A Brief History of St James's Park

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div align="center"></div><div align="center">St James's Park is<br />the oldest Royal Park in London, </div><div align="center">the first Royal Park to be open to the public, </div><div align="center">and it is one of the most visited parks in Europe today </div><div align="center">  </div><div align="center">The park is surrounded by three palaces </div><div align="center">- St. James's, Westminster, and Buckingham - </div><div align="center">and often has beautifully landscaped borders<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kcWgxp-R3s9_zMFUwLqKB1cAvNN4sG1aPwwcyZMIwWGDy05KCpoOEyfi74COkx_p95_RamPdd93MWhMXJxQruybsvZ09GKel8xZkT2E89d3-6uX1B8zCElTVBEsLo3Xo0MgY01h07ytK/s1600/DSC05047-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kcWgxp-R3s9_zMFUwLqKB1cAvNN4sG1aPwwcyZMIwWGDy05KCpoOEyfi74COkx_p95_RamPdd93MWhMXJxQruybsvZ09GKel8xZkT2E89d3-6uX1B8zCElTVBEsLo3Xo0MgY01h07ytK/s640/DSC05047-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Originally the park was a marshy meadow </div><div align="center">where the River Tyburn often flooded on its way to the River Thames</div><div align="center">Pigs grazed the land with farms and woodland in the area </div><div align="center">  </div><div align="center">In the thirteenth century, a leper hospital for women opened <br />(and gave the park its namesake)</div><div align="center">  </div><div align="center">Like the conversion of Hyde Park, </div><div align="center">King Henry VIII turned the land into another deer park in 1536 </div><div align="center">with a hunting lodge that later became St. James's Palace </div><div align="center">  </div><div align="center">Later, King James I brought minor changes to the park</div><div align="center">including keeping exotic birds, camels, crocodiles, and an elephant in the park </div><div align="center">  </div><div align="center">King Charles II acquired Green Park so he could walk<br />from Hyde Park to St James’s Park without leaving royal soil</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiom-Bts_ABwI8pusek_RWuqwnHnOfibdbaN7P2B7Nw7_DX9TByfio8er4lH-AAopcGiwjiweSMwig_zLAYq4nKXKsMG3ho4W7e1WDSQcCGFpbM3UwyAEHibtpx21ehgsnftGc5BVKN2C/s1600/DSC05042-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiom-Bts_ABwI8pusek_RWuqwnHnOfibdbaN7P2B7Nw7_DX9TByfio8er4lH-AAopcGiwjiweSMwig_zLAYq4nKXKsMG3ho4W7e1WDSQcCGFpbM3UwyAEHibtpx21ehgsnftGc5BVKN2C/s640/DSC05042-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Then in 1827 the Prince Regent (later George IV) commissioned<br />John Nash to design the park in a naturalistic fashion which included<br />winding paths, converting the canal into a lake,</div><div align="center">and replacing Charles II's formal, French-inspired plantings to something more fashionable </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">The landscape design has changed little since Nash’s time</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Earlier trees were burned for fuel or<br />accidentally burned due to out-of-control fireworks,<br /><br />therefore, many of the plane trees (in the Sycamore family)<br />you see today in the park were planted during the 1827 redesign</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">In 1837, the Ornithological Society of London gifted the park various birds</div><div align="center">The position of bird keeper and cottage (below) remain today<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineD0RyPwmV-Ea6U0Gxtn11kbT-cVhvwoQS9flV60_D3FTHGOZCcN4_FN9kjnpvaXEgtN4LxXjhjnq8p43LZv76FMHDepYHv-TIAW-zlfsE7Q8xf2_sI7T500C4pHqgEucvK4O0onYbLsq/s1600/DSC05089-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineD0RyPwmV-Ea6U0Gxtn11kbT-cVhvwoQS9flV60_D3FTHGOZCcN4_FN9kjnpvaXEgtN4LxXjhjnq8p43LZv76FMHDepYHv-TIAW-zlfsE7Q8xf2_sI7T500C4pHqgEucvK4O0onYbLsq/s640/DSC05089-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">And those fabulous pelicans?<br /><br /></div><div align="center">In 1664, the Russian Ambassador gave pelicans as a gift for the park<br /><br /></div><div align="center">Just last month the City of Prague gave the park three Great White pelicans,<br />increasing the pelican population to six<br /><br /></div><div align="center">They can be seen feeding between 2:30p and 3:00p daily<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcJ_1oMLO9r7lVvspM5w7MhLEhA4-nyUyOVOQYWnkvzUbcRkR8hzrYV-sNUE7q46O3vuRq2civ4HhyBWPdwKjbi1NYfAGC_UHOp5yt9n5auzWO8Ba8peVpz1willaR0Ag993D7yUKbY6Q/s1600/DSC05091-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcJ_1oMLO9r7lVvspM5w7MhLEhA4-nyUyOVOQYWnkvzUbcRkR8hzrYV-sNUE7q46O3vuRq2civ4HhyBWPdwKjbi1NYfAGC_UHOp5yt9n5auzWO8Ba8peVpz1willaR0Ag993D7yUKbY6Q/s640/DSC05091-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div align="center">It's reported that there once was a naughty pelican<br />who would fly to the London Zoo to steal fish for lunch<br />and then return to the park<br /><br /></div><div align="center">This one looks a little suspicious<br />:)<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #666666; font-size: xx-small;">all photos by me</span></em></div><div align="left"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.royalparks.org.uk/">The Royal Parks</a></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

A Brief History of St James's Park

St James's Park is the oldest Royal Park in London, the first Royal Park to be open to the public, and it is one of the most visited par...

