Sinks and Windows

One thing I've noticed while here is that almost every sink in bathrooms here have two faucets: one for cold and one for hot.   It isn't like in America where most have either a single handle controlling both types of water, or where you have two different handles but still one faucet.
This is what UK sinks look like:

Now, I find this a bit troubling.  See, the "Hot" water faucet emits a scalding hot spray of water, while the "Cold" faucet sends out a stream of water colder than the Mid-Atlantic.  So here I am, turning on both faucets at once, alternating washing my hands under one stream for a second and then switching to the other one to balance out the first.
It almost becomes a dance of sorts, "hot, cold, hot, cold, Hot, Cold, Hot, Cold, HOT, COLD!"
I feel like it could possibly end up sending the nerve endings in my hands over the edge.  They could go on strike.








Next we have windows.  The UK is blessed in that mosquitoes--or insects for that matter--are almost non-existent.  For this reason, many people leave their windows and doors open, WITHOUT SCREENS.

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Now, I know that in Minnesota--and am fairly confident in saying that this would hold true for most of the US--this practice would be suicidal.  At the beginning of the day, you have an invasion of curious flies wander in through the open window, pining to set up shop in your kitchen.  Of course, there is no way to catch those flies, because they always move right at the last second.

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As midday approaches, you have an infestation of Asian beetles and box elder bugs.  These pesky buggers always manage to find their way in, but can never find their way back out.  The crawl on your window, endlessly looking for a hole that isn't there.  When they die, they stink up a storm.  Vacuuming them up just makes things worse.

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As evening sets in, the plague continues to rage.  The next wave comes from the mosquitoes.  These dreaded creatures can force even the most polite house guest into performing a most ridiculous dance in order to avoid or kill these bloodsucking creatures.

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Night falls, and soon you hear a dull flutter.  At the same time, the light flickers, and you realize that this last one is BIG.  Now you have the moths.  Loving light, these insect find a way into your cozily-lit house, and snuggle up to any source of light they can find.  Sometimes they stay still, while at other times they desperately fly back and forth trying to get ever closer to that shining beacon.



Yes, my friends, an America without screens would be an empty America.