Gather that Nancy Lancaster (born in US 1897) codified what is known as the English country-house look. She was a noted 20th-century tastemaker and the owner of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, an influential British decorating firm.
Martin Wood wrote a coffe table book about her: Nancy Lancaster: English Country House Style. At Google Books you can thumb through the book and her life:
http://books.google.nl/books?id=gz1xSJvbswYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Nancy+Lancaster:+English+Country+House+Style&hl=nl&ei=Ze8FTfv3MYOCOv-mpKYB&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
HOW TO BE A GIRL IN ENGLAND
a Dutch girl is learning fast
Monday, December 13, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Learn an English expression
'Close your eyes and think of England.'
It's 'an expression used in the United Kingdom referring to unwanted sexual intercourse. Usually from ones spouse.
Not very reliable sources say it's a sentence from the diary of Lady Alice Hilligdon, a British baroness (1857-1940):
It's 'an expression used in the United Kingdom referring to unwanted sexual intercourse. Usually from ones spouse.
Brenda: I hate having sex with George.Lucy: Just close your eyes and think of England.'
Not very reliable sources say it's a sentence from the diary of Lady Alice Hilligdon, a British baroness (1857-1940):
"I am happy now that George calls on my bedchamber less frequently than of old. As it is, I now endure but two calls a week, and when I hear his steps outside my door I lie down on my bed, close my eyes, open my legs, and think of England."
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Catch Klaxons in Amsterdam
Find out they are better than three years ago, and will be better in three years time. There's more to come.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Sense Wag & Wid
From my first day in England I'm astonished by the publicity of X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing. Not only the gossip magazines and tabloids write about it, also the more intelligent newspapers. Specially X Factor generates a lot of publicity, because the winner is to release the Christmas song, a almost garanteed winner on top of the UK singles charge. It's big buisiness.
Except last year. X Factor winner Joe McElderry, for the first time in X Factor history, lost the battle for the Christmas number one when US rockers Rage Against The Machine got to the top with an eighties track following a Facebook protest campaign.
This year there's a new phenomenon to snub the elections: the anti-vote. When you disgust a program, you vote for the most awful candidate.
Meet the main anti-vote characters at X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing: Wag & Wid. Wag is Wagner, a Brazilian singer and former PE teacher from 54.
What they have in comon: they are both unaccpetable dreadful in the competition. But there are two big differences: Wid is funny and she's more loved than hated.
“If you hate Simon Cowell and want to piss him off vote Wagner! If you want to help run the X factor into the ground and cause mayhem vote Wagner!”
Except last year. X Factor winner Joe McElderry, for the first time in X Factor history, lost the battle for the Christmas number one when US rockers Rage Against The Machine got to the top with an eighties track following a Facebook protest campaign.
This year there's a new phenomenon to snub the elections: the anti-vote. When you disgust a program, you vote for the most awful candidate.
Meet the main anti-vote characters at X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing: Wag & Wid. Wag is Wagner, a Brazilian singer and former PE teacher from 54.
Wid is Anne Widdecombe, a former British Conservative Party politician.
What they have in comon: they are both unaccpetable dreadful in the competition. But there are two big differences: Wid is funny and she's more loved than hated.
Wag is so disgusting that the jury didn't even bother to say anything after his performances anymore.
Thanxx wrote on the site: “If you just fancy a really crazy Xmas number 1 this year… vote Wagner!!! If you despise all what the X Factor stands for vote Wagner!“If you hate Simon Cowell and want to piss him off vote Wagner! If you want to help run the X factor into the ground and cause mayhem vote Wagner!”
Friday, November 26, 2010
The Importance of Being in Line
Everybody knows British like to stand in row at the bus stop.
A week ago I discovered that children at primary school has to stand in line as well. There's a queue for each class, and just as everone is in place, they can go into school. It's quite cute.
Yesterday I stumbeld on another lineup rule. I parked my auto at a big car park. There was nobody there, just me and my car. I paid the ticket and went shopping. When I came back I had a penalty charge.
I was so confused, that I looked at it over and over again. This was a mistake.
At home I saw why I got the ticket: my car was out of line.
So, beware of the lines.