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Day Out With The Girls

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">A friend and I had</div><div style="text-align: center;">the perfect day with our daughters</div><div style="text-align: center;">last week</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not a fan of musicals,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but <a href="http://uk.matildathemusical.com/">Matilda</a> is the best one I've seen EVER</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqkFTve9mSeMk1HY5wTCNt6lSYbmCDKyBi01Pa02opyfGXXsJtW7K0V3BHv4h4G9eigFtf1Gv7iGCqju-ObaSyi0FSpasD00ZnH6UcC-4nAsomztJsm518-e41OkpI7YVyWoXJ8btNI0R/s1600/photo+1+(15)-0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqkFTve9mSeMk1HY5wTCNt6lSYbmCDKyBi01Pa02opyfGXXsJtW7K0V3BHv4h4G9eigFtf1Gv7iGCqju-ObaSyi0FSpasD00ZnH6UcC-4nAsomztJsm518-e41OkpI7YVyWoXJ8btNI0R/s400/photo+1+(15)-0021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Based on a Roald Dahl story,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this musical oozes talent and creativity</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">About a girl who is mistreated by her parents and headmistress,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this dark story has a happy ending </div><div style="text-align: center;">with snappy tunes, amazing sets, and delightful choreography along the way</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We started our day off right at Sanderson Hotel</div><div style="text-align: center;">with their <a href="http://www.sandersonlondon.com/en-us/#/explore/?id=/sanderson-london-mad-hatters-tea/">Mad Hatter's Tea</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiZHfxFmx6eL8trV4Qc6KJokhVtFWe3OeHTnzJApC7z46zQZHjCPH1oAjhLXVXmGnAFBDwWI7UFw9D2mOKfCbVUsOCt3A7NbsYrmVM9yFZJT6BjhE8lJmHpG9zOjXiKyHo84cN51p5i-C/s1600/TeaCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiZHfxFmx6eL8trV4Qc6KJokhVtFWe3OeHTnzJApC7z46zQZHjCPH1oAjhLXVXmGnAFBDwWI7UFw9D2mOKfCbVUsOCt3A7NbsYrmVM9yFZJT6BjhE8lJmHpG9zOjXiKyHo84cN51p5i-C/s400/TeaCollage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Complete with marshmallow mushrooms, 'Drink Me' juice, and other fun (and delicious) bites,</div><div style="text-align: center;">my daughter had a hard time deciding if she liked the musical or the afternoon tea best</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'd say it was a tie</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Such a great day!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- all photos by me -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Laura Porter's review of Mad Hatter's Tea <a href="http://golondon.about.com/od/afternoontea/fr/Mad-Hatters-Afternoon-Tea.htm">here</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Day Out With The Girls

A friend and I had the perfect day with our daughters last week I'm not a fan of musicals, but Matilda is the best one I've seen EV...

Read more »

Spring Daffodil Days

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This has been a tough gloomy winter</div><div style="text-align: center;">but we are now being rewarded</div><div style="text-align: center;">with 'sunshine on a stick'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Daffodils...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wk491ZaQjfTPgoTb1YIGMeyHpGPPHlzL9SFe0h3D2eyqkvHt8lzXIy64lrA_4qoOpe_B45B6j7sDMgj5VPYmfp2gfcR5HZXDFS_cLW_R5_GFmN2ikqrhRkLW0SqFUab5jDx_ltAqBbGw/s1600/DSC05152-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wk491ZaQjfTPgoTb1YIGMeyHpGPPHlzL9SFe0h3D2eyqkvHt8lzXIy64lrA_4qoOpe_B45B6j7sDMgj5VPYmfp2gfcR5HZXDFS_cLW_R5_GFmN2ikqrhRkLW0SqFUab5jDx_ltAqBbGw/s640/DSC05152-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYb9bAcI05Mef_RxdiiKeG7NpY9ErTHuRAAcorRckS6qp0hKVEKL2EUpK7pgPwVx-fkKCRweEHGVwaRfEgwQ3SWr1SKbcEZTw3Qcwtn6L25vFAa4mx15ZiH5iF70_7lVjaCZflgHAGHkXU/s1600/DSC05206-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYb9bAcI05Mef_RxdiiKeG7NpY9ErTHuRAAcorRckS6qp0hKVEKL2EUpK7pgPwVx-fkKCRweEHGVwaRfEgwQ3SWr1SKbcEZTw3Qcwtn6L25vFAa4mx15ZiH5iF70_7lVjaCZflgHAGHkXU/s640/DSC05206-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVc2fD0y6brL_RJigfhWd2BwyIEDnPaUeVEScPv_QLVkdW231YlfpyYaTVneKDVWfjBFwuCBxOMPo1lCz1tCYCtwnkBt4-tszl4yyXDFU_q9cGPjmK_JOnCUR5OKf7WoU21TuL-lvfzdO3/s1600/DSC05190-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVc2fD0y6brL_RJigfhWd2BwyIEDnPaUeVEScPv_QLVkdW231YlfpyYaTVneKDVWfjBFwuCBxOMPo1lCz1tCYCtwnkBt4-tszl4yyXDFU_q9cGPjmK_JOnCUR5OKf7WoU21TuL-lvfzdO3/s640/DSC05190-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a wonderful weekend!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Spring Daffodil Days

This has been a tough gloomy winter but we are now being rewarded with 'sunshine on a stick' Daffodils... Wishing you a wonderful we...

Read more »

