Happy Homemaker UK

Charles Darwin's Home

2013-06-15T16:02:00.002+01:00

A few months ago

I visited Charles Darwin's home

You know when you learn so much

that you need to put the information

through a sieve to see what gives the biggest impression?

While walking in the footsteps of such an iconic scientist,

here's a few things I took away from my visit

1) Charles's father didn't want him to go on the Beagle voyage

out of parental fear of the unknown

(who can blame him?)

But look at what was accomplished by Mr Evolution

2) Charles had boundless curiosity,

including a passion for studying barnacles and earthworms
(who knew?)

While he was studying earthworms and plants at home,

his wife insisted she have a proper flower garden

that he had to leave alone

3) When Darwin received a particular Madagascar orchid from a friend,
Darwin predicted that there must be an unusual moth with a proboscis 14'' long to pollinate it

Sure enough, the Hawk Moth was discovered forty-one years later
- aka Xanthopan morganii praedicta ('praedicta' since Darwin predicted it) -
and is the sole pollinator of the orchid Agraecum sesquipedale

4) Darwin knew his theory of evolution would be very controversial

and kept his theory a secret

until another naturalist formed the same idea

5) Darwin had 10 children

and he was unwell much of the time

(possibly due to an illness he picked up on his travels)

Most of his children survived childhood

and became quite successful in a variety of careers

(his grandmother was from the porcelain Wedgewood family)

I loved visiting Down House in Kent, where Darwin raised his family,

wrote, and conducted experiments and observations

Although I would not recommend it for younger children per se,

the inner child in you will connect with Darwin's youthful curiosity and energy
and appreciate his life story

- photos by me -

Visitor information: English Heritage

(an unsponsored post)

Yellow Country Lanes

2013-06-09T12:34:00.000+01:00

Right now

you may get lucky and find yourself driving by a field of rapeseed
in England

Like anticipating each holiday,

I always look forward to seeing this crop

before it is harvested for its vegetable oil

(known as Canola in North America)

Here is what it looks like from an airplane

Hello, 'yellow brick road'...

The word 'rape' in rapeseed comes from the Latin word 'rapum' meaning turnip

Turnips are in the Brassica family, along with cabbage, Brussels sprouts, rapeseed,

and mustard (which resembles rapeseed)

While fragrance is not rapeseed's forte,
visually, it will knock your socks off when growing en masse

Although there is no indication as such,

I've wondered if English singer-songwriter Sting was thinking of rapeseed

when he sang 'when we walked in fields of gold'

Sting, feel free to drop me a line to confirm :)

- photos by me -

Factual tidbits: Wikipedia

A Little Garden Humor

2013-06-06T10:36:00.000+01:00

Too cute not to share...

via Pinterest

Have a great weekend, y'all!

In Bloom

2013-06-02T21:09:00.000+01:00

My camera was very busy last month for

we had three months of blooming crushed into just one month

due to the third coldest Spring on record

From camellias to primroses,
daffodils to tulips,

from rhododendrons to rapeseed fields,
bluebells to buttercups

- typically, each slowly savored -

Nature has been playing a game of 'catch up'...

providing an unusual display

of overlapping blossoms

within the last 31 days

England is now humming with life
and has pretty much caught up with the season

The month of June enters
with its crazy long days of sunlight,
lavender and roses on the cusp of blooming

Ah, the adventures of living on a garden island...
Joy :)

- all photos by me -

Chelsea Flower Show 2013: Products & Ideas

2013-05-26T09:00:00.000+01:00

This is the second year the Chelsea Flower Show

has housed the Artists Retreat Section

- one of my favorite areas -

Designers are invited to decorate a summerhouse,

creating inspirational hideaways

Swoon on, my friends...

The mowing path is so creative!

A quintessential English brand,

the Cath Kidston retreat

featured handmade paper roses

Let's take a peek inside the shack,
shall we?

Across the way, I met Rob Ryan in his workshop retreat

Genuinely, I have been a huge fan of his work for years

so it was a real thrill to meet him

With a background in print making,

Rob now is known for his papercut art (laser and by hand)

and poetry-like sayings that sweetly speak to the heart

Transferred onto ceramics and textiles,

you can find his products online and in some of the coolest stores

(including Liberty)

Grabbing things from his real workshop,

here's a limited look at his show retreat

A space that oozes creativity

Moving away from the Artisan Retreats,

I thought this was a clever peat-free compost alternative

made of wool and bracken from the Lake District

And how about an upside down lampshade
as a decorative potting sleeve?

or an old boot?

Ken Muir exhibit

Typically, 'coloured mythical creatures' are banned from the show,
but this year the ban was lifted for charity

I think gnomes are having a bit of a comeback,
for I spied a few at the show

Look at this cutie

University of Reading exhibit

The University of Reading
was promoting the concept of
'A New Millawnium' (clever)

With proper planting,
it is possible to have a full flowering, grass-free lawn
requiring mowing just 3x/year

Goodness me,
can you imagine, lawn gardening?!
My, how beautiful

Ideal for roundabouts and small yards with light foot traffic,
I can see how this could be possible
with nonaggressive clovers, yarrows, buttercups,
English Daisies, violets, and more

According to the university,
medieval paintings indicate lawns of the past were flowered
while grassy lawns were for jousting tournaments

Pippa Small's retreat

Alrighty, I think that pretty much covers it :)

I hope you found some inspiration over the last few days
through the series

It has been an absolute pleasure -
can't you just see me twirling in a meadow of flowers right now?!

'But yet still inside you there will never be a shortage
to the amount of love that your heart can grow...
until it finally blossoms and its flowers cover the whole world'
-Rob Ryan

P.S. A few of you have asked about how to buy tickets in the future. I order my tickets online in December/January for the May show - they sell out each year but it varies as to when. RHS Members can purchase tickets for Tuesday (when flowers are looking their freshest), and the public can buy tickets for Wed - Sat. Buy tickets through the RHS website here.

