Seven years of Britishness

Seven years ago today, on a rainy and dark evening, a younger Joey arrived in Bristol to do a masters. And the rest, as they say, is history.

I am happy in the UK. This country has been good to me and I have felt nothing but very welcome here. In return, I have opened myself to Britishness, work on my English every day and dutifully complain about the weather.

I have a bucket list of “such a British thing to do”. I have eaten fish and chips from a paper wrap, outside, on a cold and wet day. I have eaten fish and chips because I felt like it, damnit. I think it appalling to turn the heating on before November and have become best friends with a hot water bottle. I hate marmite. I love Marks & Spencer’s food. I think roasts are the best thing on a Sunday. I have more than one umbrella and always carry one (except today! it's raining). I apologise *a lot*; sometimes I apologise for just standing there when people bump into me, a classic British thing to do. I say “we” when referring to the great British public. I love pubs; Friday pub after work is like, awesome! I know what interesting means. I have a diary and I use it; we book things in advance over here. When the sun is out, I make the most of it; take it not for granted, we say! I’m doing well on this journey, if I may say so myself.

My story in the UK would not be what it is without the bunch of people I'm lucky enough to call friends. Blimey, have I been lucky! They hug me and take me on British adventures and adventures into Britishness. I have a family of friends here… of course these seven years have been great!

the story of a war re-enactment

At the end of May, yours truly and Co. went to Blenheim Palace for a picnic and a live history lesson. These Sealed Knot people mean business! 

Although we were there for the war re-enactement, I was most impressed by the village setting they created and how they go about "living" in it. 

Blenheim. Always wow!

There's spinning. I loved it. and I was secretly upset I couldn't have a go. 

Note for improvement: let the Joeys of this world play with the spinning thing! Please, pretty please!

And cooking. Lots of cooking, all day long, as back in the day things took a tad bit more time.

It smelled beautifully and even though I had just had lunch, I could have had a bit more if offered. Which didn't happen. Maybe next time, hey?

See what I mean about cooking? And life happens around it too. Everyone is in on it, even the kids. The outfits were superb, really detailed and lived in.

Of course, not everyone is busy. Someone needs to do the "this is how they rested" bit. Well played!

War re-enactment here I come. The cannons are almost ready.

As are the troops.

And the horses. So beautiful!

Oh no, they're upon us. With spears. But wait, we have riffles!

Oops, these low-tech spears still work. And they mean business.

Oh bummer, the cannons are at it!

Not everyone seemed particularly fussed by the troops. Maybe this is just play... hum...!

We had a commentator. That was cool!

It was a good thing we had that commentator. He was quite a bit more thorough than me and did a fine job of explaining who was who and what was happening. Unlike me above, but you get the gist. It was sunny, I had fun.

Basildon Park

One of the things I love the most in the UK are the grand mansions and their spectacular gardens, open to the public thanks to the National Trust. I have visited a few in my almost seven years in the UK, the most recent being Basildon Park.

Dog not included.

This reading corner really makes me want to move in... I wonder what they would think of that!

Easter lives on at Basildon Park!

I'm free tonight, yes!

Soo cute!

We had cream tea... oh those scones and cream... divine!

a British education

Costa Coffee at Gatwick Airport

Oh.my.god. Am I one of them?

This is the question I've been asking myself since I had a heart warm moment on seeing Costa Coffee at Porto Airport.

I am a fan of Costa's. I am. And the only coffee parlours I like more than Costa Coffee are the independent ones. What I see as the proper cafés.

Cafés (and bakeries) are abundant in Portugal. You find one in every corner and much like the British pub, most people have a local café where everyone knows them and they know everyone. It's a good feeling! Coffee chains are only just appearing in Portugal and the majority of said cafés are independent (not a word we use in Portugal, as that's what's expected anyway!).

I'm a big fan of the Portuguese approach to cafés (and bakeries, let's not forget the bakeries) so it was a huge surprise to me to feel cosy at the sight of a Costa Coffee at the airport. I'm now very concerned about my Britishness levels!

::inspiring Mondays::

 

The sun is barely shining today, but I still have this feel good feeling one has when looking at yellow. If I had to pick a colour for my life, I'd say yellow. I'm a lover of colour in general, I love red (the majority of my accessories are red, like my iPhone cover) and orange. And now green. Yet it is yellow that makes me skip a beat in pure happiness when all else fails.

It's been almost a week since my birthday and all I have to say is... birthdays rock! There were people and smiles and laughter and food and presents, for almost a week, quite remarkable! And lots of yellow! I loved it all!

