We’re ENGLISH don’t you know

Well technically we’re not LYYB doesn’t have a country of origin because we’re not a person, but our ladies Emma and Gemma do, they’re English, OK well maybe not technically, they’re a cross range of French, Scottish, Irish, Welsh and English... but the girls call themselves English.
Whilst on their jollies Emma and Gemma struck up a friendship with a lovely puerto rician family, the only downside was that they seemed to know more about their English heritage than they did, and they’re not even from England, the girls were utterly embarrassed and rightly so. We decided at LYYB that the splendid chaps needed to find out about this glorious country and start taking pride in it as sadly more recently many don’t. The Welsh are proud to be Welsh, the Irish are proud to be Irish and the Scottish the same, so why aren’t people patriotic about all things English? Is it because they’re afraid of being labelled BNP or racist? Well hang on a moment you English fools you should be proud, you’ve got a lot to be proud of. 

Emma and Gemma are going to participate in a week long English loving, educational and fun packed adventure. 

We’re SO excited, get out the bunting, dust off the Barbour jackets and make those scones!
Here is the itinerary for English week:
Sunday 15th- 

• Make English Pack-ups for lunch: Ploughmans, Cucumber sandwich.
• Watch English films: The Queen, The Kings Speech and Made In Dagenham
• Eat Crumpets

Tuesday 17th- 

• Pick up books about English History and read about the war, industrial revolution etc
• Look Into English arts, music, theatre and artists
• Make Toad in the Hole

Wednesday 18th-

• Fish and Chips with Gemma’s Nanna
• Ask Gemma’s Nanna about England

Thursday 19th-

• Make Full English Fry Up
• Read More History books

Friday 20th-

• Explore English Cultures
• Bangers and Mash

Saturday 21st-

• Afternoon Tea at the George

Sunday 22nd-

• Go For a walk in the woods
• Go to local pub for a local beer
• Roast Dinner

After the week is up are the girls converted into the way of the English or will they find it all a bit dull?


Emma’s quote: ‘I really value being English, even though my family background is a mixed bag of Welsh, Scottish and Irish I consider myself English (even though my surname would suggest otherwise). I truly valued this week and everything I’ve learnt. I think it’s a shame that English people are very often ashamed of their heritage,  I worry that we’re worried about being branded bigots or racists just because we’re English but the truth is we have a wonderfully colourful history to be proud of. I think the highlight of the week for me was going for high tea at a truly splendid and grand hotel in Stamford which is about as picturesque as English towns can get, although the idea of some of these activities we participated in seem old fashioned they can be revived for the modern day Englishmen or women. I don’t think I could live on English food though, very stodgy but delicious! I really did enjoy eating English all week, it was also nice to do some proper cooking which people don’t do very often anymore. The traditions I’ll be keeping after all this are; going to high tea more often, continue to learn more about English history and be proud of our culture (even the shameful tacky parts).’

Gemma: ‘ The first thing I realised while participating in this week, was that we had so much to learn and it only captures a smidge of what our heritage/culture is actually about. I am really glad we did this challenge as it opened our eyes to things we take for granted.  I learnt a lot during this week the first, was we don’t have to read big boring history books about our heritage. As a culture we have so much access to things such as the Internet, so why not take advantage of things and explore them. Watch great British films, Google dates in history, visit places, watch videos about Morris dancing on YouTube and talk to your elders and ask questions about the war and ration books, you will be amazed about what you will see and learn. People forget what they have so get out there and start appreciating!  The second thing I learnt from this week is how us British love our food and its great importance in our culture!! ‘You cant beat a bit of home cooking!’ as my Nanna put it.  Yes some the traditional dishes we pile into our mouths are rich in calories, but we should be proud and encourage more home cooking (maybe with some healthier alternatives). Over all the experience was eye opening and its made me egar to learn more.  I think our British heritage is so rich with history and interesting cultural traits we should learn about them and take hold of them before they are lost. After this I can officially that I am proud to be British!   

LYYB Goes International...

For New Year we decided we’d take a short break, four days off where we could relax eat food and put our feet up, no such luck for our insane Co-Founders we thought we’d pack them off to France. Oh don’t feel too sorry for them they went to Paris on the Eurostar (hardly Timbuktu).

We struck a deal with Emma and Gemma, they could go on their Paris adventure on one condition, they would write up a wonderfully insightful guide on how to travel as a twosome (we know what you thought when we said twosome) or well how to travel as a couple of English numpties who can’t speak a word of the countries language their going to and have NEVER travelled alone without adult supervision, trust us these two need supervising. 

Emma and Gemma accepted the Parisian challenge and quite frankly why wouldn’t they... next time ladies can we come to?

Emma: ‘I’ve always been on holidays with boyfriends or family so this was the first time I’ve travelled abroad with a friend, It was exciting by nerve wracking all the same time, I knew that I would have to be in charge of the organising and logistics, I’m not afraid to say this is because I like to do the organising. I do speak some French (very little, very badly) so I knew we could get by, I can read and understand it better than I can speak it, there was a lot to remember and planning was key!’

Gemma: 'Going to Paris was a fabulous adventure! With my lack of french vocabulary and knowledge of the culture I felt a bit vulnerable. Next time I will definitely educate myself on the french language/culture so I'll be less dependent on Emma's GCSE french skills and her knowledge of Paris. We saw some amazing things, met some lovely people, had some crazy food ( YES I ate a snail!!! YUK!) and I am very glad we took up the challenge ;-) Bonne annee belles personnes!!'

Emma and Gemma’s Top Travelling Tips
Before You Go:

• Remember your Passports (No you can’t get on the Eurostar or a ferry without it OR with just a driving license)
• Pack Toiletries in clear bags, before travelling check with the company what things you are and aren’t allowed to bring on your mode of transport.
• If the country you’re going to speaks a different language to your own DO NOT assume they will speak English to you. Try and learn some key phrases before you go, especially ‘Do you speak English?’ and ‘I don’t understand’.
• Buy a map before you go, if the city/place you’re off to has an underground system try and get a map of that too, much easier to get one in English before you go than rock up get one there and not understand the thing.
• Google Earth your hotel and surrounding area, this is an excellent idea, then when you get there you recognise key things you’ve seen so you don’t get lost.
• DO NOT pack your suitcase so it is too heavy to move or be lifted *cough cough* Gemma King.

Whilst there:

• If you’re brave and trying not to splash out use the public transport available, our top tip is if you can’t speak or really read the language change the names of the stations/stops to something you remember, this worked a treat for us.
• You’re hungry, you don’t speak the language what do you do? Places that offer English menus will have it publicised out front, if you don’t see an English menu or British flag, then you can either man up and give it a go or find somewhere else, eating near tourist attractions means you’re more likely to encounter you’re native tongue but remember this will mean it’s more expensive and busier.
• Plan your site seeing, if you go to a city with lots of attractions then make sure you plan a sensible route so you don’t find yourself dotted all over and you might get snared up in masses of tourists.
• Pay attention to when shops, restaurants etc are open, especially in European countries people eat later and shut shops at random times.
• Use local amenities, we mean use local shops, it’s important for you to stock a few things in your hotel room just in case things don’t go to plan, we recommend you get; some water, a few snacks and tissues.
• When mingling in foreign countries don’t be silly, especially if you can’t speak the language, don’t think just because someone is offering you a drink or a ride in their car they’re any less creepy than someone doing that in your home town (you’ve all seen taken, extreme but be safe).

We’re glad Emma and Gemma made it back in one piece, next time though ladies can we have more than just a key ring?

You tight ninnies.

LYYB.


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Silent Sunday #8

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