- photos by me -

Chelsea Flower Show 2013: The Gardens

2013-05-23T06:12:00.000+01:00

So I quickly learned that on Press Day

the international media

is mostly there for the celebrities

which was good news for me as

the garden designers were hanging around their installments, ready to chat :)

Birmingham City Council exhibit

So here were my top picks...

'A Hebridean Weaver's Garden'

To be set in the 1950's on the Outer Hebrides islands of Scotland,

this installment shows the traditional making of Harris Tweed

with hand dyed and hand spun wool

Notice the crooked tree you would see on the islands due to high winds?

I love the little brook and

the traditional blackhouse with its aerodynamic roof line and rocks to hold it down

The original theme and attention to detail are magnificent

Another favorite was

'The Garden Of Magical Childhood'

Raise your hand if you'd like to see this in your backyard :)

So loving those wooden mushrooms and

the little pond in the grass with hand painted wishes on rocks

- so sweet -

The garden depicts a tea party taking place under a tree house,

designed to encourage viewers to reflect on the preciousness of childhood

Unlike the Show Gardens section,

the Artisan Garden designers cannot excavate

so they placed a horse chestnut tree in the middle of the fort

and built the slope around it

The ivy growing up the tree house was planted first

to give it time to grow and look more natural

I think any child would love to spend a few hours in this lovely spot

and this magical retreat looks like it has been there forever

(which is tricky with only 5 days to put it together)

As to the only flower requiring guards,

the Lady's Slipper orchid was hiding in the corner at

Le Jardin De Yorkshire

This beauty is a success story of scientists at Kew Gardens

bringing this girl back from the brink of extinction

The orchid continues to be the rarest wildflower in Britain

and is being reintroduced in the north of England, including Yorkshire

Like the Chelsea Flower Show,

the Tour de France is celebrating its 100th year too

and teamed up with Welcome To Yorkshire

to promote the Tour de France riding through Yorkshire next summer

two guards protect orchid (see arrow)

Let's now go inside the Great Pavilion,

where I was particularly taken by the unusual hanging amaryllis display

by W.S. Warmenhoven (Holland)

Attached with metal cuffs and secured with wires,

these hollow amaryllis stems will be hand watered just one more time this week

from above

Wouldn't this be a fun idea for a wedding or garden fete?

And for something really different,

check out this red poppy from China

- Meconopsis punicea -

which is related to the gorgeous and rare blue poppy

(seen in background)

But wait, there's more!

I'm just getting warmed up :)

Check out this carefully excavated apple tree

And as always, a stunning display of orchids

by Thailand's Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden

Working with 50,000 orchids, lots of Oasis and wire

this amazing display came together

with the help of fifteen people over five days

Nearby,

Paignton Zoo showed their version of past and future gardening

A classic English garden on the left contrasts with an artificial biome on the right

At Paignton Zoo in Devon, crops are grown hydroponically (soil-free) onsite to feed the animals

Sounding futuristic, trays of crops are placed on conveyor belts to sunlight and feeding stations

But for me, here was the show-stopper...

This dress!!

Just look at the exquisite detail,

made from fresh flowers, foliage and ferns

So dreamy

Okay, I will let your floral heart have a rest

Such deliciousness, no?

I have one more Chelsea post coming your way soon

Don't miss it :)

- photos by me -

Chelsea Flower Show 2013: Press Day!

2013-05-21T12:40:00.000+01:00

In January I applied for a press pass

for the 2013 RHS Chelsea Flower Show

I had to submit previous Chelsea Flower Show articles I had written

(fortunately I had covered it for the last two years on my blog)

And my request was approved in March

It was an unforgettable day!

Here, pull up a chair :)

I bee-lined it to the Press Tent to collect the 'Photocall Schedule'

which listed where celebrities would be at appointed times for photo ops

It had me running around the grounds like a scavenger hunt - too fun!

First I saw Emilia Fox at Prince Harry's

B&Q Sentebale Forget-Me-Not Garden

then Dame Helen Mirren at the Burncoose stand in the Great Pavilion

followed by Ringo Starr opening the WaterAid Garden
with his wife Barbara Bach

I missed Helena Bonham Carter by a few minutes
at the 'As Nature Intended' garden

Lots of local celebrities were walking around

and a photographer would ask them if s/he could take their photo

My friend, Suzy, is my garden partner-in-crime

She usually accompanies me on most of my gardening shoots

and we've always gone to the show together in the past

This year we were separated as I had a solo press pass,

and she worked the gala event at the show just a few hours after I'd left

Although Prince Harry didn't turn up for 'my' Press Day yesterday,

he did show up at 'Suzy's' gala event last night

Garden designer Jinny Blom with Camilla, Prince Charles, Prince Harry
at B&Q Sentebale Forget-Me-Not Garden

The Queen looking lovely in lavender

Prince Harry teamed with B&Q to highlight his charity, Sentebale,

which cares for vulnerable children affected by HIV in Lesotho

(Prince Harry did his gap year in Lesotho)

Jinny Blom not only designed this garden,
but also designed the 'Healing Garden' with Prince Charles
for the Chelsea Flower Show in 2002

I can't wait to show you more gardens

Watch for my next post ;)

- photos 1-6 by me
7 & 8 by Suzy Wood -

Reporting From The Chelsea Flower Show...

