The Florida Standard - Winter 2012 - Issue 5

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No5 Winter Issue 2012

A Real Life Billy Elliot Sarasota Ballet's Artistic Director, Iain Webb

A Very British Christmas

from Christmas pudding to crackers

English Nursery Rhymes

A Sinister History

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CONTENTS

Contents 6

A Real Life Billy Elliot Makes His Mark in Sarasota Iain Webb, Artistic Director of the Sarasota Ballet has put the Company on the map, in more ways than one. But who is the man behind this success?

10

English Nursery Rhymes and Their History Not the stuff that dreams are made of! A sinister look at our childhood rhymes

12

Keep Calm and Have a Very British Christmas From Marks & Spencer’s to mince pies – Brits run around Florida hunting for Christmas Crackers and brussel sprouts

14

Cricket on the Coast With America a melting pot of nationalities and Florida a huge draw for International visitors due to its climate - one sport with British origins that is yet to bowl over America is cricket!

16

Agony Aunt – Dear Carol Carol Coogan debuts as your helpful ear for all of life’s woes!

18 20 22 24

Guy Fawkes A British Bonfire Tradition Central Florida British American Chamber of Commerce Southwest Florida Brits Club

Cooking with Carol Boxing Day brunch - Brussels sprouts bubble & squeak

26

American-British Translations 10 Things that Americans Say… and what they really mean by Virgin Atlantic

2 | Florida Standard

Editorial Team Publisher Justine Assal Editor Nicole Hatti Assistant Editor Sarah Wilkinson Contributing Columnists James Donovan, Sarah Wilkinson, Virgin Atlantic, Patricia Tan, Stewart Rushton, Contributors Carol Dudley Richard Charman Advertising info@floridalinkcorp.com 407-401-9690 News Justine Assal Q&A Justine Assal Submissions editor@floridalinkcorp.com

The Florida Standard Magazine – The Official British Expat magazine of Florida is a publication of Floridalink LLC. & ORB Marketing Solutions Printed and published in the United States.

Published 6 times per year.

Copyright 2012 Floridalink LLC No portions of this work may be copied or reproduced without express written permission of the Publisher. We can be contacted at Floridalink LLC Info@floridalinkcorp.com 407 401 9690 www.floridalinkcorp.com

EDITORIAL

Words from the Publisher

We have had tremendous feedback from so many and appreciate every bit of it because we are simply here to publish the platform, the stories belong to the Florida Brit community and to each of you

Dear Readers, This is our final issue of The Florida Standard for 2012. We started this magazine intending to make a newsletter. Somehow as many of our ideas do, it exploded into something completely different and a new labour of love was born.

2012 has been a year of great change and growth for Floridalink and our umbrella marketing company, ORB. This magazine has spawned new ideas and we will continue to build upon this platform and grow it into something bigger and better that will hopefully keep everybody interested and engaged. We have had tremendous feedback from so many and appreciate every bit of it because we are simply here to publish the platform, the stories belong to the Florida Brit community and to each of you. We want to put a spotlight on what an incredible community this is, from one end of this wonderful State to the other.

Brits are actively contributing to every aspect of the community, every industry, sport, and art.

I love this community, love being American and love being a Brit – that’s what this magazine is about! It is the unique perspective that we have from being both and this is the same perspective that we will continue to fill the magazine with. Each time we hope to improve upon the last and each issue, spotlighting you, as individuals and as communities.

Thank you to all of our columnists, friends, readers, and those that put up with us pestering for pictures, stories, adverts, etc. We are honored to have had so much support in our first year and we welcome your input, feedback and even articles. If you know someone or something that you feel we should write on, let us know!

Happy Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

May 2013 be the best year ever!

Best Wishes,

l a s s A e n i t s u J

Publisher

4 | Florida Standard

Florida Standard | 5

A Real Life

Billy Elliot

Sarasota Makes His Mark in

6 | Florida Standard

SARASOTA ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Iain Webb accepted the job as Artistic Director of the Sarasota Ballet in 2007 and in the short time since then, he has certainly put the Company on the map, in more ways than one. But who is the man behind this success?

I

interviewed Iain at his Union Jack bedecked office in Sarasota. He had just returned from a trip to England and proudly shared his latest British memorabilia, with pride of place being given to a pair of Union Jack Dr Martens boots – a far cry from the ballet shoes one might expect!

Iain was born in Scarborough, of a fireman dad and a ballet teacher mum. His talents as a dancer were spotted, and Iain and his mum moved to York where he could get better training. His dad sacrificed family life, staying in Scarborough and working four jobs to keep his young son in ballet school. In York, the young dancer attended a public school in a not-so-nice area. Every day he carried his dance clothes and shoes to school wrapped up in brown paper and string, and lived in fear that the other kids would find out what he did each day after school.

