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Feeling Happy
Things I Love about Britain
Todd and I were sitting watching television the other night and I turned to him and said..."I really love this Country." and I truly meant it. I emigrated over here 6 years ago at the end of this month and I have come to feel as if I truly am a Briton. It was not an easy transistion at first. I have suffered my bouts of homesickness and the first year I was here happened to be the wettest autumn and winter on record, which left me wondering sometimes what I had let myself in to in coming here. I do miss family and friends left behind and being a food glutton there are foodstuffs that I quite naturally miss from Canada as well..but all told...I DO love this country and here are a few of the things I love about this country:
1. I love the people here. They vary greatly from one area to another...the Northerners being a tad more open and friendly than the Southerners....but there is a generality that runs through everyone here and that is that when the chips are down, you all pull together. You have big hearts and deep pockets, giving generously to help others out in their times of need. I was amazed at how much was donated when the Tsunami hit Asia several years ago. The high streets in any town are lined with charity shops. You all seem to have a pull-together nature. Perhaps that comes from having survived and triumphed through two world wars...whatever it is...I love it.
2. You have history! Before I came over here I used to hear about how much history you had over here and how over in North America we had very little....and I didn't quite understand it, but now having been here and seen it I totally get it! Being somewhat of a history buff I love it! Everywhere we go, there are old buildings to explore and ancient churches to wander through...castles....historic gardens....ancient monuments....I could go on and on. This is what history is all about and this country is full of it!
3. The seaside. I love the British Seaside. That is something I had never experienced before in my lifetime. The pier...with it's shops and carnival atmosphere...old men fishing off the end...the beaches lined with sun worshippers on a sunny day....people of every race and colour walking along the sea front taking in all the sights, smells and sounds....Crazy Golf! Ice Creams! Rock Candy!
4. I love how you don't have to drive very far before the scenery changes....from craggy rock filled shorelines to rolling grass covered hills....flat plains with waving fields of grassland....mountains....you have it all and it's all within a comfortable driving distance. If I wanted to see mountains back home...it was a three or four day drive across the country!
5. Last night at the Proms. I love, love LOVE the Last Night at the Proms! I love the wonderful feeling of Nationalistic Pride that permeates the whole evening and I love the flag waving and the way you all belt out those lovely songs that stir national pride in everyone's loin such as Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory. It makes one feel good to be a part of this wonderful country. (I can say that now, I have a passport)
6. I love Christmas over here. The silly paperhats that make everyone look a goof....the Christmas Crackers with the corny jokes shared across the table....the lovely Roast Turkey with it's bacon wrapped Chipolatas and stuffing balls surrounding it. The mince pies and flaming Christmas puddings....the beautifully decorated Christmas Cake with it's fondant icing and gaily coloured ribbon encircling it. The Fools and Horses Christmas Special...the Queen's Annual Christmas Speech...that wonderful feeling of participating in something deeply steeped in tradition and lore...You DO Christmas and you do it well!
7. I adore British Television. You have such wit and humour and you do drama better than anyone else in my opinion....I love the old Brit sitcoms..Steptoe and Son, Some Mother's Do Ave Em, Porridge, Man About the House, Rising Damp, Dad's Army, Only Fools and Horses, Keeping Up Appearances, Fawlty Towers...I could go on and on....you are genius at the sitcom and did you know that many of your sitcoms are taken over to America, copied and Americanized to suite American tastes....and they are some of the most popular American televisions shows ever? All in the Family....based on the Britcom...Til Death Do Us Part....Threes Company...based on Man About the House....Sanford and Son...based on Steptoe and Son...just to name a few. I love The Two Ronnies and Heartbeat. I love everything about British Television...it's quality programming at it's very best.
8. I love Bill Audie! Not Bill Audie, personally, although he does seem quite a nice fella, but I love the Spring Watch and Autumn watch shows. They are beautifully presented and show off the nature and fauna of Britian better than anything else I have ever seen.....You can tell this man really loves animals and birds and plants....and he makes you love them too. he inspires you to want to get on the old wellies and go tramping out amongst the fields and woodlands in an attempt to get a closer look at what's going on in the hidden recesses of flora and fauna in the countryside.
8. I love your accents! You say Tomawto and I say Tomaaayto! Before I came over here there was just...well...a British Accent....now I can tell my Devon Drawl, from my East End patter....the Jordie, Manchurian...Liverpuddlian....everywhere you go seems to have a different accent that is unique to that area and I love them all...I say...I love them all!
8. Pubs! Pubs are great! I have never seen them done so well anywhere else on the planet. Atmopshere....good food...great beer (not that I drink any)...wonderful local characters to watch....I love the uniqueness of the names...."The Headless Dog" , "The Royal Oak", "The Black Bull"...I could go on and on....Before I came over here I had this mistaken image that I had gotten off the telly of people sitting around the pub waving their tankards of ale about, singing pub songs and watching the good old boys playing darts off in the corner. I haven't actually seen that yet and am not sure it really exists, but what I have seen I love....