2013-05-19T12:13:00.000+01:00

I am off to the Chelsea Flower Show tomorrow

Celebrating its 100th anniversary,

the grandest flower show on earth is this week

(photo from last year)

Armed with a press pass in hand for the private 'celebrity day',

I may catch a glimpse of Prince Harry due to his involvement

in Sentebale's 'Forget Me Not' Garden

and who knows who else I'll see :)

It is speculated that due to Prince Harry's participation,

tickets sold out in record time this year

and scalpers are asking a whopping £500 per ticket

I'm excited to view the Lady's Slipper,

Britain's rarest orchid, which has security surrounding it

And there are sure to be stunning and innovate installments

which never disappoint year after year

I can't wait to share it all with you :)

Stay tuned over the next couple of days

for unforgettableness :)

- photo by me -

Source: The Telegraph

To Do London: Jamie Oliver Cooking Class

2013-05-17T05:26:00.000+01:00

Jamie Oliver has taken the world by storm

with his cookbooks, television shows, and products

Passionate about improving the quality of food in schools,

he also is excited about his cooking classes offered

in his Recipease cafes/storefronts

- two London locations, one in Brighton -

We selected the Vietnamese Street Food class

which lasted 1.5 hours

In this gorgeous venue

we prepared our meal from scratch

with an interesting blend of fresh ingredients

This is what we made

[Photo from Recipease website]

Not only was the food delicious,

but the vibe was really fun

all under the guidance of a professional chef

(not Jamie, unfortunately)

With many menus from which to choose,

I'll be back to Recipease to whip up some more yummy dinner ideas

First photo by me

(an unsponsored post)

English Bluebell Beauties

2013-05-14T21:34:00.000+01:00

Growing in ancient forests,

the bluebells are at their peak right now

A breathtaking blue mist
carpeting the forest floor...

The English bluebell is a protected species

found happily growing in ancient woodlands

and particularly fond of blooming under beech trees

And it is well known fact they attract little fairies :)

English bluebells have a graceful curve to their stalks

due to the weight of their flowers lying on the same side of the stalk

Spanish bluebells are more upright, mainly in gardens, and tend to be more invasive

This year was the first time I'd seen these girls under a cloudless sky,

and, my, how they emitted the most heavenly sweet scent

released by the warmth of sunlight

With half the bluebell population residing in Britain,

you may not need to travel far to drink in all this deliciousness

Glug, glug :)

- all photos by me -

The Polo Season

2013-05-09T06:07:00.000+01:00

Savoring local sports,

we made our way

to a polo match

Knowing nothing about the sport,

we were happy we brought a smartphone

to educate ourselves during the day

We were surprised by how casual the event was

and that some of the teams were co-ed

We sat in metal bleachers

and bought our food/drink from the nearby caravans

Costing just £5 for the 'picnic ticket',

we found it to be very affordable

The announcer had hilarious commentary

We even helped with 'divot stomping' at half-time

just like in the film 'Pretty Woman'

All in all,

a great way to spend a few hours with the family

- photos by me -

Venue: Ham Polo Club

(an unsponsored post)

Giddy For Spring

2013-05-04T06:50:00.000+01:00

Spring has arrived!

Lifting everyone's spirits

from such a long dreary winter,

everyone has a new spring in their step

This brave neighbor filled a bed with Forget-Me-Nots

I suppose they are so easy to pull out of the ground

and happy to reseed,

why not?

Beeeaaauuutttifulllll!

This is a long holiday weekend

and the sun is shining,

so I'm running out the door to be outside...

Have a great weekend!

- photo by me -

From Wigs To Windows

2013-05-01T09:53:00.000+01:00

Ever wonder why those 18th century wigs went out of fashion?

Here's a good little story...

George III (wikipedia)

The fashion in the day for men was horsehair (or goat) wigs,

which tended to be scratchy and bug infested

They were powdered with finely ground starch

scented with orange flower, lavender or orris root

When the government started to tax wigs to help fund

the American War of Independence,
men started to ditch the wigs
and just powder their own hair by the 1780s

In 1795, the government taxed the powder,

and out went the wig and powder fashion all together

Meanwhile, another interesting tax sprang up

which you still see evidence of in England

and other European countries today

The Window Tax

Introduced by King William III in 1696,

this unpopular tax was seen as taxing 'light and air'

The thought was

the bigger the house, the more windows it would have,

thus the more tax the occupants would pay

A house with fewer than twenty windows could escape the window tax

This tax was easy to access from the street by tax collectors

so occupants started to brick up their windows

Although the window tax was repealed in 1851

under Queen Victoria,

you still see evidence of it today

The horsehair wigs,

not so much

- photo by me -

Source: Wikipedia 1, 2

A Brief History of St James's Park

2013-04-26T18:14:00.000+01:00

St James's Park is
the oldest Royal Park in London,

the first Royal Park to be open to the public,

and it is one of the most visited parks in Europe today

The park is surrounded by three palaces

- St. James's, Westminster, and Buckingham -

and often has beautifully landscaped borders

Originally the park was a marshy meadow

where the River Tyburn often flooded on its way to the River Thames

Pigs grazed the land with farms and woodland in the area

In the thirteenth century, a leper hospital for women opened
(and gave the park its namesake)

Like the conversion of Hyde Park,

King Henry VIII turned the land into another deer park in 1536

with a hunting lodge that later became St. James's Palace

Later, King James I brought minor changes to the park

including keeping exotic birds, camels, crocodiles, and an elephant in the park

King Charles II acquired Green Park so he could walk
from Hyde Park to St James’s Park without leaving royal soil

Then in 1827 the Prince Regent (later George IV) commissioned
John Nash to design the park in a naturalistic fashion which included
winding paths, converting the canal into a lake,

and replacing Charles II's formal, French-inspired plantings to something more fashionable

The landscape design has changed little since Nash’s time

Earlier trees were burned for fuel or
accidentally burned due to out-of-control fireworks,

therefore, many of the plane trees (in the Sycamore family)
you see today in the park were planted during the 1827 redesign

In 1837, the Ornithological Society of London gifted the park various birds

The position of bird keeper and cottage (below) remain today

And those fabulous pelicans?

In 1664, the Russian Ambassador gave pelicans as a gift for the park

Just last month the City of Prague gave the park three Great White pelicans,
increasing the pelican population to six

They can be seen feeding between 2:30p and 3:00p daily

It's reported that there once was a naughty pelican
who would fly to the London Zoo to steal fish for lunch
and then return to the park

This one looks a little suspicious
:)

all photos by me

Source: The Royal Parks

(an unsponsored post)

Day Out With The Girls

2013-04-23T07:18:00.000+01:00

A friend and I had

the perfect day with our daughters

last week

I'm not a fan of musicals,

but Matilda is the best one I've seen EVER

Based on a Roald Dahl story,

this musical oozes talent and creativity

About a girl who is mistreated by her parents and headmistress,

this dark story has a happy ending

with snappy tunes, amazing sets, and delightful choreography along the way

We started our day off right at Sanderson Hotel

with their Mad Hatter's Tea

Complete with marshmallow mushrooms, 'Drink Me' juice, and other fun (and delicious) bites,

my daughter had a hard time deciding if she liked the musical or the afternoon tea best

I'd say it was a tie

Such a great day!

