Musings on English things

After posting about our American visitors, I thought it could be fun to write about some of the oddities of daily life here in jolly olde England. Such as, for instance, how yesterday we took our chances on a grey day and decided to hit the links. As we hemmed and hawed about whether to play or not, first after getting off the train and then outside the clubhouse, blokes in crisp white polos and plaid shorts were buzzing around, as though they couldn't wait to get caught in a downpour, as though to say, 'if this isn't what golf is about, I don't know what is!' We took our chances and had a authentically drizzly experience... and while it wasn't that bad, I can't see what the fuss is all about.

Moving on...

Spelling
Having now lived here for a year (!) I can say there are some British English spellings that have been easier to get a hold of than others. The extra 'u' being my favourite. Well, maybe not my favourite, but I now type it without thinking about it at all. It's not that I'm forsaking my roots, it's forced Darwinism, Microsoft Word style. I've also caught myself writing programme but only after having recently seen it written. Two conventions I can't seem to get used to, though, are realise (among others) and centre. The 're' ending just looks plain wrong to me, it makes me want to pronounce things in a French accent.

Pronounciation
Speaking of pronounciation... after all this time (and in fact, for awhile now), hearing English accents as background chatter is natural. In fact, when we were home at Christmas, Jason & I both noted how strange it was to be surrounded by strangers with American accents! We kept looking around wondering: Where did all these Americans come from!?

That said, every once in awhile I do a double take at pronounciation. One less interesting I heard the other day was 'innovative'. Not 'IH-no-vay-tive', but 'in-NAW-va-tive'. However the more humourous (there's that u again) word I heard recently was urinal. Not 'YUHR-ih-nul', but 'yuh-RYE-nul'. HA!

In order to get by, I have to consciously 'mispronounce' some words, the most common being tomato. I say tuh-MAY-toh (really more like tuh-MAY-doh), but they say toh-MAH-toh. The guys making my sandwich stare blankly. Let's call the whole thing off.

Sandwiches
Sandwiches here by default all have butter or margarine. If you think tuh-MAY-doh is bad, imagine the stares when I refuse (or specifically ask for no) butter / marg. Just a little light mayo, please, for me; nothing for Jason. Half the time they can't believe it *so much* that they still put butter on anyway. Must be lost in translation.

Meanwhile, the sandwiches here are measly, downright pitiful. Whilst (oh yeah, whilst! I love whilst!) the bread is generally delicious -- a year in and we're still remarking at least once a week how tasty the given bread we're enjoying is -- beyond that, you get one slice of meat, one slice of cheese, and, if you want it, 'salad', which consists of a few shreds of iceberg, 2 slices of toh-MAH-toh, and some cucumber slivers.

I was at a brainstorming session last week (remember: I work on margarine), and someone was lamenting the decline in use of margarine on sandwiches, attributing it to all those crazy extra fillings people are putting on these days. I bit my tongue. But then, someone (a Dutchman, not an Englishman), said: 'I mean, look at the sandwiches in America - they now have more fillings than bread!!!'' He was genuinely incredulous. I jumped at my chance: 'I KNOW! The sandwiches here are terrible!!! (Man, that felt good to say!)'

I could go on & on about the food and the eating habits of the English, but maybe I'll leave that for another time.

PS - Today was generally blue skies and 70F. Murphy's Law also holds true in England.

Americans in London

Well, as they say, when it rains it pours. Although here, generally speaking, it was a beautiful June, save for the flash downpour here and there. Good thing, too, because June was a busy month for us in terms of hanging out with American friends and family (which describes most of our friends and family, however we unfortunately don't do a lot of hanging out with most of them these days...

My friend Jocelin from Unilever and her boyfriend John moved here at the end of last year, and they live about 3 blocks from us. It's been great having them to share stories regarding what's great and what's just plain ridiculous about living here. What's more, they have a garden (read: backyard); a fine place to hang out and enjoy some sunny afternoons and evenings! So, when we need an American fix (or, really, some friends to hang out with) we give these guys a call. It goes both ways, too, but this being summer (or so they tell me), their place is more conducive to summer activities, like grilling and drinking Pimm's!

Jason grilling

Jocelin making Pimm's

So, lucky for John & Jocelin, we haven't had to rely on them entirely for Yankee accents these past few weeks. First, Jason's Dad and Kathi paid us a brief 5-day visit, during which we again took advantage of visitors to become tourists ourselves. We visited Westminster Abbey (whose chapels read like a soap opera of royalty), Greenwich (and the prime meridian! how cool!) and Shakespeare's Globe Theater for an evening performance of As You Like It, which even from the balcony on the side was very enjoyable! So, that makes 2 parental visits from abroad in 2 months - phew!

Jason & Doug enjoying a picnic in Greenwich Park

Then about 5 days later, our friend Jill showed up on our doorstep early Sunday morning. Fortunately this was planned. Jill was passing through on her way to a week in St. Petersburg with another friend, and spent Sunday with us. She was a real trooper pushing through the jetlag, and so we spent the afternoon in town - first going to a Spanish wine & tapas event (Tapas Fantasticas!) and then checking out Spitalfields market and walking to the Thames before heading back to give Jill the Asda (i.e. Wal-Mart UK) experience and making some really tasty quesadillas + guac for dinner.

Jess & Jill enjoying Rioja at Tapas Fantasticas

Jason strikes a pose at Spitalfields much to the shopkeeper's chagrin

And last but not least, last Friday Jason & his mom took off for Bordeaux, but I stuck around til Saturday to visit with Jill who was passing through again, and Stern friends Monica & Hayle. Hayle had been working at Wimbledon, which is about 10 minutes from where I live. To close the loop, John & Jocelin joined for pre-dinner wine & cheese (bubbly Pinot Noir -- Hal have you ever had this!?) at my place, and then the other 4 of us went out for an authentic English evening of Indian food followed by Pimm's.

The gang's all here! Jocelin, John, Jill & Monica, chez Willey

Hayle & Jill starring in their very own Pimm's promotion

Who can be homesick when home comes to you!?

(Don't forget to check out the 2 new albums featuring our visitors! Links at right!)