A whimsical English cottage of fairytale dreams. The Golden Globes returned for 2023. A brief history of its controversies. And talking of awards shows — I know that the women’s dresses get all the love, but can we please talk about how much fun the men are now having with their own clothes. So great to see. A brief interview with Nate of Ted Lasso. An 88-year old British mystery captivating modern readers. Amidst the uproar of a Prince’s memoir, 20 headlines comparing Kate and Meghan. Twenty-five of the best British movies of the last decade. And in recently released…
Christmas(ish) because, well, these films are a bit of a motley crew. A couple aren’t Christmas movies and a couple are but shouldn’t be. ~The Man Who Invented Christmas Shortly before Christmas in 1843, Charles Dickens finds himself short of money after a rather unfortunate series of flops. He lands upon the idea of a Christmas ghost story, inspired by his teenage housemaid, but then struggles to write it. He wanders the foggy streets of London finding inspiration in the places and people he meets, using snippets from here and there to create his own characters. When he settles upon…
Read More British Christmas(ish) Movies For The Holiday Season
Millionaire’s shortbread is so called because it’s, well, rich and luxurious. Although due to recent inflation issues I believe it should now be known as billionaire’s shortbread. It’s a layer of crumbly shortbread topped with creamy caramel and then smooth chocolate which makes for the perfect combination of taste and texture. It also makes it what amounts to a homemade Twix bar. Millionaire’s Shortbread seems to have originated in the seventies, somewhere in the vicinity of Scotland and when I was a kid, it would generally make its appearance in December, which is probably why I always associate it with…
It’s been a solid nine months since the last season of Bridgerton dropped and likely several more before season three is released. If you’re a big fan, it’s possible you are now suffering withdrawals from all of that sartorial splendor, for while it’s a show which revels in scandals and manners set against a lush backdrop of houses and balls, it is the exquisiteness of the clothing which truly commands centre stage. And particularly fun is the elegant, icy pale tailoring of the Bridgertons facing off against the candy colored finery of the Featheringtons, which leans ever so gently into…
Read More Nine Glossy British TV Shows With Fabulous Fashion (For Bridgerton Withdrawals)
Could there possibly be a sexier couple than egg and bacon? They’re the duo with chemistry so sizzling hot that they could teach a masterclass on relationships. Just the slightest whisper of egg and bacon conjures up delightful images of lazy weekend mornings and delicious breakfasts spent with a good book and endless cups of tea. And while this lovely twosome frequently forms the backbone of a good old Full English, today it is being baked into a delicious puff pastry pie and combined with potatoes for a nice, solid slice of cold weather heft. But first you’ll have to…
Now that the shorter days and cooler weather are well and truly upon us, it’s time to curl up in a comfortable corner with a book. I know that summer/beach reading gets all the love, but it’s the fall and winter seasons that are my favorites. To be hunkered down with a good book, a warm drink, and the glow of a fire is my idea of bliss. And I’m going to make an assumption here that most avid readers have some sort of a comfort category. That one genre that pulls you back time and time again when what…
Read More Seven British Historical Murder Mystery Book Series
The Victorian era is a strangely fascinating one. The lower classes endured rampant poverty and appalling work conditions which led to epidemic levels of crime, disease and cheap gin consumption. The wealthy, meanwhile, were free to indulge their morbid curiosity in all things macabre, creating a resurgence in seances, mysticism and gothic literature — not to mention stuffed animals. All of this was curiously juxtaposed with an explosion of technological and scientific advances, increasingly liberal views and real social change. For a brief moment in time, both worlds co-existed in a swirling vortex worthy of a good Dr. Who episode. It may have…
Read More Three British Victorian (esque) TV Dramas Perfect for the Spooky Season
The Victoria Sponge, also known as a Victoria Sandwich (and affectionately as a Vicky Sponge), is probably the most iconic of English afternoon cakes and I have to tell you, I am here for every last crumb of it. As a rule I’m not a big cake eater, but the Victoria Sponge is mesmerizing in its light, golden butteriness and the combination of sponge, jam and cream is perfection. Having said that, before I continue I would like to take this opportunity to address a difference between British and American cakes. British cakes, indeed most European cakes, tend to be…
~I, Daniel Blake Ken Loach at his finest, this movie is real and raw and guaranteed to make your blood boil at the excruciating Catch-22 the main character finds himself in. Daniel Blake is a 59 year old widowed carpenter recovering from a heart attack. Doctors say he is not able to go back to work, the government begs to differ and denies his benefits. Yes, it’s sad. Yes, it’s bleak. Yes, it’s depressing. But what makes it all bearable is that Daniel is real and authentic and deeply kind and passionate, as witnessed by the (platonic) relationship he…
May Day in Britain is a kinda/sorta/not really unofficial start to summer. Well, not summer exactly, more the fact that by May 1st the British have endured a long, long spate of grey, drizzly, cold weather and are desperate to celebrate the promise of warmth and sunshine which hangs (albeit delicately) on the horizon. May Day is the harbinger of a summer that should be making its triumphant return in a couple of months. Or three. Or possibly not at all. Where do you think that British stiff upper lip comes from? May Day celebrations have been observed for over…