UK History In Film

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Perfect for a rainy day,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">why not grab a blanket</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">cup of tea</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">warm the fireplace</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">and watch a good film</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Such an easy way to learn a little UK history</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Just pick your time period :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I've complied a list of films</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">listed in chronological order of film setting</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyDm34YWx7-1xzZCmTsiBlXidFqYQYMYGiKwIet5LcGV-GiOUs0B4CgeQdC0efpEOe0B7yPrYPgPuKl1vHcWjneRk0AXA62aQ-TusoBS8uIirrWc-JEgCmVATFLt-miHwezRRqaehVcAc/s1600/Braveheart_imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyDm34YWx7-1xzZCmTsiBlXidFqYQYMYGiKwIet5LcGV-GiOUs0B4CgeQdC0efpEOe0B7yPrYPgPuKl1vHcWjneRk0AXA62aQ-TusoBS8uIirrWc-JEgCmVATFLt-miHwezRRqaehVcAc/s400/Braveheart_imp.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Braveheart</b> (1995)</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">is a </span>historical drama<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span>war film<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> portraying </span>William Wallace<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">a </span>13th century <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"></span>Scottish<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> warrior who led the Scots </span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">in the </span>First War of Scottish Independence </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;">against King </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Edward I of England</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Starring Mel Gibson </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">(Oscar)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>The Other Boleyn Girl</b> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">(2001) </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;">is a historical fiction film loosely based on the relationships </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;">between Anne Boleyn, her sister Mary, and Henry VIII</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;">Starring Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2DA1tTNTgnLkPlkJoH3TDzZ6wHlzzQR4-8ZwrknTaeWAntEbA8ysIqhNxtRZyiAQ4w2g80s1iPDilNQChDWcMDgOjJMWZhqqz1jhiC7is6IzaWU7pC5HIaQlLpZsASKsB2pjyZMoMVVx/s1600/Elizabeth_golden_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2DA1tTNTgnLkPlkJoH3TDzZ6wHlzzQR4-8ZwrknTaeWAntEbA8ysIqhNxtRZyiAQ4w2g80s1iPDilNQChDWcMDgOjJMWZhqqz1jhiC7is6IzaWU7pC5HIaQlLpZsASKsB2pjyZMoMVVx/s400/Elizabeth_golden_poster.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Elizabeth: The Golden Age</b></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> (2007) </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">is the sequel to the 1998 film </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">Elizabeth</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> and</span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">loosely based on events </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">during the latter part of the reign of </span>Queen Elizabeth I of England</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">Starring </span>Cate Blanchett<span style="line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;">(Oscar)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b>Anonymous</b><span style="background-color: white;"> (2011)  </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">poses the question, 'Was Shakespeare A Fraud?' </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">in this political thriller and pseudo-historical drama</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">Starring Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><br /></span></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVv5zb0EiO0CUy0UzIHJxIw1S5kjy3rzeIWv9gUmRpVTIO2cn13MgzG7tgNdRFtNan7b7em5HNrdn_AWbDAeX1BrCE3Hc0B__spIUjYdpyZQ20e6zBhLx9Lo8F-PTympqk2eG4aKahGBRE/s1600/Madness_of_king_george-715444.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVv5zb0EiO0CUy0UzIHJxIw1S5kjy3rzeIWv9gUmRpVTIO2cn13MgzG7tgNdRFtNan7b7em5HNrdn_AWbDAeX1BrCE3Hc0B__spIUjYdpyZQ20e6zBhLx9Lo8F-PTympqk2eG4aKahGBRE/s400/Madness_of_king_george-715444.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><b>The Madness of King George</b> (1994)<b> </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">tells the story of </span>George III<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">'s deteriorating </span>mental health</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">and </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">the </span>Regency Crisis of 1788</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Starring Nigel Hawthorne<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">, </span>Helen Mirren<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">, </span>Rupert Everett </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">(Oscar)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b>Becoming Jane</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;"> (2007) </span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;">depicts the early life of English author </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Jane Austen</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;">and her posited relationship with </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thomas Langlois Lefroy</span></span></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Starring Anne Hathaway</span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><b>Amazing Grace </b>(2006) </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">is a biographical drama film about the campaign </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">against slave trade in the British Empire in 1807</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Starring </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">Ioan Gruffudd</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0v_IaxYJu0uBFvpYNd3Kr3yZiWOe0OM6ZsozN8KTxRG5gaD1JPhr7iReebpprT80IuxXyjDbPKGFIk-81BB01uxClzGoDos7bbu8HmXZKe8C3WjxhTL8zaEdfvEEHHP2PtFKdMLVgAGf/s1600/Young_victoria_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0v_IaxYJu0uBFvpYNd3Kr3yZiWOe0OM6ZsozN8KTxRG5gaD1JPhr7iReebpprT80IuxXyjDbPKGFIk-81BB01uxClzGoDos7bbu8HmXZKe8C3WjxhTL8zaEdfvEEHHP2PtFKdMLVgAGf/s400/Young_victoria_poster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>The Young Victoria</b> (</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">2009) </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;">is a period drama film depicting the early life and reign of</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;">Queen Victoria and her marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;">Starring Emily Blunt </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;">(Oscar) </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;"><b>Miss Potter</b> (2006) </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;">is a film about children's author and illustrator Beatrix Potter </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;">Starring Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkePhE3D_gzEtjQzqK2cPsM750AMsVMn37j0f_SET1vxKk5NjmD7hMWeG48rwIdZCRCrTqpcCRYBOJlcDuJmTOC4tJAwVlHpuWX1cI3-w_w78ahf8HieIabHVNZq4TVSmylTMbEW5zTDgM/s1600/Titanic_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkePhE3D_gzEtjQzqK2cPsM750AMsVMn37j0f_SET1vxKk5NjmD7hMWeG48rwIdZCRCrTqpcCRYBOJlcDuJmTOC4tJAwVlHpuWX1cI3-w_w78ahf8HieIabHVNZq4TVSmylTMbEW5zTDgM/s400/Titanic_poster.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;"><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Titanic</b> (</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">1997) </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">is a fictionalized account of the </span>sinking<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> of the </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">RMS</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; background-image: none; line-height: 19.1875px;">Titanic</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">One of the biggest blockbuster films ever</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">(Oscar)</span><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">War Horse</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (2011) </span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">is a war drama film set before and during World War I</span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">It follows the story of a boy and a horse during the war </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444;"></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">(Oscar nomination)</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWYWERy2Ih_CHdJbJ8cc0a8mpn_sZyXyGZx5E5RHhNGniFWhTHuKgbOaHetG87eQjcCqBtjOT0_L1DAEtlC1N3ihbJ3ye_YqE91suyCXqKlzVSaDQ_3WBJ7yTlZ6MH1hQgWtd6ZrQZHSr/s1600/Kings_speech_ver3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWYWERy2Ih_CHdJbJ8cc0a8mpn_sZyXyGZx5E5RHhNGniFWhTHuKgbOaHetG87eQjcCqBtjOT0_L1DAEtlC1N3ihbJ3ye_YqE91suyCXqKlzVSaDQ_3WBJ7yTlZ6MH1hQgWtd6ZrQZHSr/s400/Kings_speech_ver3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><b>The King's Speech </b>(2010) </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">is a historical drama featuring King George VI (Colin Firth) </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">who sees an Australian </span>speech<span style="font-family: inherit;"> therapist (Geoffrey Rush) to cope with a stammer</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Also starring </span>Helena Bonham Carter </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">(Oscar)</span><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Hope & Glory </b>(1987)</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">is a comedy drama war film </span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">based on the producer/director John Boorman's</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">experience of growing up in London during the Blitz during World War II</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">(Oscar nomination)</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFTO9w3kSCXHw-kCVZDnSogYZNYjIOfj282KAxnQSjV6pA2_pnZlQnUTOo9Ujx3u72kxQUXMwFBhY375G3Ypmsl7HrnR6E40IUCVyO7jlEXmKhat6tCK72jV2ub1bOHuwmnsQ8BlZHRB2/s1600/Made_in_dagenham_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFTO9w3kSCXHw-kCVZDnSogYZNYjIOfj282KAxnQSjV6pA2_pnZlQnUTOo9Ujx3u72kxQUXMwFBhY375G3Ypmsl7HrnR6E40IUCVyO7jlEXmKhat6tCK72jV2ub1bOHuwmnsQ8BlZHRB2/s400/Made_in_dagenham_poster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;"><b>Made in Dagenham </b>(2010)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">dramatizes the Ford sewing machinists strike of 1968</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;">that aimed for equal pay for women</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>The Iron Lady</b> (2011)</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;">is a </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">biographical</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;"> film based on the life of </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Margaret Thatcher</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;">, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">the longest serving </span>Prime Minister of the United Kingdom<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> in the 20th century</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">Starring </span>Meryl Streep</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iUPf20ZRcxwDqQcsGWKLVWlONgRCMQbe0VUl3RcAh4RCTO7oJsHfzlc97uShQRpsEBK-Ffz6AHpKiSSms2llpuxL89WkoK8bkOD-YhKUVsDuMn_JTiA3kIEvULadIHeUhOOUOlf_aBBI/s1600/The_Queen_movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iUPf20ZRcxwDqQcsGWKLVWlONgRCMQbe0VUl3RcAh4RCTO7oJsHfzlc97uShQRpsEBK-Ffz6AHpKiSSms2llpuxL89WkoK8bkOD-YhKUVsDuMn_JTiA3kIEvULadIHeUhOOUOlf_aBBI/s400/The_Queen_movie.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>The Queen</b> (</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">2006)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19.1875px;">is an historical drama film, starring Helen Mirren</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">who </span></span><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">portrays</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;"> Queen Elizabeth II after the death of Princess Diana in 1997</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">(Oscar) </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><b>Calendar Girls</b> (2003) </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">is a</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> comedy and true story of a group of mature </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">Yorkshire women who produce</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">a </span>nude calendar<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;">to raise money for </span>Leukemia<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Research</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;">in April 1999</span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;">Starring Helen Mirren, Julie Walters</span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;">Do you have a favorite?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Info & Images: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></i></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">(An unsponsored post)</span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

