We’re simply chuffed to bits at how popular our British Slang themed t-shirt has done so far. Many folks understand what the different phrases mean but we’ve gotten a few questions from some that don’t know them all. So, here is a handy list for everyone curious as to what they all mean.
CHUFFED TO BITS – To be thrilled by something. KNACKERED – Tired CHEERS! – Thank you. BRILLIANT! – Something wonderful or outstanding (an American would say Awesome!). TICKETY BOO – Going smoothly, doing all right. JOLLY GOOD – An expression used to describe happiness and joy CHEERIO – Goodbye RIGHTO – Yes or saying someone is right. TALLY HO! – A military term often used to mean charge! Also used in hunting. CREAM CRACKERED – To be very tired. LOVELY JUBBLY – Excellent. As popularised by ‘Only Fools And Horses’ GOBSMACKED – When someone is left speechless after witnessing or being told something incredible. BOB’S YOUR UNCLE – It’s a catch phrase dating back to 1887, when, in a blatant case of favoritism, British Prime Minister Robert Cecil (a.k.a. Lord Salisbury) decided to appoint his nephew Arthur Balfour to the prestigious and sensitive post of Chief Secretary for Ireland. So “Bob’s your uncle” is another way of saying “your success is guaranteed.” SHIP SHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION – Everything is in order. Sorted. GIVE YOU A BELL – Give you a call. LOST THE PLOT – Gone mad – ceased to act rationally. A BIT OF A KERFUFFLE – A spot of bother/trouble. KNICKERS IN A TWIST – To get unnecessarily upset over a trivial matter. THE BEE’S KNEES – Something that is excellent and of high quality. KNOW YOUR ONIONS – To be knowledgable on a particular subject. OFF TO BEDFORDSHIRE – To go to bed.
This article was originally published on our sister site Anglotopia.net on August 18th, 2014. It was originally written by John Rabon, an Anglotopia contributor.
There’s still two days left to get our exclusive Jane Austen themed t-shirt! Available in men’s, women’s, long sleeve, hoodie, v-neck and tote bag starting at $16.99. Also available in pink or white options.
Jane Austen was an amazing writer and woman for her time. She penned a total of six novels, all of which are still studied in classrooms to this day. Her keen insights into social customs paint a picture of life in the Georgian era and all the delights and pratfalls that life entailed. While not a famous name in her own time, her works made her a literary celebrity in the 19th Century, a status she maintains today. Have a look below at some things you may now know about this great author.
Big Family
Jane was one of eight children in the Austen family and the youngest girl, though not the youngest child. Despite all her siblings being literary, Jane was the only one who became a published novelist. She honed her writing skills mostly as a way of entertaining her family members. Her father, George Austen, was a clergyman and her mother Cassandra was from a higher social class. Her mother actually experienced a social fall in marrying George, but it did nothing to dampen her spirits.
Young and Accomplished
By the age of 23, Jane had already completed original versions of Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, and Pride and Prejudice.
Auto-Biographical
Many of Austen works reflect situations in her own life. When her father died, Jane, her mother, and her sister experienced a financial crisis similar to Sense and Sensibility. The family’s financial situation also led to a fall in Bath society. The novel Northanger Abbey portrays Bath society in a very positive light, but Persuasion, which was written after George Austen’s death, is very cynical, reflecting Austen’s attitude towards the socialites who shunned her.
Not a Fan
Mark Twain hated Austen’s works, once stating that that an ideal library is one “that does not contain a volume by Jane Austen. Even if it contains no other book.” Of course, this may have all been an attempt to troll fellow author and critic William Dean Howells, who was an ardent Austen fan.
Fan Nickname
Jane Austen’s fans refer to themselves either as Austenites or Janeites. Pemberley.com is one of the foremost fan sites, and across the Atlantic Ocean, there’s the Jane Austen Society of North America. JASNA holds an annual meeting in the fall in Canada or the United States.
Modern Adaptations
Though there are many period film and television adaptations of all six of her novels, there are several modern adaptations as well, mostly of Pride and Prejudice. Helen Fielding’s novel Bridget Jones’s Diary and its three sequels are based on it, even going so far as cast Colin Firth as Darcy expy Mark Darcy in the films. YouTube also has its own adaptation in The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, a video diary web series that ran for 100 episodes from 2012 to 2013. The film Clueless with Alicia Silverstone is actually an adaptation of Emma as well.
