Same Language or no?

We both speak English....the USA and England. Or do we?

Here's one last post before crossing the pond!

Could you get caught with your "pants" down?

Enjoy this info from Trip Advisor:
Clothing:  The word "pants" means underwear in Britain.  What Americans would refer to as "pants" are called "trousers" in the UK. Y-fronted underpants are also known as "Y-fronts" or  "undies".

'Sweaters' are known as 'jumpers'. Also "trainers" are tennis shoes or sneakers.  You'll often see "no trainers" listed in the dress code of clubs.

Places: Main Road = Highway, Slip Road = Off Ramp, Motorway = Freeway, Petrol Station/Filling Station = Gas Station,
Level Crossing = Railroad Crossing,
Zebra Crossing = Pedestrian Crossing,
Off Licence/Off Sales = Liquor Store,
Public Toilet = Restroom; 
Chemist = Drug Store

Foods:  Aubergine = eggplant, courgette = zucchini, baps/muffins/barmcakes = soft rolls, (bap is also a term for breasts so is best avoided),
white coffee = coffee with milk, biscuit = cookie, chips = fat french fries, crisps = chips,
coriander = cilantro, bangers = sausages,
mash=mashed potatoes,
piece (Scotland only) = sandwich,
jam = preserve - a term that is often also used for jam, Jelly is not something you put on toast but a childrens sweet desert that comes in a variety of colours.

Misc: lift = elevator, queue = line, bin = trash, brilliant = wonderful,
"I'll give you a lift" = "I'll give you a ride",
"I'll give you a ring/bell" = "I'll call you",
pissed = drunk (not angry),
"boot" used in context of a car = "trunk",
Petrol = Gas/Gasoline, Cashpoint/Hole In The Wall = ATM,
ground floor = first floor
Hand signals:  There's only one that really matters.  When you're indicating the number "two" with your fingers (as in, "two pints, please", it is advised to use your thumb and first finger, NOT your first and middle fingers.  If that "V" gesture is used with nails facing the person you're talking to, it is construed as raising the middle finger would be elsewhere (the middle finger raise also being offensive in the UK).

If you are going to use the "V" to indicate two, face the palm towards the person you're addressing.
The "F" word!  Fanny, that is. In the UK,  this is a word used for the female genitals.  The English equivalent for fanny is "bum" (fanny packs being called bum bags).
Another "F" word to be aware of is "fag", which in Britain is a slang word for 'cigarette' - not the modern US usage of a derogatory term for a homosexual man - so do not fret if you hear the sentence in a bar: "I'm going outside for a fag"!!!

 London and the South East of England

• "Guv'nor" (or simply "Guv") - Commonly used by Londoners, a contraction of the word "Governor", it is the equivalent of saying "chief", "mac" or "buddy" in colloquial American.
• "All right?" - Greeting
• "Cheers" - Used sometimes instead of "thank you" or "goodbye".  Also a salutation when drinking a toast.
• "Ta" - "Thank you"
• "Khazi" - Toilet / restroom

Weather Forecast - Updated 24 MAY

Things are warming up in England!

But don't forget your small umbrella, scarf, or hood on raincoat or jacket.

Forecast:

               High/Low                                    Rain        Humidity average 65%

Thursday     69/48              PM Showers    30%        Arrivals

Friday           72/50             Showers           50%       Arrivals

Saturday      72/53             Showers            60%       Flower Show & Evening Theatre

Sunday         71/54             PM Showers     40%       Shopping

Monday        67/54             AM Showers    40%       Highclere Castle

Tuesday        67/54             Partly Cloudy   20%       Windsor Castle & Dinner Cruise

Wednesday  67/53             AM Showers     20%       Departures

Thursday      70/52             Scattered Thunderstorms  40%  Departures

Cheat Sheet: British Pounds to Dollars

I will include this credit card size cheat sheet with your documents.

