked rice that can either be stored in the freezer when you need cold or tossed into the microwave when you need heat.

[@SocialLocust]

The electric heating pad isn't the same as a heated blanket. The pads do get really hot, though I agree that using the ones that plug in when you are sleeping isn't a good idea for the same reason you named.

[@thaloblue]

@@aurora6920electric blankets manufactured after the year 2002 do not have fire risk. They auto off after a set period of time.

[@JoeBleasdaleReal]

So when Kanye said to Estelle: “Ribena, I know what you’re drinking”, he actually was more of a “London bloke” than we’d imagined?!

[@kathyazzari839]

I've had an electric kettle for many years. I use it to heat my water to make coffee in a French press and for my tea in the evening. Maybe not all Americans use one, but I wouldn't call it rare. But it is easy enough to heat water on the stove if you don't have one.

[@reindeer7752]

I used to boil water on the stovetop but I've had an electric kettle for years. Its faster and safer (automatic shutoff). They're for sale in every store with kitchen supplies, so, as you noted, they aren't rare in the USA

[@kathyazzari839]

@reindeer7752 Automatic shut-off is exactly why I went with an electric kettle. I was forgetting my kettle on the stove regularly.

[@schrodingerscat1863]

@@reindeer7752 Although they are available in the states the lower supply voltage means they are a lot less powerful and take typically much longer to boil water. Here in the UK an electric kettle can typically boil a litre of water in about a minute.

[@reindeer7752]

@@schrodingerscat1863 I only brew one cup in the morning, one in the afternoon. It takes about a minute. It doesn't need to be any faster.

[@schrodingerscat1863]

@@reindeer7752 What about when you have guests or other members of your family all want hot drinks at the same time. Kettle gets used a lot in my house.

[@Londonererer]

Tip= put a hot water bottle on the floor to keep your feet warm. Great when working from.

[@retrogroovecraft]

We had a hot water bottle when I was a kid, growing up in Wisconsin. My parents had it in the master bath, since before I was born, I'm sure. I can recall using it a few times for sore muscles and headache. It also came with a rubber hose and an enema attachment. I also remember seeing 'strongmen' blowing them up until they popped.

[@randomjasmicisrandom]

I was electrocuted when setting up a science experiment in a school classroom full of gcse students. The shock was literally so bad I screamed “fuuuuuuuuuuck” at the top of my voice and was very lucky that it was in a British style plug even though it was at a school in Germany. (British army, I’m trying to keep the length of this story manageable!) It meant my assistant who had helpfully turned the plug on was able to switch it off again unharmed. We had a chat about that later on. That thing you are told about how when you grab a live wire your hand closes and you can’t let go. Totally true. I burnt my tongue, my elbows and my head. I also sat down and apologised to the class for swearing by repeating the swear word.

[@colonelfustercluck486]

you are entitled to call out "fuuuuuuuck' while you are receiving 230 Vac.

[@randomjasmicisrandom]

@@colonelfustercluck486 I would say so too! Absolutely! The science teacher couldn’t stop laughing and told everyone in the staff room about what had happened.

[@colonelfustercluck486]

@@randomjasmicisrandom yes it is great to receive empathetic treatment from your teachers who are pissing themselves laughing. They are not laughing at you, they are laughing with you......😉😉

[@glee2460]

Twenty years ago a work colleague of mine awoke during the night to find her bedding had caught fire. The cause was a faulty electric blanket. She had to be treated for burns that she sustained to both hands as she patted out the flames. Ever since, during the winter months, she has warmed her bed each night with two hot water bottles before getting in.

[@colonelfustercluck486]

I live in NZ and have access to both..... an electric blanket is fine and good.... but turn it off before you get into bed. As it is 230Vac here.... who needs that in the bed! And get the bloody thing electrically checked for safety periodically. Alternatively, hot water bottles ('hotties') are also great, there are do's and don't's for them also. If used correctly, there is nothing wrong with the old fashioned hot water bottles. I use them. Hey, they work.

