Blog Archives
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!)
New music: The Intermission Project
A friend in the U.K. posted about this new British band from Kent called The Intermission Project. I like their sound. It’s been described as a little Mumford & Sons with soul and I think that’s spot on.
Candy Review of Marvellous Creations: Jelly Popping Candy and Beanies
A few weeks ago, I did a candy review of Marvellous Creations: Jelly Popping Candy and Beanies, a Pop Rocks-infused milk chocolate from New Zealand, made by the British chocolate giant Cadbury. This weekend, I tried the second in the collection. Marvellous Creations: Jelly and Crunchie Bits. This one is similar to the previous iteration, with the exception of shards of honeycomb bits, like a Cadbury Crunchie Bar, in lieu of the Pop Rocks. It has a crunchy crisp rice texture you might get in a Nestle Crunch, but a little more crunchy and sweet.
I’ve always been a little fascinated by the use of said honeycomb and chocolate in the U.K., an ingredient absent from the U.S. candy market. If you haven’t tried it, it’s interesting, light and airy, but satisfyingly crunchy.
A big thanks again to my sister-in-law for sending the candy!
Sick
My first year of living in England, I got sick a few times. Now in my American mind, sick can be a sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever, Nyquil-swilling cold. Or it can be simply feeling under the weather. Or yes, it can mean a stomach bug.
What I didn’t know then was that in Brit speak, “sick” is vomit. If you tell someone you’ve been sick, it means you’ve literally just vomited (and that’s a graphic detail you probably wouldn’t readily volunteer in the same easy breezy way that you might tell someone you’re under the weather). Sick has very little to do with any kind of non-projectile spewing activity. “Ill” on the other hand is the umbrella Brit term for what we Americans would call “sick.”
And don’t even get me started on the reason Brits drop the “the” when speaking about the hospital. (“He’s been to hospital.” “She’s gone to hospital.” etc.) I still have no idea. If anyone does, please share!
Calendars vs. diaries
I’ve been emailing some friends in the U.K. to plan some get togethers when we visit London. Curiously, all of them have mentioned that they’ve put our visit dates “in their diary,” a British term I’ve completely forgotten and not to be confused with the “Dear Diary, I’ve just met a boy” diary variety, which also does exist in the U.K. (Exhibit A: “Bridget Jones’s Diary.”)
I guess in British terms, a calendar is used to let you know what date it is (they have the same kind of themed wall calendars as we do), but it’s not quite the same as a datebook or whatever device you use to record your comings and goings. Google Calendar in the U.K. may need a renaming…
Dressing the Queen
Have you ever wondered what it takes to dress Queen Elizabeth? Here are just a few details I discovered via this weekend’s very informative Wall Street Journal article:
1. The Queen prefers a two-inch heel.
2. Striking colors are a must.
3. Umbrellas are a necessity (she likes transparent ones the most).
4. She has quite a collection of hats.
More details like these can be found in the book, “Dressing the Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe” written by royal couturier Angela Kelly, who manages the queen’s public and private wardrobe.
Mini Boden’s spring collection
Mini Boden‘s spring collection is here! The children’s line features sweet sherbet colors, lots of stripes, polka dots, florals and the usual Boden quality.
Nordstrom is currently taking pre-orders on items from the spring collection. The department store normally sells only a small collection from what’s available on the Mini Boden website, but this spring it seems that there’s much more available via Nordstrom. Check out some of the new pieces in the line!
Wiltshire gets naked in the snow
It started with a Facebook page called “Wiltshire, Let’s Get Naked in the Snow” started by Leanne Myers, a 40-year-old from Durrington, Wiltshire. With the recent snowfall in the U.K., over 250 people posted their photos (all fairly tasteful – like “Calendar Girls”) in the first three days and the page has since received nearly 10,000 likes. The craze has reached the U.S. and the Middle East, with non-Brits posting to their pics to the page as well.
Check out some of the news stories and photos.
That Brit in “The Mindy Project”
Have you been watching “The Mindy Project”?
I love it. I’m convinced that I would be BFFs with Mindy Kaling if we ever met. I was watching last week’s episode last night and like every week, I wondered if the Brit on the show was actually British.
The difference this time? I Googled it at the moment that I thought it. Meet Ed Weeks, the actor who plays Jeremy Reed, and he is a real Brit! More about him here.
Why do Brits love American food?
“Juicy burgers, stacks of fluffy pancakes, Cobb salads festooned with crispy bacon, and cherry pie topped with whipped cream: American food is glorious. Especially in America. But why is it becoming Britain’s go-to cuisine?”
The Guardian newspaper has posted an interesting piece about Brits’ love affair with American food. It’s actually a concept that I’ve clearly missed – the novelty of American burgers and American breakfast in particular, perhaps because it’s not a novelty for us, it’s dime-a-dozen. Personally, I’m much more of a Mexican food or sushi fan – or at least that’s what I miss most when I’m out of the U.S.
What do you think? What’s your favorite American food?
BRITRISH.COM 