UK History In Film

Perfect for a rainy day, why not grab a blanket cup of tea warm the fireplace and watch a good film Such an easy way to learn a little UK hi...

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The Lambing Season

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the dearest things to do in Spring</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">is visit a farm during the lambing season</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And if your timing is right,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">you may see one being born</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg8ugQeE6WpNUqCbGEiiVjM6rc0ytuoDWsQausHh2D3fBTt93PI-OLx2yRRAgSXG5Wl1nvNMbRSHttk2AVW0iAM36KOtkVBO4mUobrMwqkNkSVmlWK-mULUQk3qYMzdzMzTylReyRtd33/s1600/DSC_0273-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg8ugQeE6WpNUqCbGEiiVjM6rc0ytuoDWsQausHh2D3fBTt93PI-OLx2yRRAgSXG5Wl1nvNMbRSHttk2AVW0iAM36KOtkVBO4mUobrMwqkNkSVmlWK-mULUQk3qYMzdzMzTylReyRtd33/s640/DSC_0273-002.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks to ultrasound,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the farm sorts the pregnant ewes into different pens</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">according to how many lambs each mama is expecting (usually 1 to 3)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The more babies she is carrying, the more help she may need to deliver safely</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once born, the mama and babes are painted with a number on their backs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so the staff can keep the family together</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6ujlEoS1bPb94gNlryUMpkGPc7p9vFuIgMiXV1XwG6Xm9AoH_034o69Jx5r0efO6PEKPr7NLk0F6-pA3waa_EpfkzkaODFUOABtN84m7w56gYJrRE8Vfhdf7n0wwLz62Wb6k3bzR-u9v/s1600/DSC_0305-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6ujlEoS1bPb94gNlryUMpkGPc7p9vFuIgMiXV1XwG6Xm9AoH_034o69Jx5r0efO6PEKPr7NLk0F6-pA3waa_EpfkzkaODFUOABtN84m7w56gYJrRE8Vfhdf7n0wwLz62Wb6k3bzR-u9v/s640/DSC_0305-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More going on at the farm</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvv6-Qf0iT1TgCaf1PP1ZMdWgSVBSL8RXZ03n_5-3aQ3WZfEN_zfq2lNbqBXkyOLLVNvEStQbzPg3L1dlkaNXZlt27lfq7kAGDNzZcD7ogs_xQNhtcctSbldO4VAGy8sxzI-3da8ifxvc/s1600/DSC_0280-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvv6-Qf0iT1TgCaf1PP1ZMdWgSVBSL8RXZ03n_5-3aQ3WZfEN_zfq2lNbqBXkyOLLVNvEStQbzPg3L1dlkaNXZlt27lfq7kAGDNzZcD7ogs_xQNhtcctSbldO4VAGy8sxzI-3da8ifxvc/s640/DSC_0280-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Definitely the season for newborns,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">lots of other babies are seen on the farm</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKoEX22wOp-iNDXORuGw0rgcyJQyK3z54ykdkF-dIca0TUpw3wE7vDVK3jgwBJKQNFDbYhYBL1WJ2JTWT2O_zw3dSFmtyLApdTfUQsfPVRe_rKPD1wMfXONs4z4NeL4lCaSbzBcGkEqJ7/s1600/DSC_0320-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKoEX22wOp-iNDXORuGw0rgcyJQyK3z54ykdkF-dIca0TUpw3wE7vDVK3jgwBJKQNFDbYhYBL1WJ2JTWT2O_zw3dSFmtyLApdTfUQsfPVRe_rKPD1wMfXONs4z4NeL4lCaSbzBcGkEqJ7/s640/DSC_0320-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">With sun, blossoms, and the lambing season</div><div style="text-align: center;">England is at its best right now :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a great week!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

The Lambing Season

One of the dearest things to do in Spring is visit a farm during the lambing season And if your timing is right, you may see one being born ...