[@tarrynlea]

Yup, I also know someone whose electric blanket caught fire while she was asleep - thankfully her dad noticed it! You'll never catch me owning one of those...

[@delta981]

Mischief Theatre’s “Peter Pan Goes Wrong” has an excellent section of panto-parody, as the show was put on I believe as a Christmas special, and Peter Pan is often understood in the context of a panto, the audience knows the drill - but one of the characters of the cast once the show to be a serious theatre production, and hilarity ensues due to the audience participation. All their shows are excellent.

[@SamButler22]

Hot water bottles don't necessarily have fabric, it was just a rubber bottle when I was a kid. Maybe the middle class had fabric covers, but they also had heating so why would they need to warm up their bed? Also, if you go even further back; they were ceramic

[@shaunfarrell3834]

The house I grew up in was built in the reign of George second, had ice on the inside of the sash windows which also let in drafts in winter. The bedroom did have a small fireplace but was never lit ( I think for safety), water bottles were a necessity.

[@Deceptac0n-x4d]

As an American girl with a British father I can definitely confirm that at least my family uses hot water bottles! My sister actually gifted some to her friends once but they didn’t use it, what weenies 🙄

[@Stereophonicsobsessed]

Why didn’t they use it?

[@LouieLouie505]

In my seven decades in the US, I have never been shocked by an outlet. Since the US is huge, old wiring has to be found in plenty of places. Nonetheless, I do prefer the UK version.

[@kathyazzari839]

Nor I in 62 years.

[@msjkramey]

I've never been shocked in America, but when I went to Guatemala, I was adjusting the "su*cide shower" and found out why they are nicknamed that. It was a set up where the ELECTRICAL heating element was IN the actual showerhead. When I touched it to try to make it hotter, i got zapped. I completely didn't process it because I had never had that sensation before and stupidly tried to fix it again. My brain made the connection that time, and I got tf out of that shower as quickly as I could

[@nealihamilton2011]

It’s the same in Brazil too!!!

[@LjL-Videos]

But surely they're not *meant* to zap you, must have been a fault? O.o

[@msjkramey]

@LjL-Videos yeah, the second one that I used didn't do that. Mine was just broken apparently

[@eileencollins8799]

If blackcurrants blow your socks off just wait until you try gooseberries 😁

[@tedioustotoro4885]

If you wanna see a Pantomime, I hear that the one at the London Palladium every year is pretty good, this year it’s apparently Robin Hood and the tickets just went on sale a few days ago. Also, Pantomimes are so popular that some American celebrities have even come over to take part, like, one of my local ones had Priscilla Presley in it a few years ago.

[@estellehowell4414]

Yes, I go to that Palladium one most years, and it's a hoot. Julian Clary has more extravagant costumes every year, Gary Willmot is the dame, Nigel Havers some sort of bumbling fool and Paul Verdin and his puppet Sam always have a part - e.g like Buttons in Cinderella, then they have different guest stars each year - e.g. Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders as well as some musical parts played by west end starts. I reckon the kids get no more than 20% of the jokes. I tend to go in January to have something fun to look forward to in what is otherwise a bit of a bleak post Christmas come down.

[@AmbidextrousLLC]

Ken Campbell’s ‘The Story of Pantomime’ is available here on KZbin. Highly recommended to learn all about the subject. It’s worth every minute.

[@StrangeTheEmily16]

when my (british) now husband (american) visited me in england for the first time he blocked my mother's toliet and didnt know what to do because there was no plunger next to it. i remember vividly how he said how american toliets could flush a body if they needed to, which is very accurate.

[@mlaird9404]

In Scotland we call Squash, "Diluten Juice." Because...you know, you dilute it. I didn't know this was exclusive to Scotland until I went down to Sleaford and no one knew I was talking about until I said Robinsons

[@biscuit715]

Sounds German!

