God Save the Pub!



Photo by David Monniax
Ye Olde Man & Scythe in Bolton



Photo by Ashley Pomeroy
Interior of English Pub

When visiting Britain, I make it a point to visit a pub a day. I love British Pubs with their cozy welcoming atmosphere steeped in history. I’m not a huge drinker, but I love architecture, and there’s nothing better than an English Pub for preserving historical architecture. But Pub’s are in decline in Great Britain at the moment. According to CAMRA/British Beer & Pub Association, up to 18 pubs a week closed in 2012. There are many reasons for this including the ruling by the British government in the 1980’s that no brewery was allowed to have more than 2,000 tied houses by November 1992. Before then, the six big breweries owned about 80% of British pubs. It was thought that the "Beer Orders" would break up that monopoly. Instead, pubs were sold to "pubcos." Because they did not actually make the drinks, they were exempt from the law and just created a different type of monopoly.
Another reason for the decline of pubs is the change of British society. Many younger people favor drinking in bars or clubs. Traditionally Public Houses served as a community meeting place. Most people did not entertain at home, as their rooms were too small. But people today are spending more and more time at home.

Pubs are changing and have not only added food to the menu, but gastropub’s are popping up everywhere. A gastropub is concerned with the quality of the food and sometimes even concentrating on making certain the food is bought locally. This has helped reinvigorate the pub culture and British dining. Some communities are creating cooperative pubs. Locals raise money to buy a pub and then become shareholders. This originated in rural areas where the pub is essential to a small community. No matter how times change, there will always be a need for a good British pub!

Richmond and Kew Gardens

  Photo by Stephen Boisvert
Kew Palace 

The majority of American visitors to London, come only once and that is a real shame because it is when you get past the first time must see places, that the true wonder of London exposes itself. There is always a new place to explore. One of my favorites lies just outside of London and is easily accessible by tube. The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew www.kew.org  is a great mix of history with beauty and a favorite British pastime, gardening. I am currently reading a biography of the six daughters of King George III and they spend their childhood at Kew. Having actually visited where the scenes take place really helps bring history alive. 

Visitors walking into Palm House cannot help but be amazed by the size of the glass building. It was the first large-scale structure to use wrought iron and was finished in 1848. All of the panes of glass are hand blown. The Palm House is the largest Victorian glasshouse in existence and is a must see. Kew Palace was also known as Dutch House and was the royal palace of George III. As a side-note, George III married Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in Chapel Royal, St. James Palace, which was featured in yesterday’s post. Dutch House is the smallest of the British royal palaces. George III prided himself on living a simple life. It was built around 1631 and uses the Flemish Bond style of brick laying which involves laying the bricks with the long and short sides alternating. The gabled front combined with the Flemish Bond style gives the building a definite Dutch appearance.

The Palmhouse  Photo by David Hawgood

The nearby town of Richmond is also worth a visit. It is one of the wealthiest areas of London and has many pubs and shops that are worth visiting. Richmond Green is at the heart of the town, which sits on the River Thames. Richmond village green features the renowned Maids of Honour Row of three story houses. These were built for the maids of honour, or trusted wardrobe servants of Queen Caroline, queen consort of George II. Amazingly enough, this area is only 8 miles southwest of Charing Cross
  

 

Intimate Christening for Prince George



Wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in Chapel Royal

Once again the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are abandoning tradition and doing things their way. Normally, a future King’s Christening is held in the large Music Room at Buckingham Palace. The christening of Prince George will be taking place in the much more intimate Chapel Royal in St. James Palace. The christening will be held on October 23^rd. Until recently, William and Harry’s offices were run out of St. James Palace. The Chapel Royal is special to William, as it was the place where his mother Princess Diana’s coffin lay before her funeral at Westminster Abbey. It was also the Duchess of Cambridge had her formal confirmation into the Church of England in April 2011, before her marriage to Prince William.

Originally the term Chapel Royal referred to a body of priests and singers who served the spiritual needs of the Sovereign. It now refers to the buildings where the monarch worships. The two main Chapels Royal are both located in St. James Palace, the Chapel Royal and the Queen’s Chapel.

