Things British....

Whenever I have walked into a cathedral my first thought is, how beautiful this structure, and then, how long did it take to build? I would marvel at the thought of just how talented those craftsmen/ women (maybe) were and how did they manage when their tools were far less advanced than what they are today. For all the beauty of these buildings my favourite has to be the little church on Iona, the acoustics are second to none. I have heard many choirs in many churches but Iona was the most memorable.
 

Old Salt said:
First thought when looking at a Cathedral: How many years of backbreaking labour did it take to build this magnificent structure?

Once inside, I almost feel forced to my knees, the presence of God seems so real!
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yes and now think of the horror that was Notre Dame cathedral and the back breaking work ahead and money shed to do it?
 
Jamala said:
Today I was asked what the national dish of the UK is and normally I would say Roast Beef, Yorkshire pudding, selection of vegetables and gravy. However, on my last visit back home, I learned most Brits (especially Londoners) favour Chicken Tikka Masala as the top dish. Apparently, it was also the late Queen’s favourite and made frequently at the palace.

While many people assume that this dish originated in India, the most popular origin story places its roots in Britain when a Bengali chef had to improvise in a jiffy to accommodate his clientele. Today, many consider it to be the national dish of the UK.

Fancy having a go at making it?

.

Now that’s the real McCoy…or you can buy a jar of the ready made stuff if in a hurry and just add the chicken, cream and fresh herbs!
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I was watching a television programme one evening and the interviewer was asking a resident of a home in Scotland, what was the favourite meal in Scotland. The resident, said, "Well in the factories, the most popular meal is Butter Chicken and Chips". I had a good laugh at that one.
 
oscash said:
I was watching a television programme one evening and the interviewer was asking a resident of a home in Scotland, what was the favourite meal in Scotland. The resident, said, "Well in the factories, the most popular meal is Butter Chicken and Chips". I had a good laugh at that one.
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Well, here in Canada, when Marks and Spencer were still here, my favourite Brit food was their Bangers and Mash! :)
 
Houses_of_Parliament.jpg
One of Britain's most photographed sites and therefore well known around the world is the seat of government. You will hear it called The Houses of Parliament but it's formal name is The Palace of Westminster.

The Palace of Westminster serves as the meeting place for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Palace lies on the north bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster, in central London, England.

Its name, which derives from the neighbouring Westminster Abbey, may refer to several historic structures but most often: the Old Palace, a medieval building-complex largely destroyed by fire in 1834, or its replacement, the New Palace that stands today. The palace is owned by the Crown. Committees appointed by both houses manage the building and report to the Speaker of the House of Commons and to the Lord Speaker.

Look to the far right, often called Big Ben. That name is actually the nickname for the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster, at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, England, and the name is frequently extended to refer also to the clock and the clock tower.
parliament.jpg
This is one of two debating chambers, The Palace has so much to see, just a few photos wouldn't do it justice.
To see much of what The Palace has, click here.
 
oscash said:
I was watching a television programme one evening and the interviewer was asking a resident of a home in Scotland, what was the favourite meal in Scotland. The resident, said, "Well in the factories, the most popular meal is Butter Chicken and Chips". I had a good laugh at that one.
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Certainly beats the dreaded black pudding imo!
 
davey said:
too much red - its eye wrenching!!
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The Palace of Westminster serves as the meeting place for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Red seats in the House of Lords, represents nobility, as the nobles originally formed the membership of the House of Lords and since dye was expensive, they could afford to use it, unlike the ordinary folk.

The House of Commons, or lower house, in the Parliament is green, representing the common people.
In ancient myth and legend the colour appears in mysterious figures such as the ‘Green Man’ or the face in the leaves, the man that dies in winter and is reborn in spring, the bountiful Jack-in-the-Green, and the story of Gawain and the Green Knight.
Archers wore green, all men in the Middle Ages were obliged by law to practice archery, and they became the mainstay of English medieval armies. Green was the colour of the pasture and the greenwood, of the village green used by all, in other words the colour of the countryman, the ‘common’ man.


 
Pepper said:
I am interested to at least know the topic of your thesis. I did graduate work at Oxford but my MA is from NY. I read medieval. Amazing experience, I love Oxford so much, it's part of my being.
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Sorry I missed your post Pepper and thank you for your interest.
The situation is thus:
I reveal my topic, then it is very easy (as you know) to retrieve one's thesis from Bodleian Libraries’ thesis collection.
That means then, my identity is no longer private on the forum. My personal details are known!

Anyway, nice to learn you are a fellow Oxonian and I agree, once you fall into the Velvet Ditch, it is difficult to live without it!

Are you an Oxford Alumna?
 
Yorkshire puddings!
My mom made a delicious Yorkshire pudding.
These were so good with roast beef and gravy. The gravy would pool on top of the Yorkshire puddings and it was so good.
I miss my mom! She had some really good traits and characteristics that I never gave her credit for.IMG_9709.jpeg
 
The definitions differ in some English speaking countries about an electric bus.
trollybus.jpg
One like this we Brits call a Trolley Bus. It's a road vehicle
that only differs from a Motor Bus by it's traction power.
We have not seen a Trolley Bus since 1972.
tram1.jpg
The town of Blackpool kept their tramway system and still
run heritage trams like the one above, as a tourist attraction.
Modern trams have made a comeback like the one below.
tram2.jpg
These cities have all reintroduced tramway systems.
 
all those vehicles look great - some very modern - but why do the staff keep on striking?? ps: I'd ;love to work on one of those?
 
oscash said:
I must admit, I have never tasted a Yorkshire pudding. I saw Jamie Oliver make them on his t.v. show but they look a little too greasy for me.
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It is made with a lot of fat but so yummy!

Here’s a short history of the “pudding.”

Before it was known as Yorkshire pudding in 1747 in the cookbook, “The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Simple” by English cookery writer Hannah Glasse, a Yorkshire Pudding was simply known as a “batter” or “dripping pudding”.

It was mainly an appetiser to a main meal, usually with gravy. This was because it would fill you up, meaning you wouldn’t eat as much meat, which was expensive.
It was originally cooked in northern England over a fire with the meat roasting above it. The fats and juices from the meat would drip into the pudding and provide flavour and colour.

Today, that is certainly not considered healthy!
 
fuzzybuddy said:
In the US, we have Thanksgiving, Labor Day, & Memorial Day for vets, you Brits have Guy Fawkes Day to celebrate the "Guy", who tried to blow up Parliament??????????
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It's actually an anti-catholic celebration, although for most, it's lost in the mists of time. A group of conspirators, in an attempt to restore Catholicism to the country, planned to blow up The House of Lords during The State Opening of Parliament on November 5th 1605. It's an interesting story and you can read about it here.
 

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