St George's Day

America has Independence Day; France has Bastille Day. What does England have? St George's Day!

Yes, folks, today is St George’s Day, also known as National Day, here in England. And yet, if you were to ask most people on the street, they wouldn't have a clue what it is. Maybe because it isn't officially recognized as a national holiday, as you'd expect a National Day to be. Everyone still has to go to work, so no one notices.

For starters, few even know who St George was. He was actually a Roman solider who protested against the Romans' torture of Christians and died for his beliefs. His emblem was the red cross on a white background, which was adopted by Richard The Lion Heart and brought to England in the 12th century. This is now the flag of England.

Many countries the world over celebrate their patron saint, someone who is called upon in times of great trouble to help save the country from its enemies. The Irish have St Patrick's Day, even though it's also celebrated here in England and in America too. The English decided in the 14th century to name St George as their patron saint and declared April 23rd as St George's Day. Several countries celebrate St George's Day on April 23rd, the day St George died in 303 A.D. St George is also known as the dragon-slaying patron of saint of England, even though it’s highly unlikely he ever fought a dragon or even visited England for that matter.

The traditional custom for celebrating St George’s Day is to wear a red rose (the national flower) on your lapel. But I've never seen that in all the time I've been here. More common is to just fly the St George’s flag. Of course most pubs celebrate St George's Day, but I think pubs celebrate most everything.

I’m still not sure why this also became known as National Day, since national days tend to mark a country’s nationhood and patriotism. The English don’t have a special day for that, so they use St George's Day as their National Day. Go figure. Maybe they should just scrap the whole thing and change it to Shakespeare's Day - since William Shakespeare, that much-loved and world-known English icon, was born on this day (April 23, 1564) and died on this day in 1616. Hmmm….a brilliant idea, if I say so myself!

Henry VIII - 500 years

Today marks 500 years since England's most notorious king, Henry VIII, took the throne at the age of 17. Fat Boy (as I prefer to call him) served as monarch from 1509 until his death in 1547. He was just 55. No official cause of death was ever identified, although rumor is he died from syphilis. Which would seem just after the way he treated other people, especially his poor six wives, two of whom he had beheaded.

I remember when I first visited Hampton Court, one of Fat Boy's many palaces, and commented to Paul that I couldn't understand why the English didn't do as the French and revolt against the monarchy and all their extravagant living at the expense of the taxpayers. This of course led into a huge debate (or rather Paul voicing his opinion) about all the good things the monarchy bring to the country. Paul kindly reminded me of our argument when George W was in office and asked, 'So tell me why don't the Americans stand up and revolt against this imperialism???' He has a point there.

Now I'm even reading scary opinions that are comparing Obama to Henry VIII and even Hitler. Frankly, being the liberal that I am, I think this is a bunch of hogwash.

US Tax Day (Apr 15th)

A week ago I wrote about the UK income tax system. What I didn't mention is that, as a US citizen, I'm still required to file a US tax return every April 15th! It's crazy. Fortunately, although we have to report our UK income, we are exempt from paying taxes if we earn less than $87,600 each (this amount rises each year). Somehow I don't think we ever need to worry about reaching that amount unless the exchange rate really goes haywire!

Here's the irony though. Thanks to the 2008 US Economic Stimulus Act, because we filed a tax return in 2007, we too were included in the tax rebates that good ole Uncle Sam sent out last year. We were dumbfounded to receive a check in the mail even though we never paid a dime out in taxes. And you wonder what's wrong with the US tax system?

Easter Holidays

It's Easter Monday and a national holiday here in the UK. So was Good Friday. A guaranteed 4-day weekend every year. I love it. Although I find it ironic that having come from America (where Christianity rules) that Good Friday and Easter Monday (of all days) aren't recognized holidays. Whereas they are here in the UK - where Christianity is a lot more subdued and just one of many religions being practiced. Makes you wonder. Especially given the fact that America was founded by pilgrims fleeing England in search of Christian freedom. Hmmmm...

