FAMOUS BRITISH HAPPENINGS IN AUGUST...

Did you know that on the...

1st August 1774,(230 years ago)the English scientist Joseph Priestley discovered 'dephlogisticated air' (later known as oxygen).

4th August 1914, (90 years ago) Britain declared war on Germany and World War 1 began.

3rd August 1924,(80 years ago) Joseph Conrad, the Ukrainian-born English novelist died.

5th August 1729,(275 years ago) Thomas Newcomen, the English engineer and inventor of he atmospheric steam engine died.

5th August 1984,(20 years ago) Richard Burton, the welsh actor died.

9th August 1979,(25 years ago)Britain's first nudist beach opened in Brighton.

8th August 1974,(30 years ago) Richard Nixon resigned as the US president after being threatened with impeachment for his part in the Watergate Scandal.

AFTERNOON TEA CATWALK...

With biscuits and fancies copied straight from the catwalk, and tea served in fine Paul Smith bone china, 'Pret a Portea' at The Berkeley Hotel in London is the place for post shopping refreshments.

It is designed to add a creative twist to the classic elements of the traditional English afternoon tea. You can find it in the Hotel's Caramel Room between 1pm-6pm.

The hew Spring/Summer 2011 collection sees Victoria Beckham, Miu Miu and Tom Ford make their début on the Berkeley's tea stand.

www.the-berkeley.co.uk

AFTERNOON TEA FOR PRINCE HARRY AND PIPPA MIDDLETON...

The Troubadour Bar in Chelsea has been serving afternoon tea to Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton.

According to the news the famous pub in Chelsea, sells tea for £3.50 and £2.75 for a muffin with jam.

BRITISH SUMMER WEATHER...

Summer June and July
They are saying that the summer is expected to start on a drier than average note, with that theme continuing at least in the south of the country into July.

Temperatures across the first two months of summer are expected to be close to, or just above average - so potentially a good deal of dry and warm weather to be seen.

Fingers crossed...

In Scotland, there is no such thing as bad weather - only the wrong clothes.
Billy Connelly

BARACK OBAMA AND HIS 'SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP' WITH THE UK....

How lovely it was to hear on the BBC News that US President Barack Obama has hailed his country's "special relationship" with the UK in a speech delivered at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

He thanked the UK for its solidarity since 9/11 and in tackling the security threats that followed.

He also paid tribute to the UK's military forces for "standing shoulder to shoulder with the US for decades".

The banquet was hosted by the Queen and attended by royalty, politicians and film stars.

THE FIRST BRITON TO GO TO SPACE...

15 years ago on May 18th 1991, Helen Sharman became the first Briton to go into space.

THE VERY BRITISH FOODIE FESTIVALS...

It's that time of year again when food festival are happening throughout the UK.

Some of the most popular ones are -

Cheltenham Food and Drink Festival - 17-19th June, www.garden-events.com/cheltenham

Henley Food Festival - 21/22nd May,www.foodiesfestival.com

Hampton Court Palace - 28-30th May,www.foodiesfestival.com

Bristol's Harbourside - 24-26th June,www.foodiesfestival.com

Tatton Park Manchester - 20-22nd May, www.foodiesfestival.com

Battersea Park, London - 24-26th June, www.foodiesfestival.com

Holyrood Park, Edinburgh - 12-14th August, www.foodiesfestival.com

South Park, Oxford - 27-29th August, www.foodiesfestival.com

Spring Tide Food Festival, Hive Beach, Burton, Bradstock - 21/22nd May, www.spring-tide.org.uk

Bath Coffee Festival - 21/22nd May,www.bathcoffeefestival.co.uk

English Wine Week - 29th May - 6th June, www.englishwineweek.co.uk

Artisan Cheese Fair, Melton Mowbray - 11-12th June, www.meltonbusiness.co.uk

BREAKFAST IN ENGLAND...

'To eat well in England you should have breakfast three times a day'.
W. Somerset Maugham

AN ENGLISH POET...

WINE AND STRONG DRINK MAKE TUMULTS ENCREASE,
CHOCOLATE, TEA AND COFFEE, ARE LIQUORS OF PEACE,
NO QUARRELS OR OATHS AMONG THOSE THAT DRINK THEM,
ANDREW MARVELL – ENGLISH POET – (1621-78)

KATE MIDDLETON...

Anyone who exploits the Royal bride to be's name to sell dresses will be in for a surprise as they wil be sued, stores were warned today according to The Daily Mail.

TYPICALLY BRITISH DINNER PARTIES...

'At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely.'
W. Somerset Maugham

TEA TIME...

My hour for tea is half-past five, and my buttered toast waits for nobody
Wilkie Collins (1824-89) English Novelist

117 DAYS AND COUNTING TO WILLIAM AND KATES WEDDING...

With only 117 days to go until April 29th for William and Kate's wedding it's not surprise to find out that there are a number of companies thinking up different types of merchandise to sell about the wedding.

But someone else has come up with another idea to make money out of the couple by introducing a Kate and William walking tour of the capital for £15.

For £15 one of the things that you will be shown is where William climbed on to a night club table and yelled 'I'm free', after he dumped Kate in 2007 !!!

Surely, that the last thing fans of the royals would want to see.

BODIES IN THE RIVER THAMES...

I bet you didn't know that 'on average, one dead body is found in the Thames every week !!!!!'

BRITISH NEW YEAR TRADITIONS....

With New Year upon us the weird things we do in Britain start with the way we let our new year in.
Putting coal on the outside doorstep, and singing aul lang syne will be part of some Britians New Years Eve celebrations.

For years and years we have had the piece of coal, gold and a dark haried member of the family to let the New Year in for good luck. To ensure good luck for the house, the first foot should be male dark and should bring symbolic coal, shortbread, black bun and whisky. This is a typical Hogmany Scottish tradition.

IT'S NOT DAVID DIMBLEBY FOR THE ROYAL WEDDING...

'It's probably a good thing I wasn't asked. The last wedding I did ended in divorce' said David Dimbleby who covered the wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.

ROYAL WEDDING CHINA NOW UP FOR SALE...

The official range of the Royal Wedding china made in Stoke-on-Trent has gone on sale.

The beautiful collection includes a tankard, plate and pill box, by the Royal Collection and have been approved by the Prince and his fiance.

Made from English bone china, each item bears the couple's initials, the prince's coronet and the wedding date.

All profits for the sale of items from the range are dedicated to the Royal Collection Trust.

SCOTLAND AND BRTISH MONEY...

Did you know that the use of the thistle a royal symbol of Scotland was on silver coins issued by James 111 in 1470.

Also, economist Adam Smith, who appears on Britain's most used banknote, the £20 note, is the first Scot to be depicted on a British banknote.

COLDEST DECEMBER FOR 100 YEARS...

'We all need to look out for each other'
Nigel Stafford, for the British Red Cross on dealing with the coldest December for 100 years

WHO'S GOING TO ANCHOR NEXT YEARS ROYAL WEDDING?...

WHO'S GOING TO ANCHOR NEXT YEARS ROYAL WEDDING?...

At the moment the veteran David Dimbleby seems to be top of the list, who fails to rule it out when asked, which could mean he's been given the nod.

Some people however think a younger generation would be more suitable in particular, 'I'm a Celebrity, Get me out of Here' presenters Ant and Dec !!