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Raising Second Generation Expats

<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Ever wonder what it would be like to live abroad with your family?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">In my last <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/reflecting-on-expat-upbringing.html">post</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">I interviewed four American expat moms</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">who described what it was really like </span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">to live in a foreign country </span><span style="color: #444444;">when they were kids</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">- the good and the bad -</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTKNXgFmE6LArZgwn-xzFS9OifqZakn6iXT-sbxpzJLRbPsflhc97vt2JFAbD4jadKNSDFO_pld4zxWH3sPELulW6p4-1GiOSpSZZxWG6xRFwiEPtdbMGBK9zfxTzXzOJdOmL51RS5J6W/s1600/scan0044-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTKNXgFmE6LArZgwn-xzFS9OifqZakn6iXT-sbxpzJLRbPsflhc97vt2JFAbD4jadKNSDFO_pld4zxWH3sPELulW6p4-1GiOSpSZZxWG6xRFwiEPtdbMGBK9zfxTzXzOJdOmL51RS5J6W/s640/scan0044-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Next I posed the question </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">'Did you want to raise your children abroad?'</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Here are their responses</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Miss C</b> <i>(Raised in 4 European countries, now in England)</i>: <span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Absolutely!!  It's a gift that they, once they are adults, will fully appreciate and treasure for the rest of their lives.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Miss S</b> <i>(Brazil as a child, Japan as a teen, now in England)</i>: </span></span>I didn't have a preference per se but my husband and I knew if the opportunity arose, we certainly would consider it. I'm glad my kids live abroad now. It makes them different. They are truly citizens of the world. They have family in Africa and America, and they live in England - but to them that's normal. How crazy is that?!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Miss G</b> <i>(England as teenager, now in India)</i>: I absolutely wanted my kids to live abroad, and longer than I got to. I came away from my own experience thinking that living abroad was an essential part of a person’s education in life.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Miss L</b> <i>(Costa Rica as teen, now in England)</i>: <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Both my husband and I were eager to live abroad with our children.  Because of my experiences in Costa Rica, I saw the benefits of living abroad, but I also hoped to move where there would be a lot of activities for our children - our current school and England certainly provide that.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZDX8NGE5Zw9sflx1vT_FUaxKIkXSmPkzHDobey6G5BgA8FGNHvOc-2RlUUn1qAw80M20-NM21No9qYOF2Qa0hORwhKHuz7TBHKDuGKyUSYSU7StjV1kJ_av4IQ1XMvn5iRxhpWh4eK-l/s1600/IMG_0618-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZDX8NGE5Zw9sflx1vT_FUaxKIkXSmPkzHDobey6G5BgA8FGNHvOc-2RlUUn1qAw80M20-NM21No9qYOF2Qa0hORwhKHuz7TBHKDuGKyUSYSU7StjV1kJ_av4IQ1XMvn5iRxhpWh4eK-l/s640/IMG_0618-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">What insights or advice would you have for parents new to the expat life? </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">What words of wisdom would you have for their kids?</span></b></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Miss C: </b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't try to live your "old life" in your new location. Open yourself up to your new culture and embrace it, experience it. Expose your children to as much as you can - make them realize that the world is vast and interesting.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Miss S:</b> Laugh. Things will go wrong. If you're lucky to know the language where you are an expat, there are still nuances, jokes, sayings, signs, measurements, and mannerisms that are different. Ask questions. You're a foreigner and people know it. Usually, people are willing to explain things and if you say something silly or out of place, just blame it on your ignorance because you're new!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;">When we first moved to Brazil, my mom would go to the supermarket and try to speak Portuguese. She wasn't very good at it, and she only knew whole numbers. When she asked for cheese at the cheese counter, she only knew how to say "1" so she would come home with 1 kilo of cheese. That's 2.2 pounds! I did something similar when I first moved to London and ordered groceries online. I got my gallons and litres mixed up and ended up with about 4 gallons of milk in my first order. That's about 15 litres of milk! Whoops.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;">For the kids - you're never the 'new kid' for long in an expat community. Once you start feeling like you've got it, look around for someone who isn't quite there yet. They will be eternally grateful just as you would have been if someone helped you in your early days.</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jepI8chHrY2dMeDs86J-b_8qS-BCGWR9FBm2YfPTrK9C8Z9LJqiRqAaOEid0ZHmlW8SVYeKzamY9SCxiQ2aNGA-wxxAmxN5So33ActEW-MEdiuK_xhy6CtZmffdTUwWgMKkeG9_luL80/s1600/IMG_0676-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jepI8chHrY2dMeDs86J-b_8qS-BCGWR9FBm2YfPTrK9C8Z9LJqiRqAaOEid0ZHmlW8SVYeKzamY9SCxiQ2aNGA-wxxAmxN5So33ActEW-MEdiuK_xhy6CtZmffdTUwWgMKkeG9_luL80/s640/IMG_0676-002.JPG" width="616" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Miss G:</b> It’s harder to live abroad than at home, harder and richer. In other words, it takes work, but it’s worth it. As a mom, my primary concern is getting the kids settled, and I think it’s really helpful if one parent can focus on just the kids for the first 6 months of a move. Setting them up to be comfortable and with activities they like and one or two friends before you start your job (if you have one) will make the rest of your stay much more comfortable. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;">I have tried to be lenient with my kids as moving and being someplace new is stressful for them too - I try to allow them extra treats (an ice cream now and then when you don’t have a friend yet really CAN help!) and lots of listening to them and playing with them. Remembering that they are nervous or homesick or stressed just like you are can help focus your energies on helping them through it. One specific trick that has worked for us: one of my two kids doesn't like change and we have found that keeping his room roughly the same wherever we go makes a huge difference to him. It’s a kind of familiarity that we can provide – when all else is novel.