UK Tax Year

The new UK tax year starts today. It always starts on April 6th each year and runs to April 5th the following year. I must admit...I much prefer the British way of paying income tax, called 'Pay As You Earn' or PAYE. As in America, your employer simply withholds taxes from your earnings. Deductions are based on your own personal tax allowances and exemptions. However, unlike US taxes, you do NOT have the freedom of withholding more or less than you're entitled to. Consequently, at the end of the tax year, you are not faced with a huge refund or payment. In fact, you do not even have to file a tax return! You simply receive a P60 form (like a W-2 form) from your employer which shows how much you earned and how much tax you paid. You only need to file a return if you're self employed or have a complicated tax situation. If your job or circumstances change, you simply report that back to the Inland Revenue so that your PAYE deductions can be amended. The tax you pay year-round is a true reflection of what you owe. Period. And for anyone who has ever had to file a US tax return, you will quickly appreciate the benefits of the UK system!

TV licence

Another increase is in store come April 1st. The cost of a colour TV licence will rise by £3 to £142.50 per year and a black and white only licence will rise by £1 to £48. (Who still has black and white TVs these days?) Anyway, for Americans, a TV licence is something completely foreign. Here in the UK, every household that has a TV must pay for a TV licence. These licence fees basically fund the BBC's radio, TV and Internet services. But believe me - this is money well spent for the luxury of having commercial-free TV and radio. Not to mention a news website (http://news.bbc.co.uk) that isn't flooded with advertisements. Another plus of living in England, in my opinion!

Prescription charges going up April 1st

The National Health Service (NHS) is raising prescription costs in England from £7.10 to £7.20 from April 1. God forbid. At least cancer patients will no longer have to pay for their drugs. As it stands, pensioners (retirees), children, pregnant women, people on income-related benefits, and patients with certain other conditions are already exempt from prescription charges. And yet the English complain that ALL prescriptions are not free, as they are in Wales and will be in Northern Ireland by next year and in Scotland by 2011.

Dental fees will also be rising on April 1. The charge for basic check-ups will rise 30p to £16.50, while the charge for fillings will rise by a whopping £1 to £45. The maximum charge for 'complex' dental procedures such as crowns and dentures will remain the same at £198.

I'm sorry, but coming from America where I couldn't get my teeth cleaned for less than $100 and where I last paid around $800 for a crown, not to mention around $100 on average per prescription (when I was without prescription insurance), I will gladly pay these fees any day. The Brits just don't know how well off they have it, do they?

Argos

I needed to find a new small (and cheap) suitcase for my upcoming business trip next week, seeing as all our luggage bags are way too big. It was a no-brainer where I needed to go find one - at Argos!

Argos is like a cross between Walmart and Service Merchandise. Like Walmart because it's the largest general goods retailer in the UK and has the low prices to go with it. Like Service Merchandise because it's a catalog retailer. You can either browse through their 1800+ page catalog or their website, select items to purchase, and collect them at the store or have them delivered. But Argos is much more sophisticated than Service Merchandise ever was.

For starters, you can use 'Quick Pay' kiosks in the store. You simply use a touchscreen terminal, enter the catalog numbers of the items you want, pay by credit or debit card, get issued a receipt and go wait for collection. You don't even have to use a cashier.

Or you can use their 'Check & Reserve' service which allows you to reserve your item online or via phone, or have your item delivered to your store of choice. They will hold it for you until the end of the next working day. You simply take your reservation number with you, pay the cashier or the Quick Pay terminal, collect your item and off you go.

Best of all is that you can check actual stock availability online or at the store kiosks, so you never have to waste a trip only to find out they're out of stock of something.

I searched the Argos website to find the suitcase I wanted, reserved it online, walked into my local Argos to pick it up, and was literally out of there in less than 5 minutes. Now that's the way I like to shop! Plus it cost me less than £12 for a rolling luggage piece!

