Category: Britain

Britain, Friday, Humor, Linkstorm, London, Weekend, Work, Writing May 23, 2014May 26, 2014

Friday Links (Summer Has Arrrived Edition)

“I’m leaving because the weather is too good. I hate London when it’s not raining.”
-Groucho Marx

This week has turned things around in a big way and much has been done, all of it . I had another cowork day with Alanna (who might soon be upping sticks on an adventure of her own), completed lots of freelance work, went to a book launch (more on that later) and had an impromptu date night with Jeff. All things considered, that’s a banner week. Here are your links, kittens – short and dirty this week, so do link anything else worth knowing in the comments. For the benefit of the minion coterie, you understand!

I’ve only got six (!) working days left at the Franklin House, so there’s been a lot of gearing up for the Next Big Thing here at Small Dog headquaters, which of course includes a new round of pitches to editors. Here’s my confession: pitching irrationally terrifies me. It’s not at all as scary as my brain builds it up to be, which I understand intellectually, and I’ve got some new recent and impressive clips now to help me out, but still. Scary. Which is why this kick-in-the-pants post from Linda Formichelli was quite timely!

Another timely read from Garance.

One dad has made some artwork based on the crazy things he has said because of his children, and some of them are pretty giggle worthy. Parents, weigh in. Accurate or not?

I’m a little bit in love with these animal pun illustrations for cards, etc.

My inner five year old is thrilled, a new gigantic dinosaur fossil has been unearthed in Argentina and to dates it’s the largest dinosaur ever discovered.

Pineapple earrings. Which might be necessary to my happiness, as my birthday is just over a week away…

As a person with a hard won and complex relationship with faith and spirituality, I found this short Buzzfeed piece written by a young woman who has lost hers interesting.

Janssen’s Summer 2014 Tell Me What To Read list has begun over at Everyday Reading. I love her reviews and she influences my own To Read list heavily, but her comment threads are also excellent places to pick up recommendations.

Britain, Expat, Food, Friends, Humor, London, Travel May 20, 2014May 18, 2014

London Barbeque

“Whenever I travel to the South, the first thing I do is visit the best barbecue place between the airport and my hotel. An hour or two later I visit the best barbecue place between my hotel and dinner.”
― Jeffrey Steingarten, The Man Who Ate Everything

Carnaby Street is justly famous, but running parallel to it is an equally fabulous path called Newburgh Street. This gem is stuffed with excellent stores and, what else, food. Welcome, kittens, to Pitt Cue, an actual barbeque joint in the heart of Soho.

It’s paradoxical perhaps, but it’s quite a good idea in London to pick a place to eat based on how long the line is – in reverse order. If no one’s trying to eat there, there’s probably a reason. And if you have to stand in line for 30-45 minutes, it’s generally well worth the wait. Pitt Cue is no different. This small (almost unbelievably tiny) rib place accepts no reservation and operates on a first come, first serve basis.

The table markers used to confirm your spot on the waiting list are also kind of adorable.

When Jeff and I made plans to meet up with Adam for dinner (lo these many months ago, and I’ve just now got around to writing about it…), we had a decent wait before they managed to squeeze us inside. This almost was worse than waiting outside because due to lack of standing space I was crammed up at the bar entrance, almost behind the counter, and having to dodge the waiters and their trays full of truly heroic/suicidal amounts of whiskey – which Pitt Cue stocks in famous amounts and which I had no desire to see spilled all over me. It was a narrow escape. But the food immediately made up for the danger, we snacked on an order of pig’s crackling which promised good things to come, and checked out the scene.

Which, due to the aforementioned tininess wasn’t very viewer friendly…I was about seven feet away from the door.

Except for this gentleman and his heavy use of plaid, which tickled us all to no end. Where does his shirt end and his jacket begin, we wondered!

In the end we were served a delicious twist on slaw, heavy on the spice, and a plate each of brisket. Jeff and I became brisket snobs in Utah of all places, where we discovered a magnificent hole in the wall of a place that ended up supplying at least one meal a week during high summer. And my parents in Virginia certainly have access to their share of tasty meats for us to enjoy, so how would a London attempt hold up?

The fact that I got to this point before even thinking to snap a picture ought to tell you. My line theory is confirmed: this place is worth a wait!

Britain, Expat, Humor, London, Travel May 19, 2014May 19, 2014

London Snapshot

“Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner,
That I love London so
Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner
That I think of her wherever I go
I get a funny feeling inside of me
Just walking up and down
Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner
That I love London town.”
-Hubert Gregg

From my balcony. Still not sick of the view.

