A show y'all might enjoy tonight...

One of my fave BBC TV shows is coming back to BBC America tonight at 8pm cet.

It's called Dragons Den and has a panel of millionaires/billionaires judging British peoples inventions and if they think they're worthy, backing them with their own money. The idea for American Inventor was taken from this show, but this is far superior and there is no ultimate winner over a period of weeks, it's all about getting investors weekly.

The judges are Brit' entrepreuners and highly successful in their own right, there are no celebrities in sight. They are self made success stories and brutally honest with that infamous British bluntness, this makes it both funny and cringemaking to watch at times.

I loved this show from day one and I think knowing many of you pretty well, you would also enjoy it. Plus some of the ideas put before them are the true epitomy of British eccentricity, and of course you have all the regional accents to enjoy!

Oh memory where art thou!?

One of the things I have found really hard since arriving here nearly 3 years ago, is remembering all the people I meet daily. Just imagine for one moment if you moved to another place tomorrow and literally everyone you met all day long for months was new to you!

You know there's this wonderful theory that making up a little rhyme, or linking someones name with a bizarre fact to remember them is really supposed to help. Well that's just fine and dandy when you're not faced with numerous new introductions on a daily basis for at least a year!

It's easy making friends if you have a Hubster who knows just about everyone in a 50 mile radius. It's not so great trying to remember who the heck they are the next time you bump into them on your own.

If you were to ask the Hubster what's the thing Sarah has asked you the most since she got here, he would definitely say without hesitation - "Who was that?"

It still happens a few times a week and you wouldn't believe how many times I have met someone and carried on a whole conversation without a clue who they are! In fact I think I have developed a whole new set of skills doing just this.

It can be very frustrating and it's not unusual for the Hubster to get a call from me that will go something like this:

"Hi, it's me"

"Hi, everything ok?"

"Yep but I just met a woman I know I know, but I can't remember who she is"

"What did she look like?"

"Oh she was blonde, about 50, slim/plump/tall/short (etc), distinguishing features if any? I think I may have met her at such and such place but I'm not sure"

" Was she with anyone, what was she driving?"

"Oh I can't remember but I just know we've met her somewhere before?"

"Was it so and so?"

"No, oh you know who I mean, we met her with that guy you used to work with - I think?"

And on and on we go, rarely coming up with the answer until the next time we bump into the person, when they then turn out to be someone totally different to who I thought it was!

Or the other conversation we have a few times a week is the Hubster saying to me:

"You remember you met them a few weeks ago as we were leaving Walmart and we stopped to chat for a few minutes and they were asking you about England"

"Uhhh, no I don't think I remember that, are you sure?"

"YES!"

He then will follow this up with yet more details of a meeting I have no memory of and he will get very frustrated at times. I try to explain how incredibly difficult it is to remember all these new people, but I guess until you've lived it yourself it's hard to really get it!

Oh and then I decided to be a substitute teacher in four different local schools and utter chaos ensued in my head! Soon I will be deluged with parents and kids on August 14 when school returns and I am the secretary. Of course living in a small place and being British, the word got out within days that I got the job and everyone I meet will know who I am, even if I have never met them before! So everyday at work, I spend 15 minutes studying the class rosters and remembering their little faces - it's a bit like swotting for exams!

In all honesty there have been times and events in the past 3 years when I am surprised my brain has not had a mini meltdown. In fact interestingly I tend to forget more now than I ever did before (lists are my friends), and I have a theory that's because I am permanently on memory overload!

And don't even get me started on the new thing stressing me at work. Recognising the other staff members voices on the phone, because they rarely say who it is and I don't want to be rude, insulting or look stupid!

So if you live near me and I ever walk straight past you, or give you a blank look when you greet me, please don't hold it against me. If I answer the phone to you and have to ask you who it is calling, please don't be insulted.

I'm memorable to everyone I meet as I am uniquely British (and even if they haven't met me they often know who I am), but it's totally different from my befuddled side of the fence!

You know this only just sunk in!

I watched a very nice video on Youtube today made by Dabrah of Fickle Muse with her new FLIP mini videocam. (The link to it is in the comments on the makeup post)

"So what finally sunk in" I hear you asking?

Just how very different and British I sound to everyone here and why I often get a very strong reaction when I speak! You see Dabrah comes from the very same part of England that I do and so we have a similar accent and she sounds sooo posh. It was like a serious "Whoa - that's how I sound" moment!

