Photos from the UK - Part One!

I took over 400 photos on my trip to the UK last month and I don't know how I'm going to be able to show them all to you! Just kidding, I wouldn't do that. I could barely put all of them up on Facebook for friends to see - even for that I had to wade through my mess in order to select ones that were presentable. From those, I have chosen a select few to blog about. So you're getting the cream of the crop here!!

This photo was taken near the tail end of the trip, but thought it would be a good start for this exhibit. I mean, a black cab is classic Brit, yes? I didn't actually get to ride in one per say, but maybe next time!

Can call all you want, but there's no one home and you're not gonna reach my telephone! My telephone! My, my, my telephone!

My very first night in London, I reunited with my Divorced Friend. Yes, this is him. We've had our ups and downs over the years, which is why I felt like I had to divorce him. But perhaps distance makes the heart grow fonder? It was really nice to see him and catch up with him. He took me out to a Rice Queen bar that first night, where as you can see, we got well drunk! This was probably taken right after I finished making out with some Russian guy, who was sitting beside me sipping on Sambuca!

Before the bar though, my friend took me on a walk through the West End, where we stumbled upon the theatre where Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical was playing. I wouldn't be seeing it till later in my trip, but just had to snap a shot of this fabulous display out front!

Mother and I took a side trip over to Paris because she's never been and wanted to check it out, since we were so close. We took the Chunnel and it was super fast and super convenient! Highly recommended for all who are in the vicinity!

Dr, Who's that girl? Why, it's the Doctor Who tardis!! This was taken in Cardiff when my cousin and I were wandering around a random parking lot and it was just SITTING THERE in the corner!! Like Dr Who himself had just landed on our planet and parked his Tardis while he went off to explore! Does he still do that in the new ones? I haven't been keeping up... but I know who would know, Old Cheeser that's who!! The last episodes I'd watched are the ones from the 70s!

Oh, and kids, if you're listening to the new Goldfrapp CD and get to my favourite track - I Wanna Life - there's a line where Alison sings, "A nowhere bar that's like a Tardis" - this police box is EXACTLY what she's singing about!!! I tried to get inside in search of this "nowhere bar" but sadly, it was padlocked. That Dr Who sure knows how to keep out intruders!!

We stayed with Fourth Aunt in Cardiff, pictured here with my mom. Just down the cute little street here lives Fifth Aunt. Third Aunt lives a bus ride away, so I got to meet all three of them! It was really cool for me to meet my dad's side of the family, as I have no recollection of them and don't really hear from them at all. And I just loved how cute these row houses are, and felt like I was walking down Coronation Street!

Ever since I was little, I have dreamed about Britain's mince meat pies. I remember them from my early childhood, but of course, how reliable can a three year old's mind really be? In Canada, everyone thought I was making it up when I spoke of these magical pies. The only mince meat pies that people know about here are those sweet ones that come out at Christmas. Bleck!! No, that's not what I'm talking about, I'd protest, but no one could understand, and I thought perhaps I was slowly going insane. But it was so good to see that these morsels DO exist, and in copious amounts, might I add!! I have friends who have Asian food as their comfort food, but for me, these pies bring back memories of my short stint in England before moving to Canada. I wish I could've packed a whole suitcase of these and shipped them home with me!

Faggots are meatballs.

Brits love wallpaper. I became obsessed with photographing all the different styles of wallpaper that I came across, but of course there'd be way too many for me to post here. So instead, I'm just posting these two shots because they actually have some meaning behind them. They were taken in Bradford, where I was born, in my parents' old fish and chip shop. In fact, this wallpaper is the original wallpaper that my parents put up over 30 years ago. The current owners (the same ones who bought it from my parents - yes they're still there!) didn't change a thing over the decades!!

Here is the front of my parents' old Fish and Chip shop! It's still there for now, but the current owners have JUST sold it off, so it was perfect timing that we got to visit before it disappeared forever into memory. Back in my parents' day, there was no cage over the windows. The town has since seen an increase in crime, which is why they've had to put on those additions. Oh, and inside, it's literally just a bench for customers to sit on while they wait for their order, and a counter. It really is just a "take away" shop!

Here's the back alley where I ran out holding a popsicle for me and my neighbour when I was about 3 or 4, and didn't notice the car that was rounding the corner! Luckily, the car was not going fast so when it hit me, I was barely hurt at all.

I couldn't visit the old fish and chip shop without having fish and chips and curry! Northern England is known for its curry and for good reason, too! It was amazing! Especially when it was covering those fries! Yum!! My mom knows how to make this, so I'm definitely hitting her up for a cooking lesson pronto!

And I'm going to leave you with this last image for now, just of a random street in smalltown Britain. I liked this row of houses because it reminded me of the Spice Girls' "Stop" video and just imagined Ginger, Sporty, Scary, Posh, and Baby knocking on these doors and coming out to sing!