The Many Faces of Royal Albert Hall

While normally I like to write about London’s hidden gems I just can’t help myself from focusing this post on one of London’s most recognised gems. I have frequented this amazing venue, Royal Albert Hall, on many occasions throughout my 19 year adventure in London and walk past it nearly everyday when I leave the FOCUS office, but gained a whole new appreciation for it this past month.

With many American family members joining me in London for the holidays it seemed only natural to pay a visit and let them experience Royal Albert Hall (the ‘Hall’) for themselves. As a matter of tradition we used to attend one of the carol services that they offer throughout the month of December, however with older children and new traditions on the rise we have not made an effort in the past 5 years. Having young nieces visiting thankfully put this tradition firmly back on the agenda for this holiday season.

The sing-a-long was everything anyone could want with singing, dancing, a great deal of humour all sprinkled with a magical dose of Christmas spirit. The Hall, already impressive in its unadorned state was indeed splendid, dressed from top to bottom with traditional Christmas decorations. At the close of the performance we exited the building, carol sheet in hand, with the other hundreds of patrons who poured out and most of whom boarded the number 52 bound for Victoria. The sheer volume of people crowded onto the bus on any normal day (I take this bus frequently from the FOCUS office) would have driven me to distraction, but the lively spirit of the Hall seemed to envelop each and every passenger. As Royal Albert Hall faded from my vision into the dark, on the bus the spirit of the event remained very much alive.

So, when I approached the Hall (yes, on the number 52 again) a mere 7 days later the image of the adorned Hall filled with carollers was still very clearly imprinted on my mind. As I made my way inside to take my seat (this time on the opposite side of the Hall) I realised the venue had transformed literally as I slept. Not only were the decorations removed, but where happy families had the week before been seated was a giant mirror of ice lit with snowflakes that seem to fall from the lights above. What followed was a magical production of The Nutcracker on Ice. The manpower necessary, the vision of the set designers and the technicians who bring it all to life is without a doubt awe inspiring. The two hours of skating that followed was so impressive I did not want it to end. Of course, much of this is down to the Imperial Ice Stars who put on the show, but to watch them at Royal Albert Hall was truly exceptional (having seen their performances at two different locations I feel justified in making this statement).

London is a place where there is entertainment at nearly every corner and we are indeed spoiled by the vast choice which includes large venues like Wembley and Royal Albert Hall down to the smallest of cinema’s, pubs and theatres hosting a wide variety of unique events. Don’t forget to take part and marvel at just what these venues can produce!

Oh, and remember to book the carol services at Royal Albert Hall for next winter!

Written by Nancy Dickinson.  Nancy is Deputy Executive Director at FOCUS.

For more information please visit www.focus-info.org

 

Should you wish to share your expat experiences in the UK, please contact us: office@focus-info.org

Queue or Kew? Redefining Hidden Gems

While leading a presentation last week on London’s Hidden Gems for parents at an international school I was reminded of just how familiar and unfamiliar this extraordinary city has become and continues to be since my arrival in 1996!

One of the reasons I have decided to make London my home is that I love that nearly every day I discover or experience something new - a small independent bookstore on Ebury Street, pink flamingos high above Kensington High Street, an extraordinary family run cheese shop on Tachbrook Street or a Rugby World Cup quarter final team training at my local gym. London is always full of surprises! For this same reason I love doing the research behind the Hidden Gems presentation. I, with the FOCUS team, have strived to curate a selection of truly unique London gems and pride ourselves on avoiding the ‘obvious.’

So it did indeed take me by surprise when, in the
middle of presenting, I had a moment of realisation that I had come a long way in becoming familiar with London and that ‘obvious’ was not always so. I was, at the time of this revelation, speaking about some of the lesser-known gardens in London- Embankment Garden, Mount St Garden, Postman’s Park, Inner Temple, Southwark ‘s Red Cross Garden... I could go on for at least another page but that is another blog altogether. The point is while one participant was granting me every presenters dream of audience participation by sharing an experience of being at Kew Gardens one of the other participants diligently taking notes interrupted wanting to know whether we were talking about Kew with ‘K’ or queue with a ‘Q’.