I think now I am out at work all day, I am mixing constantly with Americans and have less time to speak to friends and family back home. So to suddenly listen to a British accent like mine, was like a light suddenly turned on in my head and now I understand why they love to hear me talk.

I'm crazy I know, but it really was very wierd after 3 years of thinking what's all the fuss about? I guess I am just becoming so integrated I don't even think I sound different anymore - well oh boy do I ever!

I'm getting a FLIP on Monday, so I'll film something next week and post it with commentary, then y'all can have a chuckle at my accent!

7 days until the Galaxy lands at OKC

Oh and my mum too of course! ;-)

We had a chat tonight and I initially told her not to bring any last week and then said bring two a few days ago. Well tonight I just told her to bring as much as she can and partly blamed Pamokc's upcoming weekend visit as we'll have another Brit in da house, with her Hubster.

When oh when are they going to import Galaxy to the USA?!

Guess what?

I met someone with a cat nicknamed 'Spunk' tonight, 'Spunky' usually but they apparently unwittingly shorten it to this all the time!

All I can think of now is standing on my porch calling "Spunk? Come here Spunk, good kitty!"

I am not about to put here on the front page why a Brit' finds that so funny, so y'all had better hope someone enlightens you in the comments if you are also oblivious!

All you Anglophiles out there....

I have been meaning to give you the highest possible recommendation for the classic British BBC TV show All Creatures Great and Small for ages. We have been working our way through all seven series thanks to the wonderful Netflix and are now on series three and still adoring it. The Hubster is sure that this show appeared on PBS at some point, but it is without doubt one of the BBC's finest shows and if you are an Anglophile you'll love it.

It is based on the very famous autobiographical novels of the country vet, James Herriot. He moved from Glasgow to the Yorkshire Dales after qualifying as a vet in the 1930's and his books recount the wonderful tales of his work and personal life. The show actually charts from his first day, through winning over the cynical farmers, his courtship of Helen, kids and family life, his very eccentric boss and 'his' playboy younger brother, World War II and it's effects on their lives.

There are some wonderful characters developed over the years, by some great actors and the animals more than do their bit too. It is full of laugh out loud moments, heartwrenching tales and many heartwarming endings. It shows a way of life that sadly no longer exists and reminds you of the true values we should all still be striving for today.

When it first aired in the UK in the late 70's/early 80's, the books were an instantaneous hit and even spawned a Hollywood movie as a result; just compulsory viewing in most homes. But be sure and get the TV show not the movie, as being made over many years the plots are far more developed and you really bond with the characters.

Needless to say the scenic views of the Yorkshire Dales are breathtaking in every episode and it gives you a real feel for British country life as it was back then. It is very much family viewing, in fact my whole family used to sit down with crumpets and tea every Saturday night to watch it. The humour is in every episode and is at times side splitting, the Hubster loves this show as much as I do and we will one day invest in the boxed set.

The only thing he is not so crazy about though is the iconic theme tune, as I just have to whistle along and even the cats leave the room when I start to whistle ;-)

All I can say is if you've never seen it, then get onto Netflix and get it in your queue from the very first episode, as the stories do follow on. I think it says alot about it's popularity, that even now 20-30 yrs later, sometimes the discs have a 'short wait' listed next to them!

I have got to know many of you pretty well from your comments and own blogs, and I think just about all of you would love it. In particular I would bet good money on Willow, Daryl, Lynne, Sherri, AFF, Kay, Karla & Brad, Pam, Mary, Vickie, Stacey, Karen, Tammy, Rhea, Teresa, Linda, Snippety, Dee and Wendy all becoming 'James Herriot' addicts!

Sarcasm tune up required!

An American friend sent me an email last week, that I read with some disbelief before responding along the lines of "you're not serious are you"?! A little while later she replied saying "uh no, that was sarcasm actually"!

Well once I got over the appalling shock that an American had fooled me with their irony, especially as we say in the UK that Americans don't do sarcasm. I was truly horrified that my life has changed so much I am losing a well-known trait of the British.....the ability to recognise sarcasm, or be sarcastic at the drop of a hat!