Henry VIII built it in 1540 after his fourth marriage to Anne of Cleves. The Chapel has been a witness to much history. Elizabeth I chose to pray here during the Spanish Armada. George Frederick Handel was an organist here. He was appointed by George II as "Composer of Musick of His Majesty’s Chappel Royal" in 1723. Prince George’s great, great, great, grandmother, Queen Victoria was married in 1840 to Prince Albert. Their marriage certificate still hangs in the chapel’s vestry.

I remember walking into the Queen’s Chapel which, is connected to St. James Palace on my first visit to London. It was exceptionally dark and filled with dark wood. St. James Palace is still a working palace even thought it is not mentioned much. Before the Queen Mother died and left him nearby Clarence House, this was the London home of Prince Charles and his sons, William and Harry. It is currently the London home of the Princess Royal, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie of York.


St. James Palace, London  

London Housing



Houses in Holland Park, London by Danny Robinson

When visiting London, it’s always fun to think about what it would be like to live there. It sounds so nice to be in an exciting international city until you learn about the cost. I remember my first look at an estate agents window and thinking that the prices were pretty reasonable. That was until it was explained that those prices were weekly! This is undoubtedly to prevent sticker shock! London is one of the most expensive housing markets in the world. The average rent in the posh Kensington area for a two bedroom flat is approximately £4,000 or $5,395! And the average price to buy London Property is $3,890-$4,300 per square foot.

Americans are used to space, it’s the first thing you learn to live without in London. A case in point is the refrigerator. In America, refrigerators are big and bigger, but in London, you might easily find what we would refer to as a dorm size refrigerator to serve a two-bedroom flat! Every resident is also required to pay a council tax which is based on the specific area that your are living in. It can range from £700 per year to about £2000 per year. The local council is responsible for running most local services such as schools, waste collections, social services and roads. There is also tax for the Greater London Authority.


London Row Houses by Supermac1961

I did a cost comparison of Chicago to London and London was 84% higher. To compare where you live, please visit http://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living.
The one nice thing about the London housing markets is the individuality of properties. There are not as many cookie cutter apartment buildings as most flats are in pre-existing homes. Of course, it does all depend upon where you live. London is quite large and the further out you live, the less expensive it is. If you would like to do a little snooping there is a great site to give you a picture of what you could expect should you move to London http://www.foxtons.co.uk/.   Happy dreaming!


Fancy a cup of Tea?

Betty’s Tea Rooms Photo by Harry Wood

I remember coming back to my friends’ house after a long afternoon walking the wet streets of London, feeling as if I was about to catch a major cold. She said, "Don’t worry, I’ll put the kettle on. A cup of tea is all you need." I have drunk herbal tea for 20 years, but I had never had a proper cup of English tea before. She added milk and sugar and it made all the difference. It was so soothing and really invigorated me. It was then that I understood the allure of a good cuppa. It restores you. The word "cuppa" emanates from the fondness of Brits towards tea – you would never have to ask a cup of what?

Tea is still the drink of choice for Brits for good reason. It warms you on a chilly day, it’s good for your health as it contains antioxidants and may even reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. The custom of drinking afternoon tea began with Anna, the 7^th Duchess of Bedford in the 19^th century. Before this it was the custom to only eat two meals a day – breakfast and their dinner around noon. Eventually, dinner was moved to late evening, which left the Duchess with a sinking feeling around 4 o’clock. She asked for a pot of tea along with sandwiches and cakes, which is now referred to as teatime.

Milky Tea Photo by Brett TaylorLike many things in Britain, class enters into the discussion of tea. While tea is the light afternoon meal we Americans think of, for other classes tea is the evening meal served around 5 or 6pm after coming home from work. Instead of saying, "What’s for dinner? as we would in America, they would say, "What’s for tea?" Americans tend to call tea time, "High Tea" thinking it is the delicate tea that is served to the upper classes around 4pm, when in actuality, "High Tea" refers to the working class tea served at a dinner table with high chairs. Afternoon tea is served on low tables, which explains the two names.

