Some things to hate about the UK

#1: Coins (aka shrapnel)

Grrrr, the coins over here are ridiculous - they're so backward that they still have 1p, 2p, and 5p pieces which just fills up your wallet with heavy but virtually worthless junk - I bet with today's copper prices, the 1 & 2p coins would actually be worth more than their face value if sold as scrap! You have to fiddle round for half an hour at checkouts trying to get rid of this stuff and they have also conveniently mixed up the coin sizes relative to value which makes things even worse.

#2: Toilets

One annoying thing over here is the flush handles on all loos - these resemble door handles and sometimes have to be pushed several times or pumped rigorously to actually flush (especially if trying to remove a large triple-coil deposit). Another problem is that they still use those horrible smelling sanitary blocks in urinals, and in large quantities. In NZ, I think they realised that these things actually make your bollocks shrivel-up and fall off so have stopped using them. There truly is nothing like the smell of these blocks mixed with the smell of urine, cigarettes and beer. Some of the hostels we've visited are pretty grotty and they seem to have some strange aversion to providing hand-drying facilities. Also, here's a tip - in flash automatic toilets on trains, always remember to push the door 'lock' button.

#3: CCTV

No, this isn't some local TV station running programmes about a jam making contests run by the United League of Women, but the thousands of closed-circuit TV cameras watching every square-metre of public space. Apparently, the average Briton is caught on camera up to a couple of hundred times a day. There are all kinds of debate about the necessity of these things, their effectiveness and so on. Whatever side you're on, most will agree that there is something quite unnerving about being constantly watched. They're even starting to trial speakers on the cameras so they can tell people off - 'Oi you, hands out of pants!'. Though I admit, some major fun could be had if you were the one sitting in the control room.