Worst mistakes tourists can make in London?

[whole diary]

[Reading General]

Not just tourists but several local people used to make the mistake of getting on the Loddon Bridge park and ride route in Reading, not even questioning the price of the fare, and find themselves in a huge car park under a motorway on the edge of town, next to the bridge over the River Loddon, instead of the metropolis up the road. This used to happen at least once a month in the three years I spent driving the route, even more often once the national concessions pass arrived. The confusion wouldn't happen until the last minute of the journey as the route leaves town by the London Road and even joins the (ex) motorway towards the M4 before leaving one junction later.
Once a chap in a range rover even dropped off two teenage girls at the bus stop at Loddon Bridge and drove off. They then just walked onto the bus without even looking at me and sat themselves down. I asked if they were going to pay and they told me under 16's don't pay in London! Dad probably wasn't too happy to come back and get them.
The route goes to another car park nearby now called Winnersh Triangle so the fun has come to an end for the current crew.

[broadgage]

A farming neighbour has two American students staying with him, free accommodation in return for work.

They expressed great surprise that "hard liquor" could be purchased without any ID.
That private possession of handguns is unknown.

Very perplexed at the suggestion that a "boilersuit" should be worn for farm work. Seemed to think that was some fireproof garment, not what they call a coverall.
And more puzzled by my suggestion that an "overall coat" might also be useful "what is that" they enquired, and I replied that I was wearing one. "That looks much too big" I explained that they come in other sizes, not just broadgage sized.

Shocked that no clothes dryer was provided.
And no central heating. Not even electric blankets.
Did not understand duvets either, and disliked them after use was explained.

And seemed astonished at a bull mating cows ! All done by artificial insemination back home.

[Bmblbzzz]

A farming neighbour has two American students staying with him, free accommodation in return for work.

They expressed great surprise that "hard liquor" could be purchased without any ID.

Depends where though, and of course how old you are. The law says you need to be 18, so retailers extend this to "Challenge 25" which gets interpreted at the till as "anyone under 40 needs to prove their age".

And seemed astonished at a bull mating cows ! All done by artificial insemination back home.

I know someone (in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)) whose job used to include collecting pig semen for artificial insemination. She described this task in terms probably unfit to be used on this forum.

[broadgage]

Overall coats, coveralls, and Wellington boots now supplied. Also top sheets and wool blankets for beds.

Tumble dryer=no way, too much electricity used.
Central heating, no way.

Riding a horse on public roads, possibly after some practice on private property.

Still perplexed by the bull. How does he know which cows to mate ? what stops him escaping and mating other cows ? What stops the herd becoming inbred by use of the same bull ? What if he mates too many cows ?

The farmer and myself assured them that cattle were kept and bred successfully long before AI was invented.

[TonyK]

And seemed astonished at a bull mating cows ! All done by artificial insemination back home.

Quite a bit is done that way here too. I'm not kidding - straight up, no bull.