Britain, Expat, Freelance, Humor, London, Work, Writing May 16, 2014May 15, 2014

Friday Links

“There are two places in the world where men can most effectively disappear — the city of London and the South Seas.”
-Herman Melville

This has been one of those weeks that mixes fantastic highs with crippling self-doubt. Imposter syndrome is alive, well, and living in London, my friends. But enough with the first world problems, they’re nothing hard work and gumption won’t cure, on to links. They’re all quick and dirty this week. Share anything worth knowing in the comments and let me know what you’re getting up to this weekend.

(Feeling rather like the goose!)

Pantone before there was Pantone. By which I mean the 17th century.

My love for the blogging pair Tom and Lorenzo is well documented, so I loved this interview with them in Bitch Magazine.

I would play the heck out of this. House rules, you cannot ask questions about physical appearance. Terrible life choices, House allegiances, potential terrible fates only.

This new cartoon find amuses me greatly: (mostly) conversations betwixt inner organs and body parts, without being nearly as gross as it sounds. For example, the irritable bowel is…irritable.

A photography project to make you smile.

Either everything is a conspiracy or nothing has meaning. You decide.

Nate Silver, a quantifiably intelligent guy, has some interesting thoughts and data on the 2014 election. Vote, people, you lose your right to complain otherwise.

Sick of Buzzfeed quizzes? Here’s a new, kind of trippy alternative one h/t of Katarina, and it nailed us both.

Paging all book loving minions – which is the vast majority of you, let’s be honest. I’m a bit in love with this little boutique collection. Someone with an iPhone get that cover so I can live vicariously and enthuse about your purchase with you.

“The greatest threat to extremism isn’t drones firing missiles, but girls reading books.”

“You won’t allow me to go to school.
I won’t become a doctor.
Remember this:
One day you will be sick.”
– Poem written by an 11 year old Afghan girl

Britain, History, Humor, London May 15, 2014May 11, 2014

Other Gems of Rotherhithe

“The powers of a man’s mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks.”
― James Mackintosh

I live three minutes away from the Thames via leisurely stroll (which technically forfeits my right to complain about anything ever). Not only is the pretty great in and of itself, but the Thames is a fascinatingly historic river in a fascinatingly historic city. Come wandering with me this week as I show you a bit of the fantastic history within twenty minutes of my flat.

Finishing up with our week’s tour and circling back to St Mary’s, a charity school was instituted right next door to the church in the 18th century. The charming figures of a boy and girl still stand sentinel above the door and right along side it resides the early 19th century watch house. Today this functions as a small coffee shop and bakery – and may I say, the cookies are delicious!

Britain, History, Humor, London May 14, 2014May 11, 2014

Pilgrim Fathers and Maritime Warfare

“In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620.”
– The Mayflower Compact

Just a bit beyond the manor house lies the church of St. Mary’s of Rotherhithe. Still surrounded by a church yard (not all London churches are quite so lucky), this build packs a historical wallop when it comes to London and the city’s maritime past.

The Mayflower, the ship that carried the Pilgrims first to the Netherlands and then the New World was captained by a man from Rotherhithe . He is now buried in the church’s yard along with a prince of the then-newly discovered island nation of Palau after he journeyed to and settled in Britain. The church also houses two beautiful bishop’s chairs which have been carved from the timbers of a famous ship, the HMS Temeraire, which fought at the battle of Trafalgar and was later immortalized in a painting by Turner.

Literally just across the street is the famous Mayflower pub. Originally named the Shippe, it stood near the original mooring sight of the renowned ship. When the premises were overhauled in the 18th century, it was rechristened the Mayflower in its honor and today holds the distinction of being the oldest continually operating pub on the Thames.

Britain, History, Humor, London May 13, 2014May 11, 2014

Medieval Manor House

“You are not blamed for your unwilling ignorance, but because you fail to ask about what you do not know…. For no one is prevented from leaving behind the disadvantage of ignorance and seeking the advantage of knowledge.”
― Augustine of Hippo

I’ve lived and traveled in some neat places. As a child in Germany, our town had a history dating straight back through to the Romans and a ruined castle on the hill. When my family lived in Cambridgeshire we were a short drive away from Bury-St-Edmunds, the site where King John’s barons basically thought up the Magna Carta, as well as a number of other interesting medieval incidents. As a student living in Kensington, I was a hop skip and a crosswalk away from Kensington palace and Hyde Park. In Virginia we lived near the historic battlefield that saw the last major battle of the American Revolution. On Guam I lived on a military and government base whose beaches still house relics of a WWII canteen and my high school was an old military weather station atop the hill charged by Admiral Nimitz.

