England through the eyes of an American - Market Day

I love the market. I never experienced anything like this when I was back home. That doesn't say that it doesn't exist. Its just saying that it didn't exist in any of the places I lived or that I was to young to appreciate them if they did :)

In the town where I live market day is every Tuesday and Saturday. I often take the children to school and head straight to the market to walk around for a couple of hours, which is what I did today. I thought I would take you on a tour of the Market in my lovely town of Tamworth which is about 12 miles outside of Birmingham.

Here is what I see when I first approach the market. Loads of market stalls. They line the streets and are full of in expensive market goodness :)

Here are a few more stalls at the back of our market. If you click on the picture you can see how diverse the market is. At the front is a fresh produce. Next to that they were selling gardening plants. Back a bit further is handbags in one stall, clothing in one and cushions in another. Any one fancy some fruit? Any bowl £1.00

Ahhh yes all that fresh baked bread goodness. The British LOVE their bread. There are so many different types of bread. Man I am so going to miss this. Oh and by the way ITS CHEAP!! A loaf of bread will set you back 85p for the really nice stuff. Which is only $1.30 Yummy!

A trip to the market wouldn't be a trip to the market without the Butcher shouting out his wonderful prices on the loud speaker. "Hey you, there in the green top you need some sausages don't you? Awe come one fresh lovely British Pork Sausages 6 for £1.50 bargain" Yep that is the lovely butcher.
And the newsagents as we call them here. They sell all the magazines and newspapers available in the UK.

There are loads of sweets stalls. This one is one of our favorites because they sell yummy cakes along with loads of yummy sweets.
When the children come with me to the market this is the first place we have to go... DONUTS!! We get 6 donuts for £1.50 and they are delicious. He makes then right there in front of you. Oh man Krispy Kreme has nothing on the market donut man!
When I first moved here I loved walking to the market at the end of the day when the produce stalls were about to close. There would be 2 or 3 men trying to sell off everything because they knew it wouldn't be fresh come next market do so they would be shouting "BANANA'S GET YOUR BANANA'S 1 HAND 50p" or "MUSHROOMS, WHOLE BOX OF MUSHROOMS £1.00" Once I bought a whole box of mushrooms and then when I got home thought what am I going to do with these now?

Clothing is so cheap in the market. There are probably about 15 stalls in our market of just clothing. They sell everything from trousers, tops, skirts, socks and underwear even Lingerie.

Another one of my favorite things in the market is all the performers. There is always someone playing an instrument or a mime doing a performance. Sometimes there are animals from various charities. The children LOVE putting money in their pots.

A trip to the market is never complete for me without a visit to our charity shops. I never like charity shops until I moved here and I am certain that is because I am now a bit older and can appreciate all the crafty and lovely goodness a charity shop has to offer. It is so true when they say one mans junk is another mans treasure.

Well I hope that you enjoyed my trip to town today. I loved it and I am sad that I only have two more weeks to visit. I am going to have to make sure to make the most of the market over the next two weeks.

England through the eyes of an American - Food Shopping in England!

I know most of you are expecting Alisha, but she's asked me to re-post an entry I did on my own blog about shopping in England. I guess since I am an American living in England - I see things while shopping the same way Alisha does - either that or she didn't want to make a fool of herself taking pictures at the local grocery store like I did (lol).

Shall we begin the tour?

So here we go on a tour of my local shop (beware – lots of pictures, oh and sorry about the occasional finger in the picture – I was trying to be discreet):

When you first walk in – there are shelves of fresh sandwiches.

Here is customer services/tobacco counter.

They shops here have TONS of magazine options, pretty much if you are interested in it, they’ll have it – oh and this is just one section – there is a whole other wall full.

The “pound shop”.

The stairs go up to the Café, where weary shoppers can get a cup of tea or some generally overcooked, overpriced food.

The Pharmacy – did you know they sell codeine and antibiotics over the counter here?

Clothes section – right across from the veggies.

Courgettes (zucchini), Aubergines (eggplants), and TONS of brussel sprouts.

Takeaway food and the Delicatessen.

The butcher and the fishmonger.

Care for some jellied eels, no seriously??

Even the bacon is different!!

