Sparkles and Sticks

Best British TV Shows: Spaced

The Gist: Two recently homeless strangers meet in a cafe.  They pretend to be a couple in order to rent a great flat that is available for a "professional couple only."  Fantastic visual pop culture references and hilarity ensue.

Favorite Episode:

S2 E5: Gone  Tim and Daisy embark on an impromptu night out in Camden.  I love their very different ideas about where they should go and what they should do, and I love how their plans are represented visually.  I love Daisy's drunk babbling and Tim's drunk head bobbing.  I love the faux fighting connection that "all men have," and I love the "you clever girl" Jurassic Park reference near the end.

Favorite Character:

Daisy. (above, caught in an embarassing moment in a job interview).

Most Quoted Lines (in our house):

"This, is the good shit." -Daisy.  Every time I cook with oregano I say this line to myself in my head and giggle.  Honestly, sometimes I think I add oregano to our meals just so I can make myself giggle.

We quote Spaced on a regular basis at our house.  Most quotes are minor references, but when said with the correct tone they give my husband and I a good chuckle.

Does It Translate?:

Yes.  There are some references to British pop culture that not all Americans will "get," but since their flat is obsessed with American film, comics, and TV, most references are obvious.  One thing Americans do need to know for the sake of the show is this: Jaffa Cakes are a popular type of cookie.  Trust me, it's important.

Why I Love It:

Because of scenes ike this:

 

Watch it: On Hulu or Instant Netflix.

Best British TV Shows: Coupling

The Gist:  Bloke dates babe.  Their friends tag along.  They all obsess about sex and the opposite gender.  Hilarity ensues.

Favorite Episode:

Season 3, Episode 2: Faithless.  The awkwardness that has ruled Jeff's life turns out to be his saving grace in this episode.  RESULT!

Favorite Character:

Richard Coyle as Jeff Murdoch.  Clearly, I am a sucker for a Welsh accent.  And faces that look like my husband's.

Does It Translate?:  Yes, I think that Americans will understand Coupling fully.  While Americans may not understand the technicalities of all of the British cultural references, they will understand the implications. 

Why I Love It:  This is the first British Show that I found on my own accord, rented from the fantastic independent video rental place in my town (that my BFF worked at in High School and has since, sadly, been put out of business by little read envelopes), and watched all four seasons of.  I loved how each episode started out not-too-funny, and then built on itself until I was laughing out loud.  At the TV.  All by myself.  In an empty flat.  With little to no wine present.

Coupling is the show that made me fall in love with British television, and I have not looked back since.

Best British TV Shows: Black Books

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  AKA, Happy The-Day-Where-Everyone-Who-Isn't-Irish-Pretends-They-Have-A-Wee-Bit-Of-Irish-Heritage-So-They-Can-Have-A-Legit-Excuse-To-Get-Smashed Day!

I've continued the Best of British Television series over on my friend Erin's wee St.Patty's Day blog party.  Hop on over and find out why I love...

Best British TV Shows: Gavin and Stacey

This post is the first in a series chronicling my favorite British Television Shows.  We begin today, St. David's Day, with my favorite Welsh show: Gavin and Stacey.

The Gist:  English boy meets Welsh girl.  Love blooms overnight.  Cultural and familial hilarity ensues.

Favorite Episode:

Season 1, Episode 6: The Wedding.  Reasons: Bryn and Stacey in the limo.  The guest enthusiasm during the Grease Medley.  The comedy and romance in general.

Favorite Character:

A tie between the lovably bizarre Uncle Bryn (Rob Brydon) and the brawny and mysterious BFF Nessa (Ruth Jones).

Most Quoted Lines (in our house):

"Did anyone order a Chinese?" -Chinese Alan, who is not actually Chinese but is so nicknamed for his love of Chinese takeaway food.

"Dwi'n Hoffi Coffi.  It either means I like a coffee, or I'd like a coffee." -Uncle Bryn

Does It Translate?:

I can't imagine anyone understanding this show without either being Welsh or English, or without having spent a considerable amount of time in either country.  I encourage someone who doesn't fit that description to watch and prove me wrong.

Why I Love It:

Watching this show makes me feel of oooey goooey love.  It's like going home and seeing family.

TARDIS in San Francisco?

Object: One miniature Police Telephone Box.

Spotted: in Noe Valley of San Francisco, CA.

Color: TARDIS blue.

Near: A dog park.

Official Mission: Find the Doctor and help with the alien invasion that has clearly occured in sweet SF pups.

Secret Mission: Be so impressive in doggy aid that I am invited to be the next companion.

First Stop Once Aboard TARDIS: Jupiter.  I bet any aliens living there are mental bad-asses.

wandering under overcast skies

I went on a walk this early evening.  It was the first time I left the house all day (after driving my husband to work in the morning) and it was lovely.  The sky was grey, which made all the pretty greens, blues, pinks, of the plants, trees and other general signs of life seem extra bright.