Inside I was laughing in a most sympathetic

manner, however it was at this stage that I was abruptly reminded of just how many different interpretations of ‘hidden gems’ there might be. I had wrongly taken for granted that the much treasured ‘better known’ cultural destinations now so familiar to me were already discovered by this well educated and well travelled audience of international parents.  However, in my drive to uncover the undiscovered I failed to remember just how daunting the multitude of cultural options can be for someone new to London. After all, I should know well that the possibilities, so vast in number, can be dizzying even for us longer-term expats.


In my hours of research and commitment to 
uncover the most hidden cultural gems I had forgotten what it was like to be so fresh in this great city. What was obvious to me was indeed hidden to many in the audience that day.

In some ways I was quite envious knowing the participant with the Kew/queue question was just embarking on a journey I have now been on for 19 years.  However, I will continue my quest to unearth new treasures daily and have complete faith that London will continue to deliver in spades!

If you like the sound of learning more about FOCUS’ favourite hidden gems keep an eye out for our seminar in early 2016 where we will reveal all!

If you want to hear what some of the parents at the ACS Egham, ICS and the audience at American Women’s Club had to say about this presentation please email office@focus-info.org.

Written by Nancy Dickinson.  Nancy is Deputy Executive Director at FOCUS.

For more information please visit www.focus-info.org

 

Should you wish to share your expat experiences in the UK, please contact us: office@focus-info.org

The Olympic Spirit Reignited!

I hear the roar of the fans chanting 'Go Team GB'
I see the smiles of friendly volunteers ushering me towards the gleaming venues. I feel the warmth of the summer sun of 2012 penetrating the clothes on my back.

Have I been transported back in time to the London Olympic Games of 2012? Oh, if only! Time travel aside, I am experiencing the next best thing- the chance to be a part of the legacy of 2012.

A step into the Lee Valley Velodrome is for me a step back in time. Back to the excitement of London’s very own state of the art velodrome being built, back to the resounding rupture of elation as Sir Chris Hoy cycles his way to three Olympic gold medals, back to the thunderous cheer as the diminutive 5’4’’ Laura Trott convincingly takes gold in the Women’s Omnium.  Although I never attended these events I was present at many other events of the summer games and certainly watched most of these momentous challenges televised. The spirit that enveloped all those who embraced the London Games was something quite special indeed.

When the games ended and the last of the Para
Olympians was on their way home a wave of sadness came over me, a feeling of loss. I feared what I had experienced was one of those a once in a lifetime emotions that could never be replicated. So it was with great enthusiasm and a glimmer of hope that I welcomed the opening of the various venues to the public, including the Velodrome in March 2014. Yes, some of the sites that witnessed Olympic dreams being made and broken were disassembled or are in transit to Brazil, yet a great many remain- the Olympic Stadium, the Copper Box, the Aquatics Centre and the Velodrome to name a few.

I recently returned to Lee Valley Velo Park for my second evening of watching  Revolution, a series of 6 rounds of competitive track cycling spanning several months and taking place in three UK cities. The series includes elite champions through to ‘Chris Hoy Future Stars.’ On both occasions I have been lucky enough to see Olympian Laura Trott working her magic on the track. It was at these events that the Olympic spirit was reignited. The spectators could not help but feel the spirit of the Olympics returning and the cyclists from the elite down to the teenage future stars most certainly had visions of one day achieving the Olympic glory in the fashion of Chris Hoy and Laura Trott.
 

Even though fairly new to the world of cycling I
found the Revolution events thoroughly intriguing. I was surprised at the number of races that called for stealth strategy in equal measure to athletic talent. The races covered an unimaginable spectrum of racing from outright sprints to 200 lap races where two man teams would lock hands and fling each other forward on varying laps. I even watched something called the ‘longest lap’ which I can only say is thrillingly exciting, quite contrary to its name!

