The man who bikes to work each morning dressed head to toe in the latest cycling gear (fluoro jacket included), but doesn't wear a helmet. It's legal to not wear a helmet here - apparently it's odd that it is illegal in New Zealand - so most people don't. But this man makes me laugh; he's all up with the play, and obviously understands the risk involved given he wears the fluoro gear, but a helmet is clearly a step too far.
Calling fish and chips your national dish and then cooking the chips before they are ordered. Maybe they are supposed to be soggy?
The tube. If I didn't laugh I'd cry.
The price of fruit and veges. See above. It's not unusual to pay £2 for four apples. That works out to be $1 an apple. But then you can buy a fully prepared dinner for about the same price. All other food is much cheaper than home (2 litres of milk is £1), just not fresh fruit and veges. Go figure.
The sheer number of kebab shops.
The price, quality and range of books available in op shops. I could create a well-stocked library for next to nothing here. Amazing. Certainly the cheapest entertainment you can find here, by a long way.
The cost of tickets to any football match you might actually want to go to. Think 200 pounds plus. Per person.
When we figure out we don't have to pay crazy tourist prices to see something here. Instead of paying £30 (each) to go up the Shard - Europe's tallest building, with amazing views over the city - we went to the bar on level 35 and had a drink. It only cost us the £4 for the glass of wine. Instead if paying £18 (each) to check out Westminster Abby we went to the choir service for free; hearing the Westminster choir in the process. Instead of paying the £13 (each) to look around The Globe Theatre we paid £5 to watch a Shakespeare play there instead. And saw an amazing play in the process. We have a blanket rule; never pay just to enter a building. It's working out brilliantly, usually there's a way to see it, or at least a bit of it for free. And if there's not, well there's usually an equally as cool, just slightly less touristy, building around the corner.
The way people treat their cats. On more than one occasion I've seen someone panicking and shadowing their cat as their beloved decides to walk out of the safety of their two metre x two metre front patio and onto the footpath. It's a dangerous world out there.
Christmas time. Fairy lights galore. Suddenly all those slightly odd and naff Christmas decorations back home feel perfectly acceptable, and not in the least bit tacky, here. Seriously.
The person who dares to speak on the tube. And the looks they are given.
Shop assistants. For a country which has mastered their pleases, thank you's, and queuing, their shop assistants are, quite simply, a joke. It's not uncommon for them to be having a conversation with the teller beside them while you pay. Or, if they're particularly daring, on their phone. Consider yourself lucky if you even get a glance.
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