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;">We also have found that a lot of preparation before you move can really help the kids. I found YouTube videos of the cities we were moving to, to show the kids what it would look like, and we watched together, focusing on things we couldn't wait to see for ourselves or try. We bought coffee table books with big bright pictures of the towns and cities, books of the local folklore and children’s stories also helped engage them. We also had the opportunity to take photos of their new schools (and some of the teachers and kids!) to bring back for the kids to see. Our kids really poured over all this before we moved them and they knew, to some degree, what to expect when we left the airport.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;">I have found this sort of preparation helps us a lot on our travels as well. Since we've been living abroad (Ethiopia & India), we've taken our kids on vacations to 10 different countries. To engage them before we go, we talk about where we’re going and what we’ll see and do and eat; buy activity and story books when possible (there are great ones for Egypt and China) and make playdoh structures out of the amazing buildings we will visit. After a kid has tried to build the Eiffel Tower out of playdoh, he is even more excited to try to climb to the top when you’re actually there. Putting in the prep time with the kids BEFORE we move or travel has really engaged them and made our travels a lot more fun.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidi38yiHvQF4oGmP3BAeC5qQmJTHD_xAL2zszvOCBtaA0N3SMH3hGG6MVLZBtLI5d0gRjQCO5BbzQ76_nI6kmN1bEpZEuPmg8DUe9GgfjvpKftsqE5eeRyqcQzrPKtrxSZSvuK4o06N-Q_/s1600/IMG_0836-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidi38yiHvQF4oGmP3BAeC5qQmJTHD_xAL2zszvOCBtaA0N3SMH3hGG6MVLZBtLI5d0gRjQCO5BbzQ76_nI6kmN1bEpZEuPmg8DUe9GgfjvpKftsqE5eeRyqcQzrPKtrxSZSvuK4o06N-Q_/s640/IMG_0836-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b>Miss L:</b> <span style="background-color: white;">Before moving here, we moved quite a bit in the US, and I quickly learned that no matter where you live, there will be things you don't like very much and things that you absolutely love. And that is certainly true to living abroad, only on a bigger scale.  But we've always said, "Just focus on the things you love", and that always seems to work. </span><span style="background-color: white;">There is definitely an adjustment period to any move. It takes a while to figure out things and to find your niche socially, but it always gets easier and better as time goes on.  </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I would suggest getting involved as much as possible because you'll enjoy it even more. We absolutely love our school - it keeps us very busy and productive - but some of the things we enjoy most are the local activities (sports, church, our British neighbours). My boys have been really happy here, almost immediately, and I keep telling them, "You've learned that you can be happy anywhere". It's a good skill and a good mindset for them to develop.</span></span></div><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGEy3DSP1zdGcobdoeu3ul4HSQ7eUk-7yXrcAf8xgvbZ_nktQBT1qtEpf0q4vkne79t6xhyphenhyphend0d9qLhyzw5E2pV-1qgPAEbi7mwnBzBXOoZ0F1mJe0Q5y2tfpymHgIWal5l8H6eqE7-ge4/s1600/photo+1+(2)-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGEy3DSP1zdGcobdoeu3ul4HSQ7eUk-7yXrcAf8xgvbZ_nktQBT1qtEpf0q4vkne79t6xhyphenhyphend0d9qLhyzw5E2pV-1qgPAEbi7mwnBzBXOoZ0F1mJe0Q5y2tfpymHgIWal5l8H6eqE7-ge4/s640/photo+1+(2)-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">Anything else you would like to share?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Miss S:</b> <span style="text-align: justify;">I think if you live abroad it's really important (and a lot easier) if you have a safety net. We always went with a big corporation who looked after us, took care of all the logistics, schools, housing, gave us trips home, etc. Living abroad without that safety net can be very difficult. If anything really bad happened, we knew we had a way "out" and would be taken care of. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><b>Miss G:</b> </span>I have been amazed how clearly my kids mimic my husband’s and my feelings about a move (or a trip). If I am excited and happy about it, then they are too. If I am nervous and homesick and feel out of control, then they will follow suit. Putting your most positive attitude into this adventure will come right back to you. Finally, having the opportunity to live abroad with your kids is a special privilege, and I would encourage anyone interested to embrace the adventure!</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6N7m0uWjW5La2h9vC2YDar-oO5dmpfgv9DY7kEVfy9aDQ5OVQAcWvLW4ejWOdHz7rg72LD37E8MCYXuoobJ3Jx0PkF5KuftRotgJPn2tbJSNHD41vE0EuqWJNR5CLsuOJcyEdD6OP2wFs/s1600/IMG_0934-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6N7m0uWjW5La2h9vC2YDar-oO5dmpfgv9DY7kEVfy9aDQ5OVQAcWvLW4ejWOdHz7rg72LD37E8MCYXuoobJ3Jx0PkF5KuftRotgJPn2tbJSNHD41vE0EuqWJNR5CLsuOJcyEdD6OP2wFs/s640/IMG_0934-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Wow! I love all the wonderful insights</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Thank you so much for taking the time to answer all my questions, girls!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Great tips for vacationing with kids (love the playdoh idea, Miss G!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">and loads of good advice for families moving anywhere, not just abroad</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Plus just a lot of sound advice for raising a family</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Good stuff!</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><i>- all photos by me -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">Related posts: </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/reflecting-on-expat-upbringing.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">Reflecting On An Expat Upbringing</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/a-tricky-question-where-are-you-from.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">Where Are You From?</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Raising Second Generation Expats