:: my birthday!
:: yellow {HEART}
:: my family and friends.
:: cake. cakes. cakes.
:: Old Trafford.
:: much needed back massage. bliss!
:: the iPhone. Little Brother and I text for free. yay!
:: photography.
:: my flatmates. who just smile when I've setup a mini photography studio in the kitchen.
:: sunshine!
:: adding to my British education by going to the Proms... tonight!
:: picnics. I love it!
:: bowling. such good fun.
:: lemon drizzle cake.
:: hugs.
:: hum... yellow! Hahahaha

How's this Monday going for you? I wish you a lovely start to the week, preferably with some sunshine.

a British education

a British education

Watching the celebrations of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II... my adopted Queen. Box ticked! All part of LMJ's British education.

Notes of the day:

:: Queenie has a great sense of fashion, lovely as ever!

:: Kate, your red dress was fabulous. I'll repeat that, fa-bu-lous!

:: Prince Philip is funny even when he doesn't speak. we like.

:: British people, you have my respect. rain and more rain and you were all there, waving little flags. respect!

:: who was the planner of the canopy-less boat where the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir singers got completely soaked? who? you are naughty!

:: Cadbury's dairy milk chocolate goes well with everything. yes, it does.

:: my friend Julie makes the best cosmopolitans!

notes from a Saturday in London

The Erratic Photographer and I are lucky enough to know a very private small not-in-business travel agent - Rabbit Tours - which occasionally takes us to London for some photographic fun and cultural exploration and good food, all seasoned with lots of interesting chats.

This Saturday, Nicky and I left for London at 9:00 and found ourselves in London Paddington at 10:00 greeted by a pair of fluffy rabbit ears!; gotta love living in Oxford, where you get the quality of life and the proximity to London, oh yeah!

Being the keen coffee lovers that we are, we headed for Carluccio's in Notting Hill. The latte was amazing and I can apologise for the lack of pictures... you know how it goes... girl really wants latte, latte arrives, girl has face-wide smile, girl drinks late, girl notices she has not photographed latte but oh it is too late now. I did photograph the place though, how nicely composed it? If like us, you arrive there at this bizarre hour between breakfast and lunch, panic not; ask for their eggs benedict and enjoy!

We left Carluccio's and walked to Portobello Road market. There was a lot of walking involved this Saturday, the good stroll-y type of walk which is just my thing! The whole world in vintage format seemed to be on sale at the market, but I managed to shop with my eyes only. Until we saw one Hummingbird Bakery. The Hummingbird Bakery is heaven on earth in the form of cupcakes. Their red velvets just smile at me, sweetly. I resist them not! Again, no photos of this... please read explanation (or excuse!) above. Ta.

Walking around Notting Hill, we were reminded of how beautiful the London outside the monuments and landmarks is. And just as I was thinking there was so much pink around the place, we see a street (or several) of happily coloured façades. I could so live there... I think!

We then went to the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising and all I can tell you is: GO! It's a wonderful trip down memory lane and what a piece of history they have there! And there is a 2 for 1 offer for rail travelers, so we only paid £3.25 each for our tickets. So very worth it! No photos allowed.

Our next stop was the Tate Modern and Damien Hirst's exhibition there. I had been wanting to go to the Tate Modern for a while now and Rabbit Tours got on the case. I really liked it and will definitely go back. As for Damien Hirst... well... I really really like the spots, they're just brilliant! The majority of his other work though, not my thing really (to put it nicely). I couldn't look at the sheep nor the cow and the flies provoked stomach turnings. The butterfly room was sweet.

If we walk slowly and chat a bit more, dinner time will call. With this in mind, we headed to Vapiano's, for some nice food and a bit more chatting. I guess by now you can tell we talk a lot; yep, we do!

How was your Saturday? Hope you had a lovely and colourful day, preferably with yummy lattes and delicious food, covered in wonderful chats :)

fascinators at Ascot

LMJ and Nicky and a bunch of their friends (for they actually have a real life in the real world) went to Royal Ascot. For those of you wondering, it is a posh event that has been posher and has horses racing at specific points. One could say one is there for the races and betting, but one is there for the wonderful opportunity it offers for people watching and fashion commenting. My goal this year was to be brave enough to ask people to photograph their fascinators. And I was. LMJ scores! Yay!

Are you prepared for LMJ's collection of fascinators? Sit back and enjoy!

How pretty is she? And this fascinator? So bold and... stunning, yes, that's it.

Her Mum made this fascinator especially for her. Superb! It was so beautiful and artistic and special!

Really liked the different style of this one, very traditionally and slightly 1950s. Her cheeky smile made my day!

Another stunner. What a face, I tell you. Again, a very bold fascinator giving such depth to the whole look... beautiful!

Daring, to say the least. Really brings out the dark dress with the unusual shape and bright pink!

The loveliest "me? oh yes, thank you" I've had all day. Love the sweet look and the really fashionable fascinator. Class, people, class!

This lady was adorable and bubbly and wore pink like no other. The fascinator is ever so flashy but it really suited her style. You go, girl!

Another bright colour bringing out a dark outfit. You know what? It works! Have you seen the cheekbones? Hollywood, please.