Denis Lipman's Blog, page 5

Start spreading the news...

Our New York events are finally upon us, and we can't wait! We hope anyone in the area will join us—it'd be so wonderful to meet some of our cyber-friends! Here are the details:

Friday March 26, 7:30 pm
Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Triangle (Broadway & 66)
Professional actors take on all your favorite characters from A Yank Back to England in a theatrical interpretation of one expat's rediscovery of his former homeland. Plus, don't miss a chance to win one of three fish & chip dinners for two at th...

Bubble, bubble without trouble

Stuck with leftover St. Patrick's Day cabbage and spud? Here's my home version of another cornerstone of English cuisine: Bubble and Squeak. So easy, not a real recipe really. I cook up some bacon and fry up the chopped, leftover spuds and greens in the rendered fat. I let everything brown for a few minutes without touching, then stir up and brown the other sides. That's it! It all goes down very well with everyone, even Kate, though we keep her away from the Guiness...just kidding, Prodigal...

On the battlements

Walking across a castle tower, we peeked out from the battlements, watching the Arun river as it curved around the shadow of the castle before snaking out into the countryside beyond. About a hundred feet below us, we saw a graveled driveway that led to a private entrance to the castle. As if on cue, a raffishly muddied Land Rover pulled up and young blond children, a pretty blonde woman, and a tousle-haired fellow in a check shirt and crumpled corduroy trousers piled out. They all looked lik...

Broadcast muse

Trying to repeat the success of my BBC America interview (which sent my little tome flying off the ether-shelves!), we thought we'd put together some "B-roll" before reaching out to some media outlets. Here is what we came up with--what do you think?
It's only 60 seconds, please check it out and let us know!

One sherry too many

"Is Mum alright, Dad?"
"Don't wake her, for Gawd's sake!" Lew's face registered fear. "She'll start doing a 'knees up' or get all funny. Either way, I'll never hear the end of it."
"A knees up?" Frances whispered. I explained it was an East London dance that is only difficult to do if very drunk, which is the only time it is ever performed. A "knees up" requires the linkage of arms, the stomping of feet, and high-kicking legs in order to get the required "knees up" while singing "Knees Up Mothe...

Sunset in Windsor

Kate and I love to feed the Queen's swans whenever we're in England; once in a while we get a fabulous sunset too, as we did in Windsor.
For other beautiful skies, visit Skywatch.

Troubles at immigration

We've received lots of notes/comments saying how wonderful the old Prodigal Wife is, taking everything in stride, smiling, smoothing things over... I thought it was time to set the record straight: Prodigal Wife has her moments too. Specifically, she has trouble with bureaucrats and their silly rules, as you'll see in this encounter with an officious official at Heathrow. (Must be the six months she spent in the Soviet Union.)

Adelard's disappointed. Again.

"What you lot been up to? Any trips? Any fab hols?" Adelard sucked on his drink between questions.
"Not really. What about you?" Frances asked.
"Well, I went off with some friends and we did Italy. Madly impressed that we were going to stay in a fourteenth century turret, until I discovered everyone stays in fourteenth century Tuscan turrets. So I didn't feel quite as spesh as I thought I might. And now we're all here." He looked around. "In Tunbridge Wells. Hmm."

Diamonds are a... well, anyone's best friend

"We always liked the West End. Going up to the theatre," Jessie was saying.
"Come on, Mum, you don't like the theatre," I jumped in, gently teasing her. "When was the last time you went to the theatre?"
"The Palladium, the London Palladium! We saw Liberace!"
"Years ago, it was. She wanted to see him." Lew pointed to Jessie.
"Well, of course I did, a wonderful man, he was. An entertainer, a real entertainer."
"A showman, he was that alright," Lew conceded.
"He had all these outfits, diamonds, furs. ...

New Canterbury Tales

Surrounded by snow, we're definitely ready for a trip...at least mentally. To get in the mood, here's a lovely shot Prodigal Wife took in Canterbury on one of our annual visits.