A BRITISH LIFE ON PINTEREST...

A British Life board on Pinterest with lots more pins on living a British life.

A TOWN IN AMERICA WHERE THEY SPEAK ENGLISH...

There's a small American town 2,500 miles away from the Mexican border which has be designated English as its official language !! (Don't blame them, it's a lovely language).

'Jackson' is in New York state and has a population of 1, 700 of which most are white with just a handful of Spanish speaking farm workers.

But apparently inhabitants were determined to protect their English speaking heritage after condemning the federal government for not acting.

And although the town has no shops, schools or even a church all business must be conducted in English.

Another nearby town called Argyle (sounds more Scottish to me) has passed a similar resolution while another, Easton, will debate the issue next month.

Unfortunately even though supporters claim the moves high light support for curbing immigration and preserve the culture which many fear is under threat in some states, the New York Civil Liberties Union wants the laws all to be repealed.

THE BRITISH WEATHER....

What is it about us Brits that we are so obsessed with the weather.

Every time we go into a shop we comment on the weather, we chat about it on the phone, while out walking a dog, over dinner in a Restaurant. In fact, we just don't stop talking about it.  A survey has shown that we spend nearly six months just 'talking' about the weather.

Apparently the British in particular are obsessed with the English weather.

It's one of the most common ways to start a conversation, and I feel sorry for the check-out staff at supermarkets which must listen to people talking about the weather all day long.

We spend almost five times a day talking about it and spend longer discussing it, then on sport or work!

Women talk about it more than chatting about their men, love lives and gossip.

Even Twitter gets 500,000 'tweets' about it, and as for older people, well we have three times as many conversations about it and still believe in old wives tales, such as, cows sitting down (rain comes) something I 'always' say and the family make fun of me and of course, red sky at night is legendary.

These findings prove that we are a nation who is totally obsessed with the weather and with our unusually cold winter, millions of conversations at the moment are about the weather.

WHY DO THE BRITISH DRIVE ON THE LEFT?...

Apparently when the horse was king, travelers liked to keep their sword hand free to deal with hostile traffic and as most were right-handed, they kept to the left and it became a rule of the Highways Bill of 1835. 

TODAY IS ASH WEDNESDAY...

Today is Ash Wednesday which means it's the first day of Lent. Its official name is 'Day of Ashes', so called because of the practice of rubbing ashes on one's forehead in the sign of a cross.

It marks the first day of fasting, repentance, prayer and self-control. Luxury or rich foods such as meat and dairy are often avoided by those taking part in Lent. Also abstention from personal 'bad habit's such as watching television or eating too much sugar is also commonly practised.

I'M BACK...

Hi, I'm back after a loooooooong break from this blog with what I hope will be lots of interesting articles for you to read, some to make you laugh or cry and others on a more serious matter.

Us Brits have a lot to offer and are a very special race of people so do pop by with your mug of tea or coffee and sit down and enjoy ............

LORD BYRON ON THE ENGLISH WEATHER...

lord byron (1788-1824) - english poet

"The English winter - ending in July, to recommence in August".

FOX'S CAUSING HAVOC IN THE UK...

In 2010, nine month old twins Lola and Isabella Koupparis were severely wounded when they were mauled by a fox in their cots in Hackney, East London. Today a month described her terror when she found a fox licking her young daughter's face while she slept.

Both fox's appear to have come into the house through an open door and both are in London, with the most recent one in Clapham Common in South London.

They say that a lot of people seem to feed the foxes, and forget that they are vermin, but people should be aware of how vicious they could be when on the look out for food.

Apparently foxes eat anything so people should make sure their bins are well maintained and not try to tame foxes. If they lose their fear they become more bold and that's when they get into houses.

They say there are around 33,000 urban foxes in the UK.

MARGARET THATCHER'S GRANDDAUGHTER DID HER PROUD...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsslZNodDoM

          

Lady Thatcher's 19-year-old granddaughter Amanda Thatcher gave a reading at her Grandma's funeral at St Paul's Cathedral yesterday.

The young Thatcher looked composed as she read a lesson from the Bible to the congregation, watched by millions on television.

Her reading called for the righteous to put 'on the whole armour of God" and that her grandmother may be able to stand against the 'wiles of the devil'. Report by Sophie Foster.