When all the excitement of the cycling events was over I left the Velodrome with a great sense of serenity, an inner calm. The evening assured me that the legacy of the Olympics is indeed living on  in London. I encourage you all to pick a sport, find an event and be a part of keeping this sprit and investment of the Olympics alive. I guarantee you it is worth your effort!

Written by Nancy Dickinson.  Nancy is Deputy Executive Director at FOCUS.

For more information please visit www.focus-info.org

 

Should you wish to share your expat experiences in the UK, please contact us: office@focus-info.org

Roof Top Tipple

I must admit I am lucky to receive invitations to many unique events as part of my role here at FOCUS. However, when faced with my third night out this week I was thinking how nice it would be to kick back at home with my two teens and husband and savour a nice family meal. This of course is a bit of an exaggeration, did I mention teens? And a husband home in time for dinner? Okay, you know what I mean.

While even the real picture seemed tempting, I was reminded of the advice from Adrian  Cassidy's Resilience seminar on Monday evening 

that everyone should have at least five networks
and, more importantly, that meeting new people is a key factor to being a resilient individual. With this in mind I put on my party shoes, some much needed cover up and I headed down the block from the FOCUS office.

Now prepped and ready for a sociable evening, I arrived at The Roof Gardens, a hidden treasure not visible from Kensington High Street, which has an amazing garden spanning 1.5 acres with majestic views of London.

The building originally housed the department store Derry and Toms until 1973, and then Biba until 1975. The Gardens were listed as a Grade II site by the English Heritage in 1978. There are in fact three roof gardens including a Spanish garden, a Tudor style garden and an English woodland garden complete with four flamingos named Bill, Ben, Splosh and Pecks! If the spectacular gardens are not enough of an attraction, the 6th floor houses a glamorous private members club and on the 7th floor inside the gardens is the elegant Babylon restaurant.

Having greeted our FOCUS members we headed up the express lift to the 7th floor and were graciously escorted to the beautiful garden terrace where the most divine warm cocktails adorned with a stem of currents awaited us. Taking in the view towards the London Eye I had to stop for a moment and reflect on just how fabulous a city London is and all the unexpected and unique experiences I continue to have even after 18 years of living here. Having paused for reflection and having been warmed by the first sip of my cocktail I was then consumed by the lively conversation amongst our 25 guests.

While there were several conversations in Greek, Spanish, Italian and French that I was not able to participate in, I am quite sure from their animated faces and volume of chatter that everyone was sharing experiences, their stories of what brought them to London, favourite discoveries and more. What was crystal clear is that bonds were being formed and friendships were in the making.

Just when we all thought things couldn’t get better out came inviting plates of baked cheese accompanied by a selection of artisan breads. Making our way to the various offerings gave us another excuse to move around and meet those we had not already. The evening continued with wine, adorable wire baskets of gourmet chips and continuous conversation!

Occasionally I stepped back to again take in the spectacular view of the skyline and listen to the happy chatter of the members around me and realised that even the serene family dinner of my dreams was no comparison to the fabulous evening at the Roof Gardens with an amazing group of talented expats all happy to be experiencing London!

Written by Nancy Dickinson.  Nancy is Deputy Executive Director at FOCUS.

For more information please visit www.focus-info.org

Should you wish to share your expat experiences in the UK, please contact us: office@focus-info.org

Cracking Good Fun!

One of the British Christmas traditions which I have firmly adopted and highly recommend  is that of setting your Christmas table with Christmas crackers. In fact, why wait till Christmas? With the season of holiday celebrations now well and truly underway, I have already had the excitement of pulling several crackers.

Christmas crackers are a British tradition dating back to Victorian times. In the early 1850s, Tom Smith, a London confectioner, started including a motto to his sugared almond bon-bons which he sold wrapped in a twisted paper package. Many of his bon-bons were bought by men to give to women, many of the mottos were simple love poems.

