Do people actually get on the wrong flight when travelling?

I don’t think it can be done. The amount of checks that are carried out nowadays together with electronic boarding passes means that people should be denied entry to the flight at the gate. I suppose that if the electronic check should fail there might be a possibility of the wrong person being let through, but that would be quite rare. There’s probably exceptions for people with missed connections and they have to take a transfer on a different flight, but they’d probably follow the same boarding process. There’s also the possibility of human error where the scanner is too sensitive and what should have been flagged as an error doesn’t record a boarding. I did make a dash for a gate once as I heard it was the final boarding call, only to realise upon reaching the queue that it was the same destination but a different flight. But that was the closest I’ve been to boarding the wrong plane.

Why do some passengers get called to the desk before boarding their flight?

This happened to our party twice in our lifetime. The first time was when we were very young. It was regarding a pushchair that we’d checked into the oversized baggage. Apparently we’d left an item in the pushchair, but fortunately it could be placed into our hand luggage. The second time was when we’d already cleared passport control but the check-in hadn’t been processed properly so the clerk needed to see the passport again to complete the process. Sometimes the flight team need a little more information. Perhaps you need assistance to board the flight and the team need to make arrangements for a prompt departure. Sometimes you might be asked if you’re comfortable switching seats to accompany another couple’s request. Or perhaps you’ve bought too much duty-free and your boarding pass has been flagged. Someone might have a query about their destination. Or someone might be trying to reach you. There’s hundreds of variables here.

Will the airport care if I arrive ten hours before my flight?

It depends on how much of a security risk you’re planning to be especially in a 24-hour airport. I imagine that your boarding pass would only grant you access to the airside lounge during a particular time window to avoid overcrowding, especially if delays have occurred. It’s quite common to see someone kipping on some seats while they wait for their check-in to open. There might be a café open that you can hang out at, but you may have to keep buying items to remain a customer. However, there may be periods with no flights at all, which would give the airport an opportunity to do some maintenance. In this case, they’d ask you to leave. It’s best to know before you go, or have a back-up plan in mind. Take a look at what airside services are offered, and if there are any alternatives nearby to stop you from spending a fortune. 

If a police vehicle is tailgating you, should you speed up, maintain speed, slow down, or pull over and stop?

The safest method is to pull over and stop. You need to do this in a safe area where it’s legally acceptable to pull over and park, and not on a hard shoulder. If the officer questions you, you can always inform them that their driving is distracting you, and that you’re giving them the opportunity to pass while maintaining a safe environment. Until then, you should maintain your speed so as not to attract them to your presence. Speeding up might draw suspicion to escape from their eyesight. If you slow down, you become a hazard to them. Of course, you’ll need to prioritise all hazards as a priority over their actions unless they give you specific instructions. You’ll also need to consider if you’re trying to avoid suspicion or whether you’ve got anything to hide, and what your best opportunity is. The important thing is not to give them an excuse.

Is the British Army tougher than the American Army?

We’re well ‘ard. We’re trained to survive in all sorts of situations where we’ve run out of ammo and the radio’s broken. We carry on. An American will panic as son as the last resource is in sight of running out. Our training covers everything from surviving in the wilderness to gathering your bearings and using what’s around you. We may not have rock-hard abs or be jacked up, but we’ve certainly got a good bit of kit that isn’t disposable which keeps us active. The toughest squad is renowned throughout the world for its secret operations. Instead of running away at the first sign of trouble, we’ll work as a team to put in the graft required to get the job done. And if we bleed, we’ll keep on crawling to do our duty and die to protect their colleagues. We’ve had presence in military conflicts all over the world miles away from our borders. And there’s so few of us compared to other armies.

Can I call the police for a ride to court?

It depends on what number you use. If you call the local station and explain the situation in good time, they may bend a sympathetic ear and will be able to help you out if they’re not busy. If you can provide evidence that you had made plans but they didn’t come to fruition then they’re more likely to help you. They’ll probably have to schedule you a lot earlier and you’ll have to provide a good reason as to why you can’t get there yourself. It does sound a bit desperate if you have to do this though, but at least you’re being honest. If the worst comes to the worst, they will come and get you, though they’d probably lock you up for a while first. Public transportation may be a better option, or maybe a neighbour or family neighbour. Failing that, you may need to make a new friend.

Can I refuse to do an Exit Interview with my boss?

It depends on your employment contract, so you’ll have to check it carefully. There may be a penalty if you don’t, especially if you’re relying on a reference. If you do go ahead with one, you must ensure that it’s on the company time and that it’s recorded so that you can be paid appropriately. It should also be during the notice period. If you’re forced to come back afterwards, made sure that it’s at their expense and not your own. And be careful of emails inviting you to complete surveys as well. These should also be on their time as they get paid to read or process them so why shouldn’t you get paid to complete them? Make sure an upfront payment is agreed and that it’s immoral of them to ask otherwise, unless of course you’re feeling quite chummy and you really want to help the company out.