[@mlaird9404]

Now that ypu say it, suppose it does

[@awesley1725]

Sir i implore you to go down a cleaning isle more often. Also we totally have hot water bottles its usually down the isle with the stuff for various body aches

[@Anna-B]

I’ve heard that electric kettles are rare in America, but I feel like some people misconstrue that into meaning we don’t have them. So to clarify, you can get them anywhere you get non electric kettles. Most people just have no need for it. My mom likes tea and instant coffee, so we’ve had one for a while now

[@RNS_Aurelius]

I've heard it's just as if not more efficient to boil water on the stove in the US

[@thorstenjaspert9394]

@@RNS_Aurelius it is caused by the Valtage system. American plugs only have 120V. European plugs have 230V. 230V transports more performance by lower current. It is the Ohms Law.

[@Mr-pn2eh]

I'm American. I have an electric kettle. I LOVE IT. I ONLY DRINK GREEN TEA!

[@lottievixen]

Alec from Technology Connections did an awesome video on it

[@tomrogue13]

I got one for my tea and my mom lovessssss it now lol. I'm American

[@Arcanist_Gaming]

The pantomime section makes me think of _Peter Pan Gone Wrong,_ which is my favorite comedic production of all time. I'm gonna go watch it again. Thanks for the reminder.

[@L4g__]

Yess that one was hilarious, the othe goes wrong plays wee great but i dont think anything topped the Peter oan one

[@Zn0nimus]

What state are you in? Hot water bottles/bags, willingtons, and blackcurrant products are pretty easy to find and come across here. I've found them in states such as Idaho, California, and Texas at places like Walmart, and not to mention the wide variety of them available on Amazon. I'll give you the pants thing though, that might just be a cultural thing, but Americans have Florida Man. :D

[@Col_Crunch]

He is in the UK, but his comparisons to "America" seem to all be comparisons of the UK to the area in NJ he grew up in. As far as the blackcurrants are concerned, cultivation was banned in the us from 1911 until fairly recently as the plants carried a disease that was causing damage to other crops. Many places in the US are not lifting that ban due to the availability of varieties of the plant that do not carry the disease.

[@colonelfustercluck486]

@@Col_Crunch HI there, I'm in NZ and we have unlimited access to 'currants'. Arguably the best is the Black Currant. There are also White and Red currants. I read that you have a ban on them.... but they are everywhere here, and we are an agricultural and horticultural exporting country. I don't know what problem the US had, but is doesn't seem to be an issue over here. They are not an uncontrollable weed or anything over here... and they are awesome. If you can get some good cuttings, go for it if it doesn't get you in trouble over there. You need a 4 seasons type climate and reasonably good topsoil. Put the light nets over the bushes as they fruit.... the birds love them too. To use them... eat them "au natural", cooked fruit pies, mixed in with apple is good. Fruit juice concentrate for making 'soft drinks' or cordials. Make wine... they are awesome for that. Jams and jellies.

[@Col_Crunch]

@@colonelfustercluck486 As I said in my comment we had a ban on cultivation. The ban no longer exists (at least at the federal level, the issue now sits with the states, most have lifted their bans, but some survive). The ban was implemented as they carried white pine blister rust, which the American White Pine was not resistant to. Not only was the fungus causing ecological issues, but it was hurting the American lumber industry. Thanks to selective breeding though, they were eventually able to cultivate rust resistant American White Pines which helped lift many of the bans.

[@pink_nicola]

You can definitely get heated rice/wheat bags in the UK, often in novelty shapes or elongated for wrapping over a larger area, but yeah hot water bottles are preferable as they don’t smell and are easier to get in the cover. And you can get liquid water flavourings akin to squash in the US these days, it’s just only really available in the pocket sized squeezy bottles of like KoolAid or Dasani or Minute Maid, and I imagine that came about around the same time as over here so you would’ve probably grown up with the powdered KoolAid stuff which we then don’t have.