So, what is this all about you may ask? For those who have not yet experienced this tradition it goes something like this:  At the end of a festive meal everyone seated at the table crosses arms and holds an end of a cracker in each hand. Once all hands are securely gripping the cracker ends there is an almighty pull against the person holding the other end in an attempt to get the larger half! Why the larger half? Well, this is where the fruits of your labour are found (after all, that sort of exertion at the end of a jovial celebration in which much food and alcohol are consumed certainly needs a reward). The snap of the crackers is quickly followed by a scramble to see what trinket is inside the winning half. A mandatory reading of the accompanying joke (typically unfunny to all those over the age of 5) and the adorning of the tissue paper crown complete the ritual.

To give you a better visual of what a cracker looks like, imagine a used a toilet or kitchen paper cardboard roll filled with a trinket (which usually winds up in the bin after a few minutes, hours or days and certainly by the New Year), a joke and a paper crown. Inside the cracker are two strips of chemically impregnated paper that react with friction so that when the cracker is pulled apart by two people, the cracker makes a bang. The roll is then covered in a pretty holiday wrapping and twisted at either end so the finished product takes the shape of an oversized sweet!


So, you get the picture now! Not excited yet? Well then I suspect you are in the market for the more ‘upscale’ luxury crackers. The options are extensive with many luxury brands stocking their own bespoke crackers. There are also themed crackers so for example for a ladies night out you may choose to have the Essie nail polish crackers. At stores like Liberty, Harrods and Selfridges you can find crackers accommodating the most indulgent budgets and fanciful tastes to match the table décor. I do wonder if the jokes get any better in these crackers! Maybe someday I’ll find out, hint, hint…

I am convinced, however, that once the tradition is established in your family you will find as much joy in pulling the less extravagant crackers and find the luxurious ones a bit over the top for their purpose! For me, it is the crossing of the arms and the snap of the cracker along with post meal photos of friends and family all sporting their paper crowns each in their own unique way that make the tradition live on in my family!

So, happy cracker shopping and don’t forget my top tip for success- it’s all in the grip!

Written by Nancy Dickinson.  Nancy is Deputy Executive Director at FOCUS.

For more information please visit www.focus-info.org

Devon!

Do you holiday in Britain? When I first moved to London from the States I used all my holiday time to either visit family and friends back ‘home’ or explore Europe which I could not believe was on my doorstep. However, it was not long after I married a Brit who had grown up taking holidays in South West Devon that I experienced my first English holiday. Since my initial visit, nearly 20 years ago, I have been captivated. We return to Devon nearly every year for what we have now adopted as a family tradition of our own.

Parts of Devon are simply stunning. The county is known for its natural beauty including rolling green hills, beautiful beaches, rustic towns and above all plenty of open space. Devon is simply stunning.

Each year we return to a small town on the Southwest coast called Salcombe (about 4 hours by car from London). Colourfully painted houses dot the hill that leads down to the quaint and lively harbour. Although we spend much of the day sailing there is plenty to do for tourists of all ages.

Various companies run ferries to the small local beaches as well as up the estuary to the nearest large town, Kingsbridge.  One of
the shortest ferry rides runs on the half hour between Salcombe and South Sands Beach near the mouth of the estuary.  When the ferry pulls up to South Sands a sea tractor comes and meets the ferry which itself is like a quintessential bath tub toy- too adorable for words! Once at South Sands one can easily spend the day on the water renting lasers, paddle boards and kayaks. Several years ago a new contemporary boutique hotel opened on the waterfront. While I have not stayed there I have enjoyed delicious lunches while watching the activity on the beach below.

Those feeling more energetic can walk half mile up the hill to the stunning National Trust property and gardens called Overbecks. This property is really a hidden treasure. The subtropical gardens took me by total surprise on my first visit, an unexpected treat. Walking through the gardens viewing Salcombe in the distance through the leaves of the palm trees made me wonder if I was really still in England. Of course the delicious cream teas are also not to be missed!

Once you have refuelled yourself you will be ready for the further challenge of the coastal walk to Bolt Head. Get out your hiking boots and be prepared for a stunning coastal walk. The journey takes you up the cliffs and to the jagged rocks known as Bolt Head.

