Don't Forget to pack an umbrella!

"Get your tan from standing in the English rain" moaned John Lennon. After having survived a horrible season of snow and more snow I can attest that too much bad weather will bring you down! On my first trip to London, it seemed determined to rain every day. Instead of a useless souvenir of Big Ben, a trip to England might just be the time to pick up an umbrella to last a lifetime. Two of the premier British umbrella makers are Fox Umbrellas and James Smith & Sons.

Thomas Fox opened the shop in 1868. Mr. Fox sold it 12 years later to Samuel Dixon. The original shop was located in Fore Street, which after WWII bombing became London Wall. It is currently located about an hour outside of London in Croydon Surrey.

While this is an eminently English firm, they began exporting their umbrella’s overseas during the 1930’s. World War II brought many new materials, most notably nylon. Fox umbrella’s was the first to introduce the new material for umbrellas, replacing the traditional silk. Umbrella’s range in cost at Fox anywhere from £56.00 to £1,202.00.

Fox Umbrellas Ltd 240a Wickham Road Shirley Croydon
Surrey
 http://www.foxumbrellas.com/



James Smith and Sons was founded in 1830 and the original shop was located at Foubert Place in London. It’s current location, where they moved in 1857, in New Oxford Street is well worth the visit if you have the time. James Smith had eight sons and one daughter. He moved to Tasmania with two sons and left the other six to run the business. The shop on New Oxford Street is a wonderful example of an authentic Victorian Shop Front. It has remained largely unaltered for 14o years. Umbrellas range from £50 to £345. Of course, if you are feeling a bit mean (British for cheap), you can always nip out to Boots and pick up an umbrella for £8.00!

　

James Smith & Sons Ltd
Hazelwood House
53 New Oxford Street
London
http://www.james-smith.co.uk/

Book Recommendations



Lord and Lady Carnarvon, 1921

I hope everyone is enjoying the current season of Downton Abbey!  It has been wonderful so far, but if one hour a week isn't enough for you, I have some great ways to extend your Downton Abbey experience.  The current Countess of Carnarvon,  Lady Fiona Carnarvon has written two excellent, well researched books on the real life inhabitants of Highclere Castle where Downton Abbey is filmed.  The first book is based on Lady Almina and covers her amazing life at Highclere Castle during World War I and the second book focuses on her daughter-in-law, Lady Catherine and her life, including her World War II experiences.  Turns out that the real life inhabitants of Highclere Castle were just as intriguing as their on screen counterparts. 


Highclere Castle by Richard Munckton

Another great book I received from my wonderful sister-in-law for Christmas was "Not in Front of the Corgis, Secrets of Life Behind the Royal Curtains."  It is a highly entertaining book which even includes which royals are most liked by their staff, as well as those who are not. This book is a must for everyone who has ever wondered what life is like behind the Palace walls.  It's filled with funny stories including Princess Diana's reaction to being asked how her father, Winston Churchill was!  There is nothing better than sitting by the fire on a cold snowy evening reading about interesting real life people living their lives in fantastic settings!

Enjoy A Buck's Fizz

Photo by Nathan Brescia

As much as I currently know about Great Britain, I'm always finding out new things.  Recently, I keep hearing of the drink, "Buck's Fizz."  Turns out it's a variation of what we in America call a Mimosa.  The drink was designed to create an opportunity to drink early in the day, having orange juice in it.  It was invented in London's Buck's Club in 1921 by a brilliant bar man (bartender) named McGarry.  Mr. McGarry was so well thought of that he featured in P.G. Wodehouse as the barman of Buck's Club and the Drones Club. The difference between a Mimosa and a Buck's Fizz is that a Mimosa features equal measures of sparkling wine and orange juice, where as the Buck's Fizz has one part Champagne to two parts orange juice.

Buck's Fizz is very popular on Christmas Day and is also served often at weddings as a low alcohol alternative.  Some people even find it a great cure for a hangover.  An easy way to bring some British traditions into your Christmas celebrations is to serve Buck's Fizz on Christmas morning. 

Recipe for Bucks Fizz;

100 ml (2 parts) Champagne
50 ml (1 part) Orange Juice
Pour Orange Juice in champagne flute and top up with Champagne.  Easy Peasy!!
 

Christmas Kickoff!

In contrast to the over the top commercialism of Black Friday, Salisbury Cathedral held it’s annual Advent event. This moving celebration called Darkness to Light. It starts off with just one lit Advent candle and complete silence. The Salisbury Cathedral choir then parades through the cathedral with 1,300 candle illuminating the building with it’s flickering light. The medieval Cathedral is brought to life as the choir gradually fills the 750 year old building with light and music. The gradual building of momentum leads to a beautiful climax where the building is bathed in light and song. The event is free, but seats fill up quickly. What a beautiful way to kick off the Christmas season!