[@spo0pti304]

on pantos i highly highly highly recommend the york panto, honestly worth travelling to. also york is just worth travelling to in general, especially at christmas in panto season, the markets are stellar

[@ianhutchinson1783]

We lived in America for 5 years. My parents came over to visit us. During the visit my mum had an aching tummy and asked if I had a hot water bottle - I did not. So I went down the drugstore - Walgreens I think - and found a bare rubber hot water bottle with no furry cover but that was my only choice so I bought it. When I got it home we found in addition to the rubber bottle and its stopper it came with accessories - a full multi-pipe enema kit ! That certainly caused some hilarity in the household but, wrapped in a T-shirt it made a great hot water bottle.😀

[@NelielSugiura]

I would say the UK toilets are far better than US ones cuz they do not get clogged here. Certainly never needed a plunger. For the outlets thing: Both Tom Scott and ElectroBoom have great videos on it.

[@ayishaks6510]

Love Tom Scott videos

[@mgailp]

When I saw the thumbnail I thought "What are they doing with a water bottle that is so different than here?" About half of what you said were only British I grew up with, although my grandmother's is the only black currant vine I've ever seen. Instead of Wellies we use shrimp boots (or gaiters if you're bougie).

[@lightsideofsin8969]

I'm German and I couldn't imagine my life without an electric kettle or hot water bottles.... Both of those are absolutely essential to my way of life.

[@anahills3836]

Here in Canada I think pretty much everyone has an electric kettle.

[@jeffbaine4094]

You have that right. I don’t think I would not want to not have one.

[@helenroberts1107]

Black currant is yummy 😋

[@sentyuk5322]

When you ask for a coffee, you wouldn’t expect just beans or the instant granules...you’d expect it to be made with water. Same with squash... no confusion here

[@danstratyt]

Exactly, all solutions/suspensions have the same name when "neat" and dissolved.

[@craiggerhardstein7305]

In America drinks that come in a bottle normally are ready to drink.

[@evan]

Eh bad analogy as both of your examples require modifiers to be understood unlike squash

[@lordolxinator]

"Can I get a coffee?" "Sure, here's 8 espresso shots to fill the cup"

[@MadSpacePig]

@@evan What do you mean they require modifiers, it's exactly the same. "Where do you keep your coffee?" "Would you like some coffee?" In one of those sentences coffee is referring to the ingredient, and in the other it's referring to the drink. If you have a problem with using squash for both then you have a problem with this too.

[@lauraholland347]

We used to have far more water in the toilets here, with a much more powerful flush-but back in the 70's it was decided they use far too much water, and ecologically damaging so low level flush was invented and very widely implemented-you only see them in old un refurbished properties. Squash is far less sugary than soda, it was recognised early such a high sugar hit was bad for children, the US is way behind on this one.

[@lolacorinne5384]

We have hot water bottles in America! (And we don’t need to buy them every month, either 🤔). But electric heating pads are much more practical, if you think about it. Stays hot/warm longer, and control the temp better. And yes, some of us Yanks actually do have electric kettles.

[@colonelfustercluck486]

hi there... we have hot water bottles in NZ............. and we have electric blankets, under your bottom sheet.......... But it is 230 Vac. "Are you feeling lucky ?".....A line from Dirty Harry that I like. If you use one of those.... warm your bed up for 20 or 30 minutes...... then turn it off and get into your warm bed, that is all good... Some people leave them on and get cooked.... not often, but enough times to make you cautious. I like the hot water bottle..............no electric shocks, or smoke. You also have to look after hot water bottles...... but they last for years if not abused.

[@moiracoleman5087]

Sorry, but why do you think we have to buy a new one every month? I'm not intentionally being rude, just curious. I quite understand if you've neither see nor used a hot water bottle but they are actually very strong, made of thick rubber and can, with a little bit of care, last for years. Officially we are advised to replace them every 18 months but no-one ever does! We replace them when the rubber starts to degrade ...

[@KellyAlbright-tg9kz]

I used to have a hot water bottle - they were common place in the U.S. probably up through the 50's & 60's if I had to guess, but most often used a heating pad and I not that little belt type one that you showed. Just a square plastic pad with a fabric cover that you'd plug in and adjust the heat, and yes, ibuprofen city.