After an active day I suggest returning to one of the many pubs or restaurants back in the village of Salcombe.  If you have teens they may opt to hang out at  The Bakery where crepes are sold throughout the evening. The pub life is lively in the evening and the small street that runs though town is mostly pedestrian with hardly a car to be seen after dark.

Many holiday cottages are rented out by the week from the most basic to the most luxurious but if you are looking for a spa experience you may want to check out the Sacombe Harbour Hotel and Spa, recently renovated and certainly worth a visit for a cocktail to take in the view of the harbour.

While I am biased, I do encourage you to book a very English holiday; you can not go wrong with a week or weekend in  Salcombe!

Written by Nancy Dickinson.  Nancy is Deputy Executive Director at FOCUS.

For more information please visit www.focus-info.org

You say Macaron, I say Macaroon

Whether you pronounce this delightful treat the French way ‘macaron’ or the English way ‘macaroon’ there is no denying they are heavenly! The price of these delights suggests that in spite of their ‘petite’ size and simple ingredients there must be a small degree of magic put into their creation. I do thrive on culinary challenges so I set out to discover if there was indeed magic in each small bite.

When FOCUS treated me to a voucher to Leith’s School of Food and Wine it was nearly a certainty that I would enroll for a baking course. And so it was never a more appropriate gift for me… my ticket to discover the secret behind macaroon making.  Keeping the calendar of FOCUS events running at a hectic pace this year meant I spent months anticipating the day I would finally get my chance to take this class. When the day arrived I waved goodbye to the team with a spring in my step.

Entering Leiths was like stepping into my dream world- pristine kitchens brimming with all the kitchen essentials plus enviable gadgets that only true foodies make room for in their kitchen.  Graciously greeted by one of the Leith's team members I was shown to the library where I met four other women equally eager to learn the art of macaroon making.

Before I could choose a book we were escorted to Kitchen 4 where the lovely and talented Ansobe started our tutorial. While demonstrating each step with precision, she calmly and clearly talked us through the recipe and we feverishly took notes in the recipe booklet provided.

At last it was our chance to give it a go ourselves. The excitement mounted as we boiled our sugar syrup and sifted our almond mixture. Ansobe moved between us ensuring we were not going off track. It was not long before we had each produced baking sheets with 20 beautifully coloured circles. While our creations rested Ansobe made a delicious salted caramel and discussed trouble shooting for some of the most common pitfalls.

The moment of truth then arrived!  As the oven doors opened baking trays revealed 120 perfect macaroons- each one with the essential ‘foot.’ A cheer was let out by all! We had in fact uncovered the magic behind macaroon making.

It was time to leave Leith’s so we waved goodbye with our treats in hand. I can’t wait to return to uncover the magic of another delight!

 

Written by Nancy Dickinson.  Nancy is the Director of Events and Seminars at FOCUS.

 

For more information please visit www.focus-info.org

Pirouetting Ballerinas found in the wine of Burgundy

Do you ever drink wine and think of ballerinas pirouetting on your tongue or rolling around in a bowl full of cherries with a loved one?
If the answer is ‘no’ then you have not yet had the pleasure of experiencing a wine tasting led by the exuberant wine educator Quentin Sadler. FOCUS members recently enjoyed an evening led by Quentin and hosted by the BADA Antiques Fair which transforms the Duke of York Square each March.
After arriving at the fair, guests were led through the grand marquis displaying items from some of the most established antiques dealers to the Cellini Restaurant. Tables were set with glasses filled with a fine selection of  Louis Jadot wines and dishes of attractive parmesan crisps. Once we were all seated the real journey began.

