It's not quite so easy with modern British outlets though, because you have to open the shutters first. The technique I use is:
Probe in right hand goes into ground (top) hole at a slight angle, then press it down to open the shutter. Probe in left hand into neutral hole (lower left) and keep downward pressure to hold the shutter open while first probe is removed from earth pin. Transfer probe in right hand to hot contact (lower right). If I then need to measure hot-to-ground, it's easy to transfer the probe in my left hand back to the ground contact. It takes much longer to describe than to actually do it!
That works on all the original-style shutters which are operated by a pin in the ground hole, but some of the newer shutters work a different way. The new MK shutters rely on equal pressure on the hot and neutral shutter to release it and have it turn slightly to uncover the holes. For those, you have to place the probes for neutral and hot at the appropriate holes, one at the top left of the hole, the other at the bottom right of its hole, then gently apply equal pressure.
I hear that MK is going to manufacture a new shutter mechanism which will require pressure at all three entrances to open.
Still reckon the grass is greener?
[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 09-21-2002).]