[@CommonInternetLurker]

Pantos are very much a children's (think 3-9 years old) thing. It's like a stage play of a fairytale (Cinderella, Aladdin, Puss in Boots, Dick Whittington etc), with audience participation (e.g. Character: "Where's [the bad guy]?"(bad guy sneaking up) Audience: "He's behind you!" Character: (looks in the wrong direction) "Oh no he isn't!" Audience: "Oh yes he is!"). It's great for kids, adults only really like it because of the nostalgia. If you've never seen a panto before and you go as an adult, you'll no doubt find it cringey and annoying. There's also always a man in drag, called a Pantommime Dame. Not like RuPaul drag, but more like an over the top version of a kids TV presenter... just google "Pando dame" and you'll see what I mean.

[@haveyoutakenyourmeds]

A good panto will also cater to the adults in the audience with a lot of innuendo nudge nudge wink wink type humour.

[@samroberts7404]

I never went to a panto as a kid, but, since having kids go every year. A good panto is great fun and has stuff in to entertain the adults as well, but a not very good or community one generally are cringe and pretty poor...

[@mark314158]

It does seem to feature actors or celebs who are past their sell-by date. "Where's my career - boys and girls?" "Behind you..."

[@SianLondon]

😂😂😂​@@mark314158

[@onlineo2263]

I hated pantos as a child. As an adult I love them. Always hilarious. So many dirty /rude innuendos and jokes. Manor operatic put on a great show every year at Sheffield city Hall, no Z list celebrities. Often times it doesn't start until after Christmas day and still sells out 2 shows per day. Great fun, and any children there have no idea why the adults are laughing 😂

[@rambletash]

Only watching Evan every few months is wild. His accent is less American and more British every time I watch.

[@nadiayasminharris9881]

As someone who is British but has tasted grape flavour things, I must disagree. The grape flavour tastes synthetic and frankly awful. Blackcurrant on the other hand in my view is top tier.

[@1234cheerful]

Agreed. Grape suits the palate of children but when you get older black currant is indeed top tier.

[@SocialLocust]

It depends. There are more "natural" products that have a nice grape flavor, but like most things in the US, most flavors of anything are synthetic and taste fake. I do agree that currant is better though as I don't like overly sweet flavors of anything and currant has that nice bitterness.

[@1234cheerful]

@@jwb52z9 ouch, but true!

[@linmonPIE]

I’ve never had black currant flavored anything (American) but there was some other video I watched where Americans tried it and they said it tasted like cough syrup. So it could be that he has a negative association with the flavor. I’ve never been much of a grape fan either because of the synthetic taste. Natural grape jelly is okay though.

[@colonelfustercluck486]

You are right... I'm in NZ and can get both. The Ribena is superior and tastes natural. Some of the grape 'flavoured' concoctions taste like... well nothing like grape. And bloody horrible too.

[@ricequin]

Ribena made with hot water was my favourite childhood drink to warm up after playing in the snow until I started getting into tea.

[@PamelaProPeace]

Hot water bottles are so much better than the rice filled (or other cereal for that matter) ones for a very simple reason. They retain the heat for hours whilst the rice ones are already going cool within minutes! Only warning is to check the stopper is on really tight. Nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night to discover the bed is wet - and cold!

[@nic3525]

blackcurrants are delicious and our flavoured things use the actual fruit. Most American "flavours" are artificial and use additives that are banned in the uk.

[@loridavidson9465]

Black currents were banned in the USA. They spread a fungus with our white pines. It isn’t about its flavor.

[@reindeer7752]

@nic3525 - There are plenty of products in the USA with only the natural food in them. Packages are required by law to state all ingredients. Many packages state in bold letters that they are all natural because the companies know a lot of Americans are health conscious and looking for that. People get to choose. If they make the wrong choice, its on them.

[@butterbeanqueen8148]

60 years and I’ve never been shocked by electricity.