The Reduced to Clear section where you can find some real treasures or just real rubbish.

The English love their lamb.

Yummmmm bakery – they bake most of the things in the store – while dieting I just stay away.

“American Style” hotdogs – being American, I don’t think I’ve see hot dogs in America in a tin with brine – but maybe I’m wrong – at any rate, I don’t eat hot dogs from a tin, no matter how many American flags they have on them.

Baked Beans section – the English sure do love their baked beans.

In America they have a section of ethnic Mexican food, here in England there ethnic section is for the Eastern Europeans, mostly written in Polish.

** I must stop here and tell a short story. About at this point in the store a woman walked up to me and Chris and said, “EXCUSE me, its against the law to take pictures in the store. Would you delete them please?” (typing cannot express the rudeness that she said it). I quickly said, “Ummmm yes…” and put the camera (phone in my pocket). Chris then said, “It isn't against the law! Who says its against the law???” I don’t think she was expecting anyone to argue with her and started to mutter, “it is against the law…” while turning up the isle. I don’t know what her problem was, I didn’t even take a picture of her (although now I wish I had). So we waited until she was out of sight and continued taking pictures… silly woman.

The tour continues:

TONS of alcohol. Now, maybe it is just my sheltered upbringing but here in England, that much at the grocery store seems a bit excessive.

Squash – here in England it isn't a veggie, it is a concentrated fruit drink.

Tea – my camera lens wasn’t wide enough to get in all the options – they love their tea!

The tills, or checkouts.

Crisps – These are just some of them but I LOVE the names: Quavers, Skips, Wotsits, Nik-Naks, Discos, Twiglets – sounds like a different language.

The ceiling – if you look up there you would be forgiven for thinking you are in a warehouse.

Kitchen roll and toilet roll (paper towels and toilet paper).

The milk here is shaped differently too (by milk, obviously milk cartons lol). I think it is so it can fit in the tiny fridges a bit better.

Here are some puddings, and by puddings I mean desserts.

On diet – must resist.

Now that I live in England, I often bypass things that as a visitor, might find interesting – like this post box. Down in London people take pictures of these to show family when they get home from their vacation – here I walk past it every day. Are there post boxes (mailboxes) in American grocery stores? I forget.

These are where they shallow trolleys go – trolleys in England aren't a mode of transportation, but a cart. And in England the wheels on said trolleys aren't fixed straight ahead, but turn all the way around. This causes problems for me because they are hard to control, but Chris hates the trolleys in America – he finds them hard to steer. I guess it is just what you’re used to!

Crossings to help us safely return to our car.

In the car park there are various way to recycle pretty much anything you own – clothes, books, glass, etc..

We’ve reached the end our of our tour. Are you still there or did you give up past the first 100 pictures?? If you want to get a close up of the pictures just click on them.

Thank you.... have a nice day... please come again... ta... cheers....

England through the eyes of an American - Kissing

When I was growing up I remember being in High School and from time to time giving a friend, a good friend a hug. But it wasn't an every day thing and we certainly never kissed each other on the cheek. So I am sure you can imagine my surprise and embarrassment the first time someone here, whom I had only just met, kissed my cheek. I wasn't sure what to do really. But now 9 years on I am worried about when I go home and go to hug or kiss someone. It is second nature to me now.

In England kissing is normal. You see someone you know in the shops you kiss and hug them, you go to someones house, you kiss and hug them. Your friend gives your child a biscuit you tell them "That was so nice of Emma, give her a kiss and a cuddle." A kiss and a cuddle is everything. Men kiss and give cuddles to the women. Women kiss and cuddle other men and women. It is normal. Where in the states you might give a handshake here we kiss and cuddle (BTW Cuddle = Hug). You know what... I LOVE IT!! What on earth will I do in Texas when a kiss and a cuddle is not acceptable? Well at least not to people you only just meet.

How do you feel about the whole Kiss and Cuddle culture? Am I wrong about it not being this way in the states? Have things changed in the last 9 years which make it more acceptable?

England through the eyes of an American - Language Barrier

When I first arrived in the UK never did I think that I would have a hard time understanding the language. After all we all speak English, don't we? Of course we do but the words we use in the USA are not always the same as the words used here in the UK.

