Was terribly disappointed recently to find out that there was a tour of Downton Abbey available for those traveling to England. But that it was not only sold out through NEXT YEAR, but also closed for the season. I am such a total Downton Abbey fan that I was depressed for two days.
Then recently I read something online somewhere –you know how that goes—about how popular the new Dallas is in England. And I got to thinking about the fact that we love their shows and they seem to love our shows. (The Office, Ab Fab, Dr. Who, coming from the motherland and Mad Men, True Blood, Glee and others heading over from the colonies.)
Which then got me to thinking about what an Anglophile I truly am. I love tea (although in true American fashion I guzzle a lot of that iced). I love British
Comedies. As Time Goes By. Vicar of Dibley. Keeping up Appearances. I think Judy Dench is the bomb, along with Maggie Smith and Helen Mirren. I adored Marigold Hotel. And could watch Jane Austen flicks non-stop for years on end.
I love Shakespeare, Chaucer, Austen, Stevenson, Lewis, Tolkien, Rowling, Pilcher, and Stewart. I love castles, knights, the peerage, the lake country, the Cotswolds, Cornwall, and Devon. I like Harrods, Marks 
and Spencer’s, Kensington, Mayfair, Trafalgar and Notting Hill. I love wellies, Agas, chips, jumpers, torches, and nappies (at least when they’re clean). I’m a fan of trifle, scotch eggs, bangers and mash, pasties, bitter, scones and clotted cream. I love English breakfast and their especially tall toasting bread. I’m also a fan of toast racks, teapots, tea cozies and Macs. (the raincoat—although I’m very fond of the computers as well.)
I love the Beatles, the Stones, Adele (in moderation), K. D. Tunstall, Annie Lenox, Herman’s Hermits (okay when I was 8), Cold Play, Led Zeppelin, and the Clash. I like Hadrian’s wall, the Hebrides, St. Michaels Mount, Wales,
Exeter, Glastonbury Tor, and Stonehenge. I love the regency, Queen Anne furniture, Victorian sensibilities and anything Tudor. Oh and don’t get me started on English Gardens—heaven.
Basically I love the place. So what about you? What are your favorite English things? Do you watch British telly? What TV shows do you think we should export permanently from here to there?
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, yes–all that you said, Dee! Love all things English. Wish we had their posh accents. One thing (among many) I wish we could import from them is the sense of regal dignity as portrayed by Prince William and Duchess Catherine. Yes, the Brits have them and we have the Jersey Shore crowd. Wow.
It’s that English stiff upper lip!
Let’s not forget that Prince Harry recently got in trouble for displaying that stiff other thing.
Not so dignified. Though he’s an adorable rascal and now he’s back in Afghanistan serving honourably. He gets a pass!
The Queen’s corgi Monty just died. The news made me a little sad for her.
As a Florida girl living in England, a dream come true, all I can say is: I am living my dream. Every hill is an iron fort, castle or abbey. I just love it!
We have many American shows here. Dallas did recently start but I am not really a fan so we do not watch it.
We watch Cheaters, Cops, Judge Judy, Hells Kitchen, and several other silly American shows. I miss Amazing Race. That was a brilliant show.
As for British shows, my favourite by far is Time Team. You have an American version but well…to me it is not the same. I love all the history documentaries we get here. She Wolves of England was brilliant if you are into the medieval queens. They are also making a BBC series about a Viking community and how they really lived (and not how Hollywood has romanticized them.) I am not sure when it comes out but I will give you a shout out when it does. It might be on your PBS A&E or HBO depending on the ratings. From the sounds if it…it is going to be like Rome. Can’t wait!
Oh and if it goes through…one of the most basic and best loved recipes is as follows: http://www.food.com/recipe/yorkshire-pudding-744 You use the same recipe to make toad in the hole.
Funny story, my almost 14 year old had her first full week of school starting today. (They started last Wed). She thought she was taking French. She is not. They have put her in learning Dutch instead! I would rather her learn Spanish but hey…Dutch may come in handy one day!!!
Cool that she’s learning Dutch, Ti! The Viking show sounds like fun.
Love toad in the Hole!
Favorite Vicar of Dibley episode(s)… when she marries Richard Armitage!! It would be so cool to travel over there all summer, especially when the temperatures over here are over 100. That’s just an extra added attraction.
Mine is the Christmas Eve episode where Alice gives birth. But really love them all. And yes, traveling anywhere w/o the heat is awesome.
Mmm trifle. British rock stars. Actors. That lovely accent. Colin Firth!
Ah yes… Colin Firth. And Ewen McGregor and Clive Owen and Sean Connery (although I’ve strayed into Scotland).
A drunk Connery apparently stumbled in and interrupted Andy Murray’s press conference at the US Open the other day. I missed it! But I heard about it.
Oh my. Missed that. Well no one said heroes were perfect!
And it’s Colin Firth’s birthday today! 52. Not too old for me.
Me too, Dee! You just covered it all for me. And I would add books set in England. Regencies, medievals, even picture books, which I use liberally when needing to describe something.
Picture books are so wonderful for helping with a visual description of something!