Life In London: June 2004 Archives

Piccadilly Circus is one of the busiest spots in London, a non-stop swirl of traffic, flashing electronic billboards, and pedestrians. But amongst the whirl is an enduring symbol of constancy: the Odd Erection Guy.

When I first moved to London, a friend of mine gave me some good advice: "Notice things now, while they're still strange." All too soon, London ceased to be alien and exotic; it became, simply, the place where I live. I missed the sensation of vague disorientation, of living in a strange land whose customs are not quite my own.

Fortunately, I recently discovered a place where I can once again feel like a foreigner: the United States of America.

I'm sure that British people find American English absolutely hilarious. No doubt some of our most common phrases strike them as bizarre, or possibly obscene, but no British person would ever be so rude as to put up photos on their web page of signs that made them giggle.

Thank heavens I'm an American and have no such scruples. Herewith, my photo essay on Funny Signs of Britain. Warning: some of the signs are NSFWUYWIGB ("Not Safe For Work Unless You Work In Great Britain.")