 US Dollar (USD) to British Pound (GBP)

Including 4% typical cash exchange margin for Wednesday, May 18, 2016

	USD	GBP			USD	GBP			USD	GBP
	1 =	0.72			10 =	7.19			100 =	72
	2 =	1.44			15 =	10.78			200 =	144
	3 =	2.16			20 =	14.38			300 =	216
	4 =	2.88			25 =	17.97			400 =	288
	5 =	3.59			30 =	21.56			500 =	359
	6 =	4.31			35 =	25.16			600 =	431
	7 =	5.03			40 =	28.75			700 =	503
	8 =	5.75			45 =	32.35			800 =	575
	9 =	6.47			50 =	35.94			900 =	647
	FXCheatSheet for Travelers © 1997-2016 by OANDA, Corp. http://www.oanda.com				60 =	43.13			Typical cash rate US Dollar (USD) British Pound (GBP) May 18, 2016
					70 =	50.32
					80 =	57.51
					90 =	64.69

British Pound (GBP) to US Dollar (USD)
Including 4% typical cash exchange margin for Wednesday, May 18, 2016

	GBP	USD			GBP	USD			GBP	USD
	1 =	1.50			10 =	15.04			100 =	150
	2 =	3.01			15 =	22.57			200 =	301
	3 =	4.51			20 =	30.09			300 =	451
	4 =	6.02			25 =	37.61			400 =	602
	5 =	7.52			30 =	45.13			500 =	752
	6 =	9.03			35 =	52.66			600 =	903
	7 =	10.53			40 =	60.18			700 =	1053
	8 =	12.04			45 =	67.70			800 =	1204
	9 =	13.54			50 =	75.22			900 =	1354
	FXCheatSheet for Travelers © 1997-2016 by OANDA, Corp. http://www.oanda.com				60 =	90.27			Typical cash rate British Pound (GBP) US Dollar (USD) May 18, 2016
					70 =	105.31
					80 =	120.36
					90 =	135.40

Let the Packing Begin

Weather in London

The weather looks to be in the high 60s during day and low 40s at evening with some chance of rain.

Here's what Queen Elizabeth wore recently to the races.  Note her layers, scarf to protect from the winds, and rubber boots for wet ground. Second photo, Her Majesty is shown with an oxford shirt, layered with a cardigan sweater and sleeveless jacket/vest.  So, this is your reminder: LAYERS LADIES!
    

And below is what I'll be wearing in London.  These days jeans are worn everywhere in London, but not in the better hotels, best not to Windsor Castle or Downton Abbey, nor the dinner cruise or theatre. Even Harrods has been known to turn away shoppers they consider not to be dressed appropriately.  So we are dressing for our top-notch accommodations!

I'll probably wear my red "riding inspired" blazer to Downton Abbey.  Do you remember the episode with the hunt scene: red jackets with white pants!  I can layer a black shirt and sweater beneath the jacket if I need to do so, and then wrap a knit black scarf around my neck. Pack an umbrella, a small handbag and I'm set. (No large bags or backpacks allowed in the castle).

    

Ladies at Downton Abbey

Eat your Heart Out fans of Downton Abbey.

Highclere Castle, aka Downton Abbey, is open to the public 60 days a year.  Tickets for 2016 have been sold out since very early in the year.  Other days are reserved for special events which tend to be fundraisers, and of course the current owners, Lord and Lady Carnarvon live at the castle full time. We will be touring the grounds, gardens, gift shop, tearooms, and of course the castle interiors at Highclere.

Monday will be our earliest day of the week, with our departure from the hotel by black cab to Paddington Station, where we board a 7am train direct train from Paddington Station to Newbury Station with travel time of 47 minutes to our destination. 

But remember,  the day before (Sunday) is a shopping day without any evening plans, so "early to bed, early to rise" will be our goal.  I reserved seats for our outgoing journey, booth style seating with a table for 4 in Coach B. On the return journey we have airline style reserved seating, Coach D. The train has food & beverages for purchase both directions. I'll ask the hotel to prepare a continental breakfast 'to go' for us so we can dine on the train.