Just like my grey shoes and highlighter color socks.

The air was light, and nowhere near cold or hot.  Just perfect.  The clouds had woven themselves into an airtight blanket that let some light seep through while hiding the brightness of the sun.

I realized that it was the sky that was making me feel so light, happy, and safe.  Most people hate overcast weather, but I love it.  There is something about the way the cloud blocks out the rest of the universe that allows me to focus on the universe inside my head.  I know I can let the ideas floating around in my head out for a little run without worrying that they will venture out to Jupiter and get lost in it's perpetual storm.

I can wander without getting lost.

The skies here, at The Real Home, tend to tinge blue when grey.  The skies in The Home Away From Home tend to tinge pink.

I became an independent, roaming, life loving adult in The Home Away From Home.  Today, I miss it's pink skies.

Christmas in the United Kingdom...

.. parties, huge Christmas dinners, loads of booze, winter wonderlands with ice rinks and carnival rides, the possibility of snow, cadbury's advent calendars, shops that actually close on Christmas Day and even boxing day... and they absolutely rock the twinkle lights. Twinkle lights on trees that line the street, twinkle lights on the giant Chritmas trees that top the city centres, and arches of twinkling snowflakes that shine across all the main streets through out the entire U.K. (it seems like it at least).

I love Christmas in the U.K.

.a royal wedding does not a fairy tale make.

I have just one thing left to say about The Royal Wedding.  No, it's not that Kate's dress was beautiful (it was).  And no, it's not what Harry whispered to William at the altar (which was "right, here she is now" FYI).  It is this:  Despite how many times television commentators might have said it, Kate and William's wedding was not a Fairy Tale.

Fairy Tales are not a white dress and a carriage procession through one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  Fairy tales are a vain girl's feet being chopped off, a wolf eating a girl and her grandmother, and girls depending on kisses from boys in order to awaken in a new state of being.  Yes, sometimes Fairy Tales end with a Royal Wedding.  But a Royal Wedding does not a Fairy Tale make.

William and Kate have been together for nearly a decade.  They have both gone to University, built their relationship through tough times, and helped people in their nation and beyond.

William and Kate did not arrive at Westminster Abbey on April 29th because of a magic kiss or a fairy's spell.  They arrived through forces much greater: hard work, commitment, and love.

William and Kate's wedding was not a Fairy Tale.  It was a love story.

.a wedding for an anglophile.

Tomorrow morning, I am going to wake up at 3 AM, shuffle out to the living room, throw myself on the couch, flick on the TV ad watch the Royal Wedding.

Some might think it is quite silly to miss half a night's sleep to watch a wedding for two people that I never have and never will meet.  Some are sick of hearing about the Royal Wedding in general; my (British) husband in particular is fed up with all of it.

I am going to watch it anyway, because I love weddings, I love London, and I love waking up at silly hours to do things that I will probably only have one opportunity in my lifetime to do.

So there.

In the meantime, I suggest you enjoy some of the sweet lovelies that Etsy crafters have made in honor of this sparkly ceremony.

1. Dessert Plate: Kate Middleton, House That Lars Built, $22.75

2. William and Kate Royal Wedding Print, Taylors Type, $20

3. Red Sparkle Heart Fascinator, Dark Pony Designs, $20

4. Fairy Queen Soap, Soapy Chica, $6.50

5. Prince William and Kate Middleton Royal Wedding A3 Print, 2DScrumptious, $27.32

6. Royal Wedding Engagement Ring Desert Plate, House That Lars Built, $22.75

7. London England City Skyline Series Notecards, Architette Studios, $16.75

8. Royal Wedding Union Jack Desert Plate, House That Lars Built, $22.75

9. Kate and William T-Shirt, Kate Garey, $47.81

10. Blue Bayou Navy Hair Fascinator, Silver Pencils, $20

11. Union Jack Hand Carved Rubber Stamp, Skull and Cross Buns, $9.39

12. Westminster Abbey Cushion, Helena Carrington Textile and Design, $65

13. Custom Wedding Cushion, Heli Creations, $45.54

14. Prince William Commemorative Desert Plate, House That Lars Built, $22.75

.neville.

Please excuse me for a moment while I tape this picture of Neville up in my locker.

Neville was always one of my favorites, and I always knew that even though he was a awkward and forgetful boy, he would turn out to be a brave and heroic man.  He always had it in his heart, he just got off to a bit of a clumsy start.  His actions in the final book always make me well up when I read, or heck, even just think about them!

I see the new movie on Saturday, and if they end up taking away any of Neville's shining moments in either of the last two movies I swear I am going to stop liking the Harry Potter stories.

For five minutes, at least.