Discover the cinema bus
I love strange inventions of the past. On BBC news I saw this one: the cinema bus.
That's nice, I thought, for all those small UK country villages where it's so dark after five pm, that kids and teens are stuck at home, except when their parents drive them everywhere (who wants that all the time?).
But no, I was mistaken. This bus was build in the sixties by the English ministery of technology.
Huh?
The nice lady on the red BBC-couch (the one who's sitting so uncomfortable with her long skirt, afraid that someone can look between her legs) explained. The government wanted to teach British factory workers about future possibilities. Imagen them, making a bus, driving to the factories, ring the bell like an ice car, and show them a technological movie.
The movie bus is not only a UK sixties thing. In the US they build one also in the thirties. I think it didn't end well, because it appeared in the The Worlds Most Costly Blunders.
Maybe it's time for a new, modern cinema bus. How lovely that would be while travelling to the south.
Spot your future home
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
An Artist's Life in Five Paintings: Fiona Meek
At a ladies lunch in de county of Kent I met artist Fiona Meek (1966), an upcoming oil painter, who's currently exhibiting at Seascape Gallery in Godalming, Surrey. In her paintings you experience a melancholic longing for bygone times. They are delicate, light-coloured seasides and still-lives, who complement with her appearance. Although she lived and spent her childhood in Israel, she could have walked right out of The Secret Garden or Malory Towers. I asked her which five paintings represent her life and work.
1 Whistler - Whistler in his studio
'If I had a Whistler hanging on my wall, my live would be complete. They are so beautiful, it stirs something in you. Like a diamond ring would to another woman. The colours, the yellow, the blue, that grey and black, the ambience, the faces, they are all extremely sensitive.I always live in the past. My father died when I was seventeen and my mother fifteen years later. I had the most wonderful childhood, and I miss my family. Bereavement can throw you completely. The closer you get to someone, the harder it is to get over it. I suffered with depression for many years. I had a great therapist and I used to say to him: "The day I pick up my paintbrush, will be the day that I'm better."
I was right. It's really healing for me to paint. You sit at your easel and thoughts pass through your head, but you ultimately think of colour, form and how the colours sing. While painting, you are in the past in a different, productive and positive way. It's a way of switching off. However, the wistfulness does always come across. I don't mind that, because I recognise it. I never see myself doing a modern, contemporary piece without striving for an atmosphere. Just like Whistler did.'
2 Turner - Sunset
'I love the sea. I grew up on the beaches in Israel and France - my grandmother was French. Turner used to go to Whitstable, near where I live. There is something about the light, the way it makes you feel and the sunsets - maybe that's why there are so many artists in Whitstable. Turner visited it specially for the light.
He's an inspiration. His paintings are abstract, but yet you can read them. They are so real. Look at the movement of the sky, that's extraordinary. I don't know anybody who doesn't like his work.
I love paintings that make the hairs on your arm stand up. For me that's the most important thing. My paintings are so much about atmosphere, and Turner was an expert. He was a rebel in his time. People didn't like it. They didn't get it. It came from the heart. That's how I like to paint as well.'
3 Euan Uglow - Title unknown
'When I was thirty, I went to art school. I was a mature student, given a second change. When I was young and living at Bedgesbury school for girls, I painted all the time. Every painting I did went up on the walls in the dining room, but nobody ever said: "You can go to art college." The only thing that mattered was a good education. It's a tragedy. To be honest, I should have done what I'm doing now much earlier on.
I studied Fine Art at Christchurch University in Canterbury from 1993 to 1997. My teachers were fabulous. A lot of them came from Slade, an art school in London, and many were taught by Euan Uglow (born in London 1932), who's one of the artist's that inspired me, a modern day painter who wanted to go back to the masters and learn the very basics.
At art school painting became a need for me. I was living on everything they were teaching me. I don't know if you can be taught how to paint, but you can be taught how to look. That's what I learnt, and I practise it anywhere and anytime. It became a second nature.'
4 Cezanne - Still-live with apples
'I love Cezanne and his still-lives, because he's one of the painters that taught me how to look. He once said: "When you observe an apple, imagine all things: the front, the side, the space, the corner of a screen, every peace of the wall or table is as important as the apple." I admire him for his aim for perfection and wanting to get it right.