The Flower Pot Cafe in Newbury opens at 8:30am and is nearby the train station. Cozy inside. Rated #1 for breakfast of 9 Newbury cafes. Many more restaurants.


Highclere Castle is 5 miles south of town and a taxi will take us to our destination.  Since the grounds don't open until 9am, and we arrive to Newbury about 8am, we shall take the opportunity to have a cup of tea or java in town.before arriving to Highclere.





When visiting HIghclere Castle you have either morning (10:30am-1pm) tickets or afternoon (1:30pm-3pm) tickets.  We have MORNING tickets. Once on the grounds, we can tour outside of the castle (grounds and gardens) and the gift shop or tea room as much as we like before and after the time inside the castle. I expect we will queue for entry around 10am.  Inside, no photographs are allowed. You can spend as much time as you wish in each room, but once leaving, you do not back-track to visit the rooms. Stairs are required to access the second floor for access to the bedrooms. Our tickets include the opportunity to view the Tutankhamun exhibit also inside...hopefully you are reading Lady Almina, The Real Countess of Highclere Castle, to understand this connection.

  



Upon leaving the castle, we can choose to have lunch back in Newbury before departing back to London at 4:49pm.  
Although there are 36 trains daily to Newbury, I chose this departure because it is the only afternoon departure with NO change of trains during the journey. Travel back to Paddington Station is 1 hour.

Shall we Shop?

Harrods

If you like to shop, you'll have a whirl of good time at Harrods. It reminds me of the original Macy's in New York City.  A bit confusing and also intimidating at the same time.  Here's what VisitLondon has to say:

About

For more than 160 years, Harrods has been a luxury shopping destination for exclusive collections and excellent service.
With seven floors and 330 departments dedicated to the finest products in food, fashion, homeware and technology, Harrods has something for everyone.

The new luxury womenswear department, Superbrands, has 17 boutiques dedicated to top international brands, including Valentino, Prada and Dior, while Salon du Parfums houses the finest fragrances exclusive to Harrods.

Shoppers can choose to dine in one of the store's 27 restaurants, including a pizzeria, steakhouse, oyster bar and new contemporary Chinese restaurant, Chai Wu. The Georgian is an elegant venue for afternoon tea, while the Harrods Food Halls have a wide selection of tea, chocolate and fresh produce.
Payments can be made in Euros or dollars as an option.

Address

Harrods:  87-135 Brompton Road in Knightsbridge

London SW1X 7XL

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7730 1234

Public transport:

Tube: Knightsbridge Train: Victoria

Established in 1849 as a humble grocery store, today Harrods is dedicated to the finest products in food, fashion, homeware, technology and more, plus restaurants and specialist services. Make sure you check out the Egyptian Hall, Salon du Parfums and the Pet Department. At night, the store is illuminated by 11,500 light bulbs.

I'm adding: don't miss the book store section, and the basement for fresh food and bakery.

Marks & Spencer

You can't go wrong with M&S! London's flagship. Marks & Spencer at Marble Arch boasts an impressive range of affordable buys. Staples like lingerie and clothing are joined by flowers, furniture and fabrics. There's also the M&S Café and the mouth-watering aisles of the food hall – enough to keep even the most intrepid shopper occupied.

Selfridges (right down from M&S)

Whatever you're after – bags, shoes, cosmetics, soft furnishings, books, a speciality food hall or cafés – you'll find it in Selfridges, London's amazing one-stop department store! There's a budget-busting designer clothing section and The Wonder Room, home to the world's most desirable brands, from Cartier and Chopard to Bulgari and more.

Liberty London

Opened in 1875, Liberty is one of London's most traditional stores, but venture inside and you'll find a whole host of cutting-edge ranges. Designers include Vivienne Westwood, Chloé and Tod's, plus there's an impressive beauty hall and haberdashery. Celebrating fine design and craftsmanship, Liberty is a shoppers' paradise.

Fortnum & Mason

The quintessential English store, Fortnum & Mason has been selling food, luggage, homewares and clothes to London's finest since 1707. The official grocer to The Queen, the beautiful store has four restaurants and sells the most indulgent foodstuffs. If you want specialist teas or exquisite hampers, this is the place to go.

