I lived in America until about a year before George W Bush was elected president. Except when I was taking physics or chemistry courses or volunteering on an archaeological dig I mostly used the ‘Imperial’ measurement scheme. Distances were in inches or feet or yards or miles. Weight was ounces and pounds. Volume was ounces or quarts or gallons except when cooking when it was all teaspoons and tablespoons and cups. The price of gasoline was listed in dollars per gallon. A big gulp was 32 oz . . . I think. Or was it 64? And 72 degrees was a good temperature for being outside.

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