Poppy Day




Photo by RNA's Culdrose
Poppy's on crosses

Should you be watching BBC news or any current British TV you will notice red poppies on the left lapel of men’s jackets. From the end of October until Remembrance Day on November 11^th, the British can be seen wearing Poppy’s in tribute to those who have died in the line of duty. November 7^th is London Poppy Day. More than 2000 volunteers representing the RAF, Army and Navy will help collect donations throughout the city for the Royal British Legion. 

In America we celebrate Veteran’s Day on November 11^th. This day was specifically dedicated in Great Britain to remember the armed forces that died in World War I by King George V. The very first Armistice Day ceremony took place on the grounds of Buckingham Palace. World War I was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. A staggering 37 million people died and Great Britain lost 2.19% of its population or 995,939 people.

Photo by Hobvias Sudoneighm

The Red Poppies became the symbol for Remembrance Day due to the poem, "In Flanders Fields" written in 1915 by a
Canadian doctor, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae who wrote it after the funeral of his friend soldier Alexis Helmer.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Guy Fawkes Day

Henry Perronet Briggs (1793–1844
The Discovery of the Gunpowder Plot and the
Taking of Guy Fawkes

Today is the 5^th of November, which will not mean anything to you unless you are British. Throughout Great Britain bonfires will be lighted tonight in celebration of Guy Fawkes Night. Guy Fawkes was one of 13 Catholic conspirators who attempted to blow up the Palace of Westminster on November 5, 1605. At that time, this is where the House of Lords met and being opening of England’s Parliament, the protestant King James would be attending. Thus they could abolish the entire government in one grand blast. Some cynics have said that Guy Fawkes is "the last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions." To this day on the opening of Parliament, someone is sent to inspect the cellars of Parliament to ensure it is free of explosives.

Unfortunately for Fawkes he was caught red handed with the gunpowder and subsequently taken to the Tower of London and tortured. When asked by one of the lords why he had so much gunpowder, the indomitable Fawkes responded, "To blow you Scotch beggars back to your native mountains." After being tortured he lost his bravado and gave the names of his fellow conspirators. They were all tried and suprizingly enough found guilty. The Attorney General of the time, Sir Edward Coke wasn’t happy to just execute the traitors but told the court that they would each be "put to death halfway between heaven and earth as unworthy of both". They were to have their genitals cut off and burnt before their eyes, their bowels and hearts removed and THEN they would be decapitated and the dismembered parts would be displayed and be fed to the birds!




Photo by William Warby

Effigy of Guy Fawkes in bonfire in Essex

Guy was the last of the 13 to stand on the execution scaffold. When he began to climb the ladder to head up to the noose, he jumped from the gallows and much to the annoyance of his executioners, broke his neck! They still quartered his body and distributed his body parts. King James encouraged Londoners to celebrate his escape from assassination by lighting bonfires on November 5^th. An Act of Parliament designated each 5^th of November as a day of thanksgiving and remained in force until 1859. Now it is a well loved British custom where models of Guy Fawkes are burned in effigy.

English Folk Verse (c.1870)


The Fifth of November

Remember, remember!
The fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
Guy Fawkes and his companions
Did the scheme contrive,
To blow the King and Parliament
All up alive.
Threescore barrels, laid below,
To prove old England's overthrow.
But, by God's providence, him they catch,
With a dark lantern, lighting a match!
A stick and a stake
For King James's sake!
If you won't give me one,
I'll take two,
The better for me,
And the worse for you.
A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,
A penn'orth of cheese to choke him,
A pint of beer to wash it down,
And a jolly good fire to burn him.
Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!
Holloa, boys! holloa boys! God save the King!
Hip, hip, hooor-r-r-ray!

British Bacon

British Back Bacon

In theory Yanks and Brits speak the same language, but as we all know, that’s only a theory. The difference is never more pronounced than when we order bacon. Both nations adore their version, but the only thing they have in common is that they are both served at breakfast and both come from a pig. American bacon is called "streaky bacon" in the UK and American’s can’t even begin to come to terms with the British version of bacon. The British version of bacon is much leaner than the American version and comes mainly from the pork loin and is known as back bacon. Traditionally, the British have bred specific types of pig for bacon. A slice of bacon, called a rasher, contains both pork belly and pork loin. The American version of bacon is prepared from pork belly and is considerably more fatty.

Photo by David W. Noble
Bacon Butty

Bacon is a main component of the traditional full English Breakfast which consists of bacon, eggs, fried tomatoes, fried mushrooms, fried bread, sausages and baked beans. As everything is fried in this meal, it is often referred to as a "fry-up." Another beloved British food tradition is the Bacon Butty. It’s actually a sandwich with back bacon, butter and ketchup or brown sauce, which is served hot. The bacon butty is also known as a bacon sarnie or in parts of Scotland as a bacon sanger. Brown Sauce is a mixture of ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.