Home School
While Jane’s brothers all attended Oxford University, Jane and her sister Cassandra were home schooled by their father and mother. Because of his education, George Austen also educated other boys in the area and some of them lived with the Austen family.
Anonymous
Of the four novels published during her lifetime, none bore her name. Sense and Sensibility bore the byline “By a Lady” and Pride and Prejudice simply stated that it was by “The Author of Sense and Sensibility”. Her father had tried to get Pride and Prejudice (then called “First Impressions”) and Northanger Abbey published, but there was no success until Sense and Sensibility was printed in 1811.
In the Navy
Her brothers Charles and Frank both served in the British Navy and were a source of information for her to write Persuasion and the character of naval officer Frederick Wentworth.
Kennedy Connection
Jane suffered from a mysterious disease that was never diagnosed accurately, starting around 1816 until her death in 1817. Today it is believed that she suffered from Addison’s Disease, a rare chronic endocrine disorder in which the adrenal glands do not produce sufficient steroid hormones that also affected President John F. Kennedy.
There’s still two days left to get our exclusive Jane Austen themed t-shirt! Available in men’s, women’s, long sleeve, hoodie, v-neck and tote bag starting at $16.99. Also available in pink or white options.
We wanted to let people know that this is LAST TIME we will offer the Vintage Union Flag shirt before Christmas. This is the third time we’ve offered this shirt and while it’s popular, based on sales so far, we’re reasonably sure we’ve exhausted demand for the design.
So, if you fancy gifting Vintage Union Flag for the holidays to your Anglophile friends, you’ll need to order NOW and put it away as I don’t think we’ll offer it again this year.
Also, we will likely not be offering the Queen and Churchill shirts again as it turns out they’re too difficult to get printed (i.e. too expensive) and have not sold very well. So if you like any of these shirts, this is your last chance.
As far as our other designs being available for Christmas, we’ll have details next month on how we plan to bring back our most popular designs for Christmas Shopping. Stay tuned!
In honor of the Big Union Jack design this week at Anglotees, here’s some interesting facts about the Union Flag you might not know.
There’s still TWO DAYS left to get one of the design from the Union Flag Collection! Click here to BUY NOW!
Nothing says Britain like the Union Flag – also known colloquially as the Union Jack. The flag has a long history and within that history is many interesting nuggets of information.
Long History
The First Union Flag
The flag was first proclaimed by James I (aka James VI of Scotland) in 1606 when he inherited both the thrones of England and Scotland and sought to create a flag combining the two crosses of the respective nations. Ireland was later added in 1801 when it joined the United Kingdom.
It’s Actually Three Flags in One
The flag is actually made up of the three flags of England, Scotland and Ireland which are the crosses of each country’s patron saint.
England: Cross of St George – Red Cross Scotland: Cross of St Andrew – White Saltaire Ireland: Cross of St Patrick – Red Saltaire
Wales is Missing
Welsh Flag
While there are four constituent countries that make up the United Kingdom, only three of them are actually represented on the Union Flag. Why is this? Well, technically, Wales is a principality and has legally always been considered a part of England until recently when it was given more devolved powers. If Scotland votes to leave the Union, it’s highly likely Wales will get a place in whatever flag replaces the Union Flag. A dragon is a pretty cool thing to put on a flag!
It’s Actually Not Called the Union Jack
While pretty much everyone calls it the Union Jack, it’s technically called the Union Flag unless it’s being flown at sea. Well, this is the tradition anyway. Everyone calls it the Union Jack these days.
There’s a Right Way to Display It
If you look closely at the flag, you’ll notice that it’s actually not symmetrical in its shapes, which means that there is a proper way to display the flag. This little graphic should clarify how to properly display the flag.
There’s a US State flag with the Union Flag On it
State Flag of Hawaii
Despite fighting a lengthy war for independence, there is still a US state flag with the Union Jack on it – the Hawaii State flag still features it in the upper left corner. Why is this? It’s a relic of Hawaii’s colonial past when it was more associated with the British empire when Hawaii was still a monarchy. The King of Hawaii at the time sought to placate both British and American interests by creating a hybrid flag and it’s stuck ever since. When America took control of the islands, they opted to stick with the hybrid flag.