Cezanne used mathematics in his paintings. Het could be inspired by a line, and let it take shape. It's not something I live by as a rule, but often I think: where can that line take me?
When I paint I look at it over and over again. I plan a picture aesthetically. I go back and paint it over, and sometimes I completely change it. The paintings I am the least happy with, sometimes become my most favourites. Work like that is an experience. The more you do things, the more you see different aspects and learn about other elements or techniques that will work in different ways. Every day, every picture is a learning thing.'
5 Fiona Meek - Horizon
'When my father died, my mother and I went to a spiritualist. She looked at me and said: "I see blue, you are a painter and you're going to be famous for your paintings of blue." I was seventeen and it didn't mean anything to me than. I was there in name of my father. I forgot about the prediction, but years later it occurred to me again.
I love painting the seaside. Here you see me twice at the beach in Israel, in a painting and a photo. I'm not a sailor or a good swimmer, but being on the edge of the sea gives me a great feeling. The sky is big, the sea is big, the unanswered questions are big... it all just goes on forever. It's almost comforting that you don't know the answers and maybe you are not ment to have the answers. You just have to look.
A picture never starts as you intended. I always change it, sometimes completely. I never use a pencil or plan my paintings. I take my pallet knife and I put something down. Sometimes I have an idea, but often the beginning is very different from what it becomes. I don't worry so much about that. It takes me on a journey, and I hope in ten years time that I'm recognised for my work.'
www.fionameek.com
Go & see Klaxons for the 2nd time
Tuesday I'm going to see the British band Klaxons in Amsterdam. I have to prepare, and listen to their new album Surfing the void, the 'return of Klaxons with a heavy, distorted, weird piece of perfect noise', according to the BBC. The cd is in my car for weeks now, but I hadn't got the time to listen to it. Maybe I should stay in my banger when I take the ferry to Dunkirk friday, and play it out loud in the cabin of the boat (I think that will give a good acoustic).
The first time I saw The Klaxons in Amsterdam, in 2007. I was with my fourteen and sixteen year old sons. I stood at the balcony and they jumped around in the front. Now and then I saw their heads. After half an hour I spotted the oldest climbing on stage and diving in the croud. Then the other one followed. Not ones, but obviously five or more times.
A year later we were at a concert of New York Pony Club, with a gorgeous leadsinger in a catsuit. I saw my youngest skip on stage again, and wondered what he was going to do. No stage diving or huggings. He vanished in the dark. Afterwards he told me he spotted the leadsinger of the Klaxons backstage and wanted to shake his hand (what he did).
I wonder what will happen Tuesday.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Prepare for a new challenge
After singing hymns in church, there's a big new challenge waiting for me today: teach children in primary school about Holland. Although I'm an editor of schoolbooks I don't teach much. Luckily I enjoyed thinking about what to say and how to give them an actual impression of the Netherlands (What's typical Dutch?). It's pleasurable to show them some old pics (did you know we had schooluniforms too), and reveal a few new ones. See the difference and watch Lekker dansen!) This is what makes me proud of the Dutch. I'm going to show the second performance. Let yourself go!
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How it was. |
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How it is. |
Monday, November 22, 2010
Hum hymns in church
My landlady takes pleasure in letting me do things I've never done before. 'Don't you want to be a real English girl?' she's delighted to emphasise. And me being a toughy, that leaves me no other option than to follow her suggestions.
This afernoon that meant croon in the evening service at the rural church of Elmsted. Not in the choir, but as a 'sing-along' with nine other churchgoers.
Imagine me in a gloomy rural area. So dark, that you picture yourself in a frightening fairy tale, where the trees appear to be living souls. It's a miracle I found my way to the church. But as you can see the lights dazzled as a warm welcome.
It was extremely cold in the house of God, so I was grateful I brought my gloves. Luckily I forgot about all that, the moment my neighbour burst into song. What a sound. The hymns rumbled out of his mouth like a thunder. I was so gratified that I could hum a little in his presence.
Afterwards I showed him my gratitude. He showed me the way out into the black night.
When I stepped out the door, I saw this moon, shining so bright.
Maybe it's a fantasy.