For Example:

The other day we were watching an American children's program and someone said they were going to the restroom in a grocery store. My 7 year old got so excited that in the states they have actual restrooms in stores. She was envisioning a place to rest with nice soft couches, TVs maybe a few toys. I then had to explain to her that the restroom is the same as the Toilet or the Loo here. You should have seen the look on her face.

I thought I would share with you a list of words which are different.

English word - American word

Biscuits - Cookies
Headmaster - Principal
Spanner - Wrench
Courgette - Zucchini
Wardrobe - Closet
Lorry - Truck
Toilet / Loo / WC - Bathroom / Restroom
Flat - Apartment
Trousers - Pants
Pants / Knickers - Underwear
Queue - Line
Lift - Elevator
Rubber - Eraser
Chips - Fries
Crisps - Potato Chips
Holiday - Vacation
Boot - Trunk
Bonnet - Hood
Petrol - Gas
Shop - Store
Ring - Call
Jumper - Sweater
Nappy - Diaper
Dummy - Pacifier
Plaster - Band aid
Jelly - Jello
Garden - Yard
Pram / Push chair - Stroller
Torch - Flashlight
Trainers - Tennis shoes
Lounge - Living Room
Candy Floss - Cotton Candy
Primary School - Elementary School
Rubbish - Trash
Bin - Trash Can
Snogging - Making out
Car Park - Parking Lot
Motorway - Freeway
Slip Road - Freeway on or off ramp
Indicator - Blinker
Lolly pop Lady - Crossing Guard
Zebra Crossing - Crosswalk
Pudding - Dessert
Mobile Phone - Cell Phone
Engaged - Busy (IE. the phone was engaged)
Hire something - Rent something
Hoover - Vacuum
Revise - Study
Trolley - Shopping Cart


Can anyone else think of anymore?

England through the eyes of an American - Holidays

After 9 years Im not really sure where to start. I have been trying to decide what to share with you first. I thought I would share with you some of my favorite Holiday Traditions here in the UK.

Of course we have standard "Bank Holidays" here. But some of the things celebrated are not actual holidays. So Im going to share a mix of my favorite "Official" Holidays and "Unofficial" Holidays.




One of my first favorites is...... Drum Roll Please..... St. George's Day! St. George is the patriot saint of England. Most will have heard of him as the man who slayed the dragon. St. Georges Day is big deal here. In our town they make it a fantastic family day. We always go to the park where there are loads of 12th Century activities on. Our favorite is the Jousting and Sword flighting. They set up a big arena and have different knights joust each other. The Grand Finale being the Bad Knight against Saint George.


Easter - Of course we all celebrate Easter for the same reason, the Resurection of the Savior Jesus Christ, but the traditions are not the same. In the USA you have the Easter Bunny. In England there is no such bunny. Instead we buy HUGE Chocolate Eggs and give them to each other and our children. My children normally end up with about 10 - 15 of these eggs. Everyone is off work on the friday before Easter (Good Friday) and the Monday following Easter (Easter Monday). There are always family fun activities going on in the local parks but no people dressed up like scary Easter Bunnys. ;)

Halloween - Halloween is only really just taking off. Halloween isnt the fun loving holiday it is in the USA. When the children knock on your door and say Trick or Treat they actually mean it and if you dont give them some kind of treat then they will egg or flower your house. Last year our local grocery store refused to sell Eggs or flour to anyone under the age of 18 in the two weeks before Halloween. Many of the older generation see Halloween as celebrating evil spirits and ghost. Since having children I have always taken my children Trick or Treating and it has only been the past couple of years that people have really begun to realise that it can be just for fun with no harm intended. I would imagine that in the next 10 years the bad stigma which has always been around Halloween in England will dissapear and it will become the fun loved holiday that is shared by so many across the pond :)