Mothering Sunday

Today is Mothering Sunday (better known as Mother's Day) in the UK and Ireland. It's celebrated on a different day than in America, mainly because it originated back in the 16th century as a Christian celebration and falls on the 4th Sunday of Lent (or exactly 3 Sundays before Easter), whereas in America (and for most of the world, in fact) it falls on the 2nd Sunday in May. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the 1st Mother's Day in the US in 1914 as a day for Americans to fly their flags in honor of mothers who had lost sons in war. It has since become one of the most commercially successful US occasions- with more flowers being sold and more people eating out in restaurants than any other day of the year.

In any case, living in the UK poses a slight problem for me in that I need to be sure to buy my Mother's Day cards now while they're available so I'll have something to send my own mother (back in the US) in May. Otherwise I'd never find one to buy! An even bigger problem is that most cards sold here refer to 'Mum' and not 'Mother' and certainly never 'Mom'. So it's a real challenge to find something that fits. Hopefully my mom will understand if she gets a card that says 'I love you Mum' on it. Oh well. It's the thought that counts.

Metro turns 10

The Metro newspaper (www.metro.co.uk) turns 10 today! I remember when this free newspaper was first published just before Paul and I left London to live in Florida back in '99. At the time no one thought it would survive amidst all the other hundreds of daily newspapers on offer. Now it has one of Britain's highest readerships and understandably so when practically everyone picks them up at all underground and train stations to read on their daily commutes. The paper is actually designed to be read in less than 20 minutes, so you're really only getting news snippets, but that's the whole point. Gordon Brown has even made it required reading for his staff so they're well-informed of what the population are reading. (But that's a subject for another day). There are now another 3 daily free newspapers on offer in London, but none have succeeded as much as the Metro.

Red Nose Day (March 13)

Today is Red Nose Day here in the UK. It's basically the biggest fundraising event held by the Comic Relief charity.

Comic Relief was launched live on BBC TV on Christmas Day 1985 in response to the famine in Ethiopia. The idea was to raise money while making people laugh. Red Nose Day was created two years later as a special one-day event to help raise even more money for the charity. It's held just once every 2 years in the spring time. Over £600 million has been raised since Comic Relief started and best of all is that all funds go towards charitable projects.

As the name implies, Red Nose Day involves people wearing red noses (like clowns) - which are available in shops everywhere in exchange for a donation. Every Red Nose Day has a different theme and slightly different nose. This year's theme is "Do Something Funny for Money." All sorts of special fundraising events are held, culminating in a telethon night of nonstop comedy (along with moving documentary films) on BBC TV.

America's version of Comic Relief was actually inspired by the British version and founded a year later in 1986. It is most notable for running periodic fundraising events on HBO, hosted by comedians Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg, to raise money for the homeless and others in need.

You can read more about Red Nose Day at www.rednoseday.com

PS (Mar 14): Well, a record £57 million was raised yesterday, beating the previous Red Nose Day (2007) by 41%! And they expect another £20 million to come flooding in after last night's telethon. And this is all despite the current economic crunch. Just goes to show that anything is possible.

British Pie Week (2-8 March 2009)

Three weeks ago we had National Chip Week. Now we have British Pie Week. As with fish and chips, the Brits are crazy about their pies, especially savory meat pies. Steak and kidney pies, pork pies (served cold), and Cornish pasties are some of the more popular ones. For dinner last night we tucked into a local-made pie I bought at a Hertford stall over Christmas called a Fidget Pie, made with ham, potatoes and apples. It was just okay. I much prefer British pies that are topped with mashed potatoes instead, such as cottage pie (made with beef), shepherd's pie (lamb) or fish pie.

