Author Archives: britrish
U.K.’s ugliest buildings
Top row, left to right: Titanic Museum, Mann Island, Cutty Sark
Second row, left to right: Shard End Library, Firepool Lock Housing, ArcellorMittal Orbit
The Carbuncle Cup shortlist was announced a couple of days ago and the following are their latest picks for the Worst Architectural Eyesores in the U.K.
Tour de France victory for Britain
32-year-old Bradley Wiggans, of North London, is the first Briton to win the Tour de France.
Whoo hoo! Congrats to Bradley Wiggans, for winning this year’s Tour de France – and being the first Briton ever to do so! It’s a historic achievement and I can only imagine the exuberance and pride that must be filing the U.K. this week.
Yesterday’s Daily Telegraph piece from writer Ian Chadband put the win in some perspective: “It is hard to imagine that any performance in the Olympic Games, which open on Friday, could possibly match the magnitude of his achievement in this 2,172-mile epic.”
Epic! Well done, Bradley Wiggans. You’ve made Great Britain very proud!
Britons are less active than Americans
This is actually not an American, but a Briton. Photo credit: Evening Standard
A new study reports that Britain is among one of the most inactive populations on the planet, with 63.3 percent of the population failing to meet recommended levels of physical activity. That beats America, which comes in at 40.5 percent, despite the fact that 30 percent of Americans are obese.
Can you believe it?
I find this study surprising. I was the most fit that I have ever been while living in the U.K. I used public transport and walked a lot – more than I ever have in the U.S. There is such a thing as being “London fit,” which comes not from mindlessly slaving away at the gym, but from bolting up stairs, catching the Tube, running for buses and walking with all of your gear, just to get where you need to go. I actually kind of miss that purposeful exercise, of inadvertently getting in shape while going about your day. It makes using the treadmill look a little bit silly.
A bit of London in West Hollywood
A few months ago, we spent a long weekend in West Hollywood and I had the chance to meet up with a British friend of mine who recently made the big move stateside.
Where did we meet? She suggested the London Hotel in West Hollywood and picked me up in her sweet little Mini Cooper for what I imagined would be a quiet drink in some tatty, themed hotel bar. I should clarify – she is a class act, but anything with the moniker of the London Hotel would have to be a little Sweeney Toddish? Am I right?
Well, actually no. This is the London Hotel.
All photo credits: London Hotel
After a brief walk through the lobby, I realized how very wrong I was. I was actually the closest thing to Sweeney Todd in the room.
The hotel was immaculate, stylish, luxurious but not stuffy. We took a seat at the hotel bar (AKA The London Bar by Gordon Ramsey) and perused their delicious looking cocktail and wine menu. I ordered the English Rose ($15), made with Absolut Vanilla vodka, Absolut Apeach vodka, fresh lemon juice and white peach puree. It was a very fruitful and lovely take on the Bellini. She ordered a glass of Napa red wine (I can’t even recall what it was… something from Rutherford, I believe) and we had a nice chat in this refined setting, which was an utterly delightful way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon, catching up with an old friend.
And if you’re ever visiting in West Hollywood and looking for a place to indulge, London Hotel has some unique amenities for the anglophile including free calls to London and a complimentary breakfast spread of fresh fruit, pastries, farmhouse cheeses and charcuterie from Boxwood Cafe by Gordon Ramsey. (The cafe also serves a traditional English breakfast if you fancy something more traditional). All-suite rooms currently start at $249/night.
A savory take on French toast
Ah, sweet French toast dusted with powdered sugar. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
French toast, to me, is a sweet affair. Maple syrup and powdered sugar are my go-to toppings. Not ketchup.
But Brits like their French toast savory, often topping theirs with Marmite, ketchup or brown sauce. I remember the first time one of my flatmates in Scotland made a traditional breakfast and included French toast, but this was a really simplified, stripped down version. No syrup, no powdered sugar. Just this white bread, dipped in egg with salt and pepper, and fried to a crisp golden brown and served with ketchup. I could barely mentally compute the concept, and then after trying it, I was pleasantly surprised.
Do you prefer your French toast savory or sweet?
Is it tea you’re looking for?
I follow George Takei on Facebook, and he’s always enlightening and delightful! I loved this Lionel Ritchie teapot that he posted to his FB last weekend and I guess I’m not the only one. I located the teapot on Etsy and they’re sadly all sold out (since George FBed about it). The good news? Owner Lenny Mud promises to make and post more soon!
When he does, you can be sure a lot of people like me will be dancing on the ceiling!
Saving Castle Drogo
My MIL volunteers regularly at Castle Drogo, which is the last castle built in England in the 20th Century. Located in Drewsteignton, near Exeter in southwest England, it is a National Trust property which was formerly home to grocery magnate Julius Drewe. It is every bit the fairytale castle that you would imagine, but has sadly sustained water damage over the years, due to waterproofing problems during its early construction.
A fundraising campaign is currently underway to help raise money to repair the roof, replace windows, repoint walls among other necessary fixes in order for the castle to remain open to visitors. I hope that they are successful. See the video below to find out more about the castle and be sure to visit if you’re ever in Devon!
Hello, Barbour
Barbour has been crafting its legendary outerwear since 1894, but it hasn’t been readily available in the U.S.
Now, J.Crew has partnered with Barbour to supply men’s Barbour jackets in a variety of styles. They really are extremely good quality and perfect for keeping warm and dry in the wettest of winters (and British summers!).
Shed of the year
It seems to me that the majority of American garden sheds are practical and purposeful. A place to store garden tools and bags of seed, pet food, bikes, paint cans, odds and ends. They’re strictly storage spaces and certainly not a place you’d want to spend any amount of time.
British sheds, on the other hand, are really places to dwell, have a cup of tea, read a book, listen to “The Archers” and maybe also store some odds and ends and a few little surprises.
Case in point: John Plumridge’s shed in Shrewsbury. From the outside, it looks like a pretty little garden shed.
Photo credit for all photos: Shedblog.co.uk
But inside, this awaits!
Check out all of the photos. It’s not surprising that he won the Shed of the Year award, which was presented last week.
And if you want to see some of the runners-up, here you go! Prepare to be inspired!
The birth of Penelope Scotland
Kourtney Kardashian gave birth Sunday to a daughter, Penelope Scotland. Photo credit: Associated Press
I try not to care about the Kardashians. I really do.
But when I heard that Kourtney Kardashian and her husband Scott Disick just named her daughter Penelope Scotland, well, I couldn’t help but take notice.
Is Scotland an appropriate name for a child – especially given by a non-Scottish couple who probably couldn’t locate Scotland on a map? Is Scotland an appropriate name for a girl? Am I wrong for wondering why they couldn’t just stay local and go with a name like Hollywood, Westwood or Burbank? What do you think?
BRITRISH.COM 