Welcome to British Isles Friday! British Isles Friday is a weekly event for sharing all things British — reviews, photos, opinions, trip reports, guides, links, resources, personal stories, interviews, and research posts. Join us each Friday to link your British-themed content and to see what others have to share. The link list is at the bottom of this post. Lift a pint and join our link party!
Last week’s British Isles Friday posts included fun bits of the history and present in Great Britain and beyond. I loved the photos of book benches in London that Abigail of The Story Factory Reading Zone posted. These benches are a summer public art installation around the city — what a great theme!
1) How many cups of tea do you drink in the day? And how many sugars?
Two. Occasionally, three. No sugars, but I like milk in it. I went to Ireland just a few months after giving up soda for good. Tea proved to be an excellent alternative.
I have questions about tea for you Brits, though. Do you really drink tea for Afternoon Tea? And, if so, how do you sleep at night? I drink my last cup of tea before noon. If I want to experience Afternoon Tea, will herbal tea be offered as an option?
2) Favourite part of your roast?
Without reading Katrina’s answer or seeing restaurant offerings for Sunday roasts, I wouldn’t have understood this question. I’ve never had a roast in the British sense of the traditional foods eaten for Sunday’s big meal, but I loved Yorkshire Pudding the few times I’ve tried it, so I’m guessing that will be my favorite part.
3) Favourite dunking biscuit?
Sometime in the mid-80s, I went to New Zealand and discovered chocolate digestives. So, I’ll go with those. I have no idea what most of the things are in Katrina’s answer to this question, so clearly, I have lots of experimenting to do!
4) Favourite quintessentially British past-time?
Listening to The Archers, the world’s longest running soap-opera, still broadcast six days a week as a 15-minute show on BBC Radio 4. For the past few months, I’ve been downloading the podcasts and listening when I walk or at bed time. It’s making me feel very connected to the issues of the day, at least in rural England.
5) Favourite word?
I’m going to go for ‘bum.’ I use it because it sounds more polite in the US than the other words for that part of the body.
6) What would your pub be called?
The Purple Giraffe.
7) Cockney rhyming slang?
Don’t know a word of it. But I found this fun website that aims to keep it alive.
8) Number one British Person?
Ada Lovelace, because I love that the world’s first computer programmer was a woman.
9) Favourite shop/restaurant?
I’m trying to make our first trip to England about something other than shopping, but three made it to the itinerary, anyway:
- Topping and Company Booksellers in Bath
- Twinings tea shop in London
- Waterstones book store in London
As for restaurants, I’ll let you know when we get back from our trip!
10) One British Pop Song that pops into your head?
“Rolling in the Deep” by Adele
11) Marmite?
I have no idea. And, I’m a little afraid to try it….
I challenge every one who has participated in British Isles Friday to make a stab at The British Tag. And, any one who has considered participating — this would make a great first post for the meme.