I was a 'Queen' of sarcasm back home, it was just part of my daily conversation at work, out and about and at home. Usually it wasn't used in a spiteful way but just to jest with one of my colleagues/aquaintances or keep them on their toes. And I would receive just as much as I dished out; us Brit's may be aware that sarcasm is considered the lowest form of humour, but it's still the most entertaining and a national pastime.

I would utilise it the most when dealing with statements associated with 'the bleeding obvious' as we fondly refer to it. Examples might have included "Did you get a new car" - "No I stole this one in my lunch hour, what d'ya think!?" or "Did you get your hair cut" - "No I think it just shrunk when I dried it last night" or "Did you give that report to the boss" - "Nah I shredded it instead".....oh I could go on and on endlessly battering the recipient into submission with my smart Alec remarks.

When I first got here I quickly found those same remarks would either just make the Hubster mad, or result in a blank look from some unsuspecting American. So I just quit with the sarcasm, after all part of the fun was duelling with another expert proponent of the sport and I haven't found any here yet! In my experience I have found that it's generally not used and can be viewed as very rude, so wanting to make a good impression I gave up my addiction.

So last weeks email event was like a sharp slap being administered and has made me wonder whether I will be able to keep up with my friends the next time I am home. Or are they going to view me as this once driven ambitious woman, always ready with quick wit and a smart rejoinder; who returned happier, calmer but also a totally different and quieter personality type?

Some change is good and I needed to calm down certainly. But I don't want to lose my British character traits. And so lookout, I am going to be exercising my sarcasm back into existence and am getting my radar retuned ;-)

Feel free to test my progress or challenge me to a duel in comments!

My Mum is coming to stay....

I got a call yesterday from my mum in England to say she had decided to come for a visit in July :-)

The last time we saw each other was April '07 when she was visiting, but it was just after I was diagnosed with Graves Disease and so she spent most of her visit looking after me as I was pretty sick. She is flying in for just over 3 weeks from July 1st-26th and will experience her first Independence Day in the USA, amongst other things.

I am very excited, lots of things have changed around here since her last visit - the yard, my car and the size of my butt! Now I need to start thinking about what I need her to bring for me that's not illegal - like British Sausages! ;-)

Above is a piccie of us taken about 2 years ago at Will Rogers Airport in OKC, as she was heading home. Happy, Happy, Happy!

What a fun, fantastic idea....

London and New York City have been connected by a huge telescope! Now you can wave and signal to Americans on the Brooklyn Bridge from the bank of the River Thames in London.

Read all about it HERE

This is definitely something I will be doing the next time I am home

Why didn't I think of this before.....

WELL DUH!

If you want to really make it rain hard in NW Okieland after months of drought, I have apparently found the answer and it was so bleeding obvious....apologies to all my Okie friends for being so slow!

Raise the English flag!

After all we're known for all the rain we get all year long...LOL ;-)

St George's Day celebration Brit' dinner?

What else could I possibly have but that good old British #1 favourite a spicy Indian Curry?!

Yep it's Chicken Calcutta Massala, Pilau Rice and Bombay Potato courtesy of the Brit' Gal kitchen tonight ;-)

Yummer..... OMG my mouth is watering in anticipation...LOL!

"Happy St George's Day"

April 23rd is St George’s Day in England, the day we celebrate our national Patron Saint. This is the Saint George from the legend of George and the Dragon and his pennant was adopted by the English as our national flag. He was a Christian Martyr and a soldier of the Roman Empire, who by birth was from Anatolia or what is now modern day Turkey.

Sadly there isn’t any kind of Public Holiday to recognize our national day and much like here, St Patrick’s Day is more celebrated than our own day! But now there is a major campaign afoot back home to change this and get St George the same kind of acclaim and celebrations seen for St Patrick.

About time I say; as at the moment the only time you see this flag flown everywhere, is for the big sporting events that cause national fervour and passion across the country. Although the city of Salisbury in England has an annual St George’s Day Pageant, which originates from the thirteenth century.

So today I am flying my white and red flag of St George’s Cross on our flagpole, the origin of which came from the plain white tunics worn by the early crusaders.

I really don’t think that many people around here realize what it is, as the Union Jack is more associated with the UK. But I don’t care, I’m English and this is our flag and I am proud to fly it and remember my home country today.

In celebration I will drink my bottle of Lucozade (as the alcohol is still banned due to med’s) and later I will eat something English from my stash of goodies!

Need a good laugh?