Ever wonder what it would be like to live abroad with your family? In my last post   I interviewed four American expat moms who described wh...

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Reflecting On An Expat Upbringing

<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Due to an overwhelming response on my post '<a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/a-tricky-question-where-are-you-from.html">Where Are You From</a>?',</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">I decided to write a follow-up from a different angle</span><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCL2gGaDLsyGN38q81YPJ0ZAes3gMcS-8sdufvuzkK01LAfkTbvfLHNjWTtVegMC9oJmpUMvseYX6vt0eErg5iFmmWl49Gcr2NIG9AkMpbXatl7D1HZurauM4ccxGs6v6QRrzDvKvrUe1/s1600/il_fullxfull.405416203_nj4f-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCL2gGaDLsyGN38q81YPJ0ZAes3gMcS-8sdufvuzkK01LAfkTbvfLHNjWTtVegMC9oJmpUMvseYX6vt0eErg5iFmmWl49Gcr2NIG9AkMpbXatl7D1HZurauM4ccxGs6v6QRrzDvKvrUe1/s400/il_fullxfull.405416203_nj4f-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Handmade by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Janefoster?ref=seller_info">Jane Foster</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Wondering how my children may reflect upon living abroad,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">I posed questions to four American expat moms who lived in foreign countries</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">when they were younger</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;">Here's a quick introduction to these 4 lovely ladies</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">who took the time to answer my questions (thank you!):</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Between the ages of 4 to 18, <b>Miss C </b>grew up in four European countries</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Now a busy mom of 4, she is fluent in French, and her husband is German</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">They live in England</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Meet <b>Miss S</b> who lived in Brazil for four years when she was little</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">and moved to Japan during her teenage years</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">She has two kiddos and a South African husband</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">With US/UK dual citizenship, Miss 'S' has lived in England for 8 years</span><br /><b style="color: #444444;"><br /></b><b style="color: #444444;">Miss G</b><span style="color: #444444;"> spent one year living in Oxford, England as a teenager</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">She, her husband, and 2 children recently moved </span><span style="color: #444444;">from Ethiopia to India</span><br /><b style="color: #444444;"><br /></b><b style="color: #444444;">Miss L </b><span style="color: #444444;">spent two of her teenage years in Costa Rica</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">Now a mom of 3 children, she lives in England</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;">Here's a few of my 'wonders', and their responses:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">While you lived abroad as a child, what did you think of the experience at the time?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Miss C:</b> Once in an international school system, you get used to kids coming and going. Therefore, our moving every few years was the norm as everyone else was doing it too. However, that doesn't mean I didn't cry my eyes out when we left Switzerland and Belgium, but the adjustment was quick and easy once our new school began. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Miss S:</b> We were in Brazil when I was 2 - 6 years old, so I didn't know I was an expat. I knew and understood we were different and lived far from family. I remember my mom stocking up on all the things she couldn't get in Brazil. There were no limits on weight and number of suitcases, so we literally traveled with 12 huge suitcases. At the time there weren't many toddlers on planes, so we received lots of attention. Whenever we left for Brazil at the end of the summer, my extended family would cry hysterically as they waved goodbye. From our point of view, we were off for another year of adventure.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;">When I was 13 years old and living in the US, my parents told my sister and me that we were moving to Tokyo. I cried and tried to convince them to let me stay behind with my best friend. I didn't want to leave my American school or friends. But my sister and I quickly found friends at our new school in Japan. Since all expats have been new at one time, they all know what it's like and were quick to introduce us to other people and give us pointers. We stayed for two years, and boy, did I cry when we had to leave Japan! </span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXJPmvSRlBd90muJM7NQBWInIMbKkHxfHeNevhycJvj_NdLFoJ34AKkQQc6oX62acVJPG8fUS_fY-yQX1RJgS_pmxrOQkHpbaSfvJv0Pw7nMdK2oV30NYnIOdcXSMivveyCSS-kZkPNi_/s1600/il_fullxfull.385064321_6fcs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXJPmvSRlBd90muJM7NQBWInIMbKkHxfHeNevhycJvj_NdLFoJ34AKkQQc6oX62acVJPG8fUS_fY-yQX1RJgS_pmxrOQkHpbaSfvJv0Pw7nMdK2oV30NYnIOdcXSMivveyCSS-kZkPNi_/s400/il_fullxfull.385064321_6fcs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">iPhone case by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Arete?ref=seller_info">Arete</a> on Etsy</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Miss G:</b> </span>I was very excited for the adventure and eager to try something new but living in England for that one year turned out to be a difficult experience for me. The girls in my all-girls school weren't very nice to me for at least half the year. I was one of only two foreigners in my grade, and it wasn't cool to be an outsider. My mom worked very hard to keep me happy, including taking me out of school often and going on little trips with her. </span><br /><b style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></b><b style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Miss L:</b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"> It was really difficult for me to move to Costa Rica, as I was about to start high school. But it was a great experience, and for the most part, I really enjoyed it. The down side for me was that I attended a very small international school (the only English-speaking one in the area), and there were very few extracurricular activities there. We only had about 30 students per grade. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Back in the US, I had been very involved in a variety of sports and choirs, plus a lot of church and social activities, and there wasn't much of that in Costa Rica. There were no sports for girls, and I was in the only choir in the school, which was very mediocre. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Also, because it was an international school, we were very spread apart, so getting to other friends' houses was challenging. None of us were old enough to have a driver's license, but we did find ways to get around and do things. We had great monthly dances, which were a lot of fun, and I found a phenomenal jazz dance class outside the school where I went 3 days a week, so that improved things a lot.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">Now through adult eyes, what do you think about your time abroad when you were a child?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b>Miss C:</b> I absolutely loved it; it's an experience I wish everyone could have. As a child, one doesn't fully understand the scope of it, but as an adult one realizes how fortunate and lucky one was. Children who have these experiences, especially in high school, create bonds that last a lifetime. I'm very close with my high school friends as we share such a unique experience.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b>Miss S: </b>I think my experience abroad made me the person I am today. Of course there were days that were challenging, but overall I learned a lot, including to laugh more, to ask for help when lost, and to appreciate people of different cultures. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">However, I quickly lost touch with what was happening back home. I didn't get their jokes as much, I wore different clothes, I didn't know the TV shows, and I picked up mannerisms and inflections that made me seem different to them. Some people incorrectly took it that I was leaving my past behind or acting stuck up.