Bon Fire Night - The 5th of November is Guy Fawlks night, AKA Bon Fire Night. When I first moved here and heard about this I couldnt believe that people here would celebrate a time when a man tried to set the houses of parliment on fire and as punishment was burnt at the stake. I was shocked at my first Bon Fire when they have a stuffed man on top of the Bon Fire and were burning him as a reminder of it. But I have grown to LOVE the traditions which come with this holiday. This is celebrated on the 5th of November so it is starting to get cold out. We always start with a nice hot dinner, chilli or a hotpot (known as stew in the USA) then we bundle up in warm clothes and head to our local Fireworks and Bon Fire Show. We Drink Hot Chocolate and eat Cany Apples, not covered in Caramel but rather in a hard candy shell or choclate covered with nuts or sprinkles. The kids wear glowing jewlery and we buy some kind of lighted toys from the local vendors. There are loads of people around, loud music and of course the Bon Fire and then finally after waiting an hour or so the fireworks start. They are done to traditional music songs like Jerusalem or Land of Hope and Glory and last about 20 minutes. I love this tradition and even as I write this my heart strings are being pulled and I am realising just how much I will miss this tradition.


Rememberance Day - Rememberance Day is similar to Memorial Day, but we dont have time off work. For weeks in the run up to Rememberance Day people wear plastic or paper Red Poppies. Rememberance Day is on the 11th of November. At 11 am there is 2 minutes of silence where ever you are you stop and for two minutes reflect on and remember those who lost their lives for the freedoms which we enjoy so much. Then the following sunday in church again at 11 we have two minutes of silence and everyone stands to show respect. It is a lovely way to remember those who have passed on before us and have paved the way for us. For the comforts and the Freedoms we enjoy.




Christmas - I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I LOVE the British traditions for Christmas. Christmas Crackers, Tins of Chocolates, Selection Boxes, Advent Calanders, School Christmas Fairs, School Christmas Plays and more food than you than you can "shake a stick at".

Boxing Day - The day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day. Originally an 'Alms Box' was placed in every church on Christmas Day, into which worshippers placed a gift for the poor of the parish. These boxes were always opened the day after Christmas, which is why that day became know as Boxing Day. Now we celebrate it watching Football (AKA Soccer) and eating as much as you possibly can. Mostly buffet food or left overs.

Where are you from and what are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

Your Going Where? And Doing What?

I cant believe that it has been almost a month since I posted anything on here. I must apologise and explain. As most of you will know I have been living in England for the past 9 years. Back in December my husband and I decided that we have enjoyed our journey here in England but that it was time to move back to the USA. Something that we had intended to do since we moved here 9 years ago. So we applied for his visa, he is British. He received his visa in August and since then things have been manic. In fact before he received his visa we were slowly clearing things out.

Well here we are the 1st of October and I am happy to announce we will be moving to Dallas Texas on the 24th of this month. Things are very crazy here as we have decided to sell everything we own and relocate with nothing but 4 suitcases, our lugage allowance.

I will be honest with you I am so excited to be closer to my family, we will still be a 21 hour drive from my home town of Good Ol St.George Utah but we will be a lot closer. At the same time I am really sad to leave the only home my children have ever known. And the beautiful place I have called home for the past 9 years.

I have been thinking a lot the past few weeks about this move and about how lucky I have been to live in the United Kingdom and to experience the culture and the people this wonderful land has to offer. I started to think about how so many of my wonderful friends and family, of which you all are, may never get to experience this beautiful place. So I have decided over the next few weeks, as I savor my final three weeks here and as I start taking millions of mental picture of things I never want to forget, Im going to write a series of posts all about this wonderful land. The many things I have had the chance to do and experience over the past 9 years. I think Im going to call it England through the eyes of an American.

This place has made such an imprint on my heart. It has been my home my entire adult life. My husbands family are all here, whom I love dearly. I just thought I would share this place that I love so much with all of you. I hope that you will enjoy this series of posts. I also hope I can find the time while preparing to move country to do the series of posts the justice it deserves.

Spiritually Speaking - The Echo

The Echo

’Twas a sheep not a lamb

That strayed away in the parable Jesus told,

A grown-up sheep that strayed away

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

And why for the sheep should we seek

And earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger when sheep go wrong:

They lead the lambs astray.

Lambs will follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray.

When sheep go wrong,

It won’t take long till the lambs are as wrong as they.

And so with the sheep we earnestly plead

For the sake of the lambs today,

For when the sheep are lost

What a terrible cost

The lambs will have to pay.
- C.C. Miller