Happy Homemaker UK

A Wintry Week

2012-02-12T12:16:00.003Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

And here I was bragging about how winter missed our island this year

Ha!

Here are a few images from the week

And look what cutie-pie visited our backyard!

These rose-ringed parakeets (aka ring-necked parakeets)

usually stay in the treetops, so seeing one up close was a real treat :)

I've been intrigued by these noisy exotic birds,

the UK's only naturalized parrot often seen in South East England

Although native to sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent,

these green beauties are the most widely introduced parrot species in the world

found in 35 countries

Theories explaining the 1969 arrival of ring-necked parakeets

range from flying from the European continent,

escaping from the Chessington Zoo

and released as a former pets

Another interesting non-native species living in England includes

the mink

which escaped from local fur farms in 1929

I'm not sure the ferret-like mink is on my 'must see' list,

but the hedgehog and cuckoo certainly are

- all photos by me -

Sources: DAISIE, Biology.uco.edu

Related post: The Impact Of Snow

Queen Elizabeth II & Windsor Castle Tour

2012-02-08T20:26:00.002Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Wow

'Flat White' at Costa

This coffee with smooth, velvety milk lingered in my thoughts for the day,

thanks to smart ordering by Rona of Flowerona

Besides introducing me to this new cozy beverage,

Rona turned me on to a new BBC three-part series about Queen Elizabeth II, The Diamond Queen,
during our recent coffee date

I learned so much as I watched it with the kiddos...

The Queen & Prince Philip at the Royal Ascot

Queen Elizabeth II became queen at age 25(!) after the sudden death of her father, George VI,

and is the second longest reigning monarch of the United Kingdom

(Queen Victoria the longest, reigning 63 years and 7 months)

Sixty years ago Queen Elizabeth II was crowned

when Dwight D Eisenhower was US President

In fact, current UK Prime Minister David Cameron wasn't born yet!

And in all this time, Queen Elizabeth II has not been a controversial figure

(although the idea of a monarchy has)

Her sixty year reign has provided stability and continuity to this country

in contrast to UK Prime Ministers (and US Presidents) which seem to be a blip in history

Queen Elizabeth II belongs to the Windsor family

But did you know 'Windsor' is a fabricated name by her grandfather King George V

to sound more English than 'Saxe-Coburg and Gotha'

during a time of anti-German public sentiment in 1917?

Last week I toured Windsor Castle,
Queen Elizabeth's home and principal weekend retreat in Windsor, Berkshire

Have you been there before?

It is a quaint town with the impressive castle in view

The original castle was built by William The Conquer in the 11th Century

and today is the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world

Historically, the castle only has been attacked in 2 sieges during the time of that unpopular King John

You know, the infamous 'baddie' in Robin Hood

I had forgotten that in 1992 a major fire occurred in a portion of the castle which lasted 15 hours

Queen Elizabeth termed that year her 'annus horribilis' ('horrible year') for besides the fire in her 'home',

Charles and Andrew separated from their wives and Anne divorced

(Yep, that sounds like a pretty sucky year to me too, sister!)

Due to a halogen light too close to a curtain that caught fire,

the blaze quickly spread through the old, dry castle

And once the roof burned away, there was a chimney-like draft whipping the fire through nine state rooms

Over a hundred rooms more were damaged by smoke, flames, and water

Fortunately no one was badly injured and artwork was untouched,

for it had been moved earlier due to a renovation in that part of the castle

Today they have smoke alarms, but still no fire sprinkler systems

thinking that a little smoke or fire would set off the sprinklers causing severe water damage everywhere

Whereas a flame could quickly be contained and extinguished, minimizing castle damage (hopefully)

Anyhoo, like other state buildings, Windsor Castle had no insurance

So who was to pay for the repairs? The crown or the government?

That was a great debate at the time

The solution was to fund it by opening Buckingham Palace to the public for tours

(which I did and would highly recommend)

and charging for public access to parkland surrounding Windsor

The silver lining?

- Queen Elizabeth II has made her mark on this ancient castle,

reflecting her style through the renovations (which took 5 years to complete)

- Archaeologists have been very excited about discovering hidden windows, doors,

and even a 150 ft deep water well revealed during the demolition/ restoration process

The sections of the castle I visited were very old, grand, and ornate as you would expect

And for real,

I saw doors to hidden passageways (used for mistresses and servants)

and I inquired about the whereabouts of a moat

No moat.

Water would have seeped into limestone leaving the moat, dragons, and crocodiles very parched

After spending two hours touring the castle and grounds (self-guided)

I scooted to the guided kitchen tour

Although the kitchen tour was brief (there's only so much to see in a kitchen)

it held some interesting facts and it was fun to see where all the action happens

Since interior photography was prohibited,
just picture a healthy mix of old and new

I spied blackness on beams from the '92 fire

I spied a large kitchen with wooden beams, retired copper pots, and an old spit

juxtaposed with modern industrial kitchen equipment

Although no one was working in the kitchen at the time of our visit,
the guide told us the chefs bring their own copper pots and pans by the lorry-load

While I only saw the kitchen and cold food prep area,

there was a patisserie and a wine cellar just around the corner

All royal kitchen clocks are set 5 minutes fast
(mine is 12 minutes fast; are you more royal-like?)

