Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Stevea6000

Thanks. I liked Gert O'flite.

Malone

Yes you are right. I am trying to respect the local language etc. I am pleased that I have not seen a mis-placed apostrophe all week. I love Florida's Turnpike. I wish we had England's M6.

ChrisE, I've just realised I meant to comment on your TV listings post. I liked the Guardian's details for the Tory leader debate - a bit of effort must have gone into that. (And whether or not one agrees with the sentiment behind it, the piece provided a little relief. )

jigjag, Malone

I know you are interested in McDonald's but have you been to an American one? So different. I went to one in Daytona. The food was good, but I was the only customer. I was puzzled by a sign "No Loitering. 30 minute limit on eating food".

I asked a helpful assistant about it. "Take your time, ma'am, English ladies get an hour, and your Queen gets two!"

"She will be delighted to hear that", I told him.

"You know her? Awesome."

This actually happened. Do they really throw customers out?

Grunger,

I've been - once - to an American McDonald's, but it was over 20 years ago. I can't remember there being a time limit on eating, but I do remember my children's amazement at the size of some of the meals. They were most stunned by the chicken nuggets deals - I think in Britain then, these came as 6 or 9 nuggets with a meal. The US had some offers that included 24 or 36 nuggets, something totally ridiculous!

I liked your remark about the Queen - and chortled at the American reaction.

PS Although I sometimes tut at Americanisms, there are some US words that I quite like. For example, I feel my dinner is grander if I'm eating it with silverware rather than with cutlery.

Reading the comments under newspaper articles, I have come across several examples of "draw" being used instead of drawer (as in cutlery drawer etc). I have wondered if this is a sort of unnecessary correction by people who think that when someone says drawer they are saying "drawr".

Not sure what you think is correct but its is correct in the example you quoted. It's means it is.

Grunger, Malone

I am glad to be back from America now, although I had a great time there. I tried to keep in touch with the forum, but had no opportunity to post. I noticed Grunger’s story on McDonald’s 30-minute eating policy and I just had to go there. Daytona was 2 hours drive away, but I combined the visit with a trip to the racetrack.

On entering the restaurant, I noticed a few teenagers gobbling their food and anxiously looking at their watches.

A friendly assistant, his badge showing “Chuck”, served me. “Good afternoon, Mr Yoowout”, I said.

“How do you know my name?” he asked. “You are famous in England” I replied.

“Awesome. What can I get you?”

“I should like the banquet of hash browns for starter, then double quarter-pounder, apple-pie and coffee, please, but I don’t know if I can eat it in your 30 minute limit”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll give you 40.” He offered generously. “A good tip is to unwrap the pie while eating the burger. That will save valuable seconds.”

I enjoyed the meal. The burger was delicious and I ate as slowly as possible. I took 37 minutes so their ejection policy was not tested, I’m afraid.

Jigjag.

Glad you had such a great time in America. It was good of you to drive all the way to Daytona and back just to check out a PU story. I guess that's pedants for you, we pay great attention to things.

I'm glad too that you enjoyed your McDonald's meal. It sounded a little stodgy to me, I might have preferred cauliflower popcorn and a tofu burger, but each to their own. I was so relieved to hear that the 'eat within 30 minutes' rule wasn't being strictly enforced. I'm sure the extra seven minutes enhanced your dining experience.

Malone

Thanks. I was planning a trip to Daytona as my son is interested in car racing, and after reading Grunger's posting, I had to go.

You are right about the stodginess. The hash browns were served in a large bag- there must have been at least 20, rather like the chicken nuggets your children had years ago. I ate about half of them. The burger really was delicious though, much better than you get here. My son enjoyed his Big Mac.

After the teenagers left, we were the only customers, so it was quite unlike here, where McD is always crowded.

I don't suppose we would have been thrown out, but I imagine Head of Ejections, Chuck Yoowout, really does exist in some branches!

Jigjag, if I ate 20 hash browns, a double quarter pounder and a portion of apple pie, I'd have to change my name … to Chuck Uppe.