9. The British Sunday Lunch....as I aluded to in one of my earlier writings you are really great over here at doing Sunday Lunch....beautiful roast dinners, be it chicken or beef, lamb or pork...with all the trimmings....crispy roasted potatoes, sprouts, carrots, swede....stuffing balls.....gorgeous puffy yorkshire puddings....AND if you don't feel like cooking one yourself there is always a delicious one going at the local pub or carvery!
10. There are many more things I love about Britain but I will close by mentioning one of the things that Britain is better known for throughout the world and that I just happen to love myself. Fish and Chips. One of the first things I wanted to try when I came over here was the Fish and Chips.....beautifully moist flakey fish encased in a crisp flavourful batter, accompanied with tasty handcut browned chips of potato, all doused in malt vinegar and salt...what's not to love about that....I have eaten them all over Britian and I haven't found any yet I didn't like, although I do have to say they taste infinitely better at the seaside and I do prefer the ones up North to the ones down South...I've even made them at home and they were delicious...so I'll end with giving you the recipe for that....mind the gap...
*Beer Battered Cod with Tartar Sauce*
Serves 4
This is my homemade version of battered fish. I usually make my own oven chips to go with this. I just take some baking potatoes, washing and cutting them into thick wedges. I toss the wedges with some olive oil and salt and pepper and roast them in a very hot oven for about 30 minutes until they are crispy and browned all over. You can keep them warm while you are frying the fish. You are in for a real treat if you try this!
TARTAR SAUCE:
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
2 TBS finely chopped cornichons
1 TBS prepared horseradish
2 TBS coarsely chopped flat leaf parsley
½ tsp dry mustard
6 TBS good quality mayonnaise
1 tsp lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
FISH:
Oil for frying
1 cup flour
1 egg, beaten
1 cup beer
2 pounds of fish fillets (Cod, Haddock or Hake)(cut into 1 ½ by 3 inch pieces)
Mix all the ingredients for the tartar sauce in a bowl until well combined and set aside.
Heat the oven to 200*C/400*F. Cover a cookie sheet with paper towels and top with a wire rack.
Heat about 3" of oil to approximately 365° in a medium sized pot.
Meanwhile, mix flour with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Whisk in egg. Slowly add the beer while whisking. Dip fish pieces in the batter and place on plate or the wire rack you will be using to drain the fried fish. I usually double dip in the batter if I have some left over once the batter dries on the awaiting fish.
Place fish pieces, two at a time in the oil. Cook until the fish is done and the crust is lightly golden, about 4 minutes for 3/4-inch thick fillets. Remove fish with tongs and puton rack to drain. Sprinkle salt over the hot fish and put on the baking sheet in the oven to keep warm. Repeat in batches with the remaining fish. Serve with the tartar sauce and homemade chips.
Written by mariealicejoan Blog about this entry |
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I think if I wasn't living in North Carolina, I would love to live in Britain. I lived there when I was a child for about 3 years... my dad was stationed at an Air Base in Southern England, near Northamps as I recall... that may be North Hampton? I don't know. I was only in first through third grades. I have the fondest memories, from a little child's point of view. I remember running through a meadow with some friends, and cow pies, and wildflowers. I remember playing in the little cottage backyard. Everyone had one, and behind the rows of houses and yards was a narrow road. I remember tea... my favorite to this day. I still enjoy two cups of hot tea with cream and sugar every day, even in the summer... one in the morning, and a decaf in the evening. Black tea and Earl Grey. I remember visiting the Sheriff of Nottingham on a school field trip, and standing in the tree where Robin Hood and his men supposedly hid from the Sheriff. I remember rainy days, and wearing rubbers, playgrounds, Madame Toussad's Wax Museum, Big Ben, the red double decker buses, and most fondly remember the people, the adults who spoke to me with their beautiful, melodical voices. I love England from having lived there, but I also love the British Isles for the history and the connection they have to our country. They are our brothers and sisters (so are the other European, Asian, and African countries who peopled our nation. I would love to visit Scotland and Ireland and Wales, someday. My family has distant roots in the British Isles. Great entry. Bea
http://journals.aol.com/bgilmore725/Wanderer/ -
Hi,
I popped in from Susie's. Glad to hear you like so many of the same things that I do about this country.
I heard from a newly discovered Canadian relative that it is Thanksgiving on Monday in Canada. Will you be celebrating?
I shall stop by again.
Linda x.
http://journals.aol.co.uk/lindaggeorge/GeorgeMansions/ -
Hiya Marie, I have just popped by via Susie. I have put you on alerts and thank you for all the lovely stuff you have said about our dear old Country (including as well Scotland & Wales of course!!). Please pop by and see me sometime, I have just put on (over 3 days) all the pics from our holiday in Cumbria. (I also do a journal on my husbands band.)
http://journals.aol.co.uk/aniracj/StrannyDayze/
http:// journals.aol.co.uk/aniracj/TheBandAyleysComet/ -
Susie has just recommended you ,so here I am ,good move ,I loved your entry ,I have put you on my alerts and favourites and will be back ,as I said to Susie all the things we take for granted ,you love ....Janxx http://journals.aol.co.uk/jea
die05/Serendipity/
08/10/06 12:33
Lyn
http://journals.aol.com/ukgal