Why do British Pubs have such perculiar names? Is there a rule to naming them?

There’s no rule to naming them, though profanity must be avoided so as not to remain controversial. People generally like to refer to them as something of the history of the area. The pub itself is a landmark and helps as a reference for locals describing their area to others. Even the most modern ones like to refer to what was in the area originally. The most traditional names like to declare their alliance to the throne. I doubt that a lot of towns had red lions roaming around. A lot of other animal names are used. Occasionally, a name will be changed simply because the people who ran it previously gave it a bad reputation, or the new owners want a fresh start. Each pub may also have something characteristic inside to set itself from others like a well. Otherwise it would just be known as the pub. If I were to name a pub, I’d call it The Naughty Vicar.

Is the British invasion called that in the UK?

I’m not sure what you’re referring to. Could it possibly be the Revolution when Americans earned their independence? I can’t think of much that we particularly invaded and took over, apart from small ports in order to trade with the rest of the country, though we did keep a bit of it for ourselves. Most people didn’t know that it was happening owing to the communication technology available at the time. Others might mishear the term and use it for when the English invaded Wales and Scotland, though they’d refer to the invaders as English rather than British. Some people seem to think it happened when the Beatles came to America, but all they wanted to do is play a few records. So can I think the same way when Trump pops over to play golf? But if you take the intelligence of some people, it could be the sale of Cadbury bars for all they know. Sometimes a bit of context is good.

Why is English the official language of the European Union when Great Britain isn't even a member?

I’m wondering if the person who’s asking this question thinks that Great Britain and the United Kingdom are two separate countries. One used to be in the European Union and one has never been in. But it’s the same with air traffic. English rules the skies. It’s because of our empire. Britain were the original international traders since their explorers went everywhere, mainly because they were keen to get off the isle. Perhaps it’s the easiest language to learn rather than it’s done as a convenience. Our population may be greater than we realise since we have absorbed so many cultures. And once other countries began to trade with us, it would probably be easier to communicate with others rather than having to learn an entire third language. It is a bit weird since other countries would be bus disputing their borders whereas all the Brits had to do was to build a boat to tell them that they were there. It’s nice when things work out that way.

Why do British people spell "program" as "programme"?

There’s actually different definitions for the terms. A program is something that you’d use to complete a task on your computer. It’s a professional dictating a computer how the memory or ram should behave. Or at least it used to be, it’s more commonly known as an app now, even on a desktop computer. A programme is something that you’d have to describe a plan for an event. Pop into a theatre and pick up a copy of Playbill (if it’s still going) and you’re looking directly at a programme. It’s a series of events rammed into a piece of paper telling you what is going to happen. It might tell you where to find things or it could just be a list of the acts with information about the performers and when to expect an interval. Some are even uniquely numbered and are sold as part of a prize draw. And of course, the British have been holding fetes and performances a lot longer than other countries…

Why do you think British teens don’t sneak out at night like so many teens do in the US?

Maybe they do. They’re just better at not being caught. It could be a combination of the parent’s laziness and not bothering to enter the teenager’s room because all of the lights are off and there’s no TV or radio playing causing the parent to enter the teenager’s room and turn the devices off to save some money. Or perhaps it’s the thought of wandering the streets on a cold, dark night that put the teenagers off. Or perhaps teens know the value of completing tasks to be allowed out to socialise with friends and learn new skills rather than being locked up safe and sound. I suppose it depends on where they live. Towns will always be safer than cities simply because there’s less people and traffic about. There’s also the golden rule of never biting the hand that feeds you no matter how much you despise it. Or it could be that British drinking laws allow for British teens to drink younger than American ones.

My parents are spending my inheritance. What can I do about it?

Have you drawn up a legal agreement or are you just concerned? If you have, the law is on your side and you can use it to force them into labour to protect yourself. Be aware that costs have increased and not everything runs according to plan. If you’re concerned, there’s other actions that you can take. You can seek out better employment or change your lifestyle so that money isn’t a worry to you. Or you could spend time with your parents. At least that way they’ll be sharing their wealth with you. They may also respect you for it. After all, it is their money. If they’re doing it out of spite, there’s not much you can do about it, unless you can prove that they’re incompetent in managing their funds and seek their power of attorney. But if you’re really desperate, you could make them disappear; though there are legal complications if you’re discovered. 

If I win 8 million at the casino and leave immediately, what will be the consequences?