- all photos by me -

Laura Porter's review of Mad Hatter's Tea here

(an unsponsored post)

Spring Daffodil Days

2013-04-19T06:39:00.000+01:00

This has been a tough gloomy winter

but we are now being rewarded

with 'sunshine on a stick'

Daffodils...

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

- all photos by me -

UK History In Film

2013-04-13T08:49:00.000+01:00

Perfect for a rainy day,

why not grab a blanket

cup of tea

warm the fireplace

and watch a good film

Such an easy way to learn a little UK history

Just pick your time period :)

I've complied a list of films

listed in chronological order of film setting

Braveheart (1995)

is a historical drama war film portraying William Wallace,

a 13th century Scottish warrior who led the Scots
in the First War of Scottish Independence
against King Edward I of England

Starring Mel Gibson

(Oscar)

The Other Boleyn Girl (2001)

is a historical fiction film loosely based on the relationships

between Anne Boleyn, her sister Mary, and Henry VIII

Starring Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman

Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

is the sequel to the 1998 film Elizabeth and loosely based on events

during the latter part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England

Starring Cate Blanchett

(Oscar)

Anonymous (2011)

poses the question, 'Was Shakespeare A Fraud?'

in this political thriller and pseudo-historical drama

Starring Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave

The Madness of King George (1994)

tells the story of George III's deteriorating mental health

and the Regency Crisis of 1788

Starring Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren, Rupert Everett

(Oscar)

Becoming Jane (2007)
depicts the early life of English author Jane Austen

and her posited relationship with Thomas Langlois Lefroy

Starring Anne Hathaway

Amazing Grace (2006)

is a biographical drama film about the campaign

against slave trade in the British Empire in 1807

Starring Ioan Gruffudd

The Young Victoria (2009)

is a period drama film depicting the early life and reign of

Queen Victoria and her marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Starring Emily Blunt

(Oscar)

Miss Potter (2006)

is a film about children's author and illustrator Beatrix Potter

Starring Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor

Titanic (1997)

is a fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic

One of the biggest blockbuster films ever

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet

(Oscar)

War Horse (2011)
is a war drama film set before and during World War I

It follows the story of a boy and a horse during the war

(Oscar nomination)

The King's Speech (2010)

is a historical drama featuring King George VI (Colin Firth)

who sees an Australian speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush) to cope with a stammer

Also starring Helena Bonham Carter

(Oscar)

Hope & Glory (1987)
is a comedy drama war film
based on the producer/director John Boorman's
experience of growing up in London during the Blitz during World War II
(Oscar nomination)

Made in Dagenham (2010)

dramatizes the Ford sewing machinists strike of 1968

that aimed for equal pay for women

The Iron Lady (2011)
is a biographical film based on the life of Margaret Thatcher,

the longest serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the 20th century

Starring Meryl Streep

The Queen (2006)

is an historical drama film, starring Helen Mirren

who portrays Queen Elizabeth II after the death of Princess Diana in 1997

(Oscar)

Calendar Girls (2003)

is a comedy and true story of a group of mature Yorkshire women who produce

a nude calendar to raise money for Leukemia Research in April 1999
Starring Helen Mirren, Julie Walters

Do you have a favorite?

Info & Images: Wikipedia
(An unsponsored post)

The Lambing Season

2013-04-10T06:59:00.000+01:00

One of the dearest things to do in Spring

is visit a farm during the lambing season

And if your timing is right,

you may see one being born

Thanks to ultrasound,

the farm sorts the pregnant ewes into different pens

according to how many lambs each mama is expecting (usually 1 to 3)

The more babies she is carrying, the more help she may need to deliver safely

Once born, the mama and babes are painted with a number on their backs

so the staff can keep the family together

More going on at the farm

Definitely the season for newborns,

lots of other babies are seen on the farm

With sun, blossoms, and the lambing season

England is at its best right now :)

Have a great week!

- all photos by me -

Raising Second Generation Expats

2013-04-06T10:27:00.000+01:00

Ever wonder what it would be like to live abroad with your family?

In my last post

I interviewed four American expat moms

who described what it was really like
to live in a foreign country when they were kids

- the good and the bad -

Next I posed the question

'Did you want to raise your children abroad?'

Here are their responses

Miss C (Raised in 4 European countries, now in England): Absolutely!! It's a gift that they, once they are adults, will fully appreciate and treasure for the rest of their lives.

Miss S (Brazil as a child, Japan as a teen, now in England): I didn't have a preference per se but my husband and I knew if the opportunity arose, we certainly would consider it. I'm glad my kids live abroad now. It makes them different. They are truly citizens of the world. They have family in Africa and America, and they live in England - but to them that's normal. How crazy is that?!

Miss G (England as teenager, now in India): I absolutely wanted my kids to live abroad, and longer than I got to. I came away from my own experience thinking that living abroad was an essential part of a person’s education in life.

Miss L (Costa Rica as teen, now in England): Both my husband and I were eager to live abroad with our children. Because of my experiences in Costa Rica, I saw the benefits of living abroad, but I also hoped to move where there would be a lot of activities for our children - our current school and England certainly provide that.

What insights or advice would you have for parents new to the expat life?

What words of wisdom would you have for their kids?

Miss C: Don't try to live your "old life" in your new location. Open yourself up to your new culture and embrace it, experience it. Expose your children to as much as you can - make them realize that the world is vast and interesting.

Miss S: Laugh. Things will go wrong. If you're lucky to know the language where you are an expat, there are still nuances, jokes, sayings, signs, measurements, and mannerisms that are different. Ask questions. You're a foreigner and people know it. Usually, people are willing to explain things and if you say something silly or out of place, just blame it on your ignorance because you're new!