At 16, he moved to London and auditioned for the Royal School of Ballet. They turned him down. Later, he was offered a place to study in Stuttgart, at which point the Royal School of Ballet saw the error of their ways and invited him to be a student there. This was followed by an apprenticeship with The Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet, where he was offered a full time position.

During his 18 years at Sadlers Wells, Iain will tell you he developed a reputation as “the bad boy of ballet”, not least because he paid no heed to their unwritten political rules. His disregard for the “rule” that junior dancers could not mix with more senior members of the company led to him start a relationship with then principal dancer, Margaret Barbieri, his now wife of 30 years. In addition to his professional achievements, Iain also founded an organization to help his fellow dancers who were victims of HIV and AIDS. In 1989 Iain transferred to the Royal Ballet, Covent Garden, where he remained until his retirement in 1996. This was followed by a period working as rehearsal

Ucieture hendign atemquamet res minciis alicia sedi coremUt Catur licidem interce amdi is. Ula L. Romnendam perfectum tur labem

director for the London, L.A. and Broadway seasons of Swan Lake. In 1999, he joined the newly formed K-Ballet Company in Japan and was appointed assistant director two years later.

So how did Mr. Webb find his way to Sarasota? He says it was “purely happenstance”. His brother-in-law happened to be in Miami and heard that the Sarasota Ballet was looking for a new director. Iain was selected for the role, and has made it his own. During his relatively short tenure here in Sarasota, Iain has made substantial changes to the company, and among his many achievements he can cite: vastly improved artistic quality of productions, favorable national and international critical reviews, bigger audiences and financial stability.

More importantly, Iain has truly put the Sarasota Ballet on the map. His vision for the company to achieve national and international recognition continues to be realized by his “move with the times” approach. During his time at the Royal Ballet, Webb became close to Sir Frederick Ashton and Dame Ninette de Valois, two of Florida Standard | 7

SARASOTA ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

the founding pioneers of English ballet, and he has brought their work to Florida. The Sarasota Ballet has been acknowledged as “…

America’s foremost exponent of Ashton Ballets” and has been invited to perform Ashton’s Les Patineurs at the Kennedy Center in June 2013. They are one of only nine regional ballet companies to be invited to perform there, as part of the Ballet Across America series.

Iain is able to use his personal contacts in Great Britain to enable the Sarasota Ballet to perform English ballets to the highest standards - he rents sets and costumes from British ballet companies for instance, and tells how it is strange to see his dancers wearing costumes he himself wore on stage many years ago.

But Mr. Webb is not about to sit on

his laurels. Not content with bringing English ballet to the west coast of Florida, he is about to give a classic ballet a truly Sarasota f lavor. In December, the Sarasota Ballet will perform The Nutcracker – not unusual for a holiday season, but this is The Nutcracker with a twist. Working with long time British friends, choreographer Matthew Hart and set designer Peter Docherty, Iain and his wife Margaret Barbieri developed a new circus themed production of The Nutcracker. The performance will be true to Tchaikovsky’s original score, but will integrate history of the Ringling Circus and their winter home here in Sarasota. I, for one, cannot wait to see this traditional story interwoven with our history and circus heritage.

In December, the Sarasota Ballet will perform The Nutcracker – not unusual for a holiday season, but this is The Nutcracker with a twist.

8 | Florida Standard

Patricia Tan was born in England, and her career in international sales and marketing led her to live and work in many countries around the world before moving to Sarasota in 1997.

Patricia is a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS), Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI), and Transnational Referral Certified (TRC).

She is involved in global activities of the Sarasota, Florida and National Association of Realtors (NAR), teaches international real estate on behalf of the Florida and National Associations, and currently serves as NAR President’s Liaison to U.K. Her real estate business operates from Coldwell Banker on St Armands Key, where her focus is to bring international buyers to the local market. She regularly makes marketing trips to Canada, Asia and Europe, to promote Florida’s Gulf Coast and the Sarasota area in particular.

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DID YOU KNOW

ENGLISH NURSERY

RHYMES A N D

T H E I R

H I S T O R Y

Someone suggested l look into the origins of English nursery rhymes, ones that we all know, and were all taught when we were young at school, or by our Grandparents.

Sol did some research, and l found out that some of them gruesome, and in fact, quite sinister, so sit back and prepare to be surprised by their hidden meanings:-

Humpty Dumpty Whoever would have thought a giant egg sitting on the wall was in fact a reference to a cannon during the English Civil War? Humpty Dumpty, the cannon, resided upon a wall at St. Mary’s Church in Colchester, England. The tale says that during the siege of Colchester, parliamentarians shot their own cannon and crumbled the wall beneath old Humpty causing the 10 | Florida Standard

great fall, but the cannon was shattered and useless and none of the royalist were able to put it back together, causing their surrender.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary It sounds like a lovely English Garden poem, the fact is, the poem is about Queen Mary I of England, who became known affection-

ately as Bloody Mary by the end of her reign.

