Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Wales

Is Johnson & Wales worth it?

firei — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 08:54:06 -0800

I'm thinking of going to culinary school for baking and pastry. Right now Johnson & Wales in RI is the front runner. My question: is JWU worth it, or should I be looking elsewhere? I live in "upstate" NY - I'm a little more than an hour north of NYC, and about an hour south of the CIA.

I really like what I've read on the J&W website, and plan to go visit the school sometime in the next few months. However, I'm having some trouble finding outside sources talking about the school or the program!

And the few that I've found (mostly on ask.meta) seem to be in regards to the culinary program, not the baking and pastry program.

So, did you go to J&W for baking and pastry? Do you know someone who did? (In a pinch, I'll take info on the culinary program, too.)

Or would you recommend a different school? Let's assume that location, as long as it is within the states, is not an issue.

I would prefer a program that will lead to a bachelors, a program that is not primarily filled with just out of high school kids, and the best bang for my buck. I'm willing to shell out the dough, but only if it will be worth it!

(Please note: I'm not asking if culinary school is a good idea/bad idea/waste of money/whatever. I'm just asking about the schools!)

Thanks!

Want to lie in a tent at night and hear nothing but the waves.

lottie — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:35:43 -0800

Where are the best places in New South Wales to camp in close proximity to a beach? But wait, here's the catch... I would prefer recommendations which aren't for established camping grounds full of tents, caravans, dogs, cars, shower blocks, jet skiis and other people.

I'm looking for a National Park-type setting where a hike is rewarded with a gorgeous, private location. It would be great to be able to use fire to cook etc.

Tell me your favourite spot, and I promise to take care of it and to leave exactly how we found it.

UK Fringe Resources Wanted

divabat — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:33:21 -0800

What are some great resources, preferably online, of fringe arts (burlesque, cabaret, circus, improv, street theatre, etc) in the United Kingdom? I only know of Ministry of Burlesque and that's it. I'm looking for listings of events, schools, workshops, venues, performers, anything to do with the more oddball non-conventional performing arts. I'll likely be concentrating on England, but Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland-related links are good too.

Recommend quirky places to visit or places to eat/drink between London and Snowdonia...?

skylar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:02:04 -0800

I'm taking a journey by car from London (England) to Portmeirion (North Wales) and back a day later. The quickest route appears to be M1-M6-M54-A5 and then eastwards through Snowdonia and a variety of smaller roads. Along this route, say anywhere after Northampton, are there any lovely/eccentric places to stop either for some brief sightseeing or for a bite to eat and something to drink? The idea is to take a break halfway through the journey or so. I don't mind a detour of a few miles off my route if it means avoiding frightful motorway service stations with terrible food and no atmosphere. I'm seeking recommendations from people who have either taken this route from London to North Wales or who live along the route. Where would you stop for a gander and for a meal if it was up to you? Quirky, strange or picturesque places appreciated.

Finally I'm willing to consider taking a different route home, travelling southwards out through Snowdonia...so if there are some great sights or some peculiar inns in a different direction that I should visit please let me know! Thanks.

Anti-England Rugby songs?

kalimac — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 13:57:27 -0800

I am a fan of Wales' rugby team. I live with an England fan. Please help me make his life that much more annoying. So, I've recently converted to being a rabid Welsh fan, but aforesaid flatmate (along with many other friends) have a leg up on me by having grown up here in the UK, and thus they already know all the rude songs about Wales' team. As I'm living in a country full of people whose national identity involves singing, I'm convinced there's something a bit dirtier than "As Long as We Beat the English" out there, but I have yet to find it. And I can't really spend my whole life making fun of Martin Johnson's eyebrows.

Any songs/chants/whatever people can come up with would be hugely awesome. I'm reasonably solid on the Welsh anthems, but anything is welcome :) Cheers!

12 - 15 is less than zero.

vernondalhart — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:39:39 -0800

I might have made a gross error. Is there something that I can do to speed up my Visa application? I asked not long ago about Visa applications to the UK and finally got around earlier this week to couriering my completed application to the border services group in Ottawa. I will be going as a dependent of my girlfriend, who is there on a Student visa. I assumed, what with her being American and my being Canadian, that my visa would take as long as hers did, or less. Which wouldn't be long.

I received an email a few hours ago saying the following:

Please be advised that an Entry Clearance Officer has reviewed your application. The Entry Clearance Officer has assessed that your application is not straightforward and has deferred your case in order to make further enquiries.

This process can take up to 15 workings days for most non-settlement applications. Settlement applications may take longer.

The problem is that my flight leaves in 12 days. Yes, I understand (now) that I should not have booked a flight before I have my visa and passport in hand, but unfortunately I had not thought there would be anything complicated about my application.

So what does this mean? What, if anything can I do to expedite this process? I can't find any phone number to call to get (or to give) more information as to how long this might be held up.

How does a Canadian get to Wales?

vernondalhart — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:58:31 -0800

What do I need to do to be able to live in Wales for 8 months? I'm a Canadian citizen. I will admit that this is short notice, but I'm not really finding the information that I want online, or perhaps what I'm looking for just doesn't exist.