Apparently there are traffic lights at the top of the kitchen lift (elevator)

near the doors to the main dining area

This allows footman to enter from both sides of the dining room at the same time on cue

- Clever royals -

The Queen is involved in selecting the menu two months in advance for state dinners

The menu tends to be quite simple

Visitors can tour the State Apartments, Queen Mary's Doll House, and St George's Chapel

And with advance planning, you can tour the royal kitchen too

But be sure to check ahead of time, for the castle is closed when the Queen is home

This year marks the Queen's Diamond Jubilee (sixtieth year reigning)
which will be celebrated June 2nd - 5th by a national holiday, street parties,
loads of concerts, and other activities around the country

To check out planned events, view the official website here

I've already celebrated a little with this recent Emma Bridgewater tea towel purchase :)

by EmmaBridgewater.co.uk

- all photos by me -

Watch The Diamond Queen series on BBC iPlayer

Diamond Jubilee Events here

Public Windsor Castle Tour info: Windsor Castle

Sources: Wikipedia 1, 2, Windsor Castle guides
Related posts: Happy Birthday Queen Elizabeth, The Royal Wedding (re: Street Parties), The Hat That Dragged Me To The Royal Ascot

Linking to Project 52

Random Thoughts

2012-02-04T08:43:00.002Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

I love this photo of me because

A shadow forms only when the sun is shining ;)

I love that the grass is green year 'round in England

And for once I look tall!

Ah Ha!

I just realized why no parking spaces are angled here

It would be too difficult to reverse into an angled space,

as drivers often do to make it easier to get out between those narrow lines

And a little hat tip to two very important Englishmen...

James Bond's 50th Anniversary

Charles Dickens's 200th birthday

And with Super Bowl Sunday coming up,
we are on the fence about staying up to watch the football game that starts at 11pm our time
on a school night

What would you do?

Linking to Project 52

My Weekend & Post Of The Month Club

2012-01-31T05:49:00.003Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Hello, my chickadees!
{Chickadees are called 'tits' here,
but 'Hello, my tits!' just doesn't have the same ring :) }

How are you?

Our weekend was filled with my daughter's birthday celebration

and participating in the Big Garden Birdwatch

Robin in our garden during Big Garden Birdwatch

I grabbed a cup of tea and we played Yahtzee

but not for long

as we broke into 'Ooh! Did you see that one?! Look!'

and busily made checkmarks on our RSPB birding sheet

Robins, carrion crows, feral pigeons, jackdaw, nuthatch, wren, and ring-necked parakeets

were our counted feathered friends for the day

I was glad we were to count for only an hour, for we could have watched all day!

It really was exciting :)

- plus a nice distraction from my daughter beating the pants off me in Yahtzee -

Photo from recent weekend walk

Although we are in the middle of winter,

it has been mild so far with just a few days of frost

The grass is green, and the daffodils are already coming up!

{ Shhh, don't tell anyone the winters are really mild here
or everyone will move here :) }

Life for me is busy at the moment with school commitments and moving locally in a month(!)

So it is nice to take a little time and journal part of my day here

***

Okay, now for Post Of The Month Club
Every blogger is welcome to join :)

Jump in with your favorite post from January
and link it in below

If you have a chance, stop by a few others to say 'hello'
Such an excellent opportunity to meet other friendly folks in the blogsphere,
don't you think?

I'll be reading every single one :)

- all photos by me -

Linking to: January Photograph Club

A Woman's Right To Choose

2012-01-27T13:50:00.000Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Birth Announcements by Scriptiva Paper Studio

In October last year,

it was announced that in the UK

women will be able to choose whether to deliver their baby

vaginally or by Cesarean section

Through my American eyes, I just could not wrap my head around this one

Generally speaking,

American women would not opt for this surgical procedure unless recommended by an OBGYN -

with its longer recovery and inherent risks as with any surgery

In the US

it would seem irresponsible to completely leave it up to the woman to choose

to have an elective cesarean if it was not medically indicated

(excluding subsequent births after a C-section)

But talking to English women,

100% of them in my little poll are supportive of the availability of this choice
But why?

I have been chewing on this one for a while...
Hmm...

For sale by Bye Bye Birdie England

1. FEAR & CONTROL

Having not delivered a baby in the UK, I am no expert on the NHS system. But it appears the only 'known' on your birth plan is your hospital (which may be assigned, but at least known ahead of time). You are unlikely to have met your midwife previously. And naturally the looming unknown of each childbirth can create a fair amount of fear. So I can see having a planned C-Section could bring some comfort and would help organize your life around the birth. I get that.

2. 'TOO POSH TO PUSH'

...a mantra becoming popular among the affluent

3. MAKE IT OFFICIAL

A quarter of births here are delivered via Cesarean section (I'm not sure how many of those are elective), so now they are officially creating an option for what doctors have been quietly persuaded to do by patients anyway.