When we first moved to Brazil, my mom would go to the supermarket and try to speak Portuguese. She wasn't very good at it, and she only knew whole numbers. When she asked for cheese at the cheese counter, she only knew how to say "1" so she would come home with 1 kilo of cheese. That's 2.2 pounds! I did something similar when I first moved to London and ordered groceries online. I got my gallons and litres mixed up and ended up with about 4 gallons of milk in my first order. That's about 15 litres of milk! Whoops.

For the kids - you're never the 'new kid' for long in an expat community. Once you start feeling like you've got it, look around for someone who isn't quite there yet. They will be eternally grateful just as you would have been if someone helped you in your early days.

Miss G: It’s harder to live abroad than at home, harder and richer. In other words, it takes work, but it’s worth it. As a mom, my primary concern is getting the kids settled, and I think it’s really helpful if one parent can focus on just the kids for the first 6 months of a move. Setting them up to be comfortable and with activities they like and one or two friends before you start your job (if you have one) will make the rest of your stay much more comfortable.

I have tried to be lenient with my kids as moving and being someplace new is stressful for them too - I try to allow them extra treats (an ice cream now and then when you don’t have a friend yet really CAN help!) and lots of listening to them and playing with them. Remembering that they are nervous or homesick or stressed just like you are can help focus your energies on helping them through it. One specific trick that has worked for us: one of my two kids doesn't like change and we have found that keeping his room roughly the same wherever we go makes a huge difference to him. It’s a kind of familiarity that we can provide – when all else is novel.

We also have found that a lot of preparation before you move can really help the kids. I found YouTube videos of the cities we were moving to, to show the kids what it would look like, and we watched together, focusing on things we couldn't wait to see for ourselves or try. We bought coffee table books with big bright pictures of the towns and cities, books of the local folklore and children’s stories also helped engage them. We also had the opportunity to take photos of their new schools (and some of the teachers and kids!) to bring back for the kids to see. Our kids really poured over all this before we moved them and they knew, to some degree, what to expect when we left the airport.

I have found this sort of preparation helps us a lot on our travels as well. Since we've been living abroad (Ethiopia & India), we've taken our kids on vacations to 10 different countries. To engage them before we go, we talk about where we’re going and what we’ll see and do and eat; buy activity and story books when possible (there are great ones for Egypt and China) and make playdoh structures out of the amazing buildings we will visit. After a kid has tried to build the Eiffel Tower out of playdoh, he is even more excited to try to climb to the top when you’re actually there. Putting in the prep time with the kids BEFORE we move or travel has really engaged them and made our travels a lot more fun.

Miss L: Before moving here, we moved quite a bit in the US, and I quickly learned that no matter where you live, there will be things you don't like very much and things that you absolutely love. And that is certainly true to living abroad, only on a bigger scale. But we've always said, "Just focus on the things you love", and that always seems to work. There is definitely an adjustment period to any move. It takes a while to figure out things and to find your niche socially, but it always gets easier and better as time goes on.

I would suggest getting involved as much as possible because you'll enjoy it even more. We absolutely love our school - it keeps us very busy and productive - but some of the things we enjoy most are the local activities (sports, church, our British neighbours). My boys have been really happy here, almost immediately, and I keep telling them, "You've learned that you can be happy anywhere". It's a good skill and a good mindset for them to develop.

Anything else you would like to share?

Miss S: I think if you live abroad it's really important (and a lot easier) if you have a safety net. We always went with a big corporation who looked after us, took care of all the logistics, schools, housing, gave us trips home, etc. Living abroad without that safety net can be very difficult. If anything really bad happened, we knew we had a way "out" and would be taken care of.

Miss G: I have been amazed how clearly my kids mimic my husband’s and my feelings about a move (or a trip). If I am excited and happy about it, then they are too. If I am nervous and homesick and feel out of control, then they will follow suit. Putting your most positive attitude into this adventure will come right back to you. Finally, having the opportunity to live abroad with your kids is a special privilege, and I would encourage anyone interested to embrace the adventure!

Wow! I love all the wonderful insights

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer all my questions, girls!

Great tips for vacationing with kids (love the playdoh idea, Miss G!)

and loads of good advice for families moving anywhere, not just abroad

Plus just a lot of sound advice for raising a family

Good stuff!

- all photos by me -

Reflecting On An Expat Upbringing

Where Are You From?

Reflecting On An Expat Upbringing

2013-04-03T06:48:00.000+01:00

Due to an overwhelming response on my post 'Where Are You From?',

I decided to write a follow-up from a different angle

Handmade by Jane Foster

Wondering how my children may reflect upon living abroad,

I posed questions to four American expat moms who lived in foreign countries
when they were younger

Here's a quick introduction to these 4 lovely ladies
who took the time to answer my questions (thank you!):

Between the ages of 4 to 18, Miss C grew up in four European countries

Now a busy mom of 4, she is fluent in French, and her husband is German

They live in England

Meet Miss S who lived in Brazil for four years when she was little

and moved to Japan during her teenage years

She has two kiddos and a South African husband

With US/UK dual citizenship, Miss 'S' has lived in England for 8 years

Miss G spent one year living in Oxford, England as a teenager
She, her husband, and 2 children recently moved from Ethiopia to India

Miss L spent two of her teenage years in Costa Rica
Now a mom of 3 children, she lives in England

Here's a few of my 'wonders', and their responses:

While you lived abroad as a child, what did you think of the experience at the time?

Miss C: Once in an international school system, you get used to kids coming and going. Therefore, our moving every few years was the norm as everyone else was doing it too. However, that doesn't mean I didn't cry my eyes out when we left Switzerland and Belgium, but the adjustment was quick and easy once our new school began.

Miss S: We were in Brazil when I was 2 - 6 years old, so I didn't know I was an expat. I knew and understood we were different and lived far from family. I remember my mom stocking up on all the things she couldn't get in Brazil. There were no limits on weight and number of suitcases, so we literally traveled with 12 huge suitcases. At the time there weren't many toddlers on planes, so we received lots of attention. Whenever we left for Brazil at the end of the summer, my extended family would cry hysterically as they waved goodbye. From our point of view, we were off for another year of adventure.

