Things that Confuse Me

The high level of resistance to cold in British women.
I figure I have a pretty decent pain tolerance but I don't have anything on these British women. The climate here is really similar to where I grew up but it's true what people say about the weather here - it feels colder and it eats into your bones. At train stations you wait outside but it's typically in a covered area that offers shelter from the rain and a bit of protection from the wind... but it's still cold! I love the station in Basingstoke because it has an enclosed, heated waiting room for a couple of platforms. If I have to wait outside, I'd rather stand than sit on the frigid metal benches. I'm usually wearing mittens and a scarf with my jacket done up and my arms often crossed to keep as warm as possible. I keep a toque in my bag to wear on the way home. I see numerous women walk past me with their cute little jackets and bare legs with ballet flats. Are they insane or are they just impervious to the cold? I'm so confused.

The Bobby hats/helmets.
I like them; they make me smile because they scream "You're in Britain!" but I'm really confused about their purpose, other than the fact that they've been wearing them for years, so why stop now. Tradition seems to figure greatly into life here.

The tax system in regards to charitable donations.
People here don't get a tax break for making donations to charities. Seriously. They simply do it out of the goodness of their hearts. I mean, I make donations because I want to support people or organizations, but the tax break is certainly a nice perk! Over here, only the charity gets a tax break, but if you make a charitable donation you also have to fill out paperwork with your taxes. Does this make sense to anyone?

Split Faucets vs. Blended
Why do so many homes here, even new ones, have split taps with cold and hot water coming out separately? Why would someone choose to install that style in a new home? Is it really so difficult to blend them? Marijka, my Canadian friend in London, said she has a blended faucet at her flat but it's scalding hot on one side of the stream of water and freezing cold on the other. I occasionally see blended taps, but it's rare enough that I notice them when I use them. If I meet a plumber over here, I think that will be my first question.
"Hi - nice to meet you. So, what's with the split faucets in this country, eh?"

The variety of accents in the UK
I think this will always be fascinating to me. People here know where somebody is from based on their accent. They also seem to pick up new accents quite easily - people get a mixture of accents depending on where they were born, where they were educated, and where they live as an adult. I met a man who's Irish (he's married... I know you were wondering) but he had an indistinguishable accent because he lives in England, works in the Middle East, and has also lived in other places. Something that always cracks me up is hearing people imitate the accents of other areas - a posh London accent, a nasal Birmingham, a bit of cockney. I've heard so many times, "Ah, just wait until you hear a Liverpool accent or a northern accent!" There also seems to be a great deal of pride associated with people's accents and where they come from. The opening scene in My Fair Lady makes far more sense now.