4. WHY NOT?

Is it any different from other elective surgery, including a knee replacement or cosmetic surgery? It is the woman's body after all, and she should ultimately make the decision once she knows the facts and risks.

5. TOO NATURAL

Most births are delivered by midwives. Some mums feel the natural and holistic methods of midwives are forced upon them. (i.e. might not induce until 42 weeks)

Retro Luggage available via This Vintage Girl

As an aside, items listed below always are provided for labor and delivery patients in US hospitals. UK patients are advised to pack the following for their stay in the NHS hospital:

- 2-3 gowns/clothes to wear during labor/delivery

- towels and soap

- 24 super absorbent sanitary napkins

- 5 or 6 pairs of underwear/'pants'

- diapers/nappies

- baby blanket and hat

It is also worth noting that toilets and bathrooms are often down the hall to be shared with other patients. And don't be surprised when your recovery is in a postnatal ward room shared with 5 other moms with newborns.

Another interesting difference is if you have a doctor, he is likely to be referred to as a 'Mister [Last Name]', not 'Doctor'. 'Mr.' is used for highly specialized doctors, so it is a good sign if that is his title. If he is a 'Dr.', he is not as highly trained. Women specialists are referred to as 'Miss [Maiden Name]' even if they are married.

And lastly, the hospital can provide a gas mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide (Entonox) through a mask or nose piece to laboring patients to make pain more bearable. This would have been a great option for me (and for my husband!) during my labor. I think this is similar to 'laughing gas' in the US. Reportedly there are no side effects to the baby, while the mother may feel lightheaded, nauseous, and/or a loss of concentration (in which case discontinue use). Anyone else vote for this during labor in US hospitals?

I'm curious as to your thoughts on this topic :)

I find it fascinating

***

Have you selected your favorite post
you've written this month?

Join us for

Post Of The Month Club

January 31st

Hope to see you there :)

Sources: NHS, The Telegraph

Botanics In The Churchyard

2012-01-22T15:37:00.000Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

'I Spy' in a village churchyard:

A valuable ecosystem

It is common to find old yew trees in old churchyards

in central and southeast England, the Lake District, and Wales

due to well-draining chalk and limestone soils

Slow growing and long lived,

yews have been found to be older than the churches they protect

possibly because they were planted on old religious sites where churches were erected later

The majority of the world's ancient yews is found in Britain,

some still growing after 1000 years

These evergreens were
sacred to the Druids and Celtics,

a common source of myths and legends,

used for making longbows during the Middle Ages,

and always a good food source for birds

One of the curious things about yews is they have an unusually small cone

surrounded by what looks like a red berry (an 'aril' to be exact)

which is the only part of the tree that is not poisonous

Another 'I Spy' is lichens on gravestones

Lichens take water and nourishment not from soil, but from air

As many gravestones are made of limestone,

they create an ideal habitat for these little cutie-pie plants

as limestone neutralizes acidic pollution

Because headstones are rarely cleaned and graves are rarely disturbed,

churchyards inadvertently protect some endangered lichens

So much life in a village churchyard :)

- all photos by me -

Sources: AncientYew.org, Wikipedia, Country Living Magazine Dec 2011, The Country Life Book of the Natural History of the British Isles pub 1980

***

It's Back!

Post Of The Month Club

January 31st

Hope to see you there :)

Big Garden Birdwatch

2012-01-18T06:32:00.000Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Mini Binder for sale by Journal Junky

I'm so excited

I just registered to participate in the next RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

over the weekend of January 28 and 29

I feel just one dot more English :)

I'm instructed to grab a pen, download the bird ID sheet,

and spend an hour watching the birds in my backyard

And get this -

They invite me to grab a cup of tea, a favorite biscuit {cookie}, and put my feet up (!)

as I note how many bird species are seen in my garden {not flying over} within an hour

The kids are enthusiastic, getting our bird feeder stocked and ready

With the results, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds {RSPB}

gets a snapshot of bird numbers in each region

Last year over 600,000 people took part in Big Garden Birdwatch in 2011

counting over 10 million birds

Bird Counting Sheet (partial)

House sparrows have been the most counted bird for the last eight years,

with an average of four seen per garden

In 2011, starlings were number two, and blackbirds took third place in participating gardens

Want to join me?

Get more information on the RSPB website

Fancy butterflies?

The public will participate again in the biggest butterfly count in the world this summer

See details of the Big Butterfly Count here

{ tweet, tweet my birdies! }

BBC Tour

2012-01-14T08:42:00.000Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Sorry to have been away so long, my chickadees ;)

I skipped into London to have coffee with Robynne of Robynne's Nest
We have a lot in common, for she is an Australian expat here,
and she is an absolute delight :)

The following day I went back into London to tour the BBC Television Centre
And let me just say, BBC and Big Ben have been my two favorite tours since living here

I love my BBC media access tag {to keep!}
I wonder if it would work as a backstage pass at a concert?