Then go checkout this story from the Daily Mail in the UK!

This weekend is the Grand National horse race in Liverpool and for a few days beforehand they have a race meeting leading up to it. This would be England's equivalent to the Kentucky Derby and a huge national tradition.

It used to be a sedate affair fashion wise, until the mega-rich local soccer heroes started marrying women with not much class and gave them too much money to spend. We even have a name for these woman in our national dictionary - Wags (Wives and Girlfriends), that everybody knows just applies to these particular women.

Anyway these Wags have also unfortunately inspired the far less well off local women, to go that extra mile with their 'look'. Women from Liverpool and Manchester have always had a tendency to 'glam up' more than their southern counterparts. I am Manchester girl by birth myself with those same tendencies, I think it's just something in the water!

But oh my goodness, it has now got out of hand as this article demonstrates pictorially! I am embarressed for them, they look like some extraordinary pantomime show gone wrong. Bear in mind these women are at a racecourse in England in April. So they have to walk on grass in those mad heels, it's not that warm and talk about fake tan and over the top blonde extensions!

Please don't think all British women dress like this...it just appears to be a blight on Liverpool judging by these pictures! Good for a laugh though and to make the rest of us feel better about our dress sense. Make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom...LOL

The Hubster said they all look like streetwalkers whilst falling about laughing and I think is mightily relieved I don't ever look like this, mind you if I did, I doubt I'd be here!

Quite extraordinary, makes me wonder what's happening back home?!

Good to know....

A research paper published in England today, has put the county of Buckinghamshire at the top of a list of the best places to live!

The 500,000 residents of Bucks have the highest quality of life, a longer than average life expectancy, bigger homes, higher wages, great education, better health and even get more sunshine.

I found this news especially pleasing seeing as most of my immediate family and many of my friends live in this beautiful county. In fact the towns my Aunt, Mum and Grandmother live in, all got a particular mention. My brother is also doing well as he lives most of the time in Bucks and has his business in the 2nd top county of Surrey, he may now want to reconsider relocating to Somerset this year...LOL

I lived in the fifth top county of Hertfordshire pretty much all my life, but spent my last 6 weeks in the UK at my Mum's in Bucks. I always knew I had good taste ;-)

So for those of you over here who have now developed great friendships with my Mum on her visits here, if I was you I'd be taking her up on that offer to visit soon!

Brit' Word of the Day....

Today's BWOTD is actually more a lesson in a particular item of popular clothing.

Here you call this item a Sweater, but of course us Brit's have more than one word to cover this, as we do most things!

So here are other words we commonly use for Sweater:

Jersey - also a small island off the UK and a breed of Cow
Jumper - and I have no idea why!
Pullover - because you pull it over other things and your head!
Cardie/Cardigan - sweater with buttons and a lovely Bay in Wales
Polo neck - known as a Turtle neck here

So all I need to tell you now, is the FAVE place to buy a great value, decent sweater/jumper/jersey/pullover/polo neck/cardie in the UK is Marks & Sparks (aka: M&S) (aka: Marks & Spencer) (do you see a trend here with Brit's and names?!) and you are all set for your shopping trip in the UK!

And something else about American loo's...

I can't believe I totally forgot this fact about American toilets, that I definitely don't feel the love for!

Whilst reading a fave blog last night, I managed to choke on my herbal tea when I came across this hysterically funny and accurate view of how us Brit's feel about the construction of your loo's.

As we say in Britain "Mind the Gap" and take a look here on Expatmum for one of our biggest paranoia's!

Essentials I always ask visiting Brit's to bring #2

Galaxy Chocolate is something I definitely do not need, but still always ask visitors to bring from home!

On my first visit to meet the Hubster and his family, I bought some with me for his adult children. We were all due to go out to eat, but middle child (age 22 at the time) managed to consume the complete large bar as pictured before we even left…LOL! Oh yes it is that popular with my step kids and always requested when ‘Mamma Grande’, as they reverently call my Mum, is expected over here.

I got all excited last year when ‘Dove’ chocolate was launched here, as the packaging looks so like Galaxy – but alas Galaxy it is not! But I bet I wasn’t the only Brit’ here thinking “Blimey O’Riley it’s Galaxy!”, what a letdown that was.