The poem is about her graveyard of slain Protestants, as she was a devout Catholic ruling England during a time of religious turmoil. The silver bells and cockleshells are torture devices, and the maids in all in a row refer to a device that’s the predecessor to the guillotine that was called “the maiden.” So much for the lovely English garden you may have envisioned as a child.

Three Blind Mice Three Blind Mice comes back to Queen Mary I as well. The three blind mice were three protestant noblemen who conspired against Bloody Mary. Once found out, they were swiftly dealt with and burnt at the stake.

Jack and Jill Again not so nice a subject, Jack is King Louis XVI, who broke his crown by being beheaded, and Jill is Marie Antoinette whose head came tumbling after.

Baa Baa Black Sheep: This rhymes is a political satire referring to Kind Edward 1st (referred to in the rhyme as the master – “one for the master”) who back in 1275 imposed an export tax that authorized the king to collect a tax on all exports of wool from every port in England. The best wool in Europe was produced in England, but the cloth workers in Flanders, Bruges and Lille were better skilled in the complex finishing trades such as dying, cleansing and thickening the wool, hence most of England’s wool went out of the country to be finished.

Georgie Porgie Well this rhyme refers to the courtier George Villiers, the 1st Duke of Buckingham, who lived from 1592 to 1628. King James 1st took Villiers as his lover!, Villiers good looks also appealed to the ladies and gentlemen, and his highly suspect morals were much in question. He had an affair with Anne of Austria, who was at the time the Queen of France, being married to French King Louis XIII. This liaison badly injured both the King and Queen’s reputations, however this was overlooked due to his great friendship with English King James 1st. George Villiers exercised great influence over the King who allowed him many liberties. In the end his private liaisons and political scheming was questioned by Parliament, who stopped the King intervening on behalf of “George Porgie”. The romantic elements of George Villiers and Anne of Austria, by the way, are features in the novel “The Three Musketeers” by Alexander Dumas.

The Grand Old Duke of York The words of the Nursery rhyme refer to Richard, Duke of York, claimant to the English throne and Protector of England, and the Battle of Wakefield on December 30, 1460. The Duke of York and his army marched to his castle at Sandal where Richard took up a defensive position

against the Lancastrian army. Sandal Castle was built on top of the site of an old Norman moat and bailey fortress. Its massive earthworks stood 33 feet (10m) above the original ground level ("he marched them up to the top of the hill"). In a moment of madness he left his stronghold in the castle and went down to make a direct attack on the Lancastrians "he marched them down again". His army was overwhelmed and Richard the Duke of York was killed.

Old Mother Hubbard Mother Hubbard referred to in this rhyme's words allude to the famous Cardinal Wolsey. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was the most important statesman and churchman of the Tudor history period in 16th century England.

Cardinal Wolsey proved to be a faithful servant but displeased the King, Henry VIII, by failing to facilitate the King's divorce from Queen Katherine of Aragon who had been his queen of many years. The reason for seeking the divorce and hence the creation of the Old Mother Hubbard poem was to enable him to marry Anne Boleyn with whom he was passionately in love. In the Old Mother Hubbard song King Henry was the "doggie" and the "bone" refers to the divorce (and not money as many believe) The cupboard relates to the Catholic Church although the subsequent divorce arranged by Thomas Cramner resulted in the break with Rome and the formation of the English Protestant church and the demise of Old Mother Hubbard - Cardinal Wolsey.

Ring Around The Rosie Probably the most grim of all is Ring Around The Rosie. Throughout the ages it’s gone by many similar titles, but even if the one you know is slightly different, the origins and meanings are surely the same. This seemingly floral song is about the Black Death of 1665. The rosies would actually be the rash associated with infected people. The pocket of posies were the herbs carried about as air fresheners or possibly herbal medicines, which were ineffective. Ashes, or Atichoo, depending on the verse you learned, were either the ashes of the funeral pyres of burned victims of the plague or sneezes of the infected. Certainly at this point you can figure out why “we all fall down.”

So there you have it, all of those nursery rhymes that we used to recite when we were young, and the girls used to “skip to”, are revealed in a different light, I hope you enjoyed this history lesson into nursery rhymes.

Florida Standard | 11

TRADITIONS

Keep Calm and Have a

Very British

Christmas

As Christmas approaches, a funny thing happens to us Brits.

Amidst all the holiday chaos, the desire for a ‘Marks and Spencer’s’ mince pie (or three) reaches breaking point and we feel the urge to carry on those British traditions that separate our Christmas celebrations from those here in the US. 12 | Florida Standard

B

oxing Day has to be my favorite British Christmas tradition. You speak to any Brit and they'll tell you they know the history of Boxing Day, but they're probably wrong!