I didn't expect to enjoy the BBC as much as I did because we hardly watch television,
so I am unfamiliar with their programs
{ I can't figure out how to get my Sky Box to record }

But I admit I was dazzled by the studios and news desk
and our guides were very entertaining

They told us if we saw someone famous we shouldn't take photos or ask for autographs
And I followed that up with a request to tell us when we do see someone famous!

Anyhoo, in Britain, anyone who owns a television is required annually
to buy a TV License for £145.50 / $220 - Ouch!
All that money goes directly to the BBC to provide commercial-free programming

BBC is the largest broadcaster in the world and
our guide estimated BBC World is in 190 countries { not funded by the TV License }

BBC also publishes books and magazines { Homes And Antiques, a fav }
and recently purchased Lonely Planet Travel Guides

This media empire is moving 50% of their programming up north to Salford, near Manchester

Why? Our guide said the short answer is subscribers complained
it was not fair to pay the licensing fee and have all the programming concentrated in London

Before WWII, the BBC was mostly broadcasting on radio

Only the wealthy could afford televisions
and most TV programming was just a few hours each day of
someone reading a poem or playing the violin
{ my, how programming has changed }

A black-and-white Mickey Mouse film was showing the moment WWII started,
and BBC Television immediately went off air

When it aired again 5 years later, a woman gave her deepest apologies for going off air
and then they continued that Mickey Mouse film right where it left off 5 years before the war

It gives me goosebumps to think how many lives changed
between the two frames of the Mickey Mouse cartoon

The guide speculated the BBC went off air because many of the staff were needed for the war efforts,
however, BBC Radio did broadcast during the war

Furthermore, few owned televisions, so it may have seemed frivolous to have stayed on air

After the war, the children's show Blue Peter was created, catering to 5 to 8 year olds
With London under rubble, it was a breath of fresh air featuring a garden and adventures
It is still the longest running children's program in the world and still airs

The Americans in our group wanted to know
if BBC studio audiences have signs instructing them to 'Laugh' or 'Applause' as in the US

Our guide chuckled and said if you told an English audience when to laugh,
they would stand up and walk right out the door!

- all photos by me -

BBC Tour Information here

A Few Funnies

2012-01-08T11:09:00.000Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

To kick off the new week

I want to share with you two photos from last month :)

Stickers added to a 'No Entry' sign in Rome

England is really big into recycling, but I mean really...
Have you seen THIS before?!

Have a fantastic week!

- photos by me -

The Dentist

2012-01-04T12:57:00.005Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

The English have a reputation for having bad teeth, so you can imagine my concern for visiting an English dentist. So let's explore that...

First of all, one of the reasons they may not have good teeth is because dentistry (except emergency care) is not covered by the NHS. And a private dental cleaning costs £110 (approx $170) a pop, so with a family of 4 paying out of pocket, preventative cleanings don't happen twice a year for most people. If at all.

Fluoride is not in the water.

Without hard numbers, I am guessing smoking is more prevalent here than in the US. Also not good for the pearly whites.

Although there are orthodontists, I don't see many teenagers wearing braces (another big out of pocket expense).

I've never seen a dental practice cater to children only. And *gasp*, there is no toy box with goodies to lure kids in (unheard of in the US). My guess is children don't form early habits of regular check ups that would continue into adulthood.

You can imagine my husband's quizzical look when he heard 'Good Luck!' several times by co-workers as he mentioned he'd be late to work due to a dental visit.

Then imagine my surprise when the dentist gushed on and on about my teeth - like I was a rock star! He loves American dentistry, he tells me. Let me say, my teeth are super-duper average.

My cleaning was VERY gentle - I think this is because most patients visit only in emergencies with pain. The dental hygienist didn't use the sucky-hose when she cleaned my teeth. Instead, I was told to 'swish' and spit into the basin. She did floss and use 'the pokey thing' I was accustomed to in the US. And when it was time to polish, she gently placed safety glasses over my eyes (the English are very safety conscious, you know). I walked away empty handed - no goody bag with floss or toothbrush. But at least my gums were in tact - not swollen and bleeding like in the US where they scour my teeth and gums.

In a recent magazine, American teeth were described as too perfect, 'like white piano keys'. Supposedly the rich and famous British will have their smiles enhanced in Paris with teeth adjusted but not perfectly straightened or overly-bleached. They go for a more 'natural' look. Interestingly, the level of bleach used in the US for professional teeth whitening is illegal here.

In case you are wondering, I continue to visit my American dentist for a real bruising and deep clean. Then 6 months later I visit the UK dentist to hear how fabulous ~~I am~~ my teeth are ;) Complementary yin and yang, my friends

(Postscript: Thank you to my wonderful commenters, who steered me when I went astray. The NHS does provide dental care at a fee but known for inconsistent quality of care.)

Happy 2012

2011-12-30T10:34:00.001Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Wishing you a wonderful one!!

photo by me

Post Of The Month Club returns January 31st :)

The European Union Today

2011-12-28T12:18:00.003Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

The European Union has been a grand experiment

originating in 1958 but solidifying in 1993

Take 27 European countries with diverse histories, cultures, locations, and economies

and bind them with laws and a single currency,

the euro

The European Union aims to provide free movement of people, goods, services, and capital within Europe

A dreamy idea, but can it work?