British tea is usually Black tea, which is served with milk and possibly sugar. The cream in "Cream tea" actually refers to clotted cream, which is served on scones, usually with strawberry jam. Tearooms can still be found around Great Britain and are part of the great British Tradition. Perhaps the most famous is Betty’s Cafe Tea Rooms in the fashionable spa town of Harrogate which opened in 1919. 

Going to Uni?

Oxford University

Like many things in Britain, college life is somewhat different than in the U.S. Many British students choose to take a "Gap Year" between their version of high school and going on to University. It is felt that a Gap Year can help a student to grow and explore their opportunities. The practice began in the 1960’s in Great Britain and several other countries have adopted the practice. Often Times a Gap Year is taken abroad in order to immerse the student in another language and culture. It is also a way to provide some voluntary charity service. Work done during a Gap Year is seen as a way to gain real life work experience and build social and business networks.

Upon entering University, often referred to as "Uni" pronounced You Knee, they will partake in "Freshers’ Week". The idea is for a student to become acclimated to a new city, and form friendships early. During this week their is often a Fresher’s Fair with all the University clubs and societies setting up booths, making it easy for a newcomer to see all the options that are available. Their are tours of the town and historical sites. Music plays a large role in Fresher’s week and there are many concerts and parties. Edinburgh University’s Baking Society threw an afternoon tea. Their are pub and coffee crawls and the obligitory University tour. More than anything, it is meant to be a fun introduction to University Life.

Dining Hall during formal dinner at Cambridge University

One of the most interesting differences between American Universities and British Universities, is the cost. Harvard University’s 2012-14 tuition is $56,407, while Oxford and Cambridge University is £9000 or $14,500 for British Students! 

London's layers of history

Temple Bar Gate

 

I love the merging of history with current life that happens in Britain. One of the best examples of it is in London’s Paternoster Square near St. Paul’s Cathedral. After the blitz, this area was completely destroyed. It was redeveloped in 2003 and became the home of the London Stock Exchange. The addition of Temple Bar which was commissioned by King Charles II and designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the 1670’s. It was originally the marker for one of the main gateways to London. And yes, there is a ceremony involved in this.

Barriers were erected in the middle ages in order to regulate trade into the city of London. Temple Bar was the most famous and regulated traffic between London and Westminster. The name comes from the nearby Temple Church, which is the home of the legal profession’s Inns of Court.

The Temple Bar ceremony is still re-enacted occasionally and consists of the monarch stopping and requesting permission to enter the city of London. The Lord Mayer then presents the Sword of State to show his loyalty to the Monarch.

Temple Bar was dismantled, but stored carefully in order to widen the road in 1878. In 1880 the brewer Henry Meux bought the stones and re-erected the arch as a gateway to his house Theobalds Park. It remained there until 2004 when it was purchased by the Temple Bar Trust and brought back to London and re-erected as the entrance to Paternoster Square. As a side note, heads of traitors were mounted on pikes in the 18^th century and exhibited on the roof.

 

 

Paternoster Square is now filled with shops and restaurants as well as other artworks of note including the Paternoster Column and the Sheep and Shepherd by Elisabeth Frink.

Unique and Free London Ceremony

Yeoman of the Guard

If you are a history buff who loves ceremony you will want to see the Ceremony of the Keys held at the Tower of London at 9:30 every night. This ceremony has been taking place for the last 700 years. The tour is conducted by the Yeomen Warders who are required to have a minimum of 22 years of military service, have obtained the position Warrant Officer or higher and have been awarded a good conduct medal. They are salaried and as a perk of the job, get to live on site. As retired military personnel, they are relatively young and the job offers security and the ability to meet people from all over the world. Even if you take the regular daylight tour, you will be able to be led by one of these experienced "Beefeaters." Being a member of the Yeoman Warder’s drinking club while being surrounded by bottles of Beefeater Gin is a unique experience. The new Yeoman Warders have their own welcoming ceremony on Tower Green. Each is given a special goblet. A toast is then given at the Yeoman Warder’s club; "May you never die a Yeoman Warder." The positions originally were not prestigious and could actually be sold. 

