Happy Father's Day to my Pop

Daddy Hands
My Dad has "daddy hands". He's got the kind of hands that make you feel secure, especially as a little girl. I have such a clear and sweet memory of when I was just a little girl, maybe just 4 years old and Dad and I would go wash our hands before dinner. As I picture his daddy hands cupping my little girl hands as we lathered them up in the sink, I feel a sense of warmth and security. And that's what daddies are all about!

It's in His Character
If you asked me to describe my dad, I would definitely include these qualities:
Open-minded - he is unlikely to cast judgment or discount things just on the face of them.
Inquisitive - he likes to learn new things and question new and old ideas.
Kindhearted - he's got such a gentle heart and way about him.
Helpful - he's always been happy to lend an ear, lend a hand or lend his muscles (as my sister can testify to as we both used his great house-moving skills on more than a few occasions!)
Best of all, I know my Dad loves me with all of his heart. He'd do anything for my sister and me. 

Imaginary Father's Day
Well we are separated by approximately 7608 kilometers (doesn't sound like an approximation that, does it?) so here's how I'd celebrate my dad if he were here for Father's Day:

• We might go for a walk in the New Forest (with Abby)
• Drive through the local area and villages
• Stop somewhere lovely for a traditional "cream tea"
• A bit more scenic driving/walking and exploring all the while chatting away
• Walk down to the Elm Tree for a delicious dinner filled with his favs

Wish I could make a fuss of you Dad. Love and miss you!
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They Talk Funny Here - Part 2 - "10 Things we don't say in America!"

In a lot of ways, adapting your language for living in the UK is simply learning how words you already use mean different things here. For example, biscuits. In America it means crackers but in the UK it means cookies. But what about expressions or words you've never heard or used before?

1. Dog's bollocks - Well, what better what to exclaim how fantastic something is than by comparing it to the balls of dog? "It was a great night out last night, dinner, dancing and tons of fun, it was the dog's bollocks!"

2. Aubergine - Hint: this is often baked with Parmesan. Yes, aubergine is the British equivalent of "eggplant" and also used for the color. Either way, it's still a disgusting and evil vegetable.

3. Faff about - This one cracks me up whenever I can get a chance to use it. It's often used to exclaim frustration at wasting time or procrastinating. Goes like this, you're trying to corral your teenager out the door; she keeps adjusting her hair, checking her texts, changing shoes and you end up exclaiming, "Let's go, stop faffing about!"

4. Full stop - Try to guess from this context: "I have a new resolution and no more excuses.Starting tomorrow I will go every day. Full stop!" It doesn't actually have much to do with stopping, but it is the equivalent of the American "period". As in, no more going back and forth. It's a done deal. Period. Full stop.

5. Bespoke: This is really handy to know if you're a fan of DIY (do-it-yourself) shows or magazines. It took a while but after watching episode after episode of Grand Designs, I finally got it!  "This banister wasn't bought from the standard showroom, it was bespoke based on the client's specific designs." In other words, "customized!"

6. Codswallop - means crap. You hear something ridiculous, "God, what a load of codswallop!"

7. Bob's your uncle - Meaning is best explained as, "and there you go". As in:
You: "I know! I'll send the letter first and then call them. What do you think?"
Me: "Yes, sounds good. Bob's your uncle."

8. Gormless - Can't say I've added this one to my repertoire yet. I only just learned what it meant! It means clueless. And a "gorm" is a stupid person. "He really seems out to lunch, he makes no sense whatsoever. He's totally gormless."

9. Knob, willy, pecker - Are just a couple of the words they use here for penis! They have so many words and expressions here related to male genitalia!

10. Billy no-mates - Someone with no friends. as in, "I was waiting for you guys at the restaurant and for 15 minutes I was alone, I looked like Billy no-mates."
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They Talk Funny Here - 5 British Expressions You Need to Know

The joys of living in a foreign land include learning the local language. If you're lucky enough to live in Britain, your American or Canadian English will just get you by, but beware of vast vocabulary differences, in addition to spelling and pronunciation differences.

Here's a quick reference guide for all you visiting the UK, on a few phrases that may confuse you:

1. Chuffed - not to be confused with chapped or chafed, which we can all agree is bad. However, chuffed is a good thing. To be chuffed is to be pleased.
Example: "I was well chuffed with the positive outcome of my project."

2. Pissed - drunk, loaded, three sheets to the wind. Unlike the American definition, this has nothing to do with anger or frustration.
Example: "He can hardly walk straight after 5 pints of beer, he's so pissed."

3. Tits Up - well "tits" means the same here, but can be used with the handy preposition "up" for a new meaning. While you may be thinking that "tits"plus"up" = a good thing, you're mistaken. If something goes "tits up" it means it didn't work out.
Example: "She thought it was all ready but then it went tits up and she got nothing accomplished."

4. Knackered, cream-crackered, shattered - all of these expressions mean to be exhausted. Incidentally "cream-crackered" is the cockney rhyming slang for knackered. If you don't know what cockney rhyming slang is, you can watch this funny Austin Powers' clip for the lowdown, HERE.
Example: "Long day at work, then walked the dog, and then made dinner. I am cream-crackered."

5.  Knickers in a twist - knickers means ladies underwear which are also called "pants" here (which is also good to know because if you say to your friend, "Ohhh, I like those pants you're wearing", she will think you're talking about her underwear and thus find you quite creepy). But to have one's knickers in a twist is to be riled up, worried or hyped up. So we usually say this to calm someone down.
Example: "Don't get your knickers in a twist, things will work out just fine."

I will be posting more of these need-to-know expressions in the future so stay tuned!
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