This is the full text of a letter published on page 69 of the current (Autumn) edition of 'This England', a magazine read by around two million patriotic folk worldwide:

"Dear Sir

I am a German, so perhaps you will be amazed that my favourite magazine is 'This England' and that I enjoy reading Nelson's Column [which has for two issues in a row favourably featured ARM - ed.].

I love England not only because of its beautiful countryside and historical heritage, but also for the kindness of the English people. I organise art-historical and bus tours, and last year I began to wonder why I now see so many metric signs both in London and in the countryside [hopefully there are fewer of them now - ed.].

England and the whole of the U.K. is for me synonymous with the imperial weights and measures. I use a speedometer in miles per hour for my bicycle and also imperial weights for my scales.

In April I walked alone with a rucksack through the lonely Yorkshire Dales and there I also saw signs in kilometres instead of miles. Also lots of English books now write kms. and the height in metres instead of miles and feet.

In the autumn I am coming to England and I will write down details of all signs I can find which are written in metric. Please ask Mr. Nelson to send me the special form so that I can write to the correct authorities [the said form was devised by ARM and is available also from us - ed.].

I also hate the 'euro', as do lots of Germans, but it was not possible for us to have a referendum. I say again and again to the British people, please keep the pound forever and 'Don't let Europe rule Britannia!'

Uta Freiberg"


submiited by Tony Bennett

I must say that I question the validity of this letter.

Ralf

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In the autumn I am coming to England and I will write down details of all signs I can find which are written in metric. Please ask Mr. Nelson to send me the special form so that I can write to the correct authorities [the said form was devised by ARM and is available also from us - ed.].
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There is a reaction by some Germans against over-regulation. I think that the writter of this letter falls into that category. However, in his letter he let the cat out of the bag when he wrote " ... to send me the special form ...". The existance of a form implies the degree of regulation to which he is subconciously objecting.

That's pretty pathetic, Martin.
Would you prefer to write an entire letter or have one common one written for you so you just fill in the blanks? Hardly regulation.

Ralf: You are *not* a model German, pal. I've always said this. However you are entitled to your opinion, after all you are using a forum outside the "EuroZone" !!!

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That's pretty pathetic, Martin.
Would you prefer to write an entire letter or have one common one written for you so you just fill in the blanks? Hardly regulation.
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I have lived and operated bank accounts in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Germany. I know that the South African banks (which adopted ideas from both the UK and from Germany) had far more forms that the UK banks. In my dealing with UK banks, a lette will suffice in situations where the South Africans want a form.

I have also noticed that when if a German organisation (eg the tax office, bank etc) issues you with a piece of paper that should be kept, then two holes are punched in it to enable you to file that peice of paper. Junk mail does not have such holes. The issuing of forms is part of the same mentality.

Have these people not heard of "computers" ?