If you’re leaving immediately, then I’m assuming that you’re not stopping to cash any chips. That means that either the money is already in your account because you’re playing an on-line machine, or you’ve had a payout in cash. It’d be very hard for you to get far with two million quarters. Someone might help you or you might drop a few on the way. You’re also expected to tip the staff, but that depends if you’ve availed yourself of their services. They’ll certainly attempt to congratulate you if they find out. You can leave a bit more anonymously if you’ve been using a video machine, though there’s also the chance that it’s notified someone and they can follow you via the security cameras. You can perhaps expect some sort of hired goon to follow and stop you until they’ve engaged with you, unless you’ve physically left the chips on the table.

Should pork be banned in the UK to avoid offending muslims?

It’s difficult to ban something that’s always been there. If there’s health benefits then it’s worth considering, but you’re talking about a huge section of the economy. How will this be replaced? People need to value the culture that they’re in rather than make it their own. If they’re not going to adapt then they’re really going to struggle with interaction, and they’re going to be isolated in return. If we stop everything that offends someone, then there’s not going to be much left. It certainly restricts your freedom. People have likes and dislikes. You just have to come to a unanimous decision of what is and isn’t’ permitted, and agree with authority so that it can be enforced. In the meantime, you have to show a little tolerance or find an environment that supports your values. It’s just a way of spotlighting those who have different values. Some people don’t like vegetables.

Do Firemen just sit around at work waiting for a fire to happen?

That’d be nice, wouldn’t it? If nothing happens, they get an easy shift. But why have them on call in the first place? They could always work at home. Time is of the essence. You need to be ready in your gear so that you can get there fast. I mean you could wear your uniform all day long and your wife would love you for it, but it also means that you have to be contactable in an instant, which could be troublesome if communications were to fail. It’s probably why this sort of equipment; along with detachable sirens; are only used by fire chiefs. During daylight hours they spend their time visiting schools and communities talking about fire prevention; supplying some detectors and letting little kids try on their helmets. There’s also practice drills. At night you may go on patrol. I assume you’ll be expected to change watches between one shift and the next, because no-one wants a lazy fireman who oversleeps.

What do I do if bailiffs show up at the door with a writ for someone who isn't living there?

Tell them the truth! Why do you have anything to hide? Do you know the person in question? Normally a form of ID is enough to make them go away. You can ask them what evidence they have which proves that they live there. It’s up to them to prove that they do live there; and if you own the property you also have the right to deny them entry, though you may want to invite them anyway to prove that there’s nothing to hide. If you don’t own the property, you may want to pass on the details of the visit to the Landlord. The only trouble is that once they’re in, they may not leave until the debt is paid or the missing person is located. That also includes making a listing of possessions on the site. You can also request a copy of the document that the bailiff has and record them if you feel it’s necessary.

I left my job without telling anyone; now my boss is trying to reach me. What should I do?

It sounds like you’re having second thoughts. You don’t have to do anything. But you should know why you left your job. Do you have any loose ends to tie up? It sounds like your boss thinks you do as they’re trying to make contact with you. It does sound a bit irresponsible to abandon your post. Are you expecting a scolding? Or is your boss looking for feedback on what can be improved? If you’re being mistreated and there’s already a better opportunity for you, then perhaps it’s best to leave everything in the dark, though you have to be aware that your predecessor may try to ruin your reputation by your actions. A little more context is needed here. And the fact that you’re asking for help indicates that you’re not sure that you’re doing the right thing. You need help from someone who can act who can make it better. You should really get in touch, even if it’s only to say that you do not wat to be bothered by them again.

Husband leaves wife because she becomes deformed. No one expected what she did next...

It all sounds a bit cruel and van when you think that someone supports you has decided to leave you after an accident. But there’s a right way and a wrong way to get even, especially if you do it purposefully. If she was to go on and best herself while shaming her partner, that gives her more power. However, the story doesn’t do that. You’re just lured in by the headline. There’s a lot of detail about her recovery and how people are making donations so that she get on with her life, but there’s nothing about what she has physically done. There’s no comeuppance or revenge mentioned here, or any word of her husband mentioned whatsoever. It’s also a bit unclear as to who is speaking at times. But what you do need to take away from the story is that you need to stay positive no matter what the circumstances are and work hard for a better future.

My landlord is evicting me because I'm two years late on rent. How do I tell him I'm not leaving no matter what?

Do you need to tell him? You’ve already decided to disobey the law. Do you think that telling him will stop an attempt to evict you? Is it a warning that he’ll need more assistance if he’s going to attempt to get you out? By all means write a letter, post it on Facebook, put a sign outside the door with lots of barricades but if you’ve already decided to stay then there’s not much point. You could even telephone him; I’m sure he’s given you his contact details if you haven’t been paying up. The trouble is that the law is on his side so you can’t run the risk of going out again or he’ll just enter and change all the locks. If one set of circumstances change, you can’t expect everything else to work around you. People can be understanding and a little lenient but they won’t put up with things forever.