 

DO YOU FANCY A ROYAL AFTERNOON TEA?...

The Tea Cosy tea shop in Brighton www.theteacosy.co.uk is keeping up with the royals in all ways.

The walls are decked with commemorative memorabillia and the menu hosts the likes of Queen Mother's Cream tea to William and Harry's Tea, see below.

Menu

William and Harry's Tea
A selection of homemade biscuits with a pot of tea for one.

Beatrice and Eugenie's Tea
Cupcake with hot chocolate, cream and marshmallows.

Charles and Camilla Tea
Two pieces of toast with Pate or homemade preserve and a pot of tea for one.

Princess Margaret Low Tea
A piece of cake with a pot of tea for one.

Queen Mother's Cream Tea

AFTERNOON TEA WEEK

Throughout August to celebrate National Afternoon Tea Week you can get 25% off some afternoon teas in London and the UK.

Just click onto www.afternoontea.co.uk and click on the link for your 25% offer plus a gift voucher.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE AND AFTERNOON TEA...

The renowned and iconic British landmark that is Buckingham Palace is only open to visitors for a short time in the summer.

Enjoy exploring the opulent hallways and furnished interiors of this Royal Residence. See the state rooms and finish with an Afternoon Tea at either the Thistle Westminster or Grosvenor Victoria, both renowned four star hotels. For a limited time you can also see Kate Middletons wedding dress, tiara, shoes and cake.

The offer was from www.buyagift.co.uk has been reduced from £115 -£95 for an afternoon tea and tour of this superb building.

THE FIRST TEA SHOP TO HIT THE UK...

The Country's first tea shop was opened in 1864 by the Manageress of the Aerated Bread Company.

The company directors allowed the manageress to serve refreshments to favoured customers.

Then, demand for her service grew, which then sparked a new trend for similar shops across the UK. Within two years the Aerated Bread Company had opened 250 of it's self service tea shops.

These also helped to liberate the lives of women, as it was considered 'perfectly proper' and acceptable for a woman to meet her friends in a tea shop without needing a escort and without risk to her reputation.

J. Lyons & Co opened their first Lyons tea shop in 1894 at 213 Piccadilly. It was the forerunner of some 250 white and gold fronted tea shops which occupied prominent positions in many of London's high streets.

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.

WIMBLEDON'S FORTNIGHT, BRITAIN'S BIKE WEEK AND THE HIGHLAND GAMES...

Some reasons to get active this month, The Highland Games, which are a must-see, and take place from May to September countrywide. There are all sorts of games to choose from with the popular Braemar show, which attracts 10,000 spectators watching games such as caber tossing, hammer throwing and a highland fling.

For more details look on the website www.shga.co.uk

Or you could join in Britain's Bike Week which has events ranging from beginners trails through the Cotwolds to endurance charity races. There will also be pop-up bike clinics offering free safety checks. This is running between 18th to the 26th June and you can find more details on the website www.bikeweek.org.uk

On the other hand if like me you love Wimbledon fortnight but have not been able to get tickets (advance tickets have sold out) then don't miss out completely. Search over 20,000 courts and tennis clubs at www.lta.org.uk

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

THE CLOSING OF A TEA SHOP...

It was sad to read in www.yorkshirepost.co.uk that after 92 years of service, a cake shop, called 'Sterchi's' in Filey, North Yorkshire is about to close.

It's heyday, it said, was in the 1930's when afternoon tea and light supper were an every day part of British life.

The shop opened in 1924/25 but now with big shops eating up all the little shops, it just came down to basic book balancing, that made them decide it was time to close the doors.

The owners Mr Philip Cammish and Mrs Sue Cammish, were very sad to have to close the shop. They have been overwhelmed with letters and phone calls bemoaning the closure.

BREAKFAST IN ENGLAND...

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

TEA SMUGGLING IN BRITAIN...

Until the mid-18th Century, the tax on tea was so high that it encouraged a thriving black market.

No duty was pain on tea smuggled into Britain and tea was so popular that big money could be made illegally.

More tea was smuggled into Britain than was imported legally.

In 1785 after demands for legitimate tea merchants, the government slashed the duty on tea and tea smuggling was wiped out overnight.