Continental electrical wall socket © Ricky Yates

I have previously blogged about the issues that surround the fact that the United Kingdom drives on the left-hand side of the road in right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles, in contrast to the rest of continental Europe which drives on the right-hand side of the road in left-hand drive vehicles. However, it should be pointed out that the UK is not unique. Even within the European Union, three other member states also drive on the left in RHD vehicles, namely the Republic of Ireland, Malta and Cyprus.

However, another difference between the UK together with the Republic of Ireland, in contrast to the rest of continental Europe, is in the design and format of their respective electrical plugs and sockets. All over continental Europe, electrical sockets take the form illustrated here; to receive a plug with two round pins. . . . → Read More: An unexpected danger of Expat life in the Czech Republic