Monthly Archives: September 2012
A sad news day for milky tea
Tea without milk is like a day without sunshine. Photo credit: iFood
Tea without milk? Blasphemous, I say!
But there is some debate over whether milk diminishes the heart-healthy properties in a cuppa. Tea apparently won’t help regulate blood pressure or control diabetes when milk is present. To this I say, “Poppycock!” (Ooh, I feel like Maggie Smith in “Gosford Park” or … anything really … when saying that.)
The Britishisms are coming!
BBC News reported yesterday that British English is invading America. Read their spot on story in full.
I was particularly surprised to find “do the washing up” (wash the dishes) and “twee” (excessively cute) to have entered the vernacular. I have never heard either of those stateside. What British English do you use most?
Scotch Egg Challenge winners
The Ship in Wandsworth was the eggstraordinary site for last night’s 2012 Scotch Egg Challenge.
I followed the challenge last year and blogged last year’s winner. This year, I got a blow by blow account of the event, thanks to Twitter and #ScotchEggChallenge.
And without further ado, the winners …
Mmm … the winning Scotch egg. Photo credit: Bladebone Inn
1st Place: The Bladebone Inn, near Reading. Berkshire
2nd Place: The Hinds Head, Bray, Berkshire
3rd Place: The Drapers Arms, Islington
Congrats to the winners and all who participated last night. Eggcellent work!
Customer reviews of Veet
Now, I would normally not read reviews of Veet for Men hair removal gel creme on Amazon.co.uk, but this little nugget of comedy gold did make it into my Facebook stream, and I will admit that I was crying with laughter when I stumbled upon it and began reading.
It appears that many Brits (or at least one British comedy writer using various guises) have used Veet where Veet was not intended.
NSFW. Read on….
Cheers to a good British organic beer
I blogged last week about a very British find at Whole Foods Market. Well, I have another discovery to share: Laverstoke Park Farm Organic Real Lager, made in Basingstoke, near Hampshire!
We bought some on our last weekly shop and I wasn’t sure what to expect (it’s not often you see a child’s drawing on a label advertising beer!) but it turns out that it is truly a great lager. Not too light, not too pissy (ahem, Coors…). Just refreshing with some body and flavor! Best of all, it’s British and organic! Superb!
Take me to London!
This is probably better suited for a Monday, but I’m posting it anyway! Thanks to Ally for sharing this!
Have a wonderful weekend wherever you are!
Frosties
Photo credit: consumeropinionreviews.blogspot.com
I don’t know about you, but I am fascinated when I see brands in other countries that we as Americans know and love. It’s a strange yet familiar sight. Case in point: Frosties.
You know it as Frosted Flakes, but Brits recognize it as Frosties and I do think that the name “Frosties” is a much more cheerful, albeit more American cheerleader name for the cereal. By comparison, Frosted Flakes sounds almost clinical. Don’t you think?
And if you were wondering, their Tiger also is called Tony and yes, he also thinks “they’re grrreat!”
Getting Brave
And hot on the heels of yesterday’s post about Scottish fashion, I bring you the sounds of Scotland.
Well, kind of.
So picture it – we’re sweating bullets out at Disneyland’s California Adventure Park last month, watching the World of Color show (which is really quite beautiful, if you’ve never seen it.) and they’re projecting a few familiar scenes from Disney movies of yesteryear upon this wall of water and then… they play this song that literally transports me out of the sticky summer heat of Southern California and into a lush green meadow near Stirling. It’s a Scottish song, with bagpipes, sung by a sweet honeyed voice and it leaves me breathless.
The song was from “Brave.” Julie Fowlis’s “Touch the Sky.” I’ve not seen “Brave,” but days later, we bought the original soundtrack on iTunes and weeks later, it’s still what we’re listening to. If you haven’t heard it yet, do yourself a favor and check it out. Especially if you love Scottish music in the vein of Kate Rusby, John McCusker, Battlefield Band, or want a quick introduction into the genre.
Scottish fashion is coming
F. Martin Ramin for The Wall Street Journal
My husband subscribes to the Wall Street Journal on Saturdays, which is their weekend edition, and I must say, it is a very good read – not so much for the financial news, but for fun, whimsical, eye-catching and well-written stories on food, wine, travel, fashion, culture and lifestyle.
It’s the kind of reading that pairs best with a hot cup of coffee, freshly made pancakes and a morning at home with nothing pressing to do. It might be the closest thing to a good British weekend newspaper in America. I should add the Financial Times in the U.S. comes at a close second – not sure what the correlation is between financial newspapers and a good lifestyle section, but there clearly is a correlation. I also like that the financial newspapers doesn’t come preloaded with all the normal weekend tat that’s weighing down other American newspapers – coupons, sales flyers, Parade Magazine, need I say more?.
But I digress. I was a little behind on my WSJ reading and just went through the Aug. 27 paper (don’t judge…). The front page of Off Duty was this: “The Scottish are Coming.” If you never thought that the kilt would make its way to our shores, well, read on … I’m loving the tweed and tartan, the wool and the Fair Isle. They form the foundation of my idea of the perfect fall wardrobe.
John Lewis’ latest advert
I’ve blogged before about British retailer John Lewis’ adverts and how well done they are. Well, they’ve done it again.
Check out their latest advert, which launched last Friday.
Great concept and lovely cover of INXS’s “Never Tear Us Apart” sung beautifully by British singer Paloma Faith. *Sigh*
BRITRISH.COM 