Yes, LoveItaly, they are little beige beans with a black spot on them.
I did like plum pudding. :)

OK Scarlett, beige with black spots. Am sure I have never eaten that. Sounds like an insect! LOL

My family will be in London for New Years parade.We're from Ohio,and son is in a marching band thats participating in the parade.I just wanted to say,that the group we're with is very excited about coming to London.Watch out,because our group alone is about 450 strong-between the band,chaperones,local dignitaries,parents. I feel from reading some posts the parade isnt a big deal.But our group is excited.It is such a privelidgeto be invited.Anyway,sorry.
Where would anyone suggest doing New Years Eve,family friendly? We'll be staying at Thistle Kennsington GArdens hotel. Any other suggestions regarding things to see,besides the obvious,would be helpful.Are the flea markets in Camden/Notting Hill worth checking out?

<i>&quot;We Americans eat Black-Eyed Peas and watch football on the TV!&quot;</i>

I knew that had to be a southern thing - my dad is from Alabama and my mom is from Ohio. Dad is the only one in the family who likes black-eyed peas, and since he doesn't cook, he rarely gets them. Our New Year's traditions include pork and sauerkraut (for good luck - must be a German heritage thing) and watching the Rose Parade on TV. :)

It should be fun experiencing a different holiday tradition when in London. No matter what you end up seeing, doing, eating, it will be a nice memory on future New Year's Days. Have a great trip!

ttt

I don't think we have any national New Year's Day traditions in the UK.

If anything, it's the last day of the holiday season when it may be customary to call round at people's houses to wish them happy new year, but I think people are just as likely to:

(a) spend the whole day fighting the crowds in Ikea as you can never have too much shelving
(b) watching football, live in the freezing cold or on telly in a nice cozy pub (soccer, naturally)
(c) hitting the 'January' sales only to discover that all the best stuff went on Boxing Day, when the January sales really started.
(d) lie under a duvet cover on the sofa, nursing a hangover, watching something like the Sound of Music or a James Bond film, or some kind of &quot;Review of the Year' programme
(e) meeting friends down the pub for a new year drink (but only if (d) doesn't apply).
(f) eating cold turkey, or a roast dinner if Mum can be bothered to cook, or
(g) having a take away curry or chinese because (1) Mum can't be bothered to cook and (2) because we're fed up with roast dinners and cold turkey.

There is a 10k race at 11 am in the north east area of Hyde Park. There's isn't any race day registration, but runners will always appreciate more cheering!

There also may be ice sakating rinks open.

You can buy black eyed peas in the UK. We know rice and peas as a West Indian dish.

Black eyed peas are not eaten by many Londoners, we tend to go for jellied eels with liquor.

As an ex-Londoner, I'd be willing to bet more Londoners have eaten black eyed peas than have eaten jellied eels !!

I think most British people would start with the dried beans, though, rather than canned. And unless of West Indian origin, we call them black eyed beans.