You also have a huge variety of sweet pies over here, apple pie probably being one of the more popular ones. And let's not forget the mince pie, made with spiced chopped fruit, same as you get in America. Mince pies are very big here at Christmas time. Historically they were actually made with real minced meats. And even today in the UK, hamburger meat or ground beef is called minced meat (or "mince" for short). You can even buy it already cooked in a can. Yuk.

Anyway, we've got the other half of the Fidget Pie to look forward to for tonight's dinner. Then I think I'll forgo that one again in favor of Paul's cottage pie, the best in the world (and I think my mom would agree).

Coffee anyone?

What in the hell did we all do before coffee houses sprung up everywhere? I know they've been around a long time, but ever since Starbucks decided to do a McDonald's and open up worldwide, coffee shops have become a way of life for most people. In the UK we have Starbucks, Coffee Republic, Costa Coffee and Caffe Nero, to name a few. I can understand their attraction as a place to meet friends, enjoy a book or newspaper, or connect to Wi-Fi while having a hot drink. But what blows me away is how everyone seems to live their lives now with a coffee in hand. On a typical morning commute into London, I bet half the people I pass are either carrying a hot drink or stopping to buy one. No wonder obesity is such a problem. Have you ever noticed how many calories are in these cappuccinos, lattes, mochas and Frapuccinos? They are loaded. And people don’t just have one or two a day. They have several.

Thank God I took a liking to Earl Grey tea. At least it has no calories. Neither does black coffee, but I can’t find black coffee like I’m used to in America. The closest thing to it in the coffee shops here is an Americano, which is really nothing but hot water added to an espresso. It’s way too strong for me.

Anyway, Paul and I are now making weekly trips to our local Starbucks in Hertford (which seems to be mostly a place for young mothers to gather and gossip while their kids run around the place screaming and crying) to chill out and enjoy a nice hot skinny cappuccino (64 calories each) while catching up on our Sudoku games.

Pancake Day

Today is Shrove Tuesday, or better known in the UK as Pancake Day. It's the one day of the year when the Brits might eat pancakes. Why pancakes? Well, because Shrove Tuesday is the last day before Lent, and the last chance to indulge before the abstinence of Lent, pancakes are eaten because they contain fat, butter and eggs, all of which are forbidden during Lent. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but anyway...

The Brits certainly don't eat pancakes as the norm like we do in America. And, based on those I've eaten here, they are no where near as good either. They are generally a lot thinner than American-style pancakes, not nearly as light and fluffy, and are usually served with a sprinkling of fine sugar and lemon juice. Rarely with maple syrup, unless you find them on a dessert menu when they are referred to as American-style pancakes and served with syrup. The Brits just don't know what they're missing! They should all make a point of eating at an IHOP on their trips to America.

Actually I'm surprised the Brits don't celebrate Shrove Tuesday as we do in America - with Mardi Gras parties. Then again, I don't think the Brits need another reason to drink...

Twitter

I thought I had seen it all. Last week when Lance Armstrong's bike was stolen, he posted a "tweet" on Twitter. This soon led to the return of his bike several days later. A few weeks before that, Stephen Fry posted tweets while he was trapped in an elevator. I had never even heard of Twitter before this and now that's all I'm hearing and reading about.

Apparently Twitter ("Typing What I'm Thinking To Everyone Reading") was founded in 2006 as a form of mini-blogging social network. You can only type 140 characters max at one time, but can share these tweets with everyone who has signed up to receive them from you. You can receive updates via the Twitter website, your phone, RSS or Facebook, to name a few. Hell, I didn't even know what Facebook was until I came to England in 2006. For someone who has a degree in Computer Science, I feel like I've been living in the dark ages. I had never even sent a text message before I moved back here. Now I'm part of the throngs of people walking down the street with phone in hand, sending and receiving messages.

Of course, Paul and I are no strangers to the current electronic age. After all, it's how we met and fell in love - long before internet chat lines, dating services, etc. were created. Now they're the norm. And we did manage to create a blog and got signed up on Facebook. But I'm not so sure about Twitter. Sounds very narcissistic to me. But if it means we can keep tabs of what others are doing, then maybe we should check it out.

