Pudsey Bear

As I strolled through the high street on my way to Caffé Nero the other day I was confused by a giant yellow teddy bear roaming about. A sad teddy bear, might I add, that had a little bandage over one eye. I kept on thinking, what kind of sick twisted children's mascot is that?! But besides one small girl hugging his leg, no one else around seemed bothered or surprised by its presence.

I came to find out later that night that the bear, known as Pudsey Bear, is the well-known mascot for the Children in Need charity. Last night, in fact, BBC held its annual Children in Need telethon to raise money for organizations supporting children in the UK aged 18 and under who have mental, physical or sensory disabilities; behavioral or psychological disorders; are living in poverty or situations of deprivation; or suffering through distress, sex abuse or neglect.

Each year in November, BBC dedicates one entire night to the telethon. Last year the event raised 39 million pounds, while last night's telethon has raised a little over 18 million so far (though the final total is still not confirmed).

We have telethons in the USA still too, right?

♡- Kristen

Rain AND Shine

There's something calming yet lively in feeling a crispy cold wind on your face while being snug in a cozy cardigan. Having seasons and a change in weather is a nice alternative to the sunny all-year-round Cali coast. (Really!) With that said, however, I'm still not use to the unpredictable weather here.

It's like being on Mars, as in, in the shade it's freezing but in the sunshine I find myself stripping off layers before overheating. And it constantly feels like a battle between rain and shine each day. Yesterday, on a walk along the beach, I got a change to see a big black rain cloud making its way to destroy the sunny weather (just see the pics below). And today is rainy, rainy, rainy, if you wanted to know.

Ashley mentioned to me the other day how all this rain must be so different for me. But it's not like it doesn't rain in the States too, you know? The only thing that does make a difference, however, is that I don't have a car so I'm actually in the rain much more than I would be if I had one. Running to the car to escape the rain is a lot of fun, as I recall. I miss that!


^^^ I spotted two magpies. Lucky me!

♡- Kristen

Mold Killed My Rainbows

This damn cold English weather has murdered my beloved Rainbow sandals that I have had for years.

Countless friends have begged me to replace these unsightly things forever now it seems, but I just couldn't. Despite their unattractiveness, they were the most comfortable sandals I've ever worn. The rubbery soles were completely melted to my feet shape, and after nearly six years of sandal misuse (like wearing them through mosh-pits and muddy trails) they survived. But I think I have to draw the line at scrapping mold off of them (emphasis on think. They're not in the bin yet!).

Mold is a common enemy in many homes in England. The damp, cold, rainy weather causes many old drafty buildings to breakout in spotty black mold. Luckily, my flat actually isn't that bad. There's no mold on the walls or ceilings, only in the deepest corners of closets.

Another, more annoying problem with the mold, however, is my endless hay-fever. I've never had a problem with allergies in my life, so itchy eyes and a blocked nose at least once a week is very new and horrible for me. I've taken to buying allergy-clearing pills at the local department stores to battle the elements. I'm thinking since I'm not an English native, I'm now being exposed to mold/pollen/dust that I have no immunity to and likewise getting sick. Bloody hell!

♡ - Kristen

The Black Keys Concert

As fate would have it, the amazing American blues-rock duo The Black Keys played a short walking distance away from my place at the O2 Academy venue in Boscombe. I had bought Ashley tickets to the concert for his birthday in October and now was the time to enjoy.

We missed the beginning of the first band The Walkmen, of whom I'm also a fan. But managed to find really good spots on the second story balcony before the Keys' performance.

The duo put on a brilliant concert playing some of my favorite tunes, including "Girl Is On My Mind," "Strange Times," and "Your Touch". And although there were only two of them on stage, their presence was massive and the sound deliciously full. The singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach retained his rich bluesy vocals and did not disappoint live. Go see them!







♡ - Kristen

Bonfire! (& fireworks!)

As I mentioned in my previous post, Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated by huge bonfires and fireworks. And although it's a day late, the turn out for the Christchurch celebrations was massive, and the bonfire and fireworks - even more massive! I had high expectations and I can gladly say I'm satisfied.

