Despite my frequent jumps across the Irish Sea over the summer, I usually forget one crucial part of my journey checklist. This time it was No. 14: Withdraw cash at ATM hole in the wall at Stansted Airport.
Oh, I had plenty of pounds with me. Northern Ireland pounds. People in England look at Northern Irish paper bills as Monopoly money. Our pounds don't have a picture of The Queen on them. Ours have pictures of the Giant's Causeway, for example. That's why it's good to get money at Stansted -- you get English pounds.
Cabbies and I had lots of interesting conversations about this in the past few days. My parting comment on the topic was, "Yes, it's legitimate money, and Northern Ireland is part of the UK. The bottom line, mate, is that's all I've got, and if you want a tip, you'll accept it -- the tip I'll pay you in coins."
No worries.
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