 

Badge of the Yeoman of the Guard

 

Some apartments even overlook tower green where Anne Boleyn lost her head! The Ceremony of the Keys lasts about half an hour and tickets are free, but need to be booked months in advance. Tickets and information for the Ceremony of the Keys can be obtained at the following web site: http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/WhatsOn/theceremonyofthekeys





Who's Bob?

Lord Salisbury

 

When I first heard the British phrase, "Bob’s your uncle." I was completely mystified. Upon hearing it the other night, I decided to do a little research into where this peculiar phrase came from. The phrase "Bob’s your uncle" is said when something turns out alright. It is often said after explaining how simple something is to do. You butter a piece of toast, heat some beans and pour them over the toast. "Bob’s your uncle, you have dinner!" But I could never figure out just who this Bob was. 
 
Turns out that no one really knows where or even when the phrase came to be. One theory says that it derives from the phrase – all is bob. Once again meaning that all is well. The phrase all is bob was found in Captain Francis Gorse’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, which was printed in 1785.

The most popular theory is that it derives from an anti nepotism sentiment as a result of Lord Salisbury appointing his nephew Arthur Balfour to many jobs he was unqualified for. Eventually Balfour was appointed chief secretary of Ireland. During the Victorian era this was an extremely sensitive position which he was unqualified and unsuited to. One of the great British pastimes is to make fun of those who have proven themselves to be out of their depth. So this irreverent poke was invented to say that having Bob (Robert Cecil, Lord Salisbury) as your uncle was a guarantee of success.

Another theory says that it is actually Scottish in origin. There was a 1924 musical called Bob’s Your Uncle according to an ad in the Scottish newspaper, The Anges Evening Telegraph.

 

Royal Buzz

The Duchess of Cambridge

 

 

Today's Royal Buzz is about exactly when Kate met Prince William.  It's always been thought that it was when they were both at St. Andrews University in Scotland.  But in her new book, Kate: The Future Queen, Katie Nicholl claims that they met before they went to St. Andrews. Apparently Kate was first introduced to William when she was a student at the tony Marlborough College (not a college in the American sense, more like a prep school). Some of her friends introduced her to both Prince William and Prince Harry. So she would have been one of the few people William would have known when he first arrived at St. Andrews. St. Andrews was a very unexpected choice for school as it is not typically where Eton graduates choose to go.  Kate had originally planned to go to Edinburgh University and some people have always claimed that once Kate found out that William was going to St. Andrews, she changed her plans.  This would have been a risky strategy as she would have had to withdraw from Edinburgh and take a gap year and reapply to St, Andrews and get accepted.  This is precisely what happened, although we will probably never know why she choose to change schools.

 

 





What's for Tea, Mum?

                                                                       Beans on Toast

Every culture has its comfort foods. Foods that we naturally gravitate to when we’ve had a bad day or are feeling low. One of Great Britain’s favorite go to comfort foods is Baked Beans on toast. A whopping 2.3 million Brits can be found eating Baked beans every day. Often times they are part of a "full English breakfast" but approximately one million people are eating them for dinner. It’s incredibly easy to make, heat up the beans; usually Britain’s favorite brand, Heinz and spread butter on toast. Pour the heated beans over the buttered toast. Dinner doesn’t get much simpler than that. The British version of baked beans is not the kind we Americans prefer. It does not have any brown sugar and only half the amount of white sugar.

While Americans favorite comfort foods are Macaroni and Cheese or Grilled Cheese, Britain's is toast. Bread was one of the foods that was heavily rationed in Britain after World War II. The government even went so far as to order that bread only be sold when it was one day old as it was less tasty and less likely to be overeaten. It was also easier to cut, so thinner slices could be cut. There was even a "national loaf" of bread that was made out of whole-meal which was considered to be mushy and gray. So with this history, it is easy to understand why this simple food, could actually be considered a treat. That being said, it’s one of those foods that just don’t seem to translate well. As big of an Anglophile as I am, I’ve never been tempted to try Beans on Toast!

You need a licence to watch TV?!

An interesting quirk to the British tax system is the need for every household to obtain a TV licence (British Spelling). I remember when I was first told of this by friends of mine who were living in the U.K., I was positively gobsmacked! Luckily you are only required to have one licence per house, but if you have a car with a TV or a second home, you will need to get an additional licence. Nor can you escape the tax by watching your favorite programms on your computer.