Monday to Saturday 10:00 - 21:00
Sunday 11:30 - 19:00

Beautiful The Carol King Musical

We'll be enjoying a night at the London theatre on Saturday at the Aldrich Theatre.

Read all about it!  I've chosen Standard seats for our night at the theatre.

Experience the incredible true story and songwriting talents of Carole King at Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at London’s Aldwych Theatre. This inspiring, Tony-, Grammy- and Olivier-award winning musical charts King’s journey from penning her first hit ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’ at just 17 to her rise to fame as one of the best-loved solo acts in pop history. As the story unfolds, enjoy many of her greatest hits, from ‘You’ve Got a Friend,’ to ‘Natural Woman,’ and more, all brought to life by stunning performances, music and choreography.

Make your own way to the Aldwych Theatre in central London to enjoy this captivating, award-laden show, based on the story of chart-topping pop songstress Carole King.

Your ticket guarantees you seats for the show, and ensures excellent views of the stage and every moment of the story, performances and songs.

Learn how the 17-year-old musical maestro sold her first hit, ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,’ and went on to write Number 1 tracks for stars such as The Drifters, Aretha Franklin and The Monkees by the time she was 20.

Then, follow her incredible journey to a superstar in her own right, her marriage to songwriting partner Gerry Goffin, and her rise to become one of the most successful solo acts in pop history.

Along the way, listen to renditions of some of King’s classics that created a soundtrack for a generation, from ‘Up on the Roof’, to ‘Natural Woman’ and ‘You’ve Got a Friend’, all segued together in one seamless and joyous musical.

Aldwych Theatre

 

Originally built in 1905.

Click here to listen to Carole King's Beautiful

 

 

Tea at 3pm

Royal Tea at The Rubens

From the Rubens Hotel website:
"Our delicious afternoon tea features mouth-watering pastries that were heavily influenced by Royal events and dining trends throughout the centuries. 

From Her Majesty the Queen’s much-loved jam pennies, the red velvet cupcakes influenced by the House of Stuart, or the chocolate biscuit cake, a favourite of Prince William and Prince Harry of the House of Windsor, The Royal Afternoon Tea at the Rubens will leave you feeling like royalty."

We'll also receive one glass of champagne with our tea! Welcome to London!

Dinner Cruise on the Thames

Bring your camera and enjoy the lights of the landmarks of London.  We'll be on the Showboat!

Enjoy a evening of food, wine and entertainment as you cruise down the River Thames. Glide past some of London's most spectacular landmarks ias you cruise from the center of London to the Thames River barrier and back.

Highlights

• Free drinks included
• Travel by boat and see the sights from the water
• Dinner included

Begin your cruise in the heart of historic London, as you are welcomed aboard the London Showboat with a glass of sparkling wine in the lounge saloon. Following this, you will enjoy a four-course meal, with a choice of a half bottle of red or white wine included. During your cruise you will be entertained by a live singer, followed by more live entertainment, and plenty of time for dancing!

Starting in Westminster, you will see the historic buildings of St Paul's Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament; pass under the iconic Millennium Bridge and Tower Bridge, and see the more recent iconic constructions of Canary Wharf, the O2 Arena, the Thames Barrier, and the London Eye. 

Included with our dinner cruise:

• Pre-cruise glass of sparkling wine
• Delicious 4-course dinner
• Choice of half bottle of red or white wine with your meal
• Live singer performing songs from West End shows

 This is a sample menu:

First course:

• Oak smoked Scottish salmon mousse with a mustard and dill center
• Vegetarian option: Feta salad with walnuts, green beans, cherry tomatoes, roast peppers, pumpkin and olives

Second course:

• Tomato, roast pepper and basil soup

Third course:

• Roast chicken wrapped in parma ham, dauphinoise potato, mushroom, seasonable vegetables, served with a thyme and red wine sauce
• Vegetarian option: Lasagne, made with artichokes, spinach, saute of mixed mushrooms and goat cheese, and served with seasonal vegetables

Dessert:

• White, dark and milk chocolate truffle cake with raspberry sauce, served with tea or coffee

Departure Point:

Cruise departs from Westminster Pier

Departure Time:

7:45pm with boarding at 7:30pm

Duration:

3 hours (approx.)