Basically, my girlfriend is going to be doing a graduate degree in Wales, and the plan is, come January, for me to follow her for 8 months. I'm Canadian. I'm studying at a Canadian university for a PhD. I have funding for that period of time, so the intent is for me to live off of that funding in Wales instead. This is perfectly acceptable from the perspective of my institution. I just don't know how to arrange it in Wales.

The visitor's visa seems to be for 6 months (which can be extended, I guess), but I would be there slightly longer. I'd like to have the option to work while there, part-time, but that isn't strictly necessary.

I was under the impression that there was some way for commonwealth citizens to be able to zip over to the UK to live and work, relatively easily. Is that still the case?

I suppose when it comes down to it, I'm not exactly certain what I'm looking for. There have been a few previous questions, but none from Canadians that I could see. Any information would be appreciated.

Looking for British Folk Music

interrobang — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 10:37:23 -0800

Where can I find old recordings of British folk music? Is there a British Isles equivalent to the Smithsonian Folkways series of recordings? I'm interested in hearing real folk music--maybe from the 1900s to 1930s--not Fairport Convention-type bands that were influenced by old folk music. I'd love it if this music were freely downloadable online, but any suggestions for albums to buy would be appreciated, too. I'm hoping that there's something like this online, but for English music. Thanks!

Driving on the Wrong Side with the Wind in my Hair

MasonDixon — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 06:36:51 -0800

Looking for great scenic and historic drives in England, the wind whipping my hair as I wind through cottages and countryside. Thus far, The guidebooks and my google-fu are failing me. I'll be in England with a convertible I am looking for some great scenic and/or historic drives.

I have some flexibility but I will be based in around Oxford, so it can't be anything too remote (No Scotland, Northumbria, Lake District or Yorkshire). I will also be in Wales for a little while. It's not hard to find great American drives on the web or in guidebooks, and I'd like to find a parallel listing for British ones.

Oh, and I've been to the Cotswolds before, but any specifically great itineraries would be welcome.

How do I get my tipis from Canada to England?

ndicecco — Sun, 20 May 2007 14:08:58 -0800

Wondering how to: Travel with 26 foot (cured black spruce) tipi poles, canvas and various assorted camping gear from Toronto Canada to England / Wales. Alternatively: How do I rent a tipi or a yurt (or other rustic / gypsy style camping caravans) in the UK? I have a Chevy 4 X 4 with roof racks, which holds all of the gear I want to take with me.

Preferred date of travel Aug 1-15

Preferred route: travel by road and ship. I'm willing to ship the truck and fly, but open to other suggestions.

What is the best (and least expensive) way to do this sort of travelling? Who should I get in contact with to organize this?

Why is the United Kingdom still a united kingdom?

dcrocha — Mon, 14 May 2007 11:46:56 -0800

Why is the United Kingdom still a united kingdom? I was reading The Economist two weeks ago and they had an article about Scotland and how the Scottish National Party, which strongly advocates for independence from the U.K., may have a nice victory on next elections with their newly-created platform of seeking independence based on a possible automatic admission to the European Union.

It was also mentioned in the article that Scots like to be called Scots, not Brits; the same goes for Wales (Welsh, not Brit) and so on. I did know that before. The article also said that British government, in the past few years, has given member countries much more power over their own matters than ever before. I did not know that before.

With all that said, my question is: if nobody likes to be British, why does the United Kingdom still exist? Why don't the four member countries split up, join the EU and start minding their own businesses?

Help me find a vaguely-described book.

casconed — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 17:11:50 -0800

I read a book when I was 12 or 13 about a boy who may have been living in Wales. The only things I remember about the book are that it involved aliens, cairns (as grave markers?) and that it scared the heck out of me. Does this ring any bells with anyone?

How to pronounce Powys?

jsteward — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 23:01:11 -0800

How do you pronounce the Welsh "state" of Powys?

What to see on the driving portion of my honeymoon?

Mayor Curley — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 17:37:59 -0800

MayorCurleyinZionFilter: What must I see in the surrounds of Bath, as well as south Wales and the Cotswalds? We're driving out from London on the M4 to Bath, up to Powys and through the Cotswolds. We have guidebooks. But we want personal suggestions. Here are the stipulations:

We have lots of time in the Bath region. Is Avebury worth seeing? What else can't we miss in/near Bath? We've read the guidebooks-- now I want to hear your ideas.

South Wales is really just a drive through, but I want another "stop and look" after Tintern Abbey. We're headed towards Powys, which I know very well (but I will certainly consider suggestions if you want to make them). But I know very little about attractions in Wales outside of Powys. The ideal suggestion here is something on the way to Builth/Llandrindod that we can find with a minimum of swearing, get out of the car, look around and continue on. I'm not opposed to walking (even though I'm an American), but I am going to be anxious at this point to get to he (sentimental) destination. But I also don't want my vacation to be memories of driving, either. Get it?

Cotswolds: just like Bath-- couple of days, only know it through the guidebooks, want insider info. Or should we scrap the Cotswolds and do Herefordshire? I always kind of liked Hereford. Or I liked the cider.

Super Bonus Question: Am I stupid to be returning my car inside the city? As in, will London driving be so awful that we should return at Heathrow and leg it into town on the Tube/Express? Boston drivers pretty much take PCP before they get behind the wheel and I can handle that. But I have to date spent a total of 25 minutes driving on the left in my 31 years. Will I be FULLY prepared to drive in that rat maze?