The day when you throw all your empty present boxes out for the bin men and the day when a big boxing match was held are two of the most unlikely explanations, with most believing it to be the day when servants would be given boxes from their employer containing gifts and leftovers, along with the day off to spend with their family, since they'd been so busy the day before waiting on the family they worked for.

Nowadays, Boxing Day means shopping. Similar to the US's 'Black Friday' after Thanksgiving Day, Boxing Day gives shoppers the chance to grab a bargain in what used to be the January Sales. But trust me, you won't catch me standing outside 'Next' at 5am in the cold!

The food we choose to stuff ourselves with is another major difference. Whilst most American families have had their fill of turkey from Thanksgiving, we Brits think it a necessity.

On top of that, pigs in blankets, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding make for a delicious festive feast.

And what would Christmas be

without mince pies? The ingredients for mince pies date back to the 13th Century as European crusaders would bring back Middle Eastern recipes containing meats, fruits and spices. The addition of meat in the pies became an afterthought as the Victorians concentrated on perfecting their fruit and spice fillings, preparing them months in advance.

But it's not all delicious; brussell sprouts always make an appearance, even though nobody ever seems to want them to!

While we're at the dinner table, something else you'll see at every place setting on Christmas Day is the Christmas cracker. The sight of Brits sitting around the dinner table with little paper crowns on can come as quite a shock to anyone unfamiliar with this Great British tradition.

Originally invented in 1847 by an English confectioner, crackers were originally known as 'bon-bons' but over the years they got bigger and more colorful and they developed their onomatopoeic name as other manufacturers cottoned onto the idea that these little cardboard tubes would eventually become a British Christmas staple.

Another bizarre tradition is our Christmas music. Like our American cousins, we still love the classics, but you won't find a Christmas party in the UK

that doesn't feature 'Slade,' 'Wizzard' and 'Shakin' Stevens'. And although the rise of the TV talent show seems to have the Christmas Number 1 spot sewn up, I bet Sir Cliff will have another crack at it at some point!

And finally, while the President pardons a turkey each year for Thanksgiving, the Queen give a speech. And the day wouldn't be complete without it. Started in 1932 by George V and originally heard via radio, the Queen's speech is now broadcast via television, radio and the internet.

So by New Year, when you're all mince pie'd out, remember that you're part of a group given the important task of continuing a set of long standing British Christmas traditions. ...and maybe I'll have just one more mince pie.

If you can think of any more British Christmas traditions, feel free to drop Jordan a line at jordan.tilley@ moneycorp.com.

Jordan has lived in Orlando on and off for 5 years and is currently the US Country Manager for Moneycorp.

Florida Standard | 13

sport

Cricket on the W

hen you think of the most watched and played sports in the USA the ones that spring to mind will likely include baseball, basketball and even more obviously American football. You may even think of golf or maybe lacrosse. With America a melting pot of nationalities and Florida a huge draw for International visitors due to its climate one sport with British origins that is yet to bowl over America is cricket and please excuse the pun!

Traced back to 16th century England it may be hard to believe but cricket is now 14 | Florida Standard

the worlds second most popular sport.

Hugely popular in the UK, Australia, South Africa, South Asia and the Caribbean the USA has yet to take cricket to its heart and for it to become as main stream in the same way that soccer (or football as I still call it) has become over the last 10 years.

One such place that is hoping to change this is the Sarasota International Cricket Club. This club has built up a world presence due to its unique story and the vision, hard work and support of many people that have a common love of the great sport that is cricket.

In 1982 British visitors to The Salty Dog, a well known watering hole on Siesta Key near Sarasota, challenged some American friends to back to back games of baseball and cricket. The results are long forgotten but the events led in 1983 to the founding of Sarasota International Cricket Club. For 10 years the club played at a ground on Wilkinson Road, graciously provided by the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

The ground had a character all of its own.

A huge live oak provided a club house capable of sheltering 60 people from the sun and rain. The slow grass wicket humbled

ners to finance a clubhouse and a low maintenance cement wicket, covered by carpet. The members gave generously with money, time and skill.

Parry Field about one mile further east on University Parkway is now the clubs permanent home. The last game was played on the old field in May 2002. The club house was moved to the new location in June 2002 and work progressed through the summer on roto tilling and re-seeding with drought tolerant Bermuda grass on what had been a cattle pasture. New ICC aproved Notts Sport artificial turf wickets, both match and practice, from the UK were installed in late September 2002 and the first match played in October 2002.

In September 2003, new drainage and further leveling of the field were completed.

The club offers you the opportunity to join as a player, bring a team or sit back in the Florida sunshine and watch the action only minutes away from the world famous West coast beaches.