Return Details:

Returns to original departure point at approximately 11:00pm

What to Wear? Oh dear.

You are setting your clothes aside this week, right?

Next week you'll be doing your "practice" packing, right?
And you know that layers will give you many options, right?

Here is some helpful advice: Click here for the Central London Tourist advice

I am sharing this blogger's thoughts...I do agree with her!
"Some rules for what to wear in London will apply, depending on where you will be visiting.

If you are planning to go the the Theatre check first with the venue if they have a dress code.
Usually there is no formal dress code but they do advise smart casual. 

I always know what to wear in London theatres now because I have been so many times.
Sometimes I will wear a nice top, with black trousers and some nice shoes. Usually flat shoes that are smart and comfortable.
I would never go 'over the top' and wear dresses and heels etc. I would probably look out of place, unless it was an opening night.
I personally wouldn't wear trainers (sneakers/tennis shoes) and I would advise you don't take the chance.
Sometimes, for some performances this may be frowned upon or even not allowed.
Dress in a smart/casual manner and make sure you will be comfortable enough to sit in your outfit for a couple of hours.  
Most theatres will not have air-conditioning either, so if it is really hot keep that in mind, or bring something to keep off any chilly drafts in cooler weather. "

"If you are wondering what to wear in London restaurants, I would always says check with them first.
If you are not sure where you will be going and so are not sure what to wear in London restaurants, then make sure you come prepared.
Not all restaurants will require you to dress a certain way, it really depends on which ones you will be going to.
Bring smart clothes and shoes if you think there is a possibility you will be going for afternoon tea or visiting a classy hotel or restaurant."

NOTE: We are staying in a "classy hotel" and we are having the Royal Tea at Rubens Hotel on Friday afternoon 3pm.

Have you any Pounds?

Undoubtedly you will need some spending cash.

Best for small amounts: tips, cafes (some won't take any credit cards, most will only take those with a "chip.") and cabs. Be prepared!  And if you plan to use an ATM, realize each time you utilize the machine, a charge will occur.  And sometimes they "eat" cards...again, you must have a 4 digit code for European ATMs and the first digit cannot be a zero.  So act now, and take along a bit of money...honey!

PS. Don't forget to notify your bank that you are traveling in the United Kingdom, so they won't think your card has been stolen and deny you the ability to use it.  If you have a chip card, but no PIN, apply for it TODAY! Some banks allow you to do this online, others take 2 weeks to mail. 

By the way, American Express is NOT the preferred card in Europe.  Visa and MasterCard are the best.

FYI> from the internet

One POUND consists of 100 pence.

The singular of pence is "penny". The symbol for the penny is "p"; hence an amount such as 50p is often pronounced "fifty pee" rather than "fifty pence".

We have both coins and banknotes.

Current coins are:

1 penny, 2 pence, 5 pence, 10 pence, 20 pence, 50 pence, 1 pound, and 2 pounds.

 

Current bank notes are:

the 5 pound note, the 10 pound note, the 20 pound note and the 50 pound note.

Old money conversions to money used today

• Six pence - 2½p
• One shilling (or 'bob') - 5p
• Half a crown (2 shillings and sixpence) - 12½p
• One guinea - £1.05

On our Way to Windsor Castle

Let's revisit our itinerary:

Day 1 - May 26, Thurs       flight to London (I'll be arriving the day prior at Luton)
Day 2 - May 27, Fri            Heathrow transfer to hotel, afternoon tea
Day 3 - May 28, Sat           Chelsea Flower Show all day
                                            Evening Theatre
Day 4 - May 29, Sun           On your own, or shopping at Harrod's, Selfridges, Liberty London, etc.
Day 5 - May 30, Mon          (Bank Holiday) Highclere Castle
Day 6 - May 31, Tue           Windsor Castle
                                            Thames Dinner Cruise
Day 7 - June 1, Wed            transfer to Heathrow for flight to USA (KO next day to Luton)

This post features Windsor Castle.

