British firms banned from building new US Embassy in London over secrecy fears [Archive]

jay

11-09-2008, 10:42 PM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1084178/British-firms-banned-building-new-US-Embassy-London-secrecy-fears.html

anniefromessex

11-09-2008, 11:25 PM

Perhaps I should keep my thoughts to myself on this one - I don't think any of you will have heard swear words like it!!!!

Love Anniexxx

chris

11-10-2008, 12:58 PM

It does seem yet again, the Americans are plodding around with hob nailed boots again. but I think you just have to recognise that the embassy will be built on American sovereign soil not British soil. Therefore they can choose whoever they want. I am sure that the British Govt may have similar arrangements.
I remember the folly of the US Embassy in Moscow, where they used a Russian firm. The building was so riddled with bugs they never moved into it.

byjove

11-10-2008, 01:48 PM

Yes! But where is this "special relationship" now! Relationships involve trust!

Bakewell

11-10-2008, 03:07 PM

Ahhhh... GoogleEarth must've anticipated wrongly then! If you enter the address of the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, into GoogleEarth, it actually shows you the Royal Mail sorting office up the road. They obviously thought that a British company would build the new one... in the wrong place.

Hang on, though... is it still called the Royal Mail? Or did it ever get changed to Consignia after all..?

That would mean that letters - once delivered by the Postman - are now brought by the Conman. :rofl:

kirtida8

11-10-2008, 03:24 PM

Bakewell - what are you like :rofl:

Kriz1

11-10-2008, 03:46 PM

I'm not sure if conmen deliver my mail...but the mail is sure sent by conmen...lucky enough its been really warm up here...I really wonder how cold people can keep their homes before they freeze to death...

Bakewell

11-10-2008, 05:02 PM

I remember over-hearing an embassy staffer on the phone giving the address as Graaz Vinorr Square. It'll be interesting to see how they cope with pronouncing "Vauxhall".

Bakewell

11-10-2008, 05:06 PM

I really wonder how cold people can keep their homes before they freeze to death...

I heard on the Beeb this week that gas prices have risen 48% over twelve months. But the UK's still among the cheaper across Europe.

That's all right, then, is it..?

It's 49f here at the moment and a log fire is crackling away but I'm still hiding in the basement with the windows open. :cool:

DEE F

11-10-2008, 05:17 PM

I heard on the Beeb this week that gas prices have risen 48% over twelve months. But the UK's still among the cheaper across Europe.

That's all right, then, is it..?

It's 49f here at the moment and a log fire is crackling away but I'm still hiding in the basement with the windows open. :cool:Bakewell you just crack me up,I dont care if the embassy is moving to Timbukto,just love reading your posts,and now the signiture at the bottom,classic!!!!:D:D:D:D:D

Dee xx

Bakewell

11-10-2008, 06:40 PM

...now the signiture at the bottom

You're not supposed to come here to look at bottoms.

:p

DEE F

11-10-2008, 07:57 PM

You're not supposed to come here to look at bottoms.

:p:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: :rofl::rofl:will you marry me?

Dee x

Bakewell

11-10-2008, 08:13 PM

will you marry me?

Depends.

Are ya any good at smoking kippers?

DEE F

11-10-2008, 08:15 PM

Depends.

Are ya any good at smoking kippers?:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:am willing to learn if you keep making me laugh.

Dee xx

anniefromessex

11-10-2008, 08:32 PM

Dee you are such a hussy!! Bakewell, I think the only thing Dee is good at smoking is ciggies ha ha!!

Love Anniexxx

Bakewell

11-10-2008, 09:17 PM

Bakewell, I think the only thing Dee is good at smoking is ciggies

...on the Plus side, ciggies don't make half so much mess of the ashtray as kippers.

DEE F

11-11-2008, 01:20 AM

...on the Plus side, ciggies don't make half so much mess of the ashtray as kippers.Thats good,so the wedding is on then,by the way ,will that then make me Mrs Bakewell Tart !!!!!!!!

Annie not a word !

Dee XX

PS Now you have mentioned kippers you have made me want some:D

Bakewell

11-11-2008, 04:02 AM

Thats good,so the wedding is on then,by the way ,will that then make me Mrs Bakewell Tart !!!!!!!!

You might not like this much but, in my neck of the woods, there're only Bakewell Puddings.

Fine by me but you're walking over the threshold...

Ed Tha Brit

11-11-2008, 04:01 PM

Thats good,so the wedding is on then,by the way ,will that then make me Mrs Bakewell Tart !!!!!!!!

Annie not a word !

Dee XX

PS Now you have mentioned kippers you have made me want some:D

Hello Dee,

Here you go again with Tarts & Puddings?

Hollands Steak Puddings now that's real food when we have these cold nights in Florida?

Have a nice Day
Ed Tha Brit

DEE F

11-11-2008, 04:41 PM

Hello Dee,

Here you go again with Tarts & Puddings?

Hollands Steak Puddings now that's real food when we have these cold nights in Florida?

Have a nice Day
Ed Tha BritEd the Brit ,how dare you know me so well,you will have Bakewell all het up,and now you have made me want a steak pie and chips nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooo:D

Dee x

anniefromessex

11-13-2008, 08:09 PM

Dee, go on let him have one of your puddings, ha ha!!

Love Anniexxx

Paul Elliott

11-14-2008, 02:36 AM

I don't blame the Yanks for banning British firms. I remember the destructive spirit that was abroad among some British workers in the 70s which manifested itself in Marxism and anti-Americanism and produced sabotage and whistle blowing. Even though Communism is now dead these people will always embrace some form of spiritual suicide to sublimate their self-destructive urges: Islamic fundamentalism perhaps. Keep 'em out Sammy.

chris

11-14-2008, 12:20 PM

It's early in the morning and it's Friday, so can we have a plain English translation to your political diatribe please?
Do I take it you simply don't like British construction companies??

peter gold

11-14-2008, 01:43 PM

Chris you have a way with words I like!