National borders relax

as many from poorer EU countries flood wealthier EU countries for work,

for no work visa is required

{ with a few exceptions }

Unfortunately, it has created another layer of big government

My babysitter says her fees are dictated by the EU in Brussels

Sounds a little crazy, right?

Countries in the European Union
Switzerland and Norway are among the few who did not join

Due to the current economic crisis in Greece and Italy,

a recent UK newspaper headline read

'EU Demands £25bn Lifeline From UK'

That doesn't feel fair to the British who have their own economic woes

and decided to keep its currency { Pound Sterling } from the beginning

as a way to hold on to their sovereignty

Map of the European Union

The demands and threats toward the British to financially help with the euro crisis

has led 59% of those surveyed wanting to leave the EU,

25% wanting to stay, and 16% not sure,

according to a UK newspaper, The Sunday Telegraph

In a country where NO ONE has bumper stickers on his/her car

{ it is tacky to display your opinions so publicly },

I actually have seen a few promoting the UK to leave the EU

{ or maybe it is just the same car I see over and over again }

Euro notes replaced many national currencies in 2002
Not used by all EU countries, including UK and Denmark

What has the EU meant to me?

Aside from taxes, new laws I'm not aware of, and a great variety of imports in the stores,

I can't help but be a little envious of EU citizens buzzing

through passport control as I stand in the long non-EU citizen line

I see cars and big lorries on the highways with licenses plates from all over Europe

When we travel through Europe,

it is convenient to use the same currency when we cross borders

{ But I must say the bland artwork on the euro makes me sad for the countries

who lost their beautiful, meaningful depictions of their culture on their own currency }

2012 could be an interesting year for the EU

Will the European Union break up?

Will a few countries be forced to abandon the euro?

Will the UK decide to leave?

Stay tuned...

P.S. Post Of The Month Club will resume January 31 :)

Sources: Wikipedia, AFP, The Daily Telegraph

Images: Wikipedia 1, 2

Boxing Day

2011-12-26T10:58:00.002Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Today is Boxing Day in the UK,

a secular holiday celebrated in many countries worldwide

{not in the US}

Historically employers gave bonuses and 'boxed up' leftover food to employees on this day

It was a time to give an 'Alms Box' to the poor

It also has been the day for the Boxing Day Hunt

Fox hunting dates back to the 16th century in England

Controversially, fox hunting has been banned since 2004

[image: Daily Mail]

Today for many, it is the busiest retail day filled with shopping and sales

Think 'Black Friday' in the US after Thanksgiving

It is also another day of a Tube strike

As much as I love Christmas,
it is a bit too messy for me around the house
So I am trying to convince the kids 'Boxing Day'
means putting Christmas decorations away into boxes :)

Clever, no?
{ they aren't buying it }

It is also a family day of relaxing by the fire

Happy Boxing Day!

P.S. Next Post Of The Month Club will be January 31st :)

Content: Wikipedia
Photo by me

Christmas, English Style

2011-12-15T07:02:00.000Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

As my daughter will remind you in her daily countdown,

Christmas is only 10 days away!

I believe today is '10 Lords A-Leaping' Day :)

Christmas in England is very similar to the US

with Christmas trees, stockings, carolers, and Christmas cards

{ generic ones only - a photocard of your family is considered self-absorbed }

Outdoor decorations are kept to a minimum with just a few 'fairy lights', if anything at all

Children leave mince pies and milk for Santa, instead of cookies

Mince pies filled with fruit, spices, and sugary syrup

Hot alcoholic drinks are in great variety

I just tried my first not-so-favorite Hot Toddy today

{ whiskey, honey, spices, hot water }

But thumbs up on the warm Mulled Wine :)

Absolutely no eggnog to be found - that's American { & Canadian }

Traditional Christmas dinners will include turkey, stuffing & Christmas pudding in England

Christmas Crackers are pulled open between two people
with little surprises falling out
- a paper crown, trinket, or something written on a piece of paper -

Christmas trees are placed in flagpole holders on the village high streets

There are some outdoor skating rinks in winter

Below, Henry VIII's Hampton Court serves as a beautiful background with an Ice Marshal (?!) on hand

Nature provides some of the quintessential Christmas decor,

such as holly

and parasitic mistletoe in the trees

{ original idea for Christmas ornaments? }

As they say in England,

Happy Christmas!

to you this holiday season

May it be cheery and bright :)

all photos by me

'The Holiday' With A Twist

2011-12-11T10:44:00.000Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

'Tis the perfect time to confess that one of the reasons I moved to England was

I was hoping to live in or next to this...

Iris's Cottage from 'The Holiday'
[from Chalk & Talk Blog]

Do you remember this cozy cottage from the film, 'The Holiday'?

I have visited Shere several times,

where portions of the movie were filmed

but I've never been able to find this house

{ Otherwise I'd be writing from there now }

This delightful romantic comedy starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet

is a classic chick flick to put you in the holiday mood

In a nutshell, their characters swap homes for Christmas -

Diaz's contemporary Southern California home for

Winslet's English country cottage and vice versa

A few yummy scenes / eye candy of the English cottage from 'The Holiday'

Love, love, love!