For the last 18 years the club hosts a Thanksgiving tournament with teams traveling in from all over the USA as well as the UK, South Africa, Caymand Islands, Australia, India, Pakistan and Canada. This is a must see for not only the cricket lover but also ideal for a family looking for fun activity and great way to avoid the black Friday shopping traffic and get outside during this fantastic time of year in Sarasota.

Coast even the quickest bowlers. A 40 yard mid-wicket boundary, defended by a neighbors fence and two rather ferocious pit bulls, boosted both the run rate and the budget for balls.

The fixture list expanded as the club became known in the broader cricketing fraternity. Visits from English and Caribbean teams were added to those from Florida. However the club decided to abandon league play in favor of friendly games which have tended to be mainly at home.

In 1993, Lakewood Ranch offered SICC the use of a laser leveled, full size ground on University Parkway opposite the Sarasota Polo Club. The move was accompanied by raffles and fund raising din-

James Donovan James Donovan is a Real Estate broker with Team Donovan.

The company specialises in the sale of Orlando area properties primarily used as holiday / vacation use or investment.

Please contact him by e-mail James@ TDFlorida.com Phone 407-7052128 or visit www.

TDFLorida.com

Agony Column

For a fleeting moment I think we’ve got to move back to the UK, where a sandwich is two slices of nimble and a piece of see through ham, a four ounce steak makes you bloated and the waitress at Pizza Hut guards the salad bar with her life to prevent anyone taking an extra tomato as the menu clearly states ‘salad bar: one trip’. No ‘unlimited’ here people! Ok, perhaps not.

Dear readers, The lovely Justine Assal asked that I write an Agony Aunt column for this great magazine.

Am I qualified for such a task? You bet I am. Not in a “been there, done that, got the t-shirt” kind of way but in a “child of the 60’s , teen of the 70’s, disco diva, married to my own Alvin Stardust, (who’s tragically turned into Phil belly bust), four kids, moved to another country” kind of way.

Like you, I’m working my way through this wonderful blessing that is life.

As my daughter pulls up the latest family vacation photos on the computer I do a double take. Is that lady with the glasses and proud muffin top and the gent with calf length white socks and Jesus sandals standing so proudly in front of “Carnival Imagination” really me & Phil? My God it is and it’s official, we’ve turned into our parents!

When did David Bowie & Madonna turn into Peters & Lee?

16 | Florida Standard

What I love about America is the fact that its family orientated, kids are kids longer, you walk into a bar with your friends an the bar tender asks for your ID. The song “we are young, we are free” (to be read in Supergrass) springs to mind...God Bless the USA! But then the next day I walk into Marshalls, feeling good, looking fine, just got my hair did, all is good. As I approach the register the girl sweetly asks if i’m over 65? ............. I want to punch her lights out, the confidence from

the night before destroyed in a millisecond. I compose myself and tell her she just spoilt my day. She retorts “Sorry, its just that seniors get a discount on Mondays.” I smile sweetly, pay and leave.

The car journey home is filled with things I should have said but didn’t and to add insult to injury, what is the radio blasting? “I get knocked down, but I get up again”... Yes, really.

Since that incident, politically correct I am not, which is why we thought it would be a great idea for you to write to me with your problems, complaints and life observations.

Nothing is off limits, lets knock ‘Dear Deidre’ and ‘Dr Phil’, off their pedestals and answer some real problems with some real answers.

Bye for now, Carol

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US (800)-341-5369 407-396-9090 Florida Standard | 17

Guy Fawkes

Guy Fawkes Kissimmee 2012

our Saturday night festival and

was once again the biggest

we love that people are driving

British event in Florida. Even

from different States and for

though this year it fell on a

several hours to join us. If we

Monday night, approximately

hold it on the Saturday, we can

1500 local Brits, Anglophiles,

make a weekend of it.

and tourists gathered for rides,

So here is where technology is

games, music, lots of food, and

fantastic, email your vote to jus-

of course the biggest bonfire

tine@floridalinkcorp.com here

we were allowed to build. The

so that whichever night we hold

evening finished with fireworks

it on, nobody can blame us for

and a lot of tired children!

doing it wrong as majority wins!

So here’s the question! Should we move our Guy Fawkes to the nearest Saturday evening and not try to hold it to the 5th (where it belongs)? In 2011 almost 3000 people attended 18 | Florida Standard

Florida Standard | 19

BACC

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WHAT This team will be conducting a workshop geared to small and mid-sized businesses to bring big business resources to Central Florida entrepreneurs and small business people. This program will help attendees focus on areas that can have an impact on their businesses and develop ideas and solutions to truly make a difference!! Individuals will be able to explore their personal/company needs throughout the session yet have the opportunity for outside assistance from noncompetitive business people attending the seminar. Breakout sessions for idea & solution development will provide new perspectives which are difficult to achieve in a typical department, or company brainstorming session.

WHERE & WHEN January 9, 2013 8:30AM - 5:00PM, National Entrepreneur Center. Limited Seating!