There are 23 countries using the Union Flag
There are still 23 countries around the world – many small territories or islands – that use some form of the Union Flag in their design. But there are big ones that still do like Australia and New Zealand.
New Zealand Might Ditch Theirs
Possible New Flag for New Zealand
Recently, the Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key has announced that he intends to hold a referendum after the next election for New Zealand to choose a new flag. The options would be to keep the current flag or create a new one, probably based around the Silver Fern that is associated with the country. According to surveys, they’re likely to keep the same flag – mostly to honor veterans who fought under it.
Canada Ditched Theirs in the 1960’s
After much debate, in the 1960’s, Canada decided to discard their ‘Red Ensign’ flag, which was never actually its ‘official’ flag and adopt the Maple Leaf as their national flag. There was a huge public debate but in the end, public support was behind adopted a new national symbol to represent the independence of Canada.
They Don’t Have a ‘Flag Code’ and No Modern Concept of Flag Desecration
The United States takes its flag very seriously and has an entire code dedicated to the proper treatment of the flag. The UK doesn’t have any of this and they have no legal concept of flag desecration. There is also no specific way in which the Union Flag should be folded as there is with the United States Flag. It should simply be folded ready for the next use. Which I guess explains why no one makes any noise over the availability of Union Jack underwear or seat cushions.
In honor of this week’s London themed themed T-shirt: Londoner at Heart – we’ve pulled this article from the archive featuring many words that are unique to London.
One thing you’ll notice when you travel to London are all the strange words they use to describe things. Sometimes they make sense, sometimes they don’t.
Rather than pull together a list of British Slang words (which we’ve done already on Anglotopia) we thought it would be fun to put together a list of words you’ll usually only hear in London.
Now, there will be some words used elsewhere but I tried to capture words that when I hear them – I think of London.
So, here’s your guide to some useful London Lingo or as I like to just say: London Words.
Tube = London Underground Network
The Knowledge = The cumulative knowledge of London’s black cab drivers that they have to learn to be licensed. They have to learn every street in London.
Boris Bus = Boris Johnson’s key platform of replacing the old London Routemaster bus.
Red Ken = The name of London’s former Mayor Ken Livingston who leaned VERY far to the left.
The Standard = What some call the Evening Standard – the evening paper dedicated to London.
The City = The City of London – the square mile bit of central London that goes back 2 thousand years.
Square Mile = The City of London also
Congestion Charge = Tax on all cars entering the central London congestion charge zone.
Silicon Roundabout = Area around Old Street that’s a hub for new media and tech companies.
Council Estate = Public housing
The Blitz = Period in 1940 when London was bombed by the Nazis
M25 = The Orbital Highway that encircles London
Westway = Elevated Highway in West London
Mind the Gap = Watch your step when stepping from a train to a platform.
The Palace = When someone says the Palace they’re almost always referring to Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s official residence in London.
Buck House = Buckingham Palace
The Tower = Tower of London
A-Z = A popular London map guide that’s indispensable to locals and long term visitors (extra note – Londoners will say ‘A to Zed’).
GMT = Greenwich Mean Time
Cockney = Someone born within earshot of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow
Offy = Convenience Store that sells alcohol
Off License = Convenience Store that sells alcohol
Take Away = Cheap to go food.
Crossrail = New cross London underground railway line currently under construction.
Bobby = London Policeman
Clip Joint = A club that claims to be a strip club but usually comes with £100 bottles of water. Avoid.
Zebra Crossing = Pedestrian crossing.
Home Counties = Generic name for the counties around London which are: Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Dorset, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Sussex.
Nappy Valley = Areas of London with high birthrates like Battersea.
Did we forget something? What word makes you think of London? What’s your favorite one? Let us know in the comments!
Editor’s note: In honor of this week’s exclusive pub themed shirt, we’ve taken this article out of our archive over on Anglotopia to explain to British pub etiquette.
The final post in our Britannia in Brief series is a fantastic article from co-author William Mullins about how to behave in a British pub. I’m glad he decided to write