Photos of the Burgundy region were shared as we moved from the Côte d'Or, through Côte Chalonnaise down to Mâconnais and ending in Beaujolais. Although, to be fair, we did not end with Beaujolais as from many who are passionate about wine that would have been a disappointment. We did in fact journey back to Côte de Nuits (which to my surprise stands for nuts, not night).
Quentin enlightened us all on the region - from the golden slopes to the colder regions noting the effect the climate has on the wine, colour of the grape and of course the taste. I enjoyed tasting cherries, nectarines, raspberries, currents and strawberries. Some wines were nutty and others smoky, some casual and happy and others angular; it all seemed to make sense at the time and  Quentin was certainly convincing.  Luckily we had a sheet for taking notes on the appearance smell and palate for each of the six wines.

We also were guided through the hierarchy of Village up to Premier Cru and right to the top with Grand Cru. We also were introduced to the oddly quirky system whereby the agricultural authorities in France determine what level the wine commands depending on the vineyards placement on the slope, the place, the reputation, and the price the wine commands.
Throughout the course of the evening Quentin entertained us with his stories of travel, wines and culinary excursions. He was able to bring a smile to everyone’s face in spite of there being guests of varying nationalities with competing views on where the best food and wine came from.
From now on I will wait for ballerinas to twirl on my tongue and look for that bowl of cherries…
Happy wine drinking!
 

Written by Nancy Dickinson.  Nancy is the Director of Events and Seminars at FOCUS. 

For more information please visit www.focus-info.org

Christmas Traditions

Go ahead; break from tradition this Christmas…a bit.

We all perceive the concept of tradition, as the notion of holding on to a previous time, but being an expat means your holiday traditions may just have to take on new forms.  

Christmas decorations in New York

I remember well my fist English Christmas. I looked forward to experiencing the very English traditions the British side of my family upheld. I eagerly embraced pantomime, mince pies, Christmas pudding and what I would characterise as rather understated decorations (keeping in mind I was used to New York City decorations where bigger is always better). I even voluntarily took part in my husband’s unique tradition of having ham for Christmas morning breakfast. It was an amazing Christmas, my first exposure to a very large family celebration filled with laughter, warmth and an overall jovial spirit. I was overwhelmed. 

Bouche Noel

As the years progressed I did have to admit that mince pies, Christmas pudding and childhood paper ornaments were not really my thing and the pantomime I just found annoying, And so there were years when the over the top, verging on gaudy, decorations filled most corners of our flat, bouche noel was served at the end of the Christmas meal and there was not a mince pie to be found.

Mince Pies

For a while a sense of relief came over me that I was still able to just about hold onto the Christmas traditions that I had grown up with and I believed, rather selfishly, that my husband would come around to my style. After all, isn’t Christmas tradition more of a girly thing? Then I began to take in what was around me during the holiday. Mince pies were served with great enthusiasm at each Christmas fair and party we went to, families spoke of their annual outing to the Pantomime with contagious excitement and the understated decorations even began to grow on me. 

Pantomime

I have realised that transporting my exact traditions to a foreign country didn’t really feel right and often led to frustration. Simple things like finding the correct brand of candy cane ended in defeat. I am certain not to be alone in admitting that this is not really the spirit of the holiday. I felt alone in my quest for Christmas. Equally I felt like a fake going all out British. 

Today we have settled on a blend of English and American traditions. More importantly we have exposed our children to a multitude of traditions, some of which they will embrace when they get older and some of which they are sure to dispose of! Yes, it is great to hold onto a previous time but do not miss the chance to take on some new traditions of your own.
Happy holidays! 

Written by Nancy Dickinson who is the Director of Events and Seminars at FOCUS.

Lost in Aisle 7

Choice is a great thing. Choice we understand is a fundamental privilege many of us are lucky enough to enjoy in various aspects of our lives. When it comes to grocery shopping in Britain I am sometimes frustrated by the lack of choice and no doubt have been known to lose my temper in my local Sainsbury’s when I find my favourite brand has been replaced with some generic compromise, or worse, just removed. However, I have, for the most part, come to terms with life in a smaller country and the fact that at times material choices can be more limiting than in my country of origin.