{ via Cote de Texas }

This last photo makes me laugh because

I really did sleep in my big parka and scarf just last week!

I live an old home that is cold and drafty

If I could knit myself a nose hat, I would :)

Now for some photos from the movie set in England

I believe a lot of these photos are from the DVD's Special Features

{ via Hooked On Houses }

Blowing Fake Snow For Wintry Scenes

This is the High Street in Shere

Ah, I just love Shere

Now, ready for a little twisty?

Here are more photos of my old, charming 17th Century cottage, in the making...

Unbelievable, I know - a bit of a heartbreak

The house was thrown up in just a few weeks in a field {and since torn down}

Now I know why I couldn't find that cottage! But here's the good news

This cottage is for available to rent in the Cotswolds and looks like Iris's cozy home

Slatter's Cottage, Cotswolds

And the other good news is I now know I can hire a movie crew

to build me a charming 17th Century English cottage one day :)

Iris's Cottage, 'The Holiday'

Anywhere

Center Parcs

2011-12-09T14:40:00.000Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Repeatedly, I heard from others that we MUST take our kids for a long weekend to Center Parcs

With four locations to choose from in England,

we packed our bags and headed to Longleat Village for a 'family camp' adventure

One of many water slides

Open year round, each location is situated on 400 acres of forest
and features a long list of indoor and outdoor activities,

including a subtropical indoor pool complex with a lazy river, wave pool, and water slides

With so many options, we had difficulty narrowing down what to do

but ultimately we chose scuba diving instruction, aqua jetting, laser clay shooting, a treasure hunt on bicycles,

and a chance to handle cutie-pie animals

That's just the tip of the iceberg of what they offered

Zipline platform on left side of photo

Cabins are fancy or not, depending on budget

We could eat in the various restaurants on campus or

cook meals in our cabin's kitchen

An impressive grocery store was on site as well

Row of cabins

One of the great things about Center Parcs is
it's a great vacation for families with kids of multiple ages

There really is something for everybody

Bikes are the main mode of transportation

Will we be back? Well, with so many activities yet to do,
that answer is a no-brainer

My kids would tell you, not soon enough :)

More info: Center Parcs

(I received nothing in return for this review)

2012 Olympics Poster Art

2011-12-07T14:09:00.000Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

How do locals feel about the Olympics coming to the London area in 2012?

To be honest, the public isn't real keen on funding an Olympics during these tough economic times

and London has already hosted 'The Games' two times prior

And it is not like London craves the international spotlight with last year's Royal Wedding

and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this June

People are concerned about the transportation reality during those three Olympic weeks next summer

But it has motivated London to upgrade its subway system,

the oldest underground railway in the world (since 1863)

Interestingly, there is a large variety of official Olympic Games posters for sale

This one is my fav...

English painter Bridget Riley arranged colors in horizontal stripes

to represent the direction of athletic tracks and swimming lanes

I just love it

Fancy a look at other 2012 Olympics posters?

View them here

Catch some interesting Olympic scoop from my previous post here

Boris Bikes

2011-12-05T06:42:00.000Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Introduced in July 2010, London has a successful public bicycle sharing scheme

with bikes and 'docks' located throughout the city

Nicknamed 'Boris Bikes' after Boris Johnson, the current Mayor of London,

these bikes can get you around town faster than tube or taxi

But beware, vehicular traffic is congested with few bike lanes

Sitting on the same latitude as Russia,

England gets dark early in winter

so each Boris Bike is equipped with excellent lighting

Bell not included :)

For dock locations & info: Transport of London

US vs UK Cultural Differences + Post Of The Month Club

2011-11-30T06:29:00.000Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

I just got wind of a discussion on November 4th at the London School of Economics

American Sarah Lyall (New York Times London correspondent) sat down with

Englishman Justin Webb (author and former BBC correspondent in the US) to scratch the surface

of cultural differences between America and Britain

A few topics covered were politics, the media, raising children,
drinking, stoicism, recent protests, and religion

Touched on in the video, happiness is listed in

the American Declaration of Independence as an 'unalienable right' in
the well-known phrase, Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

To rephrase, the US government declares this state of mind not only a right and a valid pursuit
but also as important as life and liberty

Isn't that fascinating?

As a result, are Americans obsessed with happiness?