20 | Florida Standard

The British American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida is the leading forum for those businesspeople involved in the substantial and growing trade, investment and business between the United Kingdom and Central Florida. Each year, the Chamber advances the interests of Anglo-Floridian business through immigration and small business forums, real estate symposiums, taxation seminars and it provides a venue for the exchange of ideas and business contacts for our local British-American community. We are pleased to enjoy the valuable support of HM Consul General Kevin McGurgan and the British Consulate in Florida and we are absolutely committed to the financial success and prosperity of our many members.

Best, David R. Lenox The British American Chamber is proud to announce that it has a new President David R. Lenox, Esq As Publisher of The Florida Standard, this is the first time that I have taken the liberty to endorse or insert an opinion other than on the front page. In this case as I am also Past President of our BACC, I must state how happy I am to see the Chamber under the leadership of David Lenox and Simon Plumb (Vice President). I offer my support to them and the Board of Directors in this coming year and hope to see the community come together in support of each other and the organization. I look forward to working with you all.

Justine Assal

Florida Standard | 21

Southwest Florida Brits

The British American Club of Southwest Florida is a not-for-profit social organization founded in 1970, open to people of any nationality. We are one of the oldest established social clubs for expats in the Southwest Florida area.

Socials are held on the 2nd Friday monthly from 7pm –10pm. From June 2012 these will be held at the UNION CAFE BAR AND BISTRO in downtown Fort Myers.

22 | Florida Standard

Cooking with Carol

Boxing Day Brunch

5 Blanch the sliced brussels sprouts and cabbage in lightly salted boiling water for about 1-2 minutes. Drain and pat dry with kitchen paper.

6 Combine the blanched leaves with the potato and season to taste. Shape into four round patties about 1.5cm thick. Put them on a baking tray and leave in the fridge until you are ready to cook them.

For the tomatoes and onions

 2 onions, preferably plum, halved  1 red onion, cut into wedges  3 tbsp olive oil  2 tsp caster sugar  ½ tsp leaves thyme

For the bacon crumbs  2 rashers streaky bacon

 50 g fresh white breadcrumbs

For the bubble and squeak cakes

 500 g floury potatoes, such as king edwards, peeled and quartered  20 g butter  ¼ tsp grated nutmeg  125 g brussels sprouts, finely sliced  125 g cabbage, finely sliced  2 tbsp olive oil

For the eggs

 1 splashes white wine vinegar  4 eggs

Buy Ingredients at mySupermarketMore information 24 | Florida Standard

Method

1 For the tomatoes and onions: heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the tomatoes cutside up in a roasting tin. Add the onions. Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with the sugar, dried thyme and seasoning.

2 Cook for about 30 minutes, until the tomatoes and onions have begun to colour and look slightly caramelised. Set aside.

3 For the bacon crumbs: heat the grill and cook the bacon rashers until crisp. Leave to cool slightly before crumbling into a food processor.

Add the breadcrumbs and whiz until fine. Set aside.

4 For the bubble and squeak cakes: boil the potatoes until fully cooked then drain and mash with the butter and nutmeg. Set aside until cool enough to handle.

7 Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan and fry the patties for about 4-5 minutes on each side, until golden and crisp and warmed through.

8 For the eggs: fill a deep saucepan with water, bring to a gentle simmer and add a dash of white wine vinegar. Swirl the water to make a small whirlpool. Crack each egg on the side of the pan and drop it into the centre of the slow-moving whirlpool. Cook for 2-3 minutes, so that the yolk is soft but the white set. Remove with a slotted spoon.

9 To serve, put a bubble and squeak cake in the centre of each plate and top with the tomato, onion and poached egg. Scatter with bacon crumbs and serve straight away.

LIFESTYLE

10 Things Americans Say...

And What They Really Mean

When it comes to the spoken word, Americans are a truly baffling bunch.

So we’ve decoded their most irritating idioms.

1

When an American shop assistant says, “Have a nice day!”

Translation: “Honestly, I don’t care what kind of day you have. But please tell my manager I was friendly so I get extra commission.”

Definitely doesn’t mean: “I will sob myself to sleep if I subsequently learn that you had a less than adequate day.”

2

When an American you’ve just met says, “Let’s have lunch sometime.”

Translation: “Let’s never ever eat a meal together.”

Definitely doesn’t mean: “I urgently need to see you put food in your mouth.”

3

When an American friend says, “I hooked up with…”

Translation: “I had sex with/kissed/hung out with…”

26 | Florida Standard

Definitely doesn’t mean: “I attached myself to someone with a metal clasp.”

4

When American parents say, “Good job!”

Translation: “Hey! Everyone! My two-yearold is a genius because he split an infinitive, then corrected himself! Also, he went peepee in the potty.”

Definitely doesn’t mean: “Excellent career choice. Well done, son.”

