What makes you think of England?
Jan 10th, 2006, 11:13 AM
#64
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Researching family history.
Both great grandparents came out to Victoria-Australia during the early 1860s gold rush and I'm forever tracing links via vast UK records.(For information the families were Rutter/Sampson from Dover, and the Mountjoy family from Devon/Cornwall area). Any websites that Fodorites have on the topic would be appreciated. Cheers from Oz...Jay
Both great grandparents came out to Victoria-Australia during the early 1860s gold rush and I'm forever tracing links via vast UK records.(For information the families were Rutter/Sampson from Dover, and the Mountjoy family from Devon/Cornwall area). Any websites that Fodorites have on the topic would be appreciated. Cheers from Oz...Jay
Jan 10th, 2006, 11:49 AM
#65
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Working an art show... no really! Most of the photographs I've taken and sell are from the British Isles, and the latest batch are all from England. Some have titles like "Fawltless Towers" that have obvious reference to the culture.
Other than that, since I'm such an anglophile, just about anything remotely close reminds me of my heart's home.
My boss's South African accent
The tea my Irish co-worker makes every day
Whatever book I'm reading (99% chance it is set in the British Isles)
Seeing green grass (I live in Florida, it's always green)
Hearing celtic music (always on at work and at home)
OK, so I surround myself with things from the British Isles on purpose, cuz I love the place. Something wrong with that????
England is a major part of that, and a good chunk of my lineage, as well (Oldham, Lancaster, specifically)
Other than that, since I'm such an anglophile, just about anything remotely close reminds me of my heart's home.
My boss's South African accent
The tea my Irish co-worker makes every day
Whatever book I'm reading (99% chance it is set in the British Isles)
Seeing green grass (I live in Florida, it's always green)
Hearing celtic music (always on at work and at home)
OK, so I surround myself with things from the British Isles on purpose, cuz I love the place. Something wrong with that????
England is a major part of that, and a good chunk of my lineage, as well (Oldham, Lancaster, specifically)
Jan 10th, 2006, 01:25 PM
#66
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(I'm on the same wavelength as Patrick: it was sounds that came first to mind.) My list would include
- The "pips", now part of the BBC News intro music
- A choir singing in a cathedral space
- The sound of a push mower (soon followed by the sight of a "striped" lawn -- never seen on my New England lawn!)
- and yes, absolutely, the shipping forecast. Any way to hear that on the web? bbc.co.uk?
But the number one evocative thing for me is birdsong, especially early in the morning. When I wake up that first morning of a visit, I hear the birds singing in the trees outside the window, and I know that I'm "home". And yes, the birds sing in Connecticut too, but it's not the same melodious song (and at this time of year, when it's really cold, those birds keep pretty quiet
.
The weather in CT today is very reminiscent of a fine English winter day -- dampish, not too cold, faint sun. Nice walking weather.
- The "pips", now part of the BBC News intro music
- A choir singing in a cathedral space
- The sound of a push mower (soon followed by the sight of a "striped" lawn -- never seen on my New England lawn!)
- and yes, absolutely, the shipping forecast. Any way to hear that on the web? bbc.co.uk?
But the number one evocative thing for me is birdsong, especially early in the morning. When I wake up that first morning of a visit, I hear the birds singing in the trees outside the window, and I know that I'm "home". And yes, the birds sing in Connecticut too, but it's not the same melodious song (and at this time of year, when it's really cold, those birds keep pretty quiet
.The weather in CT today is very reminiscent of a fine English winter day -- dampish, not too cold, faint sun. Nice walking weather.
Jan 10th, 2006, 05:57 PM
#68
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I'll be good at this game... I love England and miss it every day I'm not there. That said:
A clip of British news-we listened to it every morning while getting ready to visit castles, pubs and more pubs.
Pubs
Fish and Chips
Ploughmans lunch
SCRUMPY!
Pubs
Jennifer Lopez and Justin Timberlake...you guys cant get enough of them, eh?
Kylie Minogue and Coldplay (I cant get enough of them!)
My daughter's kid's music CD that we let her listen to over and over during out last trip in September while we drove the entirety of England and Wales!
A clip of British news-we listened to it every morning while getting ready to visit castles, pubs and more pubs.
Pubs
Fish and Chips
Ploughmans lunch
SCRUMPY!
Pubs
Jennifer Lopez and Justin Timberlake...you guys cant get enough of them, eh?
Kylie Minogue and Coldplay (I cant get enough of them!)
My daughter's kid's music CD that we let her listen to over and over during out last trip in September while we drove the entirety of England and Wales!
Jan 10th, 2006, 10:00 PM
#71
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SB_Travlr and any others nostalgic for/curious about the Shipping forecast, you can read it/listen to it here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast/shipping/index.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast/shipping/index.shtml
Jan 10th, 2006, 10:45 PM
#73
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Bentleys are English?
Where have you been living for the past five or so years? German now. And the current models are only suitable for footballers and suchlike. You can't beat the classic 60s models.
But really I think people in plastic suits queuing outside kebab shops in some sink estate that should've been demolished long ago sums up England these days. There are just very few English places left as the world merges into one (eventually).
Of course most of the things already mentioned are applicable. But the teeth? Honestly, if you ask me about America I'd just say obesity. Morbid obesity.
Tea? I suppose so. But David Beckham? God help us. Besides, that thing is in Spain now. If that makes one English, god help us. If there must be a person, The Queen!
Where have you been living for the past five or so years? German now. And the current models are only suitable for footballers and suchlike. You can't beat the classic 60s models.
But really I think people in plastic suits queuing outside kebab shops in some sink estate that should've been demolished long ago sums up England these days. There are just very few English places left as the world merges into one (eventually).
Of course most of the things already mentioned are applicable. But the teeth? Honestly, if you ask me about America I'd just say obesity. Morbid obesity.
Tea? I suppose so. But David Beckham? God help us. Besides, that thing is in Spain now. If that makes one English, god help us. If there must be a person, The Queen!
Jan 11th, 2006, 12:44 AM
#76
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Alya, yes it's sad isn't it!
(In my defence, I already had the BBC radio website open when I read SB_Travlr's comment about listening to the shipping forecast on the web - it was only a click away, honest!)
(In my defence, I already had the BBC radio website open when I read SB_Travlr's comment about listening to the shipping forecast on the web - it was only a click away, honest!)
Jan 11th, 2006, 01:17 AM
#77
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This is on the verge on nostalgia for things that don't happen much anymore, like the sound of milk bottles being delivered and collected in the early morning, and the whine and clatter of the electric milkfloat.
Jan 11th, 2006, 01:54 AM
#78
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IF the morbidly obese are a symbol of the U.S., as MK2 suggests, then the drunken lout should be the symbol of the UK.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/11/in...1KHhKIBtIVNoYQ
The article includes the observations about the English and alcohol obsession from Watching the English.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/11/in...1KHhKIBtIVNoYQ
The article includes the observations about the English and alcohol obsession from Watching the English.
Jan 11th, 2006, 04:29 AM
#80
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Because we don't have parkies anymore, milkies are almost gone and Postmen are only around once a day and everyone has gone to work long before they come so we never see them.Besides what the hell do they have to whistle about ?
;-)
Muck
;-)
Muck
