Imperial or Metric

As we all die off the system will inevitably become entirely metric because that is what children and young people use at school – and have for quite a long time. It's mostly just old people who cling to imperial measurements, plus a few slightly younger ones who prefer to have 36-inch rather than 91-cm hips.

I came to London for 6 months in 1970- so had to learn all the Imperial system and old money. Then went back home, only to be wooed back to UK- and straight into the metrification saga and new money, lol. Had to do driving license again, on 'wrong' side of the road. As said, it is good for ze little grey cells.

As a mother I had to adjust fast to help my daughters, first learn English correctly, then nursery rhymes, games, traditions, all great fun.

Don't we owe it to our children and grand-children to find out and learn new methods so we can best support them. What example is it to just throw our arms in the air- if we want them to fight difficulties and succeed. It shouldn't really take half a lifetime to make minor adjustments? Should it, really?

Sorry - I know this message won't be popular- but here we go, LOL

I agree that being able to use both systems is good for the brain. The thing is, it's actually quite useful to be able to use both because the US (and Canada????) still use pounds and ounces, miles, and the one I hate most, Fahrenheit! So we're not really out of sync with the rest of the world. It's out of sync with us!

How bloody British is that?

I use both. I remember my height in imperial (5'3") and my weight in metric (53kg). You can see why I do that — only two numerals to remember. Very efficient . I use inches when I'm doing patchwork quilting because cutting boards and templates are mainly made in the US, but I buy fabrics by the metre or fractions of metres. I cook from recipes in pounds and ounces or grammes depending how old the recipe is. And so on. Nothing disastrous about that. It's just two different ways of measuring the same things.

I am surprised to hear that people still think in old money though. That really is making things hard for yourself!

I agree - I mix and match, too. It's not that hard - but I do refuse to use centigrade when talking about the weather temperature!

LOL, agreed. I remember my weight being 53kg- once- a long time ago!

Wot's 53kg in 'real' weight? [devilish emoticon]

8 stone 3 - yep that was a long time ago - about same time metrication came i LOL

Just had a grandaughter, 15th May...6lb 7oz...no idea what that would be in metric...long live Imperial

Congratulations, pammygran!

How wonderful pammygran Congratulations on her arrival. I hope you're getting lots of cuddles

How lovely, pammy.

When our DS was born my DH put a notice on our door to tell the neighbours and put his weight as 3 point something kilos [which translated to 8lb 10oz approx]. Many of the neighbours thought he was so tiny!!!!!!

Just over 3kilos I think.
The worst I knew was when I went away on holiday and while I was away the hospital converted fron F to C for temperatures!
I thought all my patients were hypothermic!
Nobody had thout to tell me.

Bags Canada has been metric for decades.

Goldengirl - you must have the same name as me (very French though)

Just made a rice pud in Geneva-1 tbsp rice 2 tbsp sugar small carton of milk-use a bottle at home -500mls is more than a pint there runny pud not creamy. They ate it with enthusiasm-I do enjoy showing the French how good unfussy English food is

Thanks, absent. i wondered (thus the ????) but couldn't be bothered to check mid post.

I would like to be able to give my chest (it's not worthy of the name "bust") measurement in centimetres, and my hips in inches, but I suspect that would be cheating and possibly even contravene the trades descriptions act if it was on a dating website! (Which it definitely isn't).

I tend to "mix and match" depending on what I'm doing. But what I don't understand is The Daily Telegraph who used to give their temperatures in centigrade and have now taken a backward step and have reverted to using farenheit. Why?

Lots of weather forecasts give Fahrenheit temperatures when it's particularly hot as the higher number sounds hotter. 28°C = 82°F. However, I don't think that can be the reason at the moment yogagran.

This article, published in today's online Telegraph puts all the temps in Celsius. As one would expect.

Many thanks for lovely wishes re new 1st grandaughter...when does the overwhelming urge to bore friends to death with photos of her go??

Never, I'm afraid....

Many congrats Pammygran. I know what it is like, our first is 5 weeks old and I have to resist the urge to show or e-mail EVERY photo!!