Monthly Archives: May 2014
The shame of mistaking “Harry” for Harry
Prince Harry? I think not.
I don’t know about you, but I’m still not really caught up after Memorial Day. We went camping last weekend with a group of friends (Oroville, soooo hot!) and I’m just now getting around to washing up the plastic wine glasses and roasting forks. First world problems.
But I haven’t been too busy to miss watching “I wanna marry ‘Harry,’” Fox’s latest Bachelor-esque horror show. I spent much of the episode, backing away slowly in absolute shock and awe, amazed that they could find a dozen good looking women who could be so easily bamboozled into believing a ginger bloke with a posh accent could be Prince Harry and that he would somehow turn to reality television … to Fox of all places … to find his bride. It is TV’s tackiest dating show ever.
Here’s a first look of the show if you missed it:
Have you seen it? What did you think? I felt deeply embarrassed (is it possible to find girls even dumber than those from previous seasons of the “Bachelor”?! Oh yes! It is!) and hoped upon hope that this never reaches the U.K. (for fear that Brits believe the lie that we are really as thick as those girls seem).
Btw, for Brits hoping to fool an American into thinking they are royalty, Metro has created a cheat sheet to help you pull of the hoax. Hint: Got a throne? You may be on your way!
Watch out, scotch!
Watch out, Scotland! The English are quietly producing their own whisky. Check out this New York Times story about The English Whisky Company, based in Norfolk, which is igniting a homegrown whisky revival!
Those interested can order from their website and they will ship globally, including the U.S.
British @ Heart
I love this iconic design by Tom Trager – and pleased to see it is available to buy on T-shirts and hoodies via RedBubble.com. The company uses American Apparel brand and you can choose from a spectrum of colors for $25.52.
(Tom Trager also does some other fun designs featuring Monty Python, “Sherlock” and “Doctor Who.“)
Bees at Top Shop
This is the craziest story I’ve read in awhile. Crazier than this.
A swarm of 5,000 bees hit London’s Top Shop on Victoria Street this week.
5,000 bees? Were they shopping for a cocktail dress or just hoping to score a deal on a new handbag?
No confirmation on what has drawn the swarm to this particular location, but it appears the seasonal sale had something to do with it.
The phenomenon that is Eurovision
So, on Saturday, the whole of Europe was glued to their TV sets watching the phenomenon that is the Eurovision Song Contest, which is kind of a singing Olympics with a smorgasbord of countries from Belarus and Russia to Finland and Germany vying for the title.
I’ll spare you the suspense. The U.K. didn’t win, but the highlights are mesmerizing. Check out Buzzfeed.com’s 24 Most Important Moments from Eurovision and then check out the winning song from Austria’s “bearded lady” Conchita Wurst.
Why I love tea
I spotted this on Pinterest and the artist has read my mind! I’m going to have a cuppa right now!
Quiz: How well do you know your U.S. geography?
Think you know your U.S. geography? Take Buzzfeed.com’s quiz and see how you do.
I scored a paltry 7 out of 16! (I’m wondering if Brits would fare better or worse on this quiz!)
Bravo’s Ladies of London
So, I’ve never gotten into watching “The Real Housewives” series. I’ve only ever watched the full first season of “The Real Housewives of Orange County” (as an Orange County native, I felt it was my duty), but managed to avoid getting sucked into the rest of them.
That may change with the start of “Ladies of London,” the latest Bravo series that airs June 5. It follows a group of elite British socialites and American expats (Annabelle Neilson and Caroline Stanbury along with Americans Juliet Angus, Caprice Bourret, Marissa Hermer and Noelle Reno), with a special appearance from Julie Montagu, who is married to the heir of the Earl of Sandwich.
I expect it will be a lot of wine swilling, tea spilling, diva fights and fascinator wearing shenanigans. Kind of “Real World London” meets “The Princess Diaries.”
The Definitive Stereotype Map of Britain and Ireland
Thanks to my friend Tory, who lives where the “really cold oil rig workers live,” I have Buzzfeed’s definitive stereotype map of Britain and Ireland! Enjoy!
BRITRISH.COM 