National Chip Week (9-15 February 2009)

Today marks the end of National Chip Week...yet another excuse to eat chips. If I had to pick a single dish that the Brits eat more than any other, it would have to be chips (better known in America as French Fries). Chips are eaten with practically everything and are even eaten as a meal on their own. They're typically served with malt vinegar (especially when served with fish), although ketchup and mayonnaise are also frequently used. One out of every 4 British grown potatoes are made into chips, and 10% of the entire British potato crop is needed to supply the UK's 11,000 fish and chip shops. Fish and chips clearly remain the number one takeaway food of choice, with £1 of every £100 spent on food in the UK being spent in a fish and chip shop. Chips anyone?

Mr Whippy

You know how sometimes you see things that you immediately know to be totally out of place? Well, that's the feeling I get every time I see or hear Mr Whippy, the ice cream van, come down our street in the dead of winter. I just can't fathom why people want to come running outside when the temperatures are below freezing to buy an ice-cold treat. And in the UK, they do it regardless of the weather. But this week took the cake. We arrived home from work one evening in the freezing cold and near dark and there stood a woman in her robe and slippers buying an ice cream from the Mr Whippy van! I know the Brits love their ice lollies, but good grief...

PS: (Thurs, Feb 5th). I rest my case. This week has seen the worst snowfall in England in 18 years, causing major transportation problems everywhere. London practically came to a standstill on Monday and for the first time in history, all London buses were suspended for the day. I was snowbound at home for 2 days and the roads around our house still remain extremely treacherous 3 days later. But do you think this would stop the Mr Whippy van??? No way. As we skidded our way home last night, who should we find coming down the street with the chimes ringing? Who else but Mr Whippy!

Doner Kebabs

A sad bit of news this week. The creator of one of Britain's favorite fast foods, the doner kebab, passed away at the age of 87. Mahmut Aygun was born in Turkey and later moved to Germany to open his own restaurant. In the process, he ended up inventing his own version of fast food, the doner kebab, a mixture of roasted lamb and spices served with a yogurt sauce (also created by Mr Aygun) in pitta bread. To Americans, they're better known as Gyros. But this spicy and greasy dish has become a mainstay of the British diet and is especially popular as post-pub grub following a night of heavy drinking. I dread to think of what a hangover must be like after pigging out on doner kebabs the night before.

Over the moon!

I am pleased to announce that tomorrow I am FINALLY starting a new job that is NOT admin support. And as they say over here, I am "over the moon" about it. For nearly 3 years I have drudged through my job as a Personal Assistant and it hasn't been easy. The sheer boredom has gotten the best of me. Fortunately I've had the opportunity to do some environmental work while at the University and this has now led to a new job opportunity as Environmental Officer, which I applied for and successfully got. I will be doing my best to make the University a greener place. I'm also looking forward to doing something that is close to my own heart. Paul and I already do what we can to reduce our own carbon footprint. Now if Paul can just find a job in this area as well, we'll both be happy!

Hallelujah!

What an amazing feat for Alexandra Burke. This week she became the first EVER British female to sell over a million copies of a single in the UK. Her version of Leonard Cohen's song "Hallelujah" has also become one of only 10 singles to sell over a million copies in the UK since the turn of the century, and was the biggest-selling single of 2008. All this after winning the X-Factor in December. Paul and I watched as this former waitress from Hackney fought her way to win the coveted prize. Simon Cowell is no fool. In fact, it was Jason Castro's version of Hallelujah on American Idol in March last year that put Jeff Buckley's version of the same song into the #1 spot. It became Buckley's first #1 (posthumously - he initially recorded the song in 1994 and died in 1997). Buckley's version again hit the charts at the #2 spot in December while Burke's hit #1. Amazing. Of course, most of the credit should really go to Leonard Cohen for writing such a great song!