Very nice. I have family in York and last year took a train from there to Edinburgh, so at very least I've seen a similar area to where you are, lol!

Yes! They are crazy with their un-use of the wonderful letter u! I think the only thing that Canadians have gone with in the difference between British and American English is z vs. s. eg. realise/realize. I think both are termed correct here, but we tend to zed it up.