When I was 13 years old and living in the US, my parents told my sister and me that we were moving to Tokyo. I cried and tried to convince them to let me stay behind with my best friend. I didn't want to leave my American school or friends. But my sister and I quickly found friends at our new school in Japan. Since all expats have been new at one time, they all know what it's like and were quick to introduce us to other people and give us pointers. We stayed for two years, and boy, did I cry when we had to leave Japan!

iPhone case by Arete on Etsy

Miss G: I was very excited for the adventure and eager to try something new but living in England for that one year turned out to be a difficult experience for me. The girls in my all-girls school weren't very nice to me for at least half the year. I was one of only two foreigners in my grade, and it wasn't cool to be an outsider. My mom worked very hard to keep me happy, including taking me out of school often and going on little trips with her.

Miss L: It was really difficult for me to move to Costa Rica, as I was about to start high school. But it was a great experience, and for the most part, I really enjoyed it. The down side for me was that I attended a very small international school (the only English-speaking one in the area), and there were very few extracurricular activities there. We only had about 30 students per grade. Back in the US, I had been very involved in a variety of sports and choirs, plus a lot of church and social activities, and there wasn't much of that in Costa Rica. There were no sports for girls, and I was in the only choir in the school, which was very mediocre.

Also, because it was an international school, we were very spread apart, so getting to other friends' houses was challenging. None of us were old enough to have a driver's license, but we did find ways to get around and do things. We had great monthly dances, which were a lot of fun, and I found a phenomenal jazz dance class outside the school where I went 3 days a week, so that improved things a lot.

Now through adult eyes, what do you think about your time abroad when you were a child?

Miss C: I absolutely loved it; it's an experience I wish everyone could have. As a child, one doesn't fully understand the scope of it, but as an adult one realizes how fortunate and lucky one was. Children who have these experiences, especially in high school, create bonds that last a lifetime. I'm very close with my high school friends as we share such a unique experience.

Miss S: I think my experience abroad made me the person I am today. Of course there were days that were challenging, but overall I learned a lot, including to laugh more, to ask for help when lost, and to appreciate people of different cultures.

However, I quickly lost touch with what was happening back home. I didn't get their jokes as much, I wore different clothes, I didn't know the TV shows, and I picked up mannerisms and inflections that made me seem different to them. Some people incorrectly took it that I was leaving my past behind or acting stuck up.

Vintage art by Cirque De Art

Miss G: It was a great experience for our little family - being abroad pulls a family together and forces you to really lean on each other because you don’t have friends and other family around to go to. It was likely a pretty challenging year for my mom, as one of her four kids (me!) wasn't very happy, and I’m sure it took a lot out of her to work with me. The only real disadvantage I can see is that coming back into my old school was a bit rocky. My US school didn't really know how to judge all the different classes I took in England, and I think I ended up a bit behind in the US system. In the long run, it didn't matter at all.

Miss L: As an adult, I see it as a fantastic experience. I learned to speak Spanish fluently, and it certainly broadened my perspective in major ways. Our church asked my dad to oversee the missionary work for our church in Costa Rica and Panama (he left his career for two years to do it), so we traveled a lot to tiny and remote parts of Costa Rica, Panama, and even Guatemala, and I got to experience life outside the sheltered expat community. I saw poverty and different cultures that I had never experienced in the US, and I also met a lot of great people and families who, in so many ways, were a lot like me.

How did the experience change you?

Miss C: It made me more versatile, flexible, accepting, and open minded to cultures, religions, and people - not just because of the schools I attended, but also from the travel that went along with living abroad.

Miss S: I don't know if it changed me, it's just me. I just lived my life and happened to be living in a foreign country. My first experience abroad was when I was so little, so it has always been a part of me.

It is easy for me to talk to people from other countries, as I'm curious about them and what it's like to live in their country. Perhaps my experience made me marry my husband - he's British but born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa. I think we connected because we both lived in other countries as kids. We like to joke that even though we are both white, our kids are 'African American'.

For sale by Evka Photography on Etsy

Miss G: Even though it was a rough year, I learned I could survive. I could handle being the new kid and manage new situations. I liked all the stimulation of being in a place that was new to me and sort of got “the travel bug” from this time abroad. I also learned that there are other ways of doing things and living. The American ways of doing things were just ONE way, not the only way. This excited my imagination. You could say, the experience opened my eyes to the greater world around me.

Miss L: My school in Costa Rica was extremely rigorous academically, so I received a great education and learned how to be a successful student. It also helped me feel entirely comfortable in foreign, non-English speaking countries, and it created in me a desire to travel and see more of the world.

Describe what it was like when you 'repatriated' (returned home)

Miss C: I went back to the US for college, which is a new beginning for everyone, so it's hard for me to answer. Any transition period I had had more to do with being at a university than being back in the US. I was excited to live in the US and learn more about the country I was from. To me, the norm had always been to be viewed as a "foreigner", the one speaking English in a non-English speaking country. To be in the US and viewed as a ''native'' was a strange concept to me, and still is. To this day, I absolutely hate the question "where are you from" as I don't have a good, or short, answer. So I tailor my answer depending on who asked the question :-)

Miss S: I was 6 when we moved back to NY from Brazil, and I can recall going to 1st grade and telling people where I moved from. None of the kids knew what Brazil was but then again they probably didn't know New Jersey either. I remember someone asking me if Brazil was a cookie? I have no idea why, but that always stuck with me.

You quickly learn that while the experience of living abroad is so dear to you, no one else really cares. My mom always tells the story that when we moved back after 4 incredibly exciting years which included amazing trips, her friends only wanted to talk about their new Mr. Coffee machines which were all the rage in 1978! It was quite a shock and I guess that's what leads to "reverse homesickness". She quickly learned to keep her stories to herself, but we would retell them over and over at family dinners.