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12JiaXmG3zKo_7-UszGXhLOb8B0z9sXpl75yaA-ZXRvkNoTQzPCQ_ECccjHDX3EKinMDfy2KegHcUWcuoYCge23hy7CjjRiaqLAD_DV3DLJDBEd6UTn9ucSpD8FJ4JgN1ohI5KkecNSVV/s1600/il_fullxfull.278266250-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12JiaXmG3zKo_7-UszGXhLOb8B0z9sXpl75yaA-ZXRvkNoTQzPCQ_ECccjHDX3EKinMDfy2KegHcUWcuoYCge23hy7CjjRiaqLAD_DV3DLJDBEd6UTn9ucSpD8FJ4JgN1ohI5KkecNSVV/s400/il_fullxfull.278266250-001.jpg" width="391" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vintage art by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/CirqueDeArt?ref=seller_info">Cirque De Art</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Miss G:</b> </span>It was a great experience for our little family - being abroad pulls a family together and forces you to really lean on each other because you don’t have friends and other family around to go to. It was likely a pretty challenging year for my mom, as one of her four kids (me!) wasn't very happy, and I’m sure it took a lot out of her to work with me. The only real disadvantage I can see is that coming back into my old school was a bit rocky. My US school didn't really know how to judge all the different classes I took in England, and I think I ended up a bit behind in the US system. In the long run, it didn't matter at all.</span><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b style="color: #444444;">Miss L:</b><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">As an adult, I see it as a fantastic experience. I learned to speak Spanish fluently, and it certainly broadened my perspective in major ways. Our church asked my dad to oversee the missionary work for our church in Costa Rica and Panama (he left his career for two years to do it), so we traveled a lot to tiny and remote parts of Costa Rica, Panama, and even Guatemala, and I got to experience life outside the sheltered expat community. I saw poverty and different cultures that I had never experienced in the US, and I also met a lot of great people and families who, in so many ways, were a lot like me. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">How did the experience change you?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Miss C: </b>It made me more versatile, flexible, accepting, and open minded to cultures, religions, and people - not just because of the schools I attended, but also from the travel that went along with living abroad.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Miss S:</b> I don't know if it changed me, it's just me. I just lived my life and happened to be living in a foreign country. My first experience abroad was when I was so little, so it has always been a part of me. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;">It is easy for me to talk to people from other countries, as I'm curious about them and what it's like to live in their country. Perhaps my experience made me marry my husband - he's British but born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa. I think we connected because we both lived in other countries as kids. We like to joke that even though we are both white, our kids are 'African American'.</span></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmfhFXzsuQgeiE0sX2fBv82EY3o2M3x79wYg7rcN0IZqBZIcwH2KhoHm8AL5rkNnwzq18J7ONBE3hNY7SkFbL4ifRIdKD_zjuS9HKJwQSx76Mswt8xgVK-bRL6yXYrpDnLsZt_iRItnnR/s1600/il_fullxfull.410650611_3lxv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmfhFXzsuQgeiE0sX2fBv82EY3o2M3x79wYg7rcN0IZqBZIcwH2KhoHm8AL5rkNnwzq18J7ONBE3hNY7SkFbL4ifRIdKD_zjuS9HKJwQSx76Mswt8xgVK-bRL6yXYrpDnLsZt_iRItnnR/s400/il_fullxfull.410650611_3lxv.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For sale by Evka Photography on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/EvkaPhotography?ref=seller_info">Etsy</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Miss G: </b></span>Even though it was a rough year, I learned I could survive. I could handle being the new kid and manage new situations. I liked all the stimulation of being in a place that was new to me and sort of got “the travel bug” from this time abroad. I also learned that there are other ways of doing things and living. The American ways of doing things were just ONE way, not the only way. This excited my imagination. You could say, the experience opened my eyes to the greater world around me.</span><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b style="color: #444444;">Miss L:</b><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"> My school in Costa Rica was extremely rigorous academically, so I received a great education and learned how to be a successful student.  It also helped me feel entirely comfortable in foreign, non-English speaking countries, and it created in me a desire to travel and see more of the world.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">Describe what it was like when you 'repatriated' (returned home)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b>Miss C:</b> <span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">I went back to the US for college, which is a new beginning for everyone, so it's hard for me to answer. Any transition period I had had more to do with being at a university than being back in the US. I was excited to live in the US and learn more about the country I was from. To me, the norm had always been to be viewed as a "foreigner", the one speaking English in a non-English speaking country. To be in the US and viewed as a ''native'' was a strange concept to me, and still is. To this day, I absolutely hate the question "where are you from" as I don't have a good, or short, answer. So I tailor my answer depending on who asked the question :-)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b>Miss S:</b> <span style="text-align: left;">I was 6 when we moved back to NY from Brazil, and I can recall going to 1st grade and telling people where I moved from. None of the kids knew what Brazil was but then again they probably didn't know New Jersey either. I remember someone asking me if Brazil was a cookie? I have no idea why, but that always stuck with me.  </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">You quickly learn that while the experience of living abroad is so dear to you, no one else really cares. My mom always tells the story that when we moved back after 4 incredibly exciting years which included amazing trips, her friends only wanted to talk about their new Mr. Coffee machines which were all the rage in 1978!  It was quite a shock and I guess that's what leads to "reverse homesickness". She quickly learned to keep her stories to herself, but we would retell them over and over at family dinners.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuQQIso66CTiwpA9JSwGcXatvPiWfQte3mKbUpsNCd7qI6YHU8Dg9l_JMeOUuMa0f_uLFJw1iq18YIpn5iGnnMS046djt2YJyVshr6iqO1Waww5US0d-EksVArQiOfen8Q1ONqDwL4Q2v/s1600/il_fullxfull.311296863-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuQQIso66CTiwpA9JSwGcXatvPiWfQte3mKbUpsNCd7qI6YHU8Dg9l_JMeOUuMa0f_uLFJw1iq18YIpn5iGnnMS046djt2YJyVshr6iqO1Waww5US0d-EksVArQiOfen8Q1ONqDwL4Q2v/s400/il_fullxfull.311296863-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LondonJeff's Havana photo available via <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/londonjeff?ref=seller_info">Etsy</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Miss G:</b> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">I remember feeling a bit disappointed and bored. I felt I had changed in so many ways and really grown, but everything at home seemed exactly the same.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"><b>Miss L:</b> It was definitely an adjustment moving back to the US. Part of it was because I went to a different high school than the majority of friends I grew up with in elementary and junior high school, so it was almost like moving to a new place socially. I also had changed and grown in so many ways, but it seemed as if so many of the kids in the US were just the same. That said, I was thrilled to be back in a school where I had so many opportunities outside of academics, and I quickly got involved in a lot of things. I was really glad I had both experiences in high school. </span></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; text-align: justify;">I find these insights to be incredibly fascinating,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; text-align: justify;">giving a broad spectrum of emotions and perspective</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Did they wish an expat life for their families?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">What advice do they have for expat parents?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Answers revealed in the next <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/raising-second-generation-expats.html">post</a> :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #444444;">(an unsponsored post</span>)</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Related posts:</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/a-tricky-question-where-are-you-from.html">Where Are You From?</a></span><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/raising-second-generation-expats.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Raising Second Generation Expats</span></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Reflecting On An Expat Upbringing

Due to an overwhelming response on my post ' Where Are You From ?', I decided to write a follow-up from a different angle Handmade b...

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