The TV licence was started on 1 June 1946 and was for monochrome only BBC television service at a cost of £2 annually. In January 1968 a ‘colour supplement of £5 was added to the monochrome (black and white) fee which had gone up to £5. The current cost of a TV licence is £145.50. For a monochrome TV it is £49.

Photo by Mike Peel

                                        A Leyland Sherpa television detector van

 This is fairly strongly enforced. Great Britain even has "Detector Vans" which take as little as 20 seconds to work and can distinguish between two televisions sitting side by side. They can operate from 60 meters away and are developed in such secrecy that engineers only know about the specific type of device they are working in by being forced to work in isolation. They have even developed a hand held detector. While the first notice will come in the mail, Enquiry Officers do make home visits. In 2006 – 7 there were 3.5 million visits. The fine can be as much as £1000. 

The good news is that there are some people who receive discounts. The blind only have to pay half the fee and if you are over 75, your TV licence is free. The licence was first introduced to help fund BBC TV and radio as they are not self funding. Needless to say, this is not terribly popular in Britain.

All's Fair?

 Lady Sarah Carnegie

Some of you will remember the start of Downton Abbey started with Lady Mary being unable to inherit because her previously arranged marriage to her cousin, the heir presumptive was in jeopardy because of his terribly inconvenient death on the Titanic. They then had to search for the rightful heir, who turned out to be someone they had never met. This has happened in real life.

In 2010 the 14^th Earl of Northesk died from cancer and because he had no living sons his title was passed to a man he had never met! The 14^th earl has three living daughters, Lady Sarah Carnegie, 30, Lady Fiona Carnegie, 26, and Lady Sophie Carnegie, 23, none of whom are eligible to inherit the title because they are the wrong sex. They have attempted to persuade the Crown Office to pass the title on down the female line instead, but have lost. So the title will go to the now 15^th Earl of Northesk, Patrick Carnegy. Carnegy is a 72-year-old scholar of Wagner and Shakespeare. He was the eighth cousin, once removed, of the 14th Earl, whom he had never even met.

Ethie Castle

 

The new Earl of Northesk will not inherit much more than the title, as there is very little money and the former seat; Ethie Castle was sold in the 1990’s. Ethie Castle dates from about 1300 and is about 3 miles north of the fishing town of Abroath in Angus, Scotland. The Carnegie family, who went on to become the Earls of Northesk, eventually purchased the castle in 1665. A famous guest was Sir Walter Scott who later based fictional Castle of Knockwhinnock that he writes about in.  Perhaps he will inherit the ghosts of Ethie which are said to be a Grey Lady spectre as well as by David Beaton.  Beaton was the Abbot of nearby Arbroath Abbey in the 16th century.

This all stems from Primogeniture, which is the law that the firstborn son inherits an estate. This allowed for estates to pass down from generation to generation intact. If there are no sons, the inheritance passes to the nearest male in order of descent. In order to ensure that if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s could inherit the crown regardless of sex, they succession to the Crown Act 2013 was enacted. So if Prince George, was Princess Georgianna, she could have inherited the crown.   

Latest Royal News

Photo by Flickr

 

• Tonight is the premire of "Prince William's Passion: New Father, New Hope" on CNN at 10:00pm ET.

• William and Catherine hired William’s former nanny, Jessie Webb to look after 7 week old Prince George. The 71 year old will only be working part time as they want to be hands on parents. Jessie has remained close with William and was invited to not only the royal wedding but the much more intimate 21^st birthday party

• Prince William was an usher at the Saturday wedding of his two close friends, James Meade and Lady Laura Marsham in Gayton, Norfolk. The wedding was also attended by Harry and Pippa Middleton while the Duchess of Cambridge stayed home to care for Prince George. The Duke and Duchess had attended the Tusk Foundation Gala dinner at The Royal Society in London the previous evening. She looked stunning in a Jenny Packham sequined dress.

Fancy a Car Boot Sale?

