Bill Bryson on England
Jul 9th 2007, 2:49 pm
#16
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Re: Bill Bryson on England
I've read several of his books, most recently A Walk in the Woods about his attempt to walk the Appalachian trail.
I thought I'm a Stranger Here Myself was really good. He's got one about Oz, In a Sunburned Country, for all of you that are there. I haven't read that one yet.
Sarah in TX
I thought I'm a Stranger Here Myself was really good. He's got one about Oz, In a Sunburned Country, for all of you that are there. I haven't read that one yet.
Sarah in TX
Jul 9th 2007, 2:56 pm
#17
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Re: Bill Bryson on England
BBCAmerica has been showing Rick Steins cooking show.He drives all around rural England showing local produce the markets, and local farmers .How beautiful England still is the small villages the local foods and cafes I have to watch it its an addiction now just one half hour of heaven.
Oh the memories of the UK. Brill.
Jul 9th 2007, 3:20 pm
#19
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Re: Bill Bryson on England
the uk countryside is stunning that made me feel homesick reading all that
kezx
kezx
Jul 9th 2007, 4:34 pm
#20
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Re: Bill Bryson on England
Interesting read. Thank you for posting.
I recently saw Bill Bryson interviewed on an Australian TV show, and he made quite a few thought-provoking comments, as usual.
One that struck me was about taking citizenship of another country. He said it's like dyeing your hair. He can take British citizenship, but he'd never really be British.
He also made some comments about Brits in general being more ready to laugh at themselves than Americans and Australians, who seem to take themselves more seriously.
I recently saw Bill Bryson interviewed on an Australian TV show, and he made quite a few thought-provoking comments, as usual.
One that struck me was about taking citizenship of another country. He said it's like dyeing your hair. He can take British citizenship, but he'd never really be British.
He also made some comments about Brits in general being more ready to laugh at themselves than Americans and Australians, who seem to take themselves more seriously.
He said "The difference is most evident in coffee....In America you get dubious tasting, bucket sized coffees served in plastic. In England it is quality rather than quanity served in china cups. I like my coffee in china cups"
Jul 9th 2007, 4:36 pm
#21
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Re: Bill Bryson on England
I read it last Christmas on the flight back to the UK and for the first 4 days with jet lag whilst waking up at 4am every morning...
Its a really good read and probably his better work in my opinion, he is spot on with his observations.
I too found it laugh out loud funny. I can never look at Boots, Superdrug and Sketchleys in the same way again. They are the staple diet of many an English town/village's high street arent they, and its particularly nice when one of the said stores takes residence in a fantastic 18th century building and butchers it so its looks like a modern fit out on a slough Industrial estate. They did that in St Ives, ill never forgive them
Yeah, Bryson knows what time it is !! I have his one on the US too which I am yet to read.
Its a really good read and probably his better work in my opinion, he is spot on with his observations.
I too found it laugh out loud funny. I can never look at Boots, Superdrug and Sketchleys in the same way again. They are the staple diet of many an English town/village's high street arent they, and its particularly nice when one of the said stores takes residence in a fantastic 18th century building and butchers it so its looks like a modern fit out on a slough Industrial estate. They did that in St Ives, ill never forgive them
Yeah, Bryson knows what time it is !! I have his one on the US too which I am yet to read.
Jul 9th 2007, 5:22 pm
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Re: Bill Bryson on England
BBCAmerica has been showing Rick Steins cooking show.He drives all around rural England showing local produce the markets, and local farmers .How beautiful England still is the small villages the local foods and cafes I have to watch it its an addiction now just one half hour of heaven.
Jul 9th 2007, 6:31 pm
#23
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Re: Bill Bryson on England
I saw that interview too. I loved it when he was asked why he liked living in England.
He said "The difference is most evident in coffee....In America you get dubious tasting, bucket sized coffees served in plastic. In England it is quality rather than quanity served in china cups. I like my coffee in china cups"
He said "The difference is most evident in coffee....In America you get dubious tasting, bucket sized coffees served in plastic. In England it is quality rather than quanity served in china cups. I like my coffee in china cups"
Its like an art from here
Jul 9th 2007, 6:41 pm
#24
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Re: Bill Bryson on England
too true, the coffee in Aus is the best i have had anywhere in the world
I asked for a cappacino in Portugal in June and got an esspresso with an almighty squeeze of that cream in a can that you put on Apple Pie, together with 4 coffee beans strategically placed on top, only thing missing was a Glace Cherry.
