In Training

On the Royal Wedding

After watching the Lifetime made-for-tv-movie 'William and Kate' ** I remembered how excited I am about the upcoming Royal Wedding (da da dah!).  I've always been excited about it, but not on the same level as you'll find some people are - aka OMG!!!!!1 Kate may or may not have come out of such and such store that may or may not have anything to do with the ROYAL WEDDING!!!!1!!.  I happened to miss the last major Royal Wedding by two years and 42 days so there's no way I'm missing this one!  Plus, like most in my generation I grew up with Wills and Harry (confession time: while everyone has always been all about how hot Prince William is, I've always been more attracted to Harry. I'm a rebel.)

Then I read this today from the Daily Mail which basically says that 9 out of 10 British women polled aren't jealous of Kate Middleton and actually, they feel sorry for her.  Their reasoning was what you would expect: life will never be normal again and the blaring burning public and media spotlight.  While I'm not jealous of Kate - I've got all the fairytale I could ever wish for - I would never pity her!  Here's why:

1. They were friends first.
2. They've been together for 10 years!
3. She knows what's coming.
Most importantly...
4. They are IN LOVE!

Why would I feel sorry for her?! I'm truly happy for 'em both.

Also, for all you Royal Wedding haters out there: REALLY?! You've got nothing better to complain about than a happy couple taking a chance on love and happiness?  Yikes, I do feel sorry for you.  Not Kate, just you.  Huge boost in tourism and the whole world watching -- millions of people having lovey-dovey warm fuzzy feelings about the United Kingdom -- oh it's so terrible, what can we do to stop it!?! Get a life.

** Royal and I only watched half of the movie together. He left to see a friend and I finished it alone. The next day he tells me that he watched the rest of it and though it was kinda chad, it was also pretty good. Extremely high praise coming from a hurly burly rough 'n tumble former Bootneck!  So ignore the critics and watch it if you are able!

Thrifty Queen

Very cool article.  Great photographs, too. 

Love reading about her, love seeing her.  That is one tough lady.

God save the Queen!

No poppies here

Running out the door to Art Appreciation but wanted to post this: 
Row as Strictly dancers are banned from wearing poppies over health and safety fears.

Crazy. 

Headline & Story of the Day!

Thugs attack two transvestites... who turn out to be cage fighters in fancy dress.

Oh yes they did.

Complete with photos and video and great comments!

** Update **

An interview with Lionheart and Lights Out ... the two cage fighters!

Lookin' good gentlemen, lookin' good!

Rainbows & Red Arrows

Easily the most amazing thing I've seen all day!

Bravo red arrows, bravo photographer (Tim Bullen) and most of all -- bravo to the Big Guy upstairs!

More breathtaking photographs (including a double rainbow!) at the link.

Do Americans Care About British Soldiers?

That title belongs to Michael Yon, as does this post. 

It is a must read.

Do Americans care about British soldiers? 

Hell yes we do!

If you would like to learn more about Soldiers' Angels, click the link. 
They could use your help!
Also, Michael Yon is funded strictly by your donations... so donate today!  Get to know  him here.

Bournemouth Air Festival

The super cool event Royal and I thought was in July -- when we were in the area -- but isn't.  It's this week!  Darn it.  We were going to go anyway (Red Arrows, baby, Red Arrows), but then today I saw THIS and now I'm even more jealous that we are missing it!  Sigh.  Just read the whole thing and go to the festival if you can.

For me. 

How the British do Iced Tea *

Let me preface this true story by saying that I am no tea snob.  I was drinking hot tea way before my first visit to the U.K. - sugar, no sugar, milky or not, lemon/honey whatever and I absolutely adore both sweet & unsweetened iced tea.  My family are big on the tea.  

Most of the British people I've talked with think iced tea is crazy, CRAZY I TELL YOU!! Which is cool (ha, pun) I know it's very different for them. 

While in England our family decided to go to dinner and a movie (Harry Potter).  Dinner was T.G.I. Friday's because it is close to the cinema and has pretty good food.  For those who may not know, it's an American restaurant which means things like free refills (Yes! Finally!) and American fare.  I'd been before on trips, but this was the first time I noticed Iced Tea on the drinks menu. 

I'd been about two weeks without iced tea and was interested to see what it would be like in England.  When our waitress came to the table I asked her if they made the iced tea fresh.  I only asked because I hate iced tea made from a powder - sacrilege!!  So horrible and so not tea.  The waitress gave me a quizzical look and said yes, they would make it fresh for me.  I was really excited! 

Out came our drinks and ...

I'm fairly certain that they made a cup of hot English tea (I think it was probably English Breakfast, the taste was very similar) added milk, then poured it over ice!  A sort of iced coffee but with tea.  And most definitely not as good!  It wasn't terrible - I drank it all over the course of the meal - I didn't want to make her feel bad!  Let's just say I won't be changing my iced tea making ways to be like theirs! 

And wouldn't you know?  It was the one time I didn't take my camera with me somewhere the whole trip! 

I'm thinking I might do a step by step photo tutorial on how to make iced tea - and fast!  It's very simple and really refreshing...

*Obviously not all of them (I don't think!)

Kath's Guide to Making Iced Tea

Trip within a Trip : Wales

Royal and I have friends in Wales - friends who came all the way to the U.S. for our wedding! - so we planned a day to go visit.  I've been to England, Ireland, & Scotland but Wales was new - perfect! Off we go...



I started to get bored during the drive so out came the camera -- just in time to snap the "Fresh Pet Meat Daily" sign.  Wha...?  Okay, okay.  Obviously I realize they aren't selling pet meat for human consumption but... 



One of the Severn Bridges - I'm sorry to say at this point I'm not sure which one - the 1966 or the 1996 version. 



We are so in.

Grafitti from Brit Trip '09

We thought the ship on the back of a sign on the quay was cool.