Ashley and I paid five pounds each to enter the clearing in which the bonfire and fireworks were to take place. I normally hate paying for anything, but I felt like this experience was worth it. Although I missed the lighting of the fire, so I'm not sure whether dummies of Guy Fawkes were thrown into the blaze. (Oh well!)

The bonfire was guarded off from the public by short metal railings, and men in fire-protective gear monitored the event from within. After about 20 minutes, in the opposite end of the clearing the fireworks show commenced. Like many firework displays I've seen in the States, the fireworks were blasted off to specific music, in this case Katy Perry's Fireworks, Shakira's Waka Waka and a couple of Irish folk tunes, which blared from the several speaker stations set up along the perimeter.

After, a local "umpa" band called The Gugge played while people enjoyed the many charity booth games and snacks. The one booth that caught my eye, in particular, was the Rotary Club of Bransgore's plate breaking booth where, for a little money, you'd get a bucket of balls to throw at the white china lined up in the back. Fun!





^^^ The variety of fireworks was impressive, there were spiraled ones, ones that changed color, and some larger with gold ribbons that seemed to stream down close enough to touch. ♡ - Kristen

Remember, Remember the Fifth of November

In 1605, on this very day in the early hours of the morning, a bearded man named Guy Fawkes was brought before King James I and tried for treason. Fawkes was infamously taking part in an failed assassination attempt known as the Gunpowder Plot, this in which a group of English Catholics planned to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament. (Sound familiar? Guy Fawkes's persona was used in the popular movie V for Vendetta starring Natalie Portman.)

Each year since, on the anniversary of the failed assassination, the English celebrate the King's escape from death and give thanks for the joy of deliverance. The night, known as Guy Fawkes Night and Bonfire Night, usually is celebrated by large bonfires in which effigies of Guy Fawkes or other publicly hated figures are burned. (Although, oddly enough, Fawkes was not burned in a bonfire, but died while trying to flee the gallows where he was to be hung.) Fireworks, incidentally, have also become part of tradition.

The following is a popular rhyme telling the tale of the Fifth of November:

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I know of no reason

Why the Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent

To blow up the King and Parli'ment.

Three-score barrels of powder below

To prove old England's overthrow;

By God's providence he was catch'd

With a dark lantern and burning match.

Holla boys, Holla boys, let the bells ring.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

And what should we do with him? Burn him!

There happens to be a proper Guy Fawkes bonfire tomorrow night in nearby Christchurch. The guys and are going to get some Roman candle fireworks and join the festivities. I'll let you know how it goes! I love fireworks and bonfires so this holiday is right up my alley!


^^^This is an example of a traditional Guy Fawkes dummy that would be paraded in town before begin burned on the bonfire. (Seems kind of harsh, right?! But the English didn't start the ghoulish Halloween celebrations like Americans until long after 1605, hence Guy Fawkes Night was their naughtiest holiday for a long time.)

♡ - Kristen

Paper Poppy Appeal

For the last couple of weeks now, I've noticed nearly everyone walking down the high street wearing variations of a little single poppy flower. I figured it couldn't just be coincidence and looked it up. It turns out that late-October to mid-November is an annual Poppy Appeal where The Royal British Legion charity distributes approximately 40 million paper poppies for a donation of one pound each.

This charity is one of the most popular and celebrated charities in all of England. The proceeds from the paper poppies provides financial, social and emotional support for the millions of veterans and still active persons of the British Armed Forces, as well as their dependents.

Poppy Appeal lasts until Remembrance Sunday, which is the second Sunday of November, the closest Sunday to November 11. This date is significant as it is Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War. Historically, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, the armistice was signed between the Allies of WWI and Germany for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front.

The "face" of the charity seems to be a faceless Poppy Man, a figure of a man made up of poppies held together by some invisible force. I find the Poppy Man really neat! I hope I find one hanging around in Bournemouth somewhere.



Check out this article for info on "Pimped-out Poppies".
♡ -Kristen