[@kered13]

I've only been shocked by mains once. It was when traveling in Europe, there was a broken plug in the outlet and like an idiot I tried to pull it out. With a broken plug like that, that would have happened with any type of outlet. But I don't know how you get shocked by a US outlet normally. It's never happened to me.

[@schrodingerscat1863]

As an electrical engineer I have been zapped a fair few times, quite painful at 240v and at 415v takes a couple of hours to get over it if it hasn't killed you.

[@john_g_harris]

If you'd grown up in a house with no central heating you'd know what a hot water bottle is really for.

[@hettyscetty9785]

My hot water bottle has a penguin sleeve on it, he wears a tartan scarf and is called Pépé. Also Squash is called Diluting juice in Scotland. I take a litre of diluting juice with me to work every day. It's better than drinking a can of juice every day, and black currents are actually really nice with apple. What happened in 2015 that twice as many people died from electrocution than the years before and after.

[@hippertyhop]

I'm surprised you haven't had grape flavoured pop since you started living in the UK. Visit any supermarket with a West Indian foods aisle and look for Old Jamaica or KA soda. They have black grape. Happy guzzling ❤

[@LeslieLanagan]

I love blackcurrant and I wish we could get Ribena and other concentrates here. My boyfriend has a Soda Stream and I bet Ribena would taste even better as fizzy water.

[@1234cheerful]

I've found it, it was expensive and not labeled as a concentrate. Drank it chilled, like orange juice. Used to American soft drinks (as we call Pepsi, Coke, etc. in the US South) so I liked it. Sillier fact, I bought it to try because of Hercule Poirot and his black currant tisane. 🤣 Some day I'll look up what that actually is.

[@colleenmarin8907]

Tisane is herbal tea, meaning NOT a tea made from the standard tea plant

[@lynnejamieson2063]

@@1234cheerful tisane is just a posh (but the correct) term for fruit or herbal tea I believe…sorry if that was a spoiler.

[@1234cheerful]

@lynnejamieson2063 😁not a spoiler! All that time Dame Agatha was just giving HP herb tea!

[@lynnejamieson2063]

@@1234cheerful essentially, yeah…it’s a great word to use in modern conversation though if you want to seem all exotic and mysterious 😄

[@coasttocoast2011]

I (Australian) was getting so confused when you kept calling ribena a squash, thinking that ain’t a squash. I was half right cause here in Australia, what Brits call squash we’d call cordial

[@jaconorth2098]

It's cordial in England also, squash is a American word to me

[@pru3230]

In Britain ‘cordial’ is basically a posh/grown-up version of squash. If it’s got a fancy label it’s cordial. If it’s supermarket own brand it’s squash. If it’s Ribena it’s ribena (never squash)

[@MsPeabody1231]

​@@pru3230You missed out the UK has old regional drinks e.g. vimto, sarsaparilla that can come either ready mixed or for you to mix yourself. They aren't squashes or cordials.

[@WeepingPrince]

In the uk cordials tend to be more concentrated versions of squash - I’d always use about a third of the amount of cordial than I would a classic squash

[@brendalevesque6384]

We also have lime cordial in the UK. Very refreshing in hot weather.

[@ChocolatierRob]

You may mock our pronunciation of Wa'er bo''le all you like. I myself was pretty amused playing an RPG where a valkyrie referred to a sacred artifact as the 'Wada Meeer' instead of a Water Mirror...

[@nadimahbogart2705]

Brit here, can confirm, the plug switches are super helpful. I had a boom fizzle happen at one plug that blew all the breakers and I couldn’t unplug the plug to fix the problem. I was able to switch the outlet off, reset the breakers and go about my day. If it wasn’t for that switch my life would be at a standstill until I could get an electrician out. P.S. I never did get an electrician out, I cut the cord off.

[@lylez00]

I've never been shocked from plugging something in, but as a kid, I got shocked 2 or 3 times from sticking a paperclip in the outlet for fun.