The title of my blog includes the word 'Happy'

Other blogs with the title 'Happy' tend to be written by Americans too

Americans say 'Happy Halloween' and 'Happy Thanksgiving'
{ Merry Christmas is a British phrase which dates back to at least 1565 }

Common American phrases include
'Whatever makes you happy' and 'I just want my kids to grow up and be happy'

Americans often make big decisions based on a happiness litmus test

Perhaps a US slogan could be 'Be Happy - Be, Pretend, Or Search'

I lived in Costa Rica for a few years, where their motto is 'Pura Vida'
which translates to 'Pure Life' meaning 'it's all good'

I can't put my finger on what the mantra for the UK would be
I'm sure my readers can help :)

For the readers in America, notice how often you hear the word 'happy' as you go through your day

Anyhoo, lots of food for thought in the interview

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts

The video is quite long, so view what you want...
Whatever makes you happy :)

* What is the red flower Justin Webb is wearing? Read about it here

* I believe in the video they are referencing Justin Webb's newest book, Notes on Them and Us: From the Mayflower to Obama - the British, the Americans and the Essential Relationship

***

It's Post Of The Month Club time again, little muffins

I've extended it through the weekend, due to reader requests

I read every single entry, every single month :)

Just link up your best post from November - easy peasy

And if you'd like, add the button to your post or blog so more can join in

If you have a chance, drop by a few others to say 'hi' {that's what makes it feel like a club}

A warm welcome to those new to linking in, those who occasionally do, and those who are here monthly

Your contribution makes the club what is it :) Thank you!

Wishing you a wonderful December!

PostScript: Happy Thanksgiving From The UK

2011-11-25T06:06:00.001Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

I thought you may enjoy some details of my English Thanksgiving yesterday

After dropping the kids off at school,

I skipped into London with some girlfriends to St Paul's Cathedral

for an American church service

Although there were quite a few tents with protester signs,

most appeared to be 'unoccupied'

Due to photography prohibited during the service,

you'll just have to picture the choir singing beautiful hymns

US servicemen bringing the American flag forward

the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom giving a speech

followed by an American pastor delivering a sermon in a typical humorous, casual American way

As far as my eye could see, the cathedral was packed with Americans and other nationalities

We saw the secret service for the Ambassador

and maybe even some spies among us!

Being Thanksgiving, we had sushi for lunch of course :)

Yo! Sushi

I'd seen, but never tried, these conveyor belt sushi restaurants

where you pick up what you want as it passes by

The color of the container indicates price

It was fun and yummy :)

We headed home to collect our kiddos from school,

followed by cuddles for our newest family member

Bamboo, 8 weeks old

This is one cool kitty purr machine

We figured there is never a good time to get a kitten, so why not now?

He has brought squeals and giggles to our family,

ten fold

This little 'moggy' (non-pedigree) cat has a 75% chance of being hard of hearing due to its white genetics

which can create a chill'n cat who won't startle easily

Anyway, we headed over to the pub for an American Thanksgiving Dinner,

which was loads of fun in a restaurant filled with our extended expat 'family'

I had to smile when the Yorkshire Pudding was passed around during our traditional meal

Maybe it's a little know fact the Pilgrims liked their Yorkshire Pudding?

I fell asleep on the couch, stuffed of course,

while my husband watched the Cowboy/Dolphin football game

into the wee hours due to the time difference

It was a wonderful day to count our blessings

and certainly a memorable Thanksgiving abroad

Wishing you a weekend of thanksgiving, wherever you are!

***

Coming up Wednesday

Post Of The Month Club

with extended days

Hope to see you there :)

- all photos by me -

Linking to: Sweet Shot Tuesdays

Happy Thanksgiving From The UK

2011-11-23T14:43:00.003Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Thanksgiving may be the favorite holiday of most American adults,

a day of simply sharing a meal with family and friends

Because Thanksgiving is not celebrated in the UK,
tomorrow will be a regular work and school day around here

Our family will trot off to a local restaurant serving up Thanksgiving Dinner for local Americans
eager to fill bellies with the traditional fix'ns: cranberries, turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie
{ I hope an American football game will be playing in the background too}
:)

Wishing my dear American friends & family a Happy Thanksgiving Day!

- photo by me -

Tips for Hiking with Kids

2011-11-19T08:55:00.003Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Close friends know we have been dragging our kids
on weekend adventures since forever

For years our children have referred to it as 'The Prison Bus',
as they felt forced to go

Now that we live in England, the Prison Bus still takes day trips
but with little struggle

One recent weekend the Prison Bus never left
and we found we each twirled in our own little worlds in the same house,
without really connecting the whole weekend

Ever since, our family does something together for a few hours
usually in the form of a walk to bask in fresh air & bucolic views
to rejuvenate for the upcoming week

And with so many public trails nearby,
we never need to walk the same one twice

:: IN OUR BAG OF TRICKS ::

Digital Camera
Each kiddo has one and enjoys snapping away to their little hearts content
It can significantly slow down the walk but that's okay

Hello, interesting mushroom
{ little hairs highlighted by camera's flash }

Metal Detector
I first got this idea when we went on a path that specifically said 'No Metal Detectors'
Of course that made me want to run out and buy one!
Were Roman coins or pirate treasures buried there?!

