
TO READ BBC ARTICLE, CLICK HERE
******************************************************************
Go to: BRITISH NEWSPAPERS
Go to: BRITISH RADIO
Go to: HOMEPAGE
As many of you know, I live in Brooklyn, New York, and yesterday, "Frankenstorm" wreaked havoc on New York City and the entire East Coast of the United States. (As I write, it is now visiting the interior of our country). The storm's malevolence arises from the fact that it is a hybrid storm--a "perfect storm," if you will--formed by colliding weather systems and made worse by the fact that it occurred over one of the country's most populated corridors. Below are two maps the BBC made--the first shows the storm system over the US, and the second superimposes the storm system over a map of Europe, giving us an idea of just how big the storm was in relative terms. The result? If the eye of the storm were near Paris, the areas affected would include London, Dublin, Glasgow, Zurich, Prague, Berlin, and Copenhagen. In short, it was huge. My heart goes out to all those affected by the storm, and my thoughts are with them during the recovery process. ![]() TO READ BBC ARTICLE, CLICK HERE ****************************************************************** Go to: BRITISH NEWSPAPERS Go to: BRITISH RADIO Go to: HOMEPAGE
0 Comments
![]() I recently heard a young Anglophile embarrassingly admit that she has never seen a James Bond film but that she hoped to correct her error in judgement by seeing Skyfall. Her comment made me, who has grown up with the James Bond franchise, realize that perhaps other young Anglophiles are in the same boat. (Or in James Bond parlance, in the same "Glastron CV-19 speedboat.") For those of you unfamiliar with James Bond movies, I have found a wonderful Time Out London article that discusses plots, characters, music, and other important details of each Bond film ever made. In no time at all, you'll be up to snuff! For the rest of us, the article is a pleasant stroll down memory lane.... To read Time Out London's "50 Years of James Bond" article, click HERE To hear Adele sing Skyfall's theme song, click HERE
************************************************************************************* Go to: BRITISH MOVIES Go to: BRITISH BOOKS Go to: VISIT BRITAIN Go to: HOMEPAGE ![]() American Anglophiles may not realize that a network of British-style private schools exist in the U.S., with curriculum delivered by British-trained teachers. These schools, owned by World Class Learning Group (WCLG), headquartered in London, are called “British Schools of America.” The schools are located in the following citiies:
Some of the schools offer lower and middle school education; others include high school education with prestigious diplomas--including the International Baccalaureate Diploma, recognized by universities worldwide, and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education, affiliated with the University of Cambridge. The schools are pricey but no more so than other topnotch private schools. More than 3 million students across the globe attend British-style international schools that are ran by educational organizations such as WCLG and similar institutions--and the number of schools is rapidly increasing, expecting to double in the next decade. Demand for British-style schools is especially great in the Middle and Far East. WCLG’s chief executive, Hugh MacPherson, explains: “People are effectively buying an educational passport that gives them greater access to the world’s best universities and increases their chances of getting a good job.” In the United States, British Schools of America initially sprang up to serve ex-pat communities, but their curriculum and standards have appealed to more than ex-pats—making them competitive with other top private schools. WCLG recently launched its New York City school, World Class Learning Academy, New York, and had HRH Prince Michael of Kent on hand at the official opening. As a New Yorker, I would like to say: Welcome, WCLA New York!” To visit the World Class Learning Schools / British Schools of America website, click HERE ************************************ Go to: BRITISH BOOKS Go to: BRITISH NEWSPAPERS Go to: THE ROYALS Go to: HOMEPAGE ![]() Dame Judi Dench talks about Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII...a doomed queen who ended up in the Tower of London and later beheaded. The castle, in the village of Hever, Kent, 30 miles southeast of London, was built in the 13th century. Today the castle is a tourist attraction, with elaborate gardens, a lake, a yew maze, a water maze (in which one tries to reach the middle of the maze without getting wet), and various events, such as jousting tournaments and archery displays. To visit Hever Castle website, click HERE ************************************************************
