Category Archives: Culture
50 years of Bond
My son got his first exposure to James Bond on Sunday with the 007 video montage that was shown at the Oscars. Questionably inappropriate material for a 5-year-old? Uh, yeah. But a piece of British culture that my husband eagerly wanted to pass down.
I couldn’t find said video montage online, but found this excellent look at the past 50 years of Bond.
Who’s your favorite James Bond? I have to say Daniel Craig is mine.
Missing London
I just spotted this on the Boden Clothing Facebook and loved it!
For those of you who miss London, what do you miss most of all? I really miss London cabbies (black cabs!) and good fish and chips!
100 most powerful women in the U.K.
If you’ve wondered who are the real movers and shakers in the U.K., look no further than the BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour Power List.
Topping the list is the Queen, with other notables including J.K. Rowling, Adele and Victoria Beckham (AKA Posh Spice). Kate Middleton is noticeably absent from the top 100, which has created a bit of controversy since she is nothing if not influential.
Take a look at the list! What do you think?
Take the new U.K. citizenship test
Have you heard that the British government is its “Life in the U.K.” handbook and test for those seeking to become British citizens or settle in the U.K. permanently?
The new handbook and test focuses on British history and culture, with questions about sports, music, humor and historical figures.
Try taking a sample test and see how you do! (I got 10 out of 10!)
Celebrations
Today, there’s much to celebrate as the world’s oldest underground transportation network, the London Underground, celebrates 150 years today on the same day that the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton turns 31.
When I studied abroad in the U.K., one of my flatmates had an anthology of poetry that had been posted on the London Underground (where the advertisements usually ran). The book, Poems on the Underground (Fifth Edition), became one of my favorites to just dip into now and again, and ranged from Percy Shelley to Maya Angelou, Brits and non-Brits as well as some anonymous authors.
I eventually bought my own copy that year and have been revisiting those old poems this week. I found one which might be appropriate for today’s celebrations. Let’s raise a glass and have a read! Cheers.
A Birthday
My heart is like a singing bird
Whose nest is in a watered shoot;
My heart is like an apple-tree
Whose boughs are bent with thick-set fruit;
My heart is like a rainbow shell
That paddles in a halcyon sea;
My heart is gladder than all these
Because my love is come to me.
Raise me a dais of silk and down;
Hang it with vair and purple dyes;
Carve it in doves and pomegranates,
And peacocks with a hundred eyes;
Work it in gold and silver grapes,
In leaves and silver fleurs-de-lys;
Because the birthday of my life
Is come, my love is come to me.
– Christina Rossetti (1830-94)
How I became an anglophile
“I haven’t always been the tea-drinking, Boden-shopping, Bond-watching anglophile that you see before you. In fact, my first 19 years were spent in relative ignorance of British culture and customs.
My knowledge didn’t extend beyond Princess Diana’s latest designer dress and what I could gather from “Are You Being Served” reruns on PBS.
But everything changed my junior year of college when I took part in a study abroad program in the U.K.”
And so begins, my first guest blog post, published this week, on another blog — SmittenbyBritain.com, another great site dedicated to anglophiles. I’m so excited to share this with all of you!
Check out my blog post “How One American Became an Anglophile” and have a wonderful weekend!
21 Brilliant British People Problems
Photo credit: Buzzfeed
This did make me laugh: Buzzfeed’s 21 Brilliant British People Problems. Don’t miss #16!
No needle drop Christmas trees
It’s been a little over a week since we bought our Christmas tree (noble fir) and the dreaded needle drop has begun.
It seemed almost mystical when I heard that my MIL in England has a “no needle drop” variety of Christmas tree this year. Why do we not have such a variety? Why are we as Americans destined to a needled existence?!
I have no answers, except for living proof of said variety here and here.
When we were living in London ten years ago, I remember buying our Christmas tree online for £5 and was delivered to the house in a cardboard box – all six feet of it! Once we unwrapped the box and cut the netting that enveloped the tree, voila! Instant Christmas tree!
And so it seems fitting that ten years later, the Christmas tree industry in the U.K. would progress to non-needle drop Christmas trees. What next? Trees that decorate themselves? Trees that tie themselves to the roof of your car? Trees that never do that leaning thing?
Finally, for those looking for alternative Christmas trees on our side of the pond, look no further than Apartment Therapy’s round-up of the best 15. These will definitely not drop needles!
Follow me on Pinterest!
I joined Pinterest a little while ago at Pinterest.com/britrish and am having fun pinning and finding great Britrish content! Won’t you give me a follow? I’ll follow you back!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Secret Cinema in London
“I didn’t ever imagine it would be like this so I was both shocked and surprised at the same time. I thought we were coming to watch a film!” – one Secret Cinema attendee interviewed by BBC Newshour
I, too, had heard bits and pieces about Secret Cinema and thought it was merely a pop-up shop-style movie theater. Oh how wrong I was!
If you want to get the real scoop, listen to BBC Newshour from yesterday. One of their reporters participated in this mystery night out in London and finds herself on trial, convicted and then sent off to a prison yard a la “Shawshank Redemption.”
I was only able to source yesterday’s Newshour podcast in its entirety (if you haven’t listened to Newshour, it’s a great listen anyway!) but you can scroll to 35:46 to hear about Secret Cinema! Also, check out some of the photos taken at this recent one. Talk about experiencing a movie!
Have you gone to Secret Cinema? What did you think?
BRITRISH.COM 