Pocketknife
Obviously for older children,
my son enjoys finding sticks and turning them into spears as we walk

Walkie Talkies
The kids feel like little spies,
running ahead of us with a 'Roger That' and 'Over and Out'

Walk The Dog
The kids love racing our little Wilson through the woods and heath

Food
The idea of a post-hike ice cream or lunch at a country pub gets them running out the door

Geocaching
Best with a smartphone,
follow the compass and clues for this outdoor treasure hunting game

A Geocache is a hidden container that is registered with the Geocaching website
Varied in size, there are over a million located worldwide
Random items may be inside; if you take something, leave something

I bet there is one near you, no matter where you live in the world
{ see Geocaching.com or download app }

Remote Control 4x4
I definitely wouldn't recommend this if you are looking for a quiet walk,
but my son insisted I share this one :)

Cycling
My daughter recently took to riding her bike
and enjoys doing it any chance she gets
In England, you can cycle on bridleways but not walking paths

What tips do you have to share?

- all photos by me -

Postscript: I also want to mention Geocaches are in rural AND urban environments. Really, there probably are a few near you wherever you live in the world.

Linking to Sweet Shot Tuesdays

Hever Castle

2011-11-16T07:04:00.000Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn,
{ Henry VIII's second wife and mother to Elizabeth I }

Hever Castle makes for the perfect date with a camera

This moated thirteenth century castle in Kent is complete with drawbridge and swans

What would a castle be without a yew maze?
{ Planted in 1906 }

A variety of programs are offered on weekends
The Falconry Demonstration was our favorite

I hadn't realized birds of prey were relied upon
to capture dinner for its owner during the Middle Ages

It was impressive to watch them fly beyond our vision
and dutifully return

Other activities included long-bow archery for the willing in a picturesque setting

Over a two year span, a thousand men dug out this 38 acre lake

The result is picture-perfect

{ Excuse the romantic wash on the photo - I couldn't help myself }

Boats for hire

Yikes!

128 acres of award-winning gardens wind throughout the grounds,
including Rose and Italian gardens, nature walks, grottoes, fountains, and water maze for kids

Just over 100 years old, the spectacular gardens were planted on marshland

We took the self-guided tour inside the castle

filled with beautiful artwork and furniture and interesting placards to read along the way

{ my quest for hidden panels and trap doors continues }

Entertaining, beautiful, and educational,

Hever Castle has the recipe for a favorite day trip for all ages

- all photos taken by me in August -

Source & Calendar: Hever Castle

Remembrance Day

2011-11-11T06:25:00.002Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Poppies, poppies, poppies everywhere

If you are walking around the streets of England right now, you cannot help but notice many wearing

paper red poppies in their button holes or driving with an affixed plastic poppy on their grille

[ personal photo ]

Aside from the date being 11/11/11 { love that! }

today is Remembrance Day,

a memorial day observed in many Commonwealth countries

to remember those in the armed forces who have died serving their countries since World War I

{ the official end of WWI was 11 November 1918 at 11am }

As a sign of respect at 11am,

many English will take a two minute moment of silence today as they do each year as a sign of respect

A team of about 50 people, mostly disabled former British military personnel,

work all year to churn out millions of paper poppies to sell in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland

{Scotland makes their own}

Formed in 1922,

The Royal British Legion Poppy Factory is located in an old brewery in Richmond, just outside London

Remembrance Poppies are sold on the street by volunteers at the cost of a donation

and worn by the general public, TV presenters, celebrities, the Royal Family, and politicians

Emma Watson wears a Poppy to the world premier of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I' in London last year
[ The Telegraph ]

Funds collected go to charities providing financial, social and emotional support

to those who have served or who are currently serving

in the British Armed Forces and their dependents

It all began with the wartime poem 'In Flanders Fields' written by Canadian doctor John McCrae and

first published in 1915 in the London-based magazine Punch

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row...

This poem refers to the corn poppy/ Flanders poppy (Papaver rhoeas),

the first plant to grow in the churned-up soil of soldiers graves in Belgium and northern France during WWI

{ and one of my all-time wildflower favs }

Flanders Poppy
[ wikipedia ]

In 1918, American YWCA worker Moina Michael was inspired by the poem

and vowed to always wear a red poppy as a symbol of remembrance for those who served in war

She appeared at the YWCA Overseas War Secretaries' conference

with a silk poppy pinned to her coat and distributed 25 more to those attending

At this conference, Frenchwoman Anna E Guerin was inspired to send artificial poppies to London in 1921

which were adopted by the Royal British Legion shortly thereafter

The rest is history

Although this poppy-wearing tradition was started by an American,

it is not practiced in the United States

I must say it is nice to see a garden of poppies walking around the streets on lapels and cars

What a wonderful way to remember the men and women of the armed services who sacrifice so much

And it is a reminder that you never know when you can start a worldwide trend :)

{ Free 2-hour RBL Poppy Factory Tours are offered in Richmond here }

P.S. Thanks to Paul of From Sheep To Alligators for pointing out that Richmond is in London.

Sources: Go London, BBC 1 2, Wikipedia 1 2

What I See

2011-11-09T06:15:00.002Z

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Snapshot of yesterday

The last trees shed their leaves

as darkness falls early

and constant moisture drips from the air

Like squirrels preparing for winter,

we hunker down with chunky sweaters,

a cozy fireplace, warming soups,

& family games

- photo by me -

{ Congratulations to Chania from Razmataz for winning the enamel sign giveaway. And many thanks to RamSign for providing the goods! }