LondonJeff's Havana photo available via Etsy

Miss G: I remember feeling a bit disappointed and bored. I felt I had changed in so many ways and really grown, but everything at home seemed exactly the same.

Miss L: It was definitely an adjustment moving back to the US. Part of it was because I went to a different high school than the majority of friends I grew up with in elementary and junior high school, so it was almost like moving to a new place socially. I also had changed and grown in so many ways, but it seemed as if so many of the kids in the US were just the same. That said, I was thrilled to be back in a school where I had so many opportunities outside of academics, and I quickly got involved in a lot of things. I was really glad I had both experiences in high school.

I find these insights to be incredibly fascinating,

giving a broad spectrum of emotions and perspective

Did they wish an expat life for their families?

What advice do they have for expat parents?

Answers revealed in the next post :)

(an unsponsored post)

Related posts:
Where Are You From?
Raising Second Generation Expats

Hot Cross Buns

2013-03-30T09:49:00.000Z

Imagine my delight

when I first laid eyes
on mythical 'hot cross buns'

sold in our grocery store

Thinking they only existed in a nursery rhyme,

they've been available in stores a few weeks now
to be consumed on Good Friday or Easter

The dough is spiced and fruited

and a cross is cut into it

According to a Church of England spokesperson,

'You have got the bread, as per communion,

you have got the spices that represent the spices Jesus was wrapped in the tomb,

and you have got the cross

They are fairly full of Christian symbolism'

And they cost more than a penny ;)

Happy Easter

- photo by me -

Source: BBC

A Day In The Houses Of Parliament

2013-03-21T07:07:00.000Z

Claude Monet's The Houses of Parliament, Sunset (1903)
-source-

A gorgeous Gothic landmark with a famous Clock Tower,

I was really excited to see inside the Palace of Westminster

Once a royal medieval palace and now a major center of politics,

this building holds a lot of dramatic history

including the unsuccessful Gunpowder Plot in 1605,

a gruesome ending for Oliver Cromwell in 1661,

a major fire in 1834,

and many bombings during World War II

The interior of the Houses Of Parliament
is just as stunning as its exterior

After my tour, I was inspired to contact my local Member of Parliament (MP)
to request tickets for Question Time

Every Wednesday for thirty minutes,
MPs fire questions at the Prime Minister in the House of Commons

Wow - we have nothing like this in the US

Reminding me of a schoolyard,
fingers are pointed,
the Speaker of the House yells 'Order!'
and
gasps, cheers and outbursts come from all political parties
in response to David Cameron's answers

And they do it every week

Ranging from housing benefits to Alzheimers to poaching in Africa to Syria,
it made me realize how numerous and vast the issues are
and that these are mere mortals working on the state of affairs
within the same 24 hours the rest of us have

Interestingly, David Cameron often referred to other politicians by saying,
'As my friend ___ rightly said...'
which made me realize

these (mostly) men have been groomed to be politicians from an early age,
often attending the same boarding schools and universities
(Oxford or Cambridge)

Which means, there is not a huge diversity in upbringing
and it means they have known each other a long time
perhaps with old lunchroom grudges
or as dorm room buddies

It made me appreciate the diversity of our US politicians,
many whom have not met each other until their first day on Capitol Hill
and cover a wide scope of professional backgrounds

I was very impressed how solid David Cameron was throughout Question Time
He seemed very prepared and did not seem flustered by the jeers

It would be fascinating to see American politicians grilled the same way
in such a format

While the debates were lively, I'm not sure how much was accomplished
as they moved to the next topic quickly

Unforgettable,
it was a huge privilege to see
including the three gentlemen wearing old-fashioned white wigs :)

For anyone interested in history or politics,
the Houses of Parliament tour is a must see

If you are looking for amazing verbal jousting and quick comebacks,
Question Time is a must do

Images 2-4 via Parliament website

(A non-sponsored post)

English Garden Tips & Trends

2013-03-15T10:44:00.000Z

With Spring taking it's time this year

to show its lovely face,

I am chomping at the bit for some warmth and sunshine :)

I've collected pages from magazines and such over the years

to remember English garden tricks and tips

for when I return 'home' to a garden I can play in

Here's a few ideas...

- Plant 'biodynamically' by checking the lunar calendar
to see when the water table will be closer to the surface
similar to the ocean tides

This makes for better root development and

requires less 'watering in' new plantings

- If growing seeds, place a used tea bag at the bottom of each pot

to hold moisture and to give trace nutrients

Use more tea bags for larger pots

- Dig a square planting hole, not round, for better root development

- Liquid feed all berry and flowering plants with tomato fertilizer, which contains potash,

to improve flowering and productivity

- Square pots are less tippy than round ones in the wind

- Consider the 3 R's: Repeat, Rhythm, Regularity when planting a new border

Limit color and number of species used
Mirror plantings across pathways when possible

- Pebbled and stoned areas are more rain-friendly than harder surfaces

Not only do they look more attractive, but also allow rain to soak right through them

(England has mastered rain-management here)

Here's a list of current trends:

Peat moss is harvested from bogs and fens

in the Republic of Ireland (70%) and within the United Kingdom (32%)

Peat has been THE affordable and reliable growing medium in the UK since the 1940s,

but with an increased awareness of the importance of peatlands

and its unique supporting habitat,

gardeners and nurseries search for better alternatives

Although I believe xeriscape is a newer idea here than in the US,

there has been a need for it,
as parts of the country were in a drought last summer with a 'hosepipe' ban

The roots of this movement seem to be from Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf

Increasingly popular prairie or meadow gardens
grow grasses and North American natives such as
California Poppies and Echinacea/coneflower

Other European influences are obvious in grander gardens,

such as French potagers (kitchen gardens)

and Italian parterres with ornate clipped topiaries

In the last month, the Royal Horticultural Society rolled out its

revised RHS Plant Hardiness Rating System based on extreme temperatures

America has something similar with their USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

RHS gives plants distinguished 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) based on local trials

