British Stuff

Admin Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 361

I don't think I'm the only doctor Who fan who has developed a certain fondness for British culture. The history, the tradition, the literature & certainly, the television.

I thought I'd start a thread for fellow anglophiles to share some of the particulars of British culture that they enjoy.

Age : 40 Joined : 03 Feb 2007 Posts : 152

It was quite the opposite for me.
All through my life I was told I held my knife and fork wrong, spelled certain words wrong, and such...
Then I found out all these things were British. That got me interested in British culture, and I eventually found Who.
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Words... words... words!

Age : 38 Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 108

What's different in the way Brits hold their knives and forks?

Age : 15 Joined : 16 Aug 2007 Posts : 173

Well some can either be British, or just want to be British! Razz

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Age : 35 Joined : 04 Feb 2007 Posts : 435

Age : 15 Joined : 16 Aug 2007 Posts : 173

No, we hold the fork in the left and the knife in the right, you're just left handed!
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Age : 40 Joined : 03 Feb 2007 Posts : 152

Age : 15 Joined : 16 Aug 2007 Posts : 173

Age : 35 Joined : 04 Feb 2007 Posts : 435

I'm right handed, but I cut with my left. I felt it easier to hold the fork in the right. Everyone else I know cuts with the right, then switch their forks to their right hand.
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Age : 15 Joined : 16 Aug 2007 Posts : 173

You Americans can't do anything right! Razz

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Age : 38 Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 873

Except drive on the road! Hint Hint, that is the punchline!

Age : 15 Joined : 16 Aug 2007 Posts : 173

The only reason we drive on the left is that if you imagine your self on horseback and someone comes along the road and you want to kill him with your sword which side do you take?(The Sword is on your left side, and you are right-handed)
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Age : 38 Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 108

Age : 40 Joined : 03 Feb 2007 Posts : 152

The ice thing was another "quirk" of mine.
I can't stand ice... even on the hottest day I'm likely put only one or two cubes in (if any) to bring it down to a more normal room temperature.
Cold drinks are bad for your stomach, anyway.

I do have to say, about the swords, though... this is the mindset of the British? Drive on the left so you can kill people? And Americans are violent?
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Words... words... words!

Admin Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 361

Huh. Thread sits here for days and suddenly we're all arguing about forks! :-)

Admin Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 361

I became interested in British culture thanks to Earl Grey tea and Douglas Adams. I realized one day that all of my favorite authors were British (namely Adams and Pratchett). Researching Adams led me to his definitive guide to a proper cup of tea and a renewed interest in Doctor Who. I downloaded the leaked pilot of the new series and fell in love.

A draught in quality American Television and Cory Doctorow's website boingboing led me to the IT Crowd, which introduced me to Father Ted. I got addicted to Are You Being Served (though I can't begin to explain why) and since then, I try to keep up with whatever the big new shows are across the pond (Robin Hood, Life on Mars, etc).

The PBS special "Windsor Castle: A Royal Year" and "The Queen" piqued my interest in the history and politics of Britain. Then a complete disgust with the American news media turned the BBC into my primary source for world news (they have some great podasts).

A recent trip to a British import shop in Illinois also brought Bird's Custard Powder, McVitie's Bisquits, and a Brown Betty Tea Pot into my life. All wonderful things.

Age : 37 Joined : 02 Feb 2007 Posts : 140

Up here in Canada, our National TV station has been running "Coronation Street" for as long as I remeber, and I've been watching it for...oh God...25 years or so. You become so immersed in the culture and goings on on "the Street", that you start to think of them as Family. I mean, I have known Ken Barlow longer than I have known anyone else I know, except my "real" family.
My DR.WHO watching began when I was in grade four. The very first episode I saw was "ROBOT", and after that I was hooked. WE also got to watch so many "britcoms" that I cannot even begin to list them all, but here are a few:
Good Neighbors (my childhood crush on Felicity Kendal began here, and has never faded)
Benny Hill
Dave Allen at large
To the Manor Born (My grownup crush on Penelope Keith developed later...)
On The Buses
Doctor in the House
Butterflies
Solo (another Kendal one...)
Rising Damp
Two Ronnies
Fawlty Towers (of course. I can recite entire lines of dialogue from this, and yet when I watch it it still makes me laugh...And is it just me, or is Prunella Scales HOT!!??)

Anyway...Nowadays I suppose we are spoiled for choice. My recent favorites are:
Alan Partridge (The FUNNIEST show I have ever seen)
Black Books
Bottom (although this is an old show, it is still hilarious)
Father Ted (A classic)
Little Britain (wears a bit thin after a while)

So, There's a little of my experience with British TV.

Joined : 06 Oct 2007 Posts : 8

Bizarre thread! Shocked

Of course, the real difficulty comes when you meet a fork in the road... Wink

Age : 40 Joined : 03 Feb 2007 Posts : 152

Admin Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 361

Few more fun British things I thought of...

Jekyll - by Steven "Blink" Moffit
Scrapheap Challenge - Know as Junkyard Wars here in the States. Stilling making new ones in the UK.
Clotted Cream - with strawberry jam on a freshly baked scone. ::Drool::

Anyone know where I can get ahold of Scrapheap Challenge DVDs on the cheap?

Age : 40 Joined : 03 Feb 2007 Posts : 152

Age : 37 Joined : 20 Oct 2007 Posts : 288

I have always been a bit of an Anglofile...Monty Python, DW, Blakes 7, Dave Allen on the T.V. front. As for food-I have been to England twice... the food it was not bad er...I ate at Italian restaurants and Burger King like every dumb American...ha.
The deserts- well to die for. Jelly Babies, Blackcurrant Cheesecake, Clotted Cream Scones... all the tasty stuff that is bad for you.

Age : 38 Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 873

I am alrady envious of you Green I have never been only dreamed of it. You get your Jelly Babies at Meijer like I do?

I would like to see Dave Allen again, sadly I have to put up my monty python DVD's for sale to cover the cost of the new toy habit.

Age : 37 Joined : 20 Oct 2007 Posts : 288

They have jelly babies at Meijer!!!! I never knew. When I was at Heathrow airport this year I picked up a load of em' to take to work and give to friends. I was shocked that they were so soft and fresh. The ones I have bought at stores in the states have a hard old shell around them.

Age : 38 Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 873

at least you made it to heathrow. I have never been outside of the USA yet. Not that I mind never leaving my country.