We'll be taking a coach from Victoria Station to the castle grounds (coach has restroom aboard).

 Windsor is located 30 miles west of London. 















Colored text below is from the Official website: Note that we will depart the hotel about 10am, for the bus at London Victoria Station around 10:30am; arriving to our destination stop at 11:30am. We will dine for lunch in town before arriving to the Castle.... after the crowds. Once inside you can wander at your own pace and we'll aim for a 4pm return bus, and will adjust the departure for time required to walk back to the bus pick-up.

There is a lot to see and do at Windsor Castle, so please allow enough time to make the most of your visit.  We suggest between 2½ and 3 hours. The Castle is at the top of a steep hill, and the visitor route covers long distances. You are advised to wear comfortable shoes. 

The Admission Centre is at its busiest between 09:30 and 11:30, so you may like to consider arriving after 11:30. You can visit the State Apartments, the Drawings Gallery, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and St George’s Chapel at your leisure using the complimentary multimedia tour, which lasts 1½ hours. Guided tours of the Precincts, which are included in the admission price, depart at half-hourly intervals from the Courtyard and last 30 minutes. St George’s Chapel closes at 16:00, although visitors are welcome to attend evensong at 17:15.

Note: No backpacks or large totes allowed, so we must travel light today!
On arrival, you and your belongings will be subject to airport-style security checks. Please try to bring as little as possible with you as it will help you to get through security screening more quickly.
Some items, such as large items of baggage, backpacks, pushchairs, pen-knives and scissors will have to be checked in and reclaimed at the end of the visit. 
Note: We will most likely eat before entering the Castle grounds. An average visit is about 3 hours, and if we depart by 4pm we will have some time to relax before the evening's dinner cruise.


Eating and drinking are not permitted in the State Apartments or St George’s Chapel. You will be asked to place drinks and food in closed bags before being admitted to the Castle. You can purchase bottled water at the Courtyard Shop at the beginning of your visit.
Visitors wishing to leave the Castle for refreshments in the town may obtain re-entry permits from the Castle shops or the audio return point.

Note: The following diagram shows the Castle layout and terrain.

 

In the Mood for London

This post is just for fun!

The countdown for departure begins!  Less than 4 weeks before departure....and it's still cool in London, with temperature still between 62 and 67 degrees so far.  So, please plan for plenty of layers as we are likely to have cool mornings and evenings, even if it warms up a bit in the coming weeks.

While you are contemplating your wardrobe, why not immerse in the culture with books and movies set in the location of our destination?

I just finished reading the book Lady Almina and The Real Downton Abbey.  I'll be sending this up to the Pennsylvania travelers to read if you think you have time before your departure> my roomie couldn't wait and she ordered it for herself.  It really does bring Highclere Castle to life knowing the history of the real American heiress.


Coming up 23 June 2016 is the latest Independence Day sequel...look for it after our return.  Click here for the trailer> Independence Day: Resurgence Official Trailer.
I missed the March release this year of London Has Fallen. But who wouldn't like to see Gerard Butler as the hero? Click here for London has Fallen trailer.

Enough of aliens and terrorists!
Let's get nostalgic with Notting Hill: you may want to stroll the shops on Sunday in Notting Hill.
Click here for Notting Hill trailer with Julia Roberts & Hugh Grant

I haven't seen First Night yet,  though it was released in 2013 in the United States and 2010 for U.K. It is sure to priovide great music, comedy, and lovely countryside English scenery with Sarah Brightman and Richard E.Grant.

It's available at Amazon Nexflix for viewing.
Click here: First Night movie trailer

The same director is known for Much Ado about Nothing and The Madness of King George.







The newest book about the royal ladies is Game of Crowns.
I'm hoping to start this one soon!