It doesn’t mail well from home, even in a padded mailer, the last 2 times we tried it arrived with an off putting white coating all over it, from melting and then hardening again. So I either have to buy it in Amarillo (just 3 weeks now to A-Day) or wait for UK visitors to descend on us. I have some due here in October and hope to have reached my Weightwatchers goal by then, so I can indulge!

If you have never had Galaxy Chocolate you can have no idea of it’s delectable, rich, creamy, velvety, smooth, cocoanessy (now there’s a Brit’ word for you huh!) as it hits the ‘c-spot’ all us girls have.

Maybe after Amarillo I’ll have a competition to win a bar. I think it’ll mail okay within US borders, although it might not make it past your Postmistress!

Keeping up my end in Okieland!

I am proud to announce I have now eaten that great British tradition, a cucumber sandwich for 4 days in a row.

Why - I hear ya' wondering?

Well I unearthed an English Cucumber in Wally World and I love them.

For my tastes it has to be made on white bread (light version of course), with a buttery spread (light of course!), a sprinkling of salt over the thinly sliced cucumber and no cream cheese for me.

For the connossieurs out there:

No I don't peel the cucumber or remove the crusts off the bread, I like the equivalent of a 'common' cucumber sandwich I guess!

So in case you have ever wondered if this is just a British myth, no we really do eat them and like them.

Deeeeelicious :-)

Essentials I always ask visiting Brit's to bring #1

Don't ask me why but none of the American stock cubes, beef concentrate or beef broth available is as good as that old Brit' faithful - OXO!

I have tried many different ones, the chicken versions seem alright, but the beef just does not come up to scratch.

When I use them in dishes, I get lots more compliments , so I don't think it's just me?

Brit' Boys taking over US TV!

Well it's a great time for male Brit's on TV over here right now.


First of all Len Goodman is back on Dancing with the Stars Monday night as a judge, with his 'luvverly' London accent and funny Brit' words and phrases. I always enjoy this show, despite not knowing the majority of the chosen celebrities, it's just glamour and a laugh all rolled into one slick package.



I am going off topic here for a second (so I can post the above pic for the ladies!), so just indulge us....the big disappointment this season though is sexy Maksim and his naked chest will be absent, how could they do that to the female population?!?!

Okay back to the male Brit' invasion........



This is followed by a new season of The Bachelor, which I swore I'd never watch again after last season's "I choose nobody' farce with Brad. But they went and pulled the dirty on me by choosing a British Bachelor, Matt Grant (anyone know any dirt on him?) and so I am going to at least have to watch tonight just to suss out whether he really is as 'posh' as he sounds!



Then if you switch to BBC America and 'Top Gear' after 8pm cst, you will be treated to Jeremy Clarkson, a legend in his own lifetime and particular fave of mine. Jeremy epitomises the phrase 'true British eccentric' and fronts my all time favourite Brit' show!



Gordon Ramsay is back in Hell's Kitchen on Tuesday night, another personal fave of mine and someone I really didn't like until I moved here. Both the Hubster and I are now big fans of Gordon and all the mad bleeping out that ensues on the squeaky clean TV here!



Jeremy Paxman has moved in on Friday nights now on BBC America with Newsnight. He is another Brit' TV legend and has been known to make grown politicians and world leaders beg or cry for mercy, with his relentless interview style.

Quite bizarrely Jamie Oliver has popped up as a judge on Oprah's new Sunday night show, 'Oprah's Big Give' which has nothing to do with cooking? Bearing in mind he is a celebrity chef, I am not sure how he managed to get this gig with the Queen of US TV herself!

Then we have the leader of the Brit' invasion himself - Simon Cowell on Tuesday, Wednesday and soon Thursday with American Idol, who incidentally sounds just like my brother when he speaks, which freaks me out a little! American women seem to find our Simon really sexy, which bemuses me with all his tight t-shirts and high waisted pants!

But then Ryan Seacrest is no match for the duo below, who really knew how to make Simon squirm on the Brit' version of AI and look less macho.....

America - I give you Ant' & Dec' who surely have to be the next big Brit' exports to US TV, although I'm not sure you'd understand their Geordie accents! The day they arrive I will be almost as happy as the day 'Top Gear' came on BBC America. It's really sad, but I can't believe how much I miss Ant' & Dec'......c'mon Simon if you can bring us Cat Deeley (!!) surely you can get these boys over here.

Lookout America, the Brit's Boys have arrived on a TV near you!