5

When a drunken American says, “I’m actually Irish.”

Translation: “My great great grandfather was part Irish. Or at least that’s what I heard.”

Definitely doesn’t mean: “I’m Irish.”

6

When a sarcastic American says, “You do the math.”

Translation: “Work it out, fish brain.”

Definitely doesn’t mean: “Please do some long division immediately.”

7

. When an annoying American says, “Your shirt is so cute!”

Translation: “That’s one good looking upper body garment, be it a vest top, a t-shirt or an actual bona fide shirt – with cuffs and a collar.”

Definitely doesn’t mean: “I’m sexually attracted to your blouse.”

8

When an annoyed American says, “I could care less.”

Translation: “I couldn’t care less.”

Definitely doesn’t mean: “I could care less.”

9

When an American with a full bladder says, “I need to use the restroom.”

Translation: “I need the loo.”

Definitely doesn’t mean: “I need to find a room where I can have a quiet lie down.”

10

When a festive American says, “Happy holidays!”

Translation: “Happy culturally non-specific celebration in late December/early January!”

Definitely doesn’t mean: “Have a nice time in Ibiza.”

not, in fact, opening up about a crippling disfigurement.

6

What we say: “It’s a bit dear.”

What Americans hear: “It’s slightly adorable.”

When we Brits want to politely say something is too expensive, we might roll out this quaint old expression. Not a good idea if you’re trying to haggle with an American: they’ll take it as a compliment.

7

10 Things Brits Say...

And What Americans Think We Mean We may have invented the English language but that doesn’t mean our version is always understood by those who share our mother tongue.

1

What we say: “Sorry” What Americans hear: “I sincerely apologize.”

Saying sorry is like a national tic, which means we Brits rarely use the word to convey a heartfelt apology. This is baffling to Americans who will, on occasion, reply with something like, “Why, exactly, are you sorry?” “I’m not,” you’ll say, confused.

“Sorry.”

2

What we say: “How do you do?”

What Americans hear: “Please provide a rundown of your most recent medical.”

Despite how it sounds, this is a formal greeting and not an invitation for commentary on a person’s quality of life. But Americans sometimes take it literally and have no problem replying truthfully, with a list of ailments.

3

What we say: “Cheers” What Americans hear: “To your good health” In the US, this is what people say when they

clink glasses in the pub. We do this too but Brits have other uses for this word, all of which will flummox your American friends.

Like when we say “cheers” instead of “thank you.” Signing off a phone call or an email this way will leave US folk wondering why you’re toasting them.

4

What we say: “You know what I mean?”

What Americans hear: “Did you comprehend what I just said?”

This British conversation filler isn’t even weighty enough to count as a rhetorical question. Nonetheless, Americans will take it at face value and seek to reassure you that they did indeed understand your last statement.

5

What we say: “I’ve got the right hump.”

What Americans hear: “I have a hunchback.”

Sometime Brits see fit to borrow camels’ dominant physical attribute to help explain that they’re annoyed or frustrated. We’re

What we say: “I got off with this fit bird.”

What Americans hear: “I disembarked with an athletic pigeon.”

Don’t expect Americans to even attempt a translation here. But if they do manage to guess that “got off with” means “made out with”, be sure to clarify that what you mean by “bird.”

8

What we say: “I went to public school.”

What Americans hear: “I went to a school my parents didn’t pay for.”

Americans with a snobbish bent will lap up tales of posh British schooling. However, your use of the word “public” may well throw them off. Begin by explaining that, in the UK, ‘public school’ is the same as private school. Or, decide not to have this conversation in the first place because it’ll make you sound like a twit.

9

What we say: “I’m easy.”

What Americans hear: “I always have sex on the first date.”

Even the ultra laidback Brits who use this expression might still take issue with the American translation. To avoid misinterpretation, plump for something more on the nose like, “I don’t mind.”

10

What we say: “All right, darling?”

What Americans hear: “How are you, love of my life?”

Save prudish Americans’ blushes by not directing this informal version of “How do you do?” at them. Worse still is the West Country version, which substitutes “darling” for the infinitely more bewildering and inappropriate “my lover.”