Go to: THE ROYALS Go to: BRITISH BOOKS Go to: VISIT BRITAIN Go to: HOMEPAGE A woman walking her pet leopard on London, circa 1960s ![]() Okay, Ireland isn’t part of the UK, but I know that many Anglophiles would to love to visit that country, and Aer Lingus is currently offering its most popular “Best of Ireland” sale (details below). Once in Ireland, travelers can take train, bus, or air to UK’s Northern Ireland, or take a ferry/train combo or air to cross the puddle to Great Britain. Here’s the lowdown on the sale: Aer Lingus
CITIES & ACCOMMODATIONS
TRANSPORTATION
OTHER INCLUSIONS All local taxes, hotel service charges, carrier and government taxes/fees/facility charges on airfare. (Gratuities and meals are NOT included) To visit Aer Lingus sale website, click HERE ************************************************************************** Purchase TRAVEL BOOKS Go to: VISIT BRITAIN Go to: MAPS Go to: HOMEPAGE Watching the BBC's smash television hit Call the Midwife, now airing on PBS in the US, has made me feel unaccustomed nostalgia for the 1950s--a decade I've never held simpatico feelings for...until now. The show is set in 1950s London. Maybe, immersed as I am in a world of technology, something in me pines for the simplicity of those early post-war years. A fellow Anglophile recently shared a lovely video with me that conjures up ample 1950-ness, and I've shared the video below. It features the song Underneath the Arches, written by Bud Flanagan, a popular WW II British entertainer, and sung by Max Bygraves, another famous British entertainer of that era. Best of all, the video shows wonderful 1950s, black and white images of Britain. Frankly, photos of "Swinging London," in the '60s, are much more familiar to me, so these glimpses of post-war Britain are hugely fascinating. Delving into 1950s British culture makes me feel like an explorer traveling uncharted territory! So, please, climb aboard my Wayback Machine to watch yesteryear Britain....
*************************************************************************************
Go to: BRITISH RADIO Go to: BRITISH NEWSPAPERS Go to: BRITISH CARS Go to: HOMEPAGE ![]() ROLLING HOOPS Yesterday I was hiking in Prospect Park, in Brooklyn, and saw this exhibit at the Lefferts Historic House there. Rolling Hoops: A far cry from children's computer games, right? ![]() CONKERS Reading about Rolling Hoops, a game of yore, brought to mind Conkers--another old-fashioned British game. Conkers is played in the autumn, when horse chestnuts ripen and fall to the ground. Players poke a hole through the nut and attach a string to it, then opponents take turns striking the other's conker...until, ultimately, one of the conkers is destroyed. The rules to Conkers are a bit elaborate; to watch a video about Conkers, click HERE ************************************************* Go to: BRITISH MOVIES Go to: BRITISH TV Go to: BRITISH FOOD Go to: HOMEPAGE ![]() PALOMA FAITH, the British singer, songwriter, and actress, continues to wow the world. The 27-year-old songstress from Hackney holds an undergraduate and a Master's degree, and I think her keen intelligence sets her apart from her peers. She is quirky, funny, informed, and articulate in interviews; writes insightful songs perfect for her gifted, bluesy voice; and shows extraordinary creativity with all the visual elements of her performance, from dress to stage design. Paloma recently released her newest song, Never Tear Us Apart, which is featured on John Lewis' "Never Knowingly Undersold" TV advert in the UK. To see the video of the new song, Never Tear Us Apart, click HERE Paloma recently performed in Boston and created a Video Diary that introduces her band members and crew and shows behind-the-scenes takes of her Boston show. To view the video, click HERE ********************************* To buy Paloma Faith music in the UK and Ireland, click HERE To buy Paloma Faith music from iTunes, click HERE Go to: BRITISH MUSIC Go to: BRITISH TV Go to: BRITISH MOVIES Go to: HOMEPAGE |
ZellaI am a writer, artist, and incurable Anglophile! Thank you for reading my blog, and please feel free to join my discussions about Britain. I look forward to hearing your comments and stories! Archives
June 2019
Categories
All
|