This afernoon that meant croon in the evening service at the rural church of Elmsted. Not in the choir, but as a 'sing-along' with nine other churchgoers.
Imagine me in a gloomy rural area. So dark, that you picture yourself in a frightening fairy tale, where the trees appear to be living souls. It's a miracle I found my way to the church. But as you can see the lights dazzled as a warm welcome.
It was extremely cold in the house of God, so I was grateful I brought my gloves. Luckily I forgot about all that, the moment my neighbour burst into song. What a sound. The hymns rumbled out of his mouth like a thunder. I was so gratified that I could hum a little in his presence.
Afterwards I showed him my gratitude. He showed me the way out into the black night.
When I stepped out the door, I saw this moon, shining so bright.
Maybe it's a fantasy.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Spot more countryliving: Tamara Drewe
How can you catch the English countryliving in a movie? Nylon reporter Luke Crisell wrote this month:
'The middle classes rarely afforded much screen time. That might well be because they're very boring, especially in the countryside. In the UK, te rural middle classes bumble along picturesque lanes with dry-stone walls, ride horses, read ludicrously boring local newspapers and gossip in the pub. [...] At least, that's the stereotype.'Now Stephen Frears (The Queen) used this stereotype to make the film Tamara Drewe, set in the bucolic, rolling hills of Dorset (the south-west).
Surprisingly it's based on a graphic novel: Tamara Drewe from Posy Simmonds (Mariner/Houghton Mifflin, 2008). It's actually remarkably recognizable and hilarious.
The story takes place over the course of four seasons at a writer's retreat on a farm, where the arrival of hot young columnist Tamara Drewe and her rock star boyfriend disturbs the affairs of the couple that owns the farm, their handyman, a writer who farts around in one of the guest houses, and two of the local high school girls.
Research reveal another unexpected fact. Posy Simonds is not only a woman, she's a true English one as well (how not emancipated of me to think of a man first, and subsequently about a young woman!)
When you're intrigued, just like I am, look at the trailer.
Welcome to the English countryside ....
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Visit the Farmers Market in Wye
A marvellous market with local products of Wye. They have some impressive vegs here (look at the colours and the sprouts - I never saw them like this!), and imposing meat as well. I didn't buy the one on the photo, but a nice, fresh venison fillet. Just shot in the fields (I imagine). I even bought some awesome preserved fruits with brandy & whisky for my christmas dessert in Amsterdam.
Oh, I wish my boyfriend was here! He's a better cook than I am. He would have loved it here and invited all the Kent Wifes to eat at his table. (Why am I not like that?)
Last but not least I introduced the word 'undercooled' for one of the Kent Wifes on the market. She never heart of it - and maybe it's not an English word - but she quite liked it, I think.
Otherwise, now they will definitely ban me forever.
Oh, I wish my boyfriend was here! He's a better cook than I am. He would have loved it here and invited all the Kent Wifes to eat at his table. (Why am I not like that?)
Last but not least I introduced the word 'undercooled' for one of the Kent Wifes on the market. She never heart of it - and maybe it's not an English word - but she quite liked it, I think.
Otherwise, now they will definitely ban me forever.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Notice the British Seed Cathedral
I don't know why I missed this (I think I walked on the Orkney Islands), but this British pavilion for the 2010 World Expo was also a worship voor biodiversity, and a great invention. It's constructed with 60.000 light-funneling fiber-optic rods (yes, I had to google that as well: every object funnel the sunlight and lights up fluorescent in the fiber-optic). Most special is, that in every rod are seeds from 25% of the world plant species! That's why it's called the Seed Cathedral.
I hope you understand it better when you see it. It's so beautiful. It's just a plant.
I hope you understand it better when you see it. It's so beautiful. It's just a plant.
Discover British Bio Couture
I already told you about the Kent Wifes who went green and bio. But fashionable London did too. Suzanne Lee, a researcher at Saint Martins College of Art in London developed a material made by the bacteria that are usually used to turn green tea in to the fermented kombucha tea (yes, I had to look that up as well, it's a medicinal tea). As they digest sugar, the bacteria produce a mat of cellulose, which Lee figured out how to harvest and dry. This is what she made of it.
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