                                                                    Photo by: Mark Murphy
                                               Car boot sale at Apsley, Hertforshire


One of the fabulous British traditions is the Car Boot Sale.  It's very much like a mass garage sale or a flea market.  People who wish to sell their slightly used wares or unwanted antiques can for a small fee enter a car boot sale.  They usually take place at a public meeting point such as a school or community building.  Just drive your loaded car, van or truck and open up your trunk (boot) and you are in business!  They usually take place on summer weekends and are great fun!  Not the place to go if your looking for very specific finds, but a great place if you're just looking for that special thing you weren't sure that you really needed, but just fell in love with. You can expect to find books, pottery, vintage clothes, textiles and even small furniture.  Over the many years of the British Antiques Roadshow, countless gems have been found at a local boot sale.  Because of this, you will often find professional antique dealers checking out the wares.

Ironically enough, the car boot sale was brought to England by Father Harry Clark who was a Catholic priest living in Stockport, England.  He was visiting Canada and saw a similar event and decided it would go over well in the UK. They can be found throughout the U.K.  It is best to arrive early to get the best merchandise and do not be afraid to haggle.  No one expects you to pay the price on the ticket.  It's a great way to spend a day doing something a typical Brit would do and come home with some treasures!  If you would like to visit a car boot sale check out this link, http://carboot.com/car-boot-sales-listing-by-uk-local-areas.html

Snippets For Downton Abbey Addicts

                                                                                                Photo by Flickr
                                             Highclere Castle where Downton Abbey is filmed


While Downton fans in Great Britain will be able to watch season four on September 22, we in the states will have to wait until January 5, 2014. After the shocking death of Matthew  Crawley last season, the good news is that Shirley MacLaine is reprising her role as Martha Levinson.   Ten costumes from Downton Abbey are currently on displacy as part of a new exhibition in Bampton, Oxforshire.  The exhibition lasts through September. Bampton is frequently used as a setting for locations and was used for the weddings of Lady Mary and Lady Edith which was filmed at St. Mary's Church.

The real Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle is a huge estate, sitting on 1000 acres and is bigger than New York's Central Park.  The current Earl of Carnarvon still resides in the house which has been in his family since the 17th century. The house features 50 bedrooms which might seem daunting to some of us, the eighth Countess of Carnarvon, Fiona was quoted in the Daily Telegraph stating, "I suppose if you know how many rooms you've got, you haven't got a very big house." I suspect that she's been admiring The Dowager Countess of Grantham a little too  much! 

What's a Prince to do?

                                                   The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge

Kensington Palace announced today that Prince William having completed his tour as a rescue helicopter pilot with the Royal Air Force.  It was expected that he would conclude his military service at the end of his current tour.  Prince William enjoyed the normalcy this job gave him.  He rescued 149 people in his time as a search and rescue pilot.  By living in
Anglesey, which is a small island off the north west coast of Wales, he was able to remain largely out of the glaring spotlight that followed his mother, Princess Diana.  He spoke last week about his love of Anglesey last week at a country show saying, "This island has been our first home together, and it will always be an immensely special place for us both. Catherine and I look forward to returning again and again over the coming years with our family."
 
The decision was expected seeing and it was assumed that as he and Catherine are moving into Kensington Palace in London, he would be taking a more active role in the family firm.  However, the Duke has decided to take a "Transitional Year" where he will decide where best to focus his energies.  He hopes to continue and expand his current charity work and expand on his work with conservation and preservation of endangered species.

                              The Queen Mother                                  The Queen

 

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales 

 

                                                                  Prince Phillip

 



Here lies the real problem, longevity runs in the royal family. William's paternal great grandmother, Queen Elisabeth, lived until she was 101 years old.  His grandmother, the current Queen is going strong at 86.  His grandfather, Prince Phillip who is 92 has until the last couple of years been healthy and strong.  Prince Charles, who is still waiting to take on the role he was destined for is already 61.  Chances are it will be another 15 years before he becomes King and only then will William be the Prince of Wales.  By then Charles will be around 76 and William 46.  Assuming Prince Charles lives until his mid ninety's, William will have 30 or more years to fill until he becomes King! That's a lot of time to fill.

