Signs of the Times: Fish & Chips, Beaches, Patience and Coffee

When I saw Dan Anton’s post a few months ago with the theme of ‘Signs‘, it prompted me to dig out some photos. Many of these photos would never have seen the light of day on my blog if it were not for Dan’s prompt.

How much do you think a fish-and-chips supper costs?

A white, slightly weathered A-frame pavement sign with blue text advertising a fish and chip shop. At the top, it says "FISH & CHIPS" above a large blue arrow pointing to the left. Below the arrow, the text reads "CHIPPY CHIPS," followed by a special offer: "FISH & CHIPS £4.00 (TUESDAY & THURSDAY ALL DAY)." At the bottom, it lists "HOMEMADE FISH CAKE £1.20." The sign is mounted on a white metal frame, sitting outdoors on a pavement with buildings and a glimpse of the sea under a clear blue sky in the background.

We Brits are well known for our fish-and-chips suppers. It’s one of the most popular takeaway dishes in the United Kingdom.

Sadly, £4.00 for a fish-and-chip supper is something we can only dream about today. At the time of writing, the average cost of a standard takeaway portion of fish and chips in the UK is around £11.17. That’s nearly a two hundred per cent increase!

The price does vary from region to region. In London, you’ll pay up to £20.00 for a fish-and-chip takeaway, while in some parts of the United Kingdom, the cost of a fish-and-chips supper will be £7.90

And we Brits also like to have fish and chips with side dishes, such as curry sauce, gravy, mushy peas, pickled eggs and even bread and butter.

Do you like fish and chips? What would your side dish be?

A sign of the times?

A rectangular, vintage-style metal sign mounted on a white subway-tiled wall. The sign has a white background with a black border, featuring scalloped or ornate inner corners. Raised black capital letters read: "GENTLEMEN ADJUST YOUR DRESS" across three lines.

I smiled a lot when I saw this sign. Given that it was taken in an old British pub and restaurant, it’s a sign that was popular in many men’s rooms in the early 20th century, for very good reasons when gentlemen dressed in black tie for dinner.

If you read the alt-text for the photo, you may have noticed the word ‘Vintage.’

The sign was a polite nudge to make sure everything was snug as a bug in a rug. I mean, there’s nothing quite like the eye-popping scenes I witness these days, especially when some gents decide that shorts should be more like swim trunks! And who wants to see badly sunburned bare-chested men eating spaghetti bolognese or a margarita pizza? Take those hands down, please.

What’s a sign you have seen that is a sign of its time?

Going to the beach this week? What have you left behind?

A wooden sign shaped like a large bare footprint is attached to a weathered wooden fence. The sign has stencilled black lettering that reads: "LEAVE NOTHING BUT YOUR FOOTPRINT ON THE BEACH." In the background, a sandy beach, turquoise ocean waves, and large grey rocks are visible under a clear blue sky.

No, not at home, but on the beach!

I love that this sign gets straight to the point in a nice, humorous way. Can you imagine what all the beaches in the world would be like if everyone who visited did what this sign asks?

Take your rubbish home with you. Yes, that includes you and those regrettable swim trunks from last summer that you swore were fashionable for all the wrong reasons.

What’s the best sign you’ve seen on a beach or in a park?

Are you in a rush? Well, you’ll have to wait!

A close-up shot of a handwritten note enclosed in a simple wooden picture frame, mounted on a glossy, dark green wooden door. The note is written in black marker on white paper and reads: "The old people upstairs take time to get downstairs to answer the doorbell! Please wait-! Thank you." with an underline beneath the text.

Another ‘straight to the point’ sign, but with a slight difference: it’s handwritten.

People seem to be in such a rush these days that, if blogging were a marathon, they’d be sprinting to the finish line while skimming posts as if they’re trying to read a novel before getting to the head of the queue at a drive-thru! It’s as if they’re all in a secret competition for the title of ‘World’s Fastest Reader.’ Be kind and read posts rather than skim them.

What I didn’t know about this sign is who wrote it. Was it the old people upstairs, or was it written on their behalf? In any case, this sign teaches us all to slow down and enjoy what is going on rather than trying to remember what we enjoyed today.

When was the last time you gave yourself a good, hearty talking-to about that crazy habit of dashing around like a caffeine-fuelled squirrel?

Who’s for a coffee?

A long, rectangular black sign titled "COFFEE MENU know your coffee" in white text, flanked by small white leaf stencils. Below the title, a row of eight stylised white coffee cups diagrams the ingredients for different drinks: Americano, Cappuccino, Flat White, Macchiato, Mocha, Espresso, Cortado, and Latte. Each cup graphic shows stacked layers representing components like espresso, hot water, milk, steamed milk, and milk foam. The sign rests on a white wooden ledge against a cream-coloured wall.

Well, you’ve made it this far, so I guess it’s time to reward your bravery with a coffee! What’s your poison? A latte, cappuccino, or maybe a triple espresso to keep the adrenaline pumping?

I’ve created a poll for you to choose what you’d like. Feel free to vote.

Dan blogs at No Facilities and features plenty of challenges, so go and check out his blog for more details. Thanks for the inspiration, Dan!

The featured image in this post was created using the WordPress AI Image Generator block. AI was also used for checking spelling and grammar mistakes.

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36 responses to “Signs of the Times: Fish & Chips, Beaches, Patience and Coffee”

  1. Tails Around the Ranch avatar

    Even though it’s been bloody hot, a good latte always is welcome. And who can turn down a tasty fish & chips? Nope, not me.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      My sister-in-law swears that drinking hot drinks during a heatwave helps to cool down the body. I prefer to get a cold tin and place it between my wrists for a minute before drinking the contents – usually a Pepsi Max (with a hint of lime).

  2. Liesbet @ Roaming About avatar

    That’s a great selection of (old) signs, Hugh. And this post is the perfect home for them. I wish the price of fish and chips was that low. With a meal like that, I’d take a side salad or coleslaw as a side, please.

    No coffee for me. I have actually NEVER ordered a drink in a coffee shop or stopped for a cup of tea anywhere. We make and drink our tea at home and I always felt like coffee shops were expensive and didn’t offer anything special enough to splurge on. I’m sure pretty much nobody would agree with me on this, based on the popularity of coffee shops. I just think it’s a great way to save money by not drinking coffee out or eating lunch out and making/bringing/eating stuff from home for lunch.

    “Take nothing but photographs. Leave nothing but footprints” is/was a popular sign I read in the US national parks. If only nobody would litter anymore…

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      I hardly visit coffee shops, preferring to make my own at home, Liesbet, although I prefer tea to coffee. When we eat out, it’s actually to eat out rather than bring something home, but we do have the occasional takeaway, probably about 3 times a year. It’s always fish and chips for me, but my partner prefers a curry. Coffee shops always seem packed, but I think some customers take advantage of the free wi-fi while there, too. They are great places to people-watch and to pick up interesting conversations.

      Imagine a law where you had to pick up at least one piece of rubbish a day and place it in the correct bin. Mother Earth would be very thankful for that law.

  3. Eugi avatar

    Now, I’m hungry for fish and chips, which I haven’t had in forever. To eat out, the prices are outrageous! Those are some great signs, especially the foot print at the beach sign. I love all types of coffee, and mocha is my favorite, especially in cooler weather. During the hot summers, I like iced coffee.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Mocha is also my favourite, which I tend to change to hot chocolate when the weather is much cooler than what it is right now, Eugi. I’m not keen on iced tea or coffee. Likewise, I don’t like Gazpacho.

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