Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Volunteering England ( &   020/7520-8900; www.volunteering.org.uk), is a
charity that works with groups such as Friends of the Earth to find volunteers for
projects; many of them are conservation-minded, although it also works in other
areas, such as helping with those who want to be part of London's 2012 Olympics
voluntary team. Before you commit to voluntary work, it's important to make sure of
its aims, who will benefit, and whether the work will suit you. Volunteer Interna-
tional (www.volunteerinternational.org) has a helpful list of questions to ask to
determine the intentions and nature of a project.
2
USEFUL TERMS & LANGUAGE
There are dialects and language variations across England and Wales, far too many to
give a full breakdown (and language changes rapidly these days), but here are a selec-
tion of words that you might encounter, and which pretty much transcend local
barriers.
bangers
sausages; usually paired with mashed potato for “bangers and mash”
banging
good; usually applied to music
barking
crazy or mad; coined from a former asylum in the eastern suburb of
Barking
barney an argument or disagreement
bedlam madness; as in “the roads are bedlam today”; a corruption of “Bethle-
hem,” an asylum formerly at the corner of Moorgate and London Wall, in
the City
black cab an official black taxi, as opposed to a private hire “minicab”; only
black cabs are permitted to tout for fares curbside
butcher's a look (from Cockney “butcher's hook”); as in “can I have a butcher's?”
BYO short for “bring your own”; a restaurant that doesn't have a licence to sell
alcoholic drinks but will happily open any you bring along, sometimes for a small
corkage fee
circus a (usually circular) coming together of streets, as at Piccadilly Circus
and Finsbury Circus
clink a prison; after the former Clink Prison, on the South Bank
damage the cost or bill; as in “what's the damage?”
dodgy not to be trusted, suspect; as in “that £20 note looks dodgy”
dosh money; also “bread” or “dough”
gaff home; “back to my gaff” means “back to my place”
G 'n' T gin and tonic; served with “ice and a slice,” i.e. an ice cube (two if
you're lucky) and a lemon wedge
greasy spoon
a basic cafe known for fried food
gutted
extremely disappointed; as in “I'm gutted that Arsenal beat Spurs last
night”
IPA India Pale Ale; a type of hoppy, light, English ale first brewed in the 18th
century
lager straw-hued, fizzy beer such as Budweiser and Foster's, served colder than
traditional ales (although it's a myth that English beers are served “warm”, lager
should appear at cool cellar temperature)
naff
cheap looking, or unfashionable
 
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