 
 

 

Off the beaten path. . .

                                         Highgate Cemetery East
                                                        Photo by Panyd at en.Wikipedia


One of my favorite places to visit in London is Highgate Cemetery.  Highgate is in the north part of London and a little out of the way, but worth the visit if you've already seen the major attractions.  I absolutely loved the quiet, peaceful atmosphere in the midst of a bustling city.  It is set on 37 acres and has 53,000 graves.  The West side of the cemetery has a guided tour while the East side you can wander on your own.  It was established in 1839 to help ease the overcrowding of the inner city cemeteries.  It sits up on a hill slightly down from the hill of Highgate itself next to a park. Highgate is packed with trees and vegetation that is allowed to grow unfettered giving it an extremely lush feel.  The grounds feel rustic as they are a haven for small animals and birds.  The gravestones vary from the simple to the highly dramatic such as the carved lady sleeping on the tomb of an unknown occupant.

                                                          Photo by Markus Nilsson

Many noteworthy people have been buried at Highgate, the most famous is Karl Marx. While Charles Dickens is buried in Westminster Abbey, His younger brother, Alfred, wife and parents are buried here. The Poet Christina Rossetti is buried here along with the co-founder of the Pre-Raphelite Brotherhood, William Michael Rossetti. Author and Nobel Prize winner wrote about Highgate Cemetery in his Forsythe Saga novels as the final resting place of the Forsythe's. He was cremated and had his ashes scattered at Highgate. It has been featured in a number fictional works including Audery Niffenegger's book Her Fearful Symmetry and Tracy Chevalier's novel Falling Angels  which are both set in and around Highgate. Highgate Cemetery is the sixth level of the Nightmare Creatures Game.

Highgate Cemetery is even hosting events such as a musical night featuring harp and viola music with the Lilium Duo, and a talk about the Wyon family who designed and produced medals, coins and seals in nineteenth-century Britain.  

Highgate Cemetry's website can be found at:  http://highgatecemetery.org/

Family Ties

 

                                                                Lady Sarah McCorquodale

The Daily Express is reporting that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited her sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and her family on the anniversary of Princess Diana's death.
It was sixteen years ago on August 31, 1997 that Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris. Prince William has remained in touch with the Spencer's but has always been particularly close with Lady Sarah.  Lady Sarah served as Princess Diana's occasional lady-in-waiting and had at one time even dated Prince Charles.  She and her husband, Neil who is a former Guards officer live in  Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire. 

 

Speaking Practical British

One of the things we Americans have the most fun with when visiting Great Britain, is British Speak.  We love the accents and the colorful language.  Even though we technically speak the same language, our terms for certain things are very different.  They will understand you when you use the American terms, but this will help you to understand them. 

Here are some practical terms it helps to know when traveling to Britain the first time: 

British Term                                American Meaning

Return                                            Round Trip Ticket

Toilet                                             Restroom

Theatre                                          Operating Room

Surgery                                          Dr./Dentist Office

Starter                                           Appetizer

Pudding                                         Dessert

Aubergine                                      Eggplant

Banger                                           Sausage

Brown Bread                                  Whole Wheat Bread

Café or Caff                                   Coffee Shop

Banker's Order                               Money Transfer Order

Bath Chair                                      Wheel Chair

Blind Road                                     Dead End Street

Crisps                                            Potato Chips

Chips                                             French Fries

First Floor                                      Second Floor

Fortnight                                        Two Weeks

Holiday                                           Vacation

Mac                                                Raincoat

Mineral                                           Soft Drink

Nappy                                             Diaper

Pants                                              Underpants

Slot Machine                                   Vending Machine

Having trouble recognizing your Royals?

It's hard for Americans to always recognize the so called "minor" royals.  But it seems that is might also be difficult for the Brits too!  Last Wednesday, the Duke of York otherwise known at Prince Andrew, was taking a walk in the private gardens of Buckingham Palace when the palace police ordered him to stick his hands up and get on the ground while pointing their guns at him!  There was a very tense standoff where Andrew explained who he was!  I have added a picture of Andrew with his mother, the Queen, just in case  you run into him and have difficulty recognizing him.