Virgin Atlantic has been flying in the face of ordinary for nearly three decades. For low fares and fabulous flights visit virgin-atlantic.com, and for more content from BBC America check out bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap Florida Standard | 27

business dierectory

Tampa / St. Pete / Clearwater Mortgages Tampa Connect Mortgage Solutions Mike Dover Tel: 727 945 7722 Fax: 407 472 5900 www.connectms.com Statewide Service Accountancy / CPA Tampa Thomas C Roberge & Co Tom Swapp Tel: 727 822 9393 tswapp@robergeco.com www.robergeco.com Statewide service Tea Rooms & Restaurants Café/Clearwater Grind House Café Bar & Grill Michelle Gibbons Tel: 727 726 5577 michellegibbons@yahoo.com www.grindhouseflorida.com Salon & Spa Tampa Kensington Salon & Spa Karen Payne Tel: 813 254 1091 Email: kensngtonsalonandspa@ gmail.com www.kensingtonsalonandspa.com

Sarasota Area Immigration Attorneys Sarasota Anthony Olsen PA Anthony Olsen Tel: 941 362 7100 Email: info@immigrationvisausa.com www.immigrationvisausa.com Statewide service Pubs Sarasota The White Horse Pub Fay Lawrence Tel: 941 358 1353 Email: contact@the-white-horsepub.com www.the-white-horse-pub.com Real Estate Coldwell Banker Patricia Tan Tel: 941 504 9232 Pat@PatriciaTan.com www.PatriciaTan.com

28 | Florida Standard

Central Florida Pubs Devenney’s Irish Pub - Davenport Jay Creighton Tel: 352 432 3825 Email: devenneyirishpub@gmail.com www.devenneyirishpub.com Shops The British Shoppe Jon Hanson Tel: 407 898 1634 gourmet@theBritishShoppe.com www.TheBritishShoppe.com Statewide service The Villages The UK Shoppe Maureen Amengual Tel: 352 391 5788 Email: Maureen@ukshoppe.com www.theukshoppe.com Real Estate MainStreet Realtors John McLoughlin Tel: 407 666 3279 Email: John@bcflorida.com www.jmfla.com Buy Florida Realty Denise Assersohn Tel: 407 709 6174 Denise@OrlandoHomesWorldwide.com www.OrlandoHomesWorldwide.com Team Donovan James Donovan Tel: 407 705 2616 James@TDOrlando.com www.TDFlorida.com Printing Services Performance Business Solutions Simon Aspery Tel: 321 304 8011 SAspery@PPIprints.com www.PPIprints.com Statewide service Pensions Kestrel International Simon Plumb Tel: 407 704 6207 Simon.Plumb@Kestrelint.com www.Kestrelint.com Statewide service Business Solutions AUE Staffing Solutions Terry Wiseman Tel: 407 666 7381 twiseman@achcorp.com www.achcorp.com Statewide service

Property Management GoldKey Property Management Valerie Brown Tel: 407 396 9090 info@goldkeypm.com www.goldkeypm.com Mortgages ACM Financial Robin Stacey Tel: 407 397 7300 info@acmhomeloans.com www.acmhomeloans.com Statewide service Marketing/ Advertising/ Design & Websites ORB Marketing Solutions / Floridalink Justine Assal Tel: 407 401 9690 Justine@OrbMarketingSolutions. com www.OrbMarketingSolutions.com Sports Winter Park Tennis Centre Anzela Zguna Tel: 407 599 3445 Winterparktenniscenter@gmail.com www.winterparktenniscenter.com Financial & Investment Services Edwards Financial Services Jason Edwards Tel: 407 678 9400 JEdwards@EFS-Advisors.com www.EdwardsFinancialAdvisorsinc.com Statewide service

Jimmy Andrews FCCA Telephone: (305) 323 1278 jand592040@aol.com www.andrewsaccountancy.com Statewide Service

Naples & Fort Myers

Pubs Naples Ballyorney Irish Pub Brad Malloney Tel: 239 628 1444 Email: brad@ballyorney.com www.ballorney.com Real Estate Realty World Top Producers Kathy Rainford Tel: 239 430 1700 Kathy.Rainford@RealtyWorld.com www.RealtyWorldTopProducers.com

Miami Area Pubs Miami Churchill’s Pub David Daniels Tel: 305 757 1807 Email: david@churchilllspub.com www.churchillspub.com Tea Rooms/ Restaurants Miami The Copper Kettle Celtic Pamela Edwards Tel: 305 255 1515 ckceltic@mindspring.com www.copperkettleceltic.com

Furniture packages/ game rooms Florida Villa Services Paul Dudley Tel: 407 238 2389 PaulDudley@earthlink.net www.FloridaVillaServices.com

Merchandise Ready4 Best of Britain Justin Jones Tel: 786 457 9353 Justin@ready4.com www.Ready4.com Statewide service

Worldwide moving companies UPakWeShip Mark Nash 843 225 7217 mark@eurousa.us www.eurousa.us Statewide Service

Accountancy Andrews Accountancy LLC Jimmy Andrews Tel: 305 323 1278 Jand592040@aol.com www.andrewsaccountancy.com Statewide service

UPakWeShip Mark Nash 1 866 868 6386 mark@eurousa.us www.upakweship.com Statewide Service Miami area Andrews Accountancy LLC

North West

Tea Rooms/ Restaurants Willows Tea Room Linda Smith Tel: 850 747 1004 Email: willows@knology.net www.willowstea.com

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