This is not (entirely) to brag but to show that history has always felt incredibly present and accessible to me, which is probably why I’m passionate about it. It’s developed a sort of aloofness, not just in academia, but in everyday culture that I simply don’t share. Americans are bad at this in some ways, at least compared to Brits. I understand as a nation our history is relatively short but it’s not surprising to me at all that the only remaining residence of Benjamin Franklin left in the world doesn’t exist in Philadelphia but in London. Americans are better at forward thinking (perhaps not planning) than past preservation.

This is a bit of a cultural failing to me. As a child (and still as an adult, if I’m honest), I was fortunate to be able to explore scramble over and through ruins, sites, monuments, and this put old and ancient things into my here and now in a way that I think was and is incredibly valuable. It fosters learning, it fuels imagination, it encourages discovery and explanation.

It’s freaking cool.

This humble heaping of stone and grassy knolls seem pretty tame at first, but nestled as it is between a somewhat famous pub on the bank and some houses, it’s actually the remains of a medieval manor home belonging to Edward III.

Edward III became nominally king at about 14 when his mother Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer deposed and most likely did away with Edward II. Isabella was dubbed the She-wolf of France for her part, even though history shows that Eddie II was a pretty disastrous monarch and the kingdom was probably better off. At about 17, Eddie III overthrew his mother and ruled in his own right. Though his reign is not blemish free (he kicked off a little thing that turned into the Hundred Years’ War and probably laid some of the foundation work for the Wars of the Roses), it saw a lot of legislative and judicial progress. And for the love of chocolate, William Wallace was not his father; Braveheart is not history, people!

When it was first built, the house would have been situated on an island within the river, with a moat on three sides and the Thames itself on the fourth. The best current guess is that this residence may have also housed the royal falcons which could be trained and hunt along the marshland of the area. Today it looks across the river at the City, but what I love most about it is that every time I walk past it, kids are climbing all over it having adventures.

I overheard these particular small fry, they were slaying dragons. I approve.

Britain, Expat, London, Travel May 12, 2014May 11, 2014

Night Walk On The Thames

“London, thou art the flower of cities all! Gemme of all joy, jasper of jocunditie”
-William Dunbar

Today, a late night amble with few words to get in the way.

St Paul’s after dark.

Blackfriars Bridge puts on a light show.

The view out of the front door of Jeff’s office. We hate him, yes?

Tower Bridge lit up for your pleasure.

Britain, Expat, History, Humor, London, Travel May 6, 2014April 21, 2014

London Snapshot

“I like the spirit of this great London which I feel around me.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Villette

Britain, Expat, History, Humor, London, Travel May 1, 2014May 1, 2014

Return to 4 Princelet Street!

“You are now In London, that great sea, whose ebb and flow
At once is deaf and loud, and on the shore
Vomits its wrecks, and still howls on for more
Yet in its depth what treasures!”
– P.B. Shelley

My ducklings, my precious, precious kittens! Something kind of incredible happened!

As part of the long, lovely weekend when Caitlin came into town from Paris, we ran away to Spitalfields on a Saturday to wander and eat food – two of my favorite things. I wanted to show her my favorite dilapidated old house and press my face against its dirty windows again, but when I rounded the corner to Princelet Street, I stopped short.

The door was wide open.
“Is something going on?” Caitlin asked.
“No idea, let’s find out,” I exclaimed and practically dragged her in the front door.

We were met by a couple of members of a film crew who seemed perplexed to have two insistent Yankee girls descend on them but I quickly exclaimed my love for the house and asked if we could just look around it for a few minutes. Which is how Caitlin and I were taken around the house by a VP and Series Producer of 3DD Productions and given a sneak peak into their work on upcoming series, Raiders of the Lost Art, which explores how many of the world’s great art treasures have simply vanished.

I worried perhaps that the inside would disappoint compared to the gorgeous decay of the outside…it didn’t! The basement was too dark for my phone (when will I learn to sling my camera on my shoulder before leaving the house?!) and of course I’m not going give you any sneak peeks of the Raiders set. You’ll have to wait to see them on TV.

Light switches from the early days of electricity, old toilets with chain pull flushes, creaky floors and stairs, textiles that have shredded or sagged with age, and dust covering everything with a light veil of mystery. It’s a perfect set for film (I’ve actually identified a few scenes from recent TV programs as having been shot there, including A Very British Murder with my professional girl crush, Dr. Lucy Worsley). We could have been in Miss Havisham’s cozier, less bridal casual rooms.