Brit Blog - ANGLOPHILES UNITED

"FRANKENSTORM"

10/30/2012

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
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A "JAMES BOND" MOVIE PRIMER

10/25/2012

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

Goldfinger, an iconic Bond movie theme song

Pick your favorite: This video features snippets from all Bond theme songs!

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BRITISH-STYLE SCHOOLS IN THE U.S.

10/24/2012

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:

New York

Boston

Washington, DC

Charlotte

Chicago

Houston

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

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Judi Dench at Hever Castle

10/22/2012

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

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BRITISHISMS THAT AMERICANS USE

10/22/2012

BBC article lists 30 Britishisms that Americans are now using....

To read article, click HERE

A Londoner Walking Pet Leopard, Circa 1960s

10/22/2012

A woman walking her pet leopard on London, circa 1960s

AER LINGUS SALE: VISIT THE EMERALD ISLE!

10/20/2012

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

Sale price: $909 USD

Sale ends Monday, October 29....So hurry!

Includes: Air, Car, 6 nights hotel, 4 cities

Travel select dates November 2012 through February 2013

Prices based on 2 people traveling

Packages are roundtrip, including all taxes and fees. (Restrictions & additional baggage fees may apply. Fluctuations in exchange rate may affect some taxes or fees.)

CITIES & ACCOMMODATIONS

Kilkenny: 1 night 4-star Newpark Hotel, with breakfast

Killarney: 2 nights 3-star International Hotel, with breakfast

Galway: 2 nights 4-star Clayton Hotel, with breakfast

Dublin: 1 night 4-star Ballsbridge Hotel, with breakfast

TRANSPORTATION

Roundtrip economy airfare from New York (JFK) to Dublin, Ireland

Weekly manual-shift Economy Car Rental with unlimited miles

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
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NOSTALGIA: 1950s BRITAIN

10/16/2012

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....

Watch Preview on PBS. See more from Call the Midwife.

Max Bygraves performing Underneath the Arches

Trailer of hit TV show Call the Midwife

The original recording of Underneath the Arches, sung by Bud Flanagan, the song's creator, and Chesney Allen

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BRITISH CHILDREN'S GAMES

10/14/2012

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

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I ♥ PALOMA FAITH

10/13/2012

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

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To buy Paloma Faith music in the UK and Ireland, click HERE
To buy Paloma Faith music from iTunes, click HERE

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