In England up to about 2002, you had coffee black or white and if you asked for a latte you'd get a blank response, followed by, um, well we have Maxwell House or nescafe and if you come here on wednesdays before 12 we serve Mellow Birds with a free malted milk...
I asked for a cappacino in Portugal in June and got an esspresso with an almighty squeeze of that cream in a can that you put on Apple Pie, together with 4 coffee beans strategically placed on top, only thing missing was a Glace Cherry.
In England up to about 2002, you had coffee black or white and if you asked for a latte you'd get a blank response, followed by, um, well we have Maxwell House or nescafe and if you come here on wednesdays before 12 we serve Mellow Birds with a free malted milk...
Jul 9th 2007, 6:50 pm
#25
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Re: Bill Bryson on England
too true, the coffee in Aus is the best i have had anywhere in the world
I asked for a cappacino in Portugal in June and got an esspresso with an almighty squeeze of that cream in a can that you put on Apple Pie, together with 4 coffee beans strategically placed on top, only thing missing was a Glace Cherry.
In England up to about 2002, you had coffee black or white and if you asked for a latte you'd get a blank response, followed by, um, well we have Maxwell House or nescafe and if you come here on wednesdays before 12 we serve Mellow Birds with a free malted milk...
I asked for a cappacino in Portugal in June and got an esspresso with an almighty squeeze of that cream in a can that you put on Apple Pie, together with 4 coffee beans strategically placed on top, only thing missing was a Glace Cherry.
In England up to about 2002, you had coffee black or white and if you asked for a latte you'd get a blank response, followed by, um, well we have Maxwell House or nescafe and if you come here on wednesdays before 12 we serve Mellow Birds with a free malted milk...
I used to giggle about the whole - lattle/mocha/capp/machiatto lark here - I have now become a huge coffee snob. In the UK lattes come full of air bubbles, looks like the scaggy foam you get in the sea - yum
Jul 10th 2007, 1:48 am
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Jul 10th 2007, 2:14 am
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Re: Bill Bryson on England
I watched him yesterday,Our beautiful English countryside takes a lot of beating,And Oh the sausages looked so good..........................And I have been gone 50 years, going home for Christmas must have one more at least before I fall off my perch and have some real food.
Jul 10th 2007, 10:53 am
#28
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Re: Bill Bryson on England
Bill Bryson, takes over today as president of the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
To those who are so negative about Britain (and the rest of us!), see http://environment.guardian.co.uk/co...121832,00.html for reasons Britain is so special.
Sometimes, perhaps, it takes an outsider to point it out. Familiarity breeds contempt . . . . ?
Sarah in TX
To those who are so negative about Britain (and the rest of us!), see http://environment.guardian.co.uk/co...121832,00.html for reasons Britain is so special.
Sometimes, perhaps, it takes an outsider to point it out. Familiarity breeds contempt . . . . ?
Sarah in TX
Jul 10th 2007, 11:03 am
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Re: Bill Bryson on England
I watched him yesterday,Our beautiful English countryside takes a lot of beating,And Oh the sausages looked so good..........................And I have been gone 50 years, going home for Christmas must have one more at least before I fall off my perch and have some real food.
All the best for your trip home at christmas
Jul 12th 2007, 8:25 am
#30
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Re: Bill Bryson on England
too true, the coffee in Aus is the best i have had anywhere in the world
I asked for a cappacino in Portugal in June and got an esspresso with an almighty squeeze of that cream in a can that you put on Apple Pie, together with 4 coffee beans strategically placed on top, only thing missing was a Glace Cherry.
In England up to about 2002, you had coffee black or white and if you asked for a latte you'd get a blank response, followed by, um, well we have Maxwell House or nescafe and if you come here on wednesdays before 12 we serve Mellow Birds with a free malted milk...
I asked for a cappacino in Portugal in June and got an esspresso with an almighty squeeze of that cream in a can that you put on Apple Pie, together with 4 coffee beans strategically placed on top, only thing missing was a Glace Cherry.
In England up to about 2002, you had coffee black or white and if you asked for a latte you'd get a blank response, followed by, um, well we have Maxwell House or nescafe and if you come here on wednesdays before 12 we serve Mellow Birds with a free malted milk...
Flat white, mmm. Latte here just not the same.