 

Andrew has stepped out of the public consciousness as the younger royals have taken over.  But there was a time when he was a tabloid favorite and his wedding to Sarah Ferguson in 1986 was a major royal event.  After his embarrassing divorce where his wife was pictured on holiday with a businessman having her toes sucked, Andrew has shied away from the media.  Of course in May 2010 when Sarah was filmed by the News of the World selling access to her ex husband for  £500,000 and received a $40,000 down payment in cash, he was once again on the front pages.  Both Sarah and he denied he had any knowledge of the deal.  But last month when Sarah accompanied Andrew and their daughters Eugenie and Beatrice to visit the Queen at her Scottish retreat, Balmoral, many people were shocked.  But Andrew and Fergie have always lived together after the divorce and maintained a close friendship.  It is rumored that they will remarry after Prince Phillip passes away.  Prince Phillip has apparently been reluctant to forgive and forget Sarah's many transgressions.

 

British Telly

 

It seems that everyone is watching Downton Abbey.  It's a great show and the setting is one of the things that makes it so fabulous to watch.  There are a number of great British shows that feature fantastic settings.  One of my favorites for settings is Midsomer Murders. Midsomer is a fictional county which is inspired by the very real and very beautiful Somerset County.  In every episode you are treated to a bevy of brutishness.  They always seem to visit a quaint pub that is just steps from the village green.  Murders happen in the most unexpected places in Midsomer such as at the cricket match, a town festival or at the theatre!  Inspector Lewis and Inspector Morse are based in beautiful Oxford.  Through watching the shows you are taken into the private rooms of the colleges - nothing you would ever see on your ordinary walking tour!  Monarch of the Glen is set in Scotland and features beautiful scenery as does Dr. Finlay.

 

No one can compete with the British for comedy.  There is the cult favorite Fawlty Towers and the bawdy Little Britain. My local PBS station plays As Time Goes By every Saturday.  It features acclaimed actress Judi Dench who re connects after 40 years with her former love after they loose touch when he goes off to war in Korea.  It's a sweet show set in one of my favorite parts of London, Holland Park. Academy Award winning actress, Helen Mirren stars in the gritty Prime Suspect playing an alcoholic cop. 

 

There are plenty of historical drama's to choose from.  If you like Downton Abbey, there is always Upstairs Downstairs or even the Tudors.  It's not terribly difficult to find all of these British gems.  PBS shows a lot of British shows as does BBC America. My current favorite on BBC America is Broadchurch every Wednesday night which is a great murder mystery set at the seaside.  Another Seaside show is Doc Martin which features the fictional town of

Portwenn and filmed on location in the picturesque village of Port Isaac, Corwall is exceptionally picturesque.  Ovation is currently showing reruns of Antiques Roadshow.  I love the British version because the antiques are much older and tend to be more valuable than what we see in America. Another great source of DVD's is your local library.  Every show I've mentioned here I was able to find at my local library or within the library system.  I started using this during the summer months when we have 157 channels and nothings on.  Another great source for British movies and TV shows is Netflix.  Look around, you'll be surprised at how easily accessible British TV is.  Soon enough, you won't even notice the accents!

 

 

 

Hello!

 

Wherever you live, you can always have a little bit of Britain in your life.  As a life long Anglophile, I have found it can be as simple as having a cup of tea to warm up on a chilly day.  Or you can relax with  your favorite British comedy.  A little escapism never hurt anyone!  There are so many fabulous things to celebrate about this small, island nation from the beauty of the land and sea, to the quirky English customs.  I have found Britain to be endlessly fascinating.  It seemed like last year was the year of Great Britain, from the London Olympics to the Queen's Jubilee.   

On July 22, 2013 the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge (otherwise known as Will & Kate) had a son!   The little tyke was given several names befitting a prince:  George Alexander Louis.  His title His Royal Highness, Prince George of Cambridge comes from the territorial designation of a son of a Royal Duke and taken from his father's title, the Duke of Cambridge.  He is now 3rd in line to the thrown after his father and grandfather.  It will be fun watching him grow up.