An informational blog for the history course offered through Bainbridge College (via the USG's European Council) by
Dr. Dave Nelson from 17 June through 23 July 2010.
Although not everyone is a fan of English food, most agree that England showcases some of the best candy around, especially for chocolate lovers. Sweeter and milkier than most American chocolate (many English claim that Hershey chocolate has a sour aftertaste), sweets (as candy is often referred to) is a regular feature of English life. The two biggest producers are Nestle and Cadbury UK (which was started by John Cadbury in 1824. Just this year -- 2010 -- Cadbury was taken over by the American compnay Kraft.)
Curly Wurly
My personal all-time favorite. Started in 1971, it's choclate covered caramel.
Flake
A crumbly milk chocolate bar. Has an odd mouth-feel at first, but quite addictive.
Wispa (Cadbury) and Aero (Nestle)
Crunchy aerated chocolate.
Crunchie
Going back to 1929, this a honey-combed crunchy chocolate bar.
Yorkies
Named for York, England where it began in 1976, this is a large chocolate bar.
Smarties
A slightly larger version of American M&Ms.
Chomp
Chewy chocolate bar.
Dairy Milk
The classic English chocolate bar.
Jelly Babies
The classic English candy. Basically Gummi Bears.
Just read that today, 10 January 2010 is the birthday of the world's oldest subway --- the London Underground (known by most as simply, The Tube.) Here is a link with more information:
http://www.smittenbybritain.com/2010/01/london-underground-today-in-history.html
To me, one of the most enjoyable aspects of travel is to immerse oneself into the culture before arriving at your destination. And for England, there are so many ways to do this – through books, magazines, radio (all BBC Radio programs are free on the web for Americans), films, and especially television. Much of British TV is available on DVD, Netflix, BBC America, or Youtube. The following are a few of the more popular shows currently enjoyed throughout Great Britain.
Gavin and Stacey
This is a show about the romance between a young man (Gavin, played by Matthew Horne) from a middle class family in Essex (near London) and a working class girl (Stacey, played by Joana Page ) from Barry Island, Wales. Both sweet and darkly humorous, the show deals not only with their growing relationship, but the inevitable cultural clashes between their families and friends. Not only has this been a smash hit, but several Welsh slang terms (“Tidy”, Cracking,” and “What’s occurring?”) have become hip catch phrases in England. Rob Brydon (as Stacey's Welsh uncle Bryn), James Corden (as Gavin’s best friend Smithy) and Ruth Jones (as Stacey’s best friend Nessa) have become cult heroes, complete with a number 1 hit song last Spring. The show just completed its third (and final) season in early January. (In England, a season is called a series, and usually run from 6 to 13 shows). The first two seasons have been released in the U.S. on DVD.
Doctor Who
While the U.S. may have Star Trek and Star Wars, the British have Doctor Who, which in terms of longevity and fandom (if not always in budget or special effects) has us Yanks beat in spades. The cult show originally ran on the BBC (Britain’s premiere television channel) from 1963 to 1989, it was then revived in 2005 (and still going strong) with better effects, larger budgets, and has become even more popular. The basic premise is the The Doctor (the title is in fact a question, as no one knows his real name) is a Time Lord, and pops around the universe in different time periods in his Tardis (disguised as a old English Police Call Box) to “fix” things. Along the way, he picks up companions and fights off enemies such as the Cybermen or the Daleks. And if mortally wounded, can regenerate into someone else (a nifty way whenever thye need to change actors.) The most revent performer to play The Doctor was David Tennant, who just ended his run on New Years Day. Any American hoping to fit in with England’s pop culture should know their Doctor Who.
Life on Mars (followed by sequel Ashes to Ashes)
Named after a David Bowie song (as was its sequel), this police drama is about a police officer, Sam Tyler, (played by John Simm) who gets hit by a car in 2006 then wakes ups in 1973. In a world without cell phones, computers, DNA or the internet, he has to maneuver his way around Manchester’s police station while pleasing his boss, the wonderfully political incorrect Gene Hunt (played by Philip Glenister). A fun show, with a sequel that takes place in the eighties. The series will end this summer while we are in London.
A life-long Anglophile, I am currently Professor of History at ABAC @ Bainbridge (formerly Bainbridge State College). My specialties include U.S. History, Environmental History, British history, Cultural History, Public History, and History of the American South. I advise the Honors Program. I also sponsor the History Club, the Model UN club and co-sponsor the 42 Club (a genre fiction book club). In addition, I serve as Director for the Scotland Study Abroad Program. I hold a BA in History from the University of North Florida, and a MA and PhD in History from Florida State University. I worked for three years as a ranger with the Florida Park Service and six years as an archivist with the State Archives of Florida. I have had publications in the Gulf South Review, Florida Historical Quarterly, and Southern Studies, as well as several book chapters. My book, How the New Deal Created Florida Tourism: The CCC and the Florida Park Service will be out next year from the University Press of Florida.