It dawned on me this summer just how much I had adapted to life in Britain and the daily supermarket food choices. I had the pleasure of spending time in the US in the beautiful state of Maine- vacationland, home of blueberries, lobster and whoopee pies. In fact there is a state-wide debate over whether the state food is blueberries or whoopee pies- tough choice! Going to the grocery store became a popular event (the air conditioning was heaven) although one that always took longer than anticipated. The choices were bewildering!

While looking for 100% pure cranberry juice not from concentrate I became lost in a sea of juice and thought I would never exit aisle 7 alive. I remember as if it were yesterday the Ocean Spray label so familiar from childhood.  This is a no brainer I thought, easy peasy lemon squeezy. Ahhh, but did you know that Ocean Spray produces a zillion varieties of cranberry juice - from concentrate, not from concentrate, cran-apple, cran-raspberry, cran-lemonade, cran-grape, cran-pomegranate… you get the gist.

What amazed me is that for nearly every product on my shopping list from ice cream to Ziploc bags to cereal I was faced with the same task.  Really, I wonder is this choice necessary or even a good thing.

Later in the summer I went to follow a favourite American recipe for cupcakes (I can hear those of you that know my passion for cupcakes laughing) and underwent the task of finding almond extract. This resulted in me crossing State lines to New Hampshire! What happened to all my choices?!

While the UK may not stock an unimaginable variety of household, daily consumables it comes into its own with speciality food shops catering to a multitude of nationalities and tastes. Ditto for restaurants.  Have you ever tried to get a good curry in Maine? Yes, I am happy to have escaped aisle 7 and be back in London even if I do miss blueberries, lobster and whoopee pies!

Written by Nancy Dickinson
For more information please visit www.focus-info.org

The British Diet- through the eyes of a tourist

 

I recently had the refreshing experience of reconnecting with a dear friend who was visiting London from the States. I had almost as much fun hearing what she had to say about her culinary experience as a visitor to England as I did sharing gossip about friends and family. 

She has perhaps had the rather unusual experience of landing for work in Peterborough while staying in Stamford. For those of you not yet, nor perhaps ever, familiar with these towns let’s just say they are by no means the international metropolis that is London.  Having said that, she has found a local gym that hosts zumba lessons! Post zumba however her dining choices are rather limited.

Bacon, what is it with Bacon batties, butties, buttons- what, what do they call those things and what are they?!! This was one of the most animated comments she had on life in Britain. I now know I have lived here a long time and yes my children really are half British.  I found myself practically defending what is perhaps the world’s most unhealthy sandwich on earth, a sandwich my children eat with delight on at least one occasion while on holiday in Devon. For those less familiar with the Bacon Buttie it is a sandwich comprised of fried Canadian bacon enclosed in well buttered white bread. The taxi stand that I pass regularly just off Sloane Street has a queue at least 15 long every morning. I take note because the smell is so divine!  Many Americans are familiar with the BLT (bacon lettuce and tomato) but somehow the addition of lettuce and tomato and the absence of butter makes their version seem positively healthy, especially when served on wholegrain toast.  Needless to say the conversation about the nutritional sin of this Bacon buttie was animated and opened the flood gates on the pub food she has been exposed to in the small town she is calling home for the next few weeks.

   

 

So, over our Asian fusion dinner, feeling well removed from any bacon, I had the chance to contemplate what makes up some of the traditional British eating habits which I thought no longer took me by surprise. I have to say, I do agree with her that some of the standard fare, sausages and chips and the British obsession with crisps, is rather devoid of any trace of healthy content.  I do think that our options, especially in London, have grown exponentially from 17 years ago when trying to get a sandwich without butter was quite a task.  Many of the pubs are now considering the quality of their food and maybe someday this will filter through what she is calling her local...one can hope.

For those of you wondering the obvious, how can an American be critical when the obesity rate there... Yes, we covered this as well!  I will be sure to point my friend in the direction of some of the best that Britain has to offer and will try not to smirk when I am next in the supermarket in the US surrounded by a multitude of refrigerators piled high with frozen meals!

Written by Nancy Dickinson
For more information please visit www.focus-info.org