Paul Elliott

11-14-2008, 04:07 PM

It's early in the morning and it's Friday, so can we have a plain English translation to your political diatribe please?
Do I take it you simply don't like British construction companies??

Send an SAE. I'll buy you a library ticket.

chris

11-14-2008, 07:47 PM

Now why would I need to buy a library ticket to understand English if it were plain English.
With all due respect your post this morning sounded just like the intelligencia wallers you hung around with when you were younger and now castigate. Cor that's two big words for Friday!

DEE F

11-14-2008, 07:55 PM

Now now boys,no arguing its Friday !!!

Dee xx

chris

11-14-2008, 08:21 PM

No-one's arguing Dee. Just a discussion over the use of the English language.

anniefromessex

11-14-2008, 08:56 PM

Christ, I know I can be a little over the top sometimes but at least you understand me and can fight fire with fire! Sorry Paul, but at the end of the day as far as I am concerned yes, they can use who they like but just wish they would give the Brits in America the chance to use who THEY want - one law for them and another for us.

I know it is classed as American soil, but hey it's in England at the end of the day - but who really cares I sure as hell dont!

Love Anniexxx

Kriz1

11-14-2008, 09:18 PM

You could say the same about the English Embassy Annie..I would hope that people respect its as little bit of England...:)

Oh and I understand Paul OK..:D

I'm sure that is no surprise to some.........:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

InnVic

11-14-2008, 10:18 PM

Why don't they just build the bloody place in Orlando and save us all a trip!
(written from poolside Cancun balancing my Margarita on the other knee from laptop!)

P.S $1.47 today...................I hope I hurry up and sell I'll be able to buy a house in Grosvenor square at this rate!

Paul Elliott

11-15-2008, 02:51 AM

Bakewell

11-15-2008, 03:13 AM

You could say the same about the English Embassy Annie..I would hope that people respect its as little bit of England...:)

We have an Embassy? About time, too! Now Sharon's gonna want her own as well... ;)

Bakewell

11-15-2008, 03:16 AM

poolside Cancun balancing my Margarita on the other knee from laptop!

Yeah well... don't let it get too serious. She's balanced on plenty of knees before you got there.

Kriz1

11-15-2008, 03:33 AM

We have an Embassy? About time, too! Now Sharon's gonna want her own as well... ;)

You do know I have a big whip don't you....:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Kriz1

11-15-2008, 03:33 AM

Yeah well... don't let it get too serious. She's balanced on plenty of knees before you got there.

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Bakewell

11-15-2008, 04:39 AM

You do know I have a big whip don't you....:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Please let it be a Walnut Whip! :hyper:

anniefromessex

11-15-2008, 09:03 PM

InnVic, please do not sound soooo happy - it's not good for our health.

Seriously though, just enjoy, chill out and yes, know how you feel about the rate at the moment - would do us a power of good if only we were in the right situation!!! The difference between a beach hut and a bungalow ha ha!!!

Love Anniexxx

Bakewell

11-16-2008, 04:25 AM

The difference between a beach hut and a bungalow ha ha!!!

Funny... I was trying to explain the concept of the Beach Hut to three Americans yesterday. Now they KNOW we're made of completely different stuff to them :rofl:

Are beach huts losing their value like bricks and mortar?

Kriz1

11-16-2008, 01:53 PM

We have beach huts here...but they call then holiday homes...you can't swing a mouse in them and they cost $2k a week to rent..

Bakewell

11-16-2008, 05:21 PM

We have beach huts here...but they call then holiday homes...you can't swing a mouse in them and they cost $2k a week to rent..

That's why I had to give away my mice on Craigslist - just nowhere for them to enjoy themselves any more. :(

Susie

11-17-2008, 04:31 AM

Not at all surprised Brits were not allowed to build the embassy due to some sort of security act.

I would hope that only British firms were allowed to build their embassies abroad after all fairs fair,

Susie

11-17-2008, 04:33 AM

wantedtobe

11-17-2008, 07:56 AM

It is not unusual for Embassies to use people from their own country. The British Government use British contractors for their Embassies abroad.

Kriz1

11-17-2008, 01:57 PM

That's why I had to give away my mice on Craigslist - just nowhere for them to enjoy themselves any more. :(

I'll tell you some of the places they rent out here would make you cry when you turned up for your 2 weeks..
Others would make your bank manger cry...$45k a month...

DEE F

11-17-2008, 03:21 PM

I'll tell you some of the places they rent out here would make you cry when you turned up for your 2 weeks..
Others would make your bank manger cry...$45k a month...Bloody hell Chrissie ,what are they made of,gold????????

Dee x

Kriz1

11-17-2008, 03:35 PM

They are just in the right place Dee...the beach or the river..my little house is worth nearly $2k a week to rent in season...we don't have beach rights in this street..that is why its cheap...

Bakewell

11-17-2008, 06:08 PM

It is not unusual for Embassies to use people from their own country. The British Government use British contractors for their Embassies abroad.

I'm really struggling to recall the details now but there was a story (80s, maybe?)... I think the US ambassadorial personnel had to move out of their building in Moscow for renovation. Anyway, they leased a place nearby and had to put up with bugs plopping into coffee cups and phone jacks and light fittings mysteriously beginning to smoulder. :rofl:

chris

11-17-2008, 06:32 PM

Bakewell,
It was when the US Govt decided to build a new embassy in Moscow. When it was completed they found that so many bugs had been planted into the fabric of the building, it was completely insecure and they never moved into it. I have no idea what happened to the building.

Bakewell

11-18-2008, 12:56 AM