Living in London

I stopped at the bank today and asked for 2 rolls of £1 coins. (The washing machines at the laundrette eat 3 £1 coins for each load so I was trying to stock up a bit.) I experienced one of those awkward moments where, as an outsider, I have no idea what the local custom is. The teller looked at me as if I had asked for a ligabob from her wheatatsawhosits. She didn't understand my question and I didn't know how to ask it any differently. She finally asked me how many I wanted and when I said, "20" she offered me a bag of £1 coins.

It turns out that the British manage their coins in loose bags rather than nice, neat little rolls. As I was walking away I heard the teller say to her co-worker, "did she mean paper rolls?" Ahh, the local customs one must learn in a new country.

-HrH