This label helps customers select reliable plants with good general performance and form,

are reasonably resistant to pests and diseases, and are fairly easy to grow

AGM Trial Site at RHS Wisley Garden

RHS members can order seeds for a minimal price,

with over 700 varieties from which to choose

including annuals, shrubs and trees

The list varies annually

Such a brilliant way to keep quality plants in circulation around the country

The elderly population grew up during World War II

and endured difficult living conditions post-war as well

They had their hands in the soil to grow their own food,

and this generation is the keen gardener of today

They are the members of local garden clubs in villages

There is some concern that the gardening enthusiasm will wane

as the older generation passes on

Efforts are being made to foster gardening interest in the younger generations

In a local garden, children planted up shower caps, socks, and pajama bottoms

Adopt a beehive, grapevine, lavender row, or cherry orchard
to support local farmers and to receive product

The US and the UK share similar trends, such as
an effort to use fewer pesticides/go organic, a concern about the drop in bee population,
and more mindful planting to attract birds, bees, and insects to the garden

In America,
you find permanent sprinklers, mulched gardens,
and almost no use of peat

In the UK, you see 'water butts' collecting rainwater,
more use of top dressing (easier when there is no mulch to move aside),
moss in the lawn (I think its pretty, but I guess it is undesirable),
nurseries selling annuals in styrofoam containers (?!),
and garden-waste-only bins for curbside trash pickup

Growing in bags is seen in England, but not in the US

With England's perfect growing conditions
of cool summer temperatures, frequent rain,
and long daylight hours (closer to the North Pole)
it is no wonder this is the Garden Island

But no matter where you live
there is no question gardening is
food for the eyes
and the soul

Do you have any unusual garden tips to share?

- all photos by me -

Related Posts:
England, The Garden Island (incl gardens to visit)
A Rose By Any Other Name... (different name, same plant)

(an unsponsored post)

England, The Garden Island

2013-03-06T06:47:00.000Z

When I first moved to England

I was disappointed front gardens lacked the beauty

I'd expected from the Garden Island

But now I know care and attention is put into back gardens,

often a hidden oasis and private gem behind home facades

So a plain looking home unsuspectingly could have
the most magnificent garden behind its fence

Why isn't more attention put toward the front garden in England?

Perhaps it is due to the English sense of privacy while gardening,

no need to spend effort in an area where they won't be hanging-out,

or it is too showy to have an impressive garden in the front

Nonetheless, this is THE Garden Island

First of all, let's talk English garden centers

They look very similar to American ones

with cement floors, nothing-fancy display stands, and simple signage

But the local garden center offers much, much more

It may include a

tea room (almost always)

book shop

gift shop

farm shop

outerwear clothing shop

pet supplies

fake flowers

outdoor vintage antiques

picnic benches to eat your lunch on

a playset for children to use

Brilliant!

On a whole other level,

famous Petersham Nurseries

offers not just lovely outdoor plants

and vintage home decor

but even a cafe which was awarded a Michelin Star in 2011

and is known for celebrity spotting

(not too far from London, if you come for a visit)

But you don't need to own a garden

to enjoy one

You can see some of England's most gorgeous gardens here:

The National Garden Scheme

National Trust

Royal Horticultural Society

If you seek gardens belonging to royalty,

you can see Prince Charles's Highgrove Garden

and Buckingham Palace Gardens

Henry VIII's Hampton Court

RHS 'Britain In Bloom' is the country's most popular horticultural campaign

with over 1,100 cities, towns, and villages

competing against each other

as to which has the most beautiful public spaces

Such a great community builder,

free seeds and support are provided by

the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)

to registered groups

Affordable allotment plots (community gardens)

are seen in almost every village,

used mostly for growing edible crops

Believe it or not,
Indiana Jones-type plant hunters

continue to scour the planet for undiscovered flora to bring to the garden,

such as Tom Hart-Dyke who was kidnapped in Colombia

while hunting for rare orchids in 2000

'Garden love' spreads

with informal plant and seed swaps between gardeners

Countless garden courses are offered around the country,

including by Sarah Raven who has a Martha Stewart like status here

On the most formal level,

RHS hosts the annual Chelsea Flower Show,

which is the catwalk for flowers and garden design

attracting competitors and visitors worldwide

What are some of the trends and tips from English gardeners?

Don't miss my next post :)

- all photos by me -

Trip to Prince Charles's Highgrove

Meeting Tom Hart-Dyke

2012 Chelsea Flower Show

(an unsponsored post)

Crime in England vs US

2013-03-05T07:14:00.000Z

I witnessed a crime yesterday

Actually, I witnessed 3 brave men chase down

a burglar who was fleeing by bike

I think he had stolen something from the small corner grocery store

When they got him off his bike,

they held him on the street while they waited for the police to arrive

Curiously, it was the policewoman who calmly talked to the perpetrator,

not one of the three policemen

Perhaps policewomen are seen as non-threatening?

I hadn't thought about this important role before

The streets were filled with pedestrians when the whole thing happened

Sadly I saw many elderly people stand frozen, shocked, to see the event unfold

Clearly they were traumatized by what they saw

I hope they slept okay last night

I know I didn't

Petty crime feels more pervasive in England than in the US

As an expat said to me about her home country,

when third hand stories about crime start to become first hand stories with frequency,

you know there is a problem

In the US, I never knew anyone who came eye to eye with a criminal in the act

Here, I have a handful of friends who either witnessed a high street burglary

or were victims of home invasions

I know that America looks like the Wild West with our ownership of guns

but I do think a potential burglar thinking someone *might* have a gun at home

prevents many home invasions in America

(guns are illegal in England - police don't even carry them)

Early on I was given the advice that if someone is burglarizing my home in England,

do not intervene - just let them carry on and they won't hurt you

In America, you can use whatever means to protect your home and family

Yet here, the news reports crime victims being prosecuted for harming a perpetrator

- intentionally or not -

It makes one feel defenseless

Do I feel safer in the US or in England?

I feel less likely to witness or be a victim of a crime in the US,

but if I do, it would be more violent

So I guess my safety-o-meter feels about the same, just different

Either way, not that safe