Partners
Sites We Like
Friends
Not everyone appreciates paintings and other similar works of art. I think this is especially true when it comes to those types of art that are abstract or a bit on the unique side. I think I am one of those people. However, I found a site which features the British culture through paintings and pictures and I have to say that I really liked what they have to offer.
The web site is called Art.com and it actually has a lot of pictures and paintings featuring various subjects. They do have a section dedicated especially to the British culture. I wish I could post some of the pictures here but they are for sale and copyrighted so you will have to go check out the site for yourself. In order to go straight to the British culture gallery, click this: British Culture Gallery.
Just to prepare you, what can you expect to see? There are various representations of the different aspects of British culture. There are pictures with the Union Jack, of course. Then there are the traditional hunting scenes. You can even see The Rolling Stones, Stonehenge, the London skyline, and more.
How about the pricing? It is surprisingly affordable (you know how expensive works of art can get)! There are paintings for as low as $6.99 and the most expensive one is only $69.99. For these prices – plus shipping – I think that the works of art offered in the web site are worth it.
Not everyone knows who Guy Watson is but for those who are into organic food, he is considered a guru. Guy Watson is the founder of Riverford Organic Vegetables, which is based in South Devon. He began his activities way back in 1985, when organic food was not that much of a hit yet. What he did was put his produce in boxes and delivered them to shops and homes. From those humble beginnings, Guy Watson has gone a long way.
So what is his philosophy with regard to food? In an interview with the Times Online, he shares:
Eat good quality food, prepared with love and grown not too far away.
People have got so far removed from their food and how it is grown. They have lost confidence in their own judgment and are easy prey to advertising promoting processed, sugar, salt and fat laden crap. Add to this the progressive loss of kitchen skills over the last two generations and we are in trouble.
And his views on traditional British cuisine?
I regret the obsession with the exotic and abandonment of culinary traditions that dominated the 40 years following food rationing. Things are getting better now.
Behind closed doors we have a growing army of fantastic home cooks. We have some of the world’s best, most knowledgeable and cosmopolitan cooks feeding their families wonderful meals day in day out. I suspect most of them seldom watch a cookery programme because they are too busy cooking.
Indeed, if we want to preserve and promote our traditions, we should follow Guy Watson’s example.
Young girls never had it so good when it comes to doll house choices. Long known for its entertainment and creativity value, doll houses step one notch further through realistic big doll houses. These doll houses are sure to provide years of fun and learning on a scale which is visually closer to the real one.
Based on parent and child feedback, there are some models that consistently garner good reviews. Some of these are categorized as big doll houses. The GuideCraft Grand Victorian Dollhouse is a classic do-it-yourself kit which features balconies, French doors and spiral staircases. The Majestic Mansion Dollhouse comes in a massive size of 4 ½ feet plus detailed interior. Another of the big doll houses is the KidKraft Savannah Dollhouse which offers the flexibility of using typical doll house figures or Barbie dolls. Plan Toy’s The Green Dollhouse with Furniture is the ultimate eco-friendly version of a doll house which provides additional level of play and education. The Classic Heirloom Victorian Doll House by Melissa & Doug possess unrivaled interior and exterior detailing.
Though relatively smaller than most big doll houses, the Wooden Folding Princess Castle of Melissa and Doug offers a different style fit for young royalty. Fisher Price’s Loving Family Dollhouse is a plastic Victorian dollhouse that is both durable and colorful. The Deluxe Wooden Furnished Dollhouse by Melissa and Doug is small but offers big-time and long-lasting easy play time. One of the most entertaining big doll houses is the So Chic Dollhouse which is truly massive in size for a toy. It comes with wheels and can be played on both sides at once. Not to be forgotten is the Mattel Barbie 3-Story Dream House Playset. Boasting of realistic sounds and lights, the third floor can be detached when desired. There are doll house models which can be bought small but can later be expanded with additional parts.
A dollhouse is probably one of the best examples of what humans can create with their hands. The handmade miniature version of a house is made with so much attention to detail and so exquisitely intricate that the tremendous amount of work and time put into it is quite evident. The best dollhouses which are typically found in museums and homes of affluent people have been replicated and mass-produced as playthings for the enjoyment of young girls.
While the 1:12 scale is typically used for adult collectors’ dollhouses, finding one done on the 1:24 scale is very possible. Children’s play dollhouses are commonly made on the 1:18 scale although there are some done on the 1:16 scale. Much larger dollhouses in a 1:6 scale are manufactured to accommodate 11-12 inches-tall dolls like Barbie. Young girls can get to enjoy the best dollhouses in their preferred size and construction.
Dollhouses may have an open back as usually seen in US versions or have a hinged front to view the interior as seen in British-made houses. They may be made of metal, fiberboard, wood, cardboard, or plastic. Dollhouses that come in kits are usually made of thin plywood or medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Those that are made with the former can be assembled through a system of tabs and slots while those constructed of MDF or the heavier type of plywood use nails and glue. The wide range of choices made available in the market ensures that children have access to the best dollhouses in varied price ranges.
The more adventurous ones can opt to build their own dollhouses. Choosing a ready-built one does not diminish in any way the fun derived from focusing on the best dollhouses as a hobby. From the process of building, lighting, and decorating to providing the miniature furnishings to the house, hobbyists will have the time of their life creating their own distinct dollhouses. Building one’s own dollhouse requires a blue print as opposed to a kit which just needs to be put together as directed.
You probably hear them everyday now. Christmas songs are played most everywhere and if you turn the radio on, you will probably hear them being played even more. In some countries, Christmas songs are played as early as September. More often than not, though, the really successful songs are those that were created eons ago – the classics, as we call them.
Over the decades, though, year in and year out, artists attempt to come up with their own Christmas songs. I am not talking about remakes of the oldies but modern originals. Yet I still have to find one that can hold its own amongst Christmas songs of old. It seems that the experts are thinking the same way. Pete Paphides of The Times Online tried his hand at defining what a great Christmas song is:
An uphill struggle? “Yes, that’s one way of looking at it.” Displaying the laconic realism that was once the hallmark of his old band Squeeze, Chris Difford is contemplating the task that he set himself when the BBC asked him single-handedly to revive the pan-generational irony-swerving Christmas classic. Has he pulled it off?
When his choir-festooned, bells-blazing cockle-warmer Let’s Not Fight This Christmas airs on The One Show on BBC One tonight — all proceeds to Children in Need — you’ll get to judge for yourself. You would have to be “optimistic to the point of madness”, Difford acknowledges, to go into such an enterprise thinking that you might emulate deathless seasonal classics by Slade, Wizzard and the Pogues. “Not only are you fighting against the quality of those songs,” he adds, “but you’re fighting against the nostalgia people feel for those songs, not to mention The X Factor.”
He goes on to say that it seems that Christmas songs coming from the working class are more successful. I honestly do not know – I actually walked away from his article a bit confused. All I know is that a good Christmas song makes me feel nostalgic and giddily happy at the same time.
What makes a good Christmas song for you?
Who has not heard of the Christmas card? Just like many things associated with Christmas, most people all over the world know about it. I actually do not know anyone – from Europe, the Americas, and Asia – who has not received or given at least one Christmas card in his lifetime. Have you?
For many, though, Christmas cards are merely part of the celebrations. They do not really know the origins of this tradition. Let’s take a step back in time and see where this humble – but powerful – piece of paper came from
The year was 1843. The protagonists men named John Calcott Horsley and Henry Cole. These two men came up with the idea of what we now know as the Christmas card. Yet was this really the root of the card? Historians actually say that even as far back as the ancient Roman times, a form of the Christmas card was already in practice. It is said that the emperors in those times received tablets with engravings as gifts for the New Year. The practice was for the people to send these tablets to their leader. In a sense, those tablets were the first Christmas cards.
Obviously, as time passed by, modifications were made and the Christmas card as we know it today could be traced back to Horsley and Cole’s creation. It was in 1846 that the first commercial printing of the Christmas card was done. The design was simple – a family drinking a toast and the caption “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.” A thousand copies were made but they didn’t really sell.
From those humble origins, Christmas cards have gone a long way. Have you gotten and sent your Christmas yet?
I have this friend who spent a couple of years in London when she was at the university. A little less than 10 years later, she still reminisces about her years there. According to her, it was the best time of her life. Given a chance, I am sure she would gladly hop on a plane and go back for good. She has her London dreams – as many other people do, I am sure.
And speaking of London dreams, there is actually a movie titled the same. London Dreams is directed by renowned director Vipul Shah. Movie enthusiasts – especially those who have a particular affinity for Bollywood creations – would recognise this name as being behind the big hit Singh is Kinng. This movie is making history as it also launches a treaty between Bollywood and the British movie industry. The treaty will allow Indian film makers easy access to British resources if they wish to collaborate with British film makers. Though it may be an arguable point, many consider Bollywood and the British film industry to be only second to Hollywood.
More on the treaty from NDTVMovies:
The British government’s department of culture said that without the treaty, co-productions would have to pass a “UK cultural test” to qualify for tax relief, adding: “Most would be unlikely to, particularly if they were in a non-Council of Europe language like Hindi or Tamil.”
“The treaty allows co-produced films to bypass this test. This means they are granted national status in both countries. And this means they can gain access to the new Britain tax relief – one of the most generous and competitive tax reliefs in the world,” a department spokesman said.
The treaty is also expected to support a range of spin-off businesses, including British-Indian suppliers, which support filmmakers with anything from costumes to caterers, British-Indian owned cinemas which are likely to show the films and the British tourist industry.
Follet pointed to the economic value of the treaty as Britain faces a recession, saying: “The wider your base, in an economically difficult time, the more resilient you’ll be.”
This will certainly revolutionise the Indian film industry and help them reach a broader audience than they have now. It is something to look forward to in the coming years, isn’t it?
Christmas Markets in Britain
Comment (0) 
Posted on Nov 22, 2010 by Jodie in English Cuisine, English Culture, English Places, English Traditions
With a history and culture as rich as it can be, there is no doubt that one can experience a myriad of festivities all throughout the country during the period of Christmas. As diverse as the activities are, one of the most popular is going around visiting various Christmas markets.
Year in and year out, visitors and locals alike look forward to Christmas markets all over the country. Here are some of the popular ones this year.
Bath Christmas Market
This has been a tradition in Bath since 2001. The town itself has a lot of other things to offer, especially the historic Abbey where the market is located. The traditional wooden stalls used as shops in the market add to the ambiance. More so, one can expect a lot of unique items.
Frankfurt Christmas Market
This is being held in Birmingham and is considered the largest Christmas market outside of Germany and Austria – definitely a unique experience!
Manchester Christmas Markets
Manchester is not to be outdone when it comes to markets this Christmas. It has more than one! There is a traditional German market, a European market, and an Arts and Crafts Market.
These are only a few of the on going Christmas markets in Britain today. More than the food, crafts, and other items on sale, visitors can enjoy the festive atmosphere with the entertainment being offered everywhere. This is a good time to feel the English culture at its festive best – wherever in England you may want to go.
In this day when everyone is having all sorts of problems with money, more and more people are looking for ways to save. The United Kingdom may not have experienced the worst like the United States, but there is no saying as to what might happen. That is why saving money is an important thing in everyone’s eyes these days.
One of the best people to take tips from is Richard Thompson, a retired project manager. He is no ordinary retiree. As a matter of fact, Thompson has been named as Britain’s best money saver by Money Supermarket. So what does Thompson know that we don’t already? The Times Online recently featured him and had this to say:
So, how exactly does he do it? He investigates everything from home insurance to savings accounts to make sure he is always getting the best possible deal. Thompson, 60, then plays market-leading deals to their full advantage by, for example, borrowing money at 0% and paying it into high-interest savings accounts so that it is earning money for him, not the banks.
And if you think that credit cards are a no no, think again. You can follow Thompson’s example:
Thompson has three credit cards — from Virgin, Halifax and Alliance & Leicester — all with interest-free balance-transfer deals. With no credit-card debt to pay off, he transferred the cash into a current account, then moved £18,000 into a Tesco Internet Saver account paying 2.75%.
Thompson said: “Not many people realise that card firms will transfer a balance into your account, rather than paying off a rival card.” He transfers the required amounts back to the card providers in time for the end of the 0% introductory deals, thereby avoiding paying any interest. Over 12 months he stands to earn up to £495.
Interested in making considerable savings? Follow this Brit’s example.
Don’t be embarrassed if you do not know the answer. Reading that question, you probably heard some bells ringing in the background. That is but understandable as Henry Moore is arguably the most celebrated sculptor in the United Kingdom.
Born in 30 July 1898 in Castleford, Yorkshire, Henry Moore is perhaps best known all over the world for his sculptures which were larger than life. Many of these monumental sculptures have been purchased – and subsequently displayed – by private institutions.
The reclining form is considered to be Henry Moore’s signature form. Wikipedia elaborates:
Moore’s exploration of this form, under the influence of the Toltec-Mayan figure he had seen at the Louvre, was to lead him to increasing abstraction as he turned his thoughts towards experimentation with the elements of design. Moore’s earlier reclining figures deal principally with mass, while his later ones contrast the solid elements of the sculpture with the space, not only round them but generally through them as he pierced the forms with openings.
Though Moore died in 1986, his legacy continues with the Henry Moore Foundation, of which his daughter Mary Moore remains a part. In fact, The Guardian recently published an interview with her – a very rare occurrence.
Those who are interested in the work of Henry Moore will soon be treated to an exhibition at the Hauser & Wirth gallery in Central London. The Guardian narrates:
The show will span six decades and incorporate 70 works from the private family collection that have never before been shown publicly. Several items – such as the concrete bird table he made in 1942 that was used by the family for several years – carry a deep personal resonance.
There is a hope that the exhibition will lead to a reassessment of Moore’s work because, as Mary puts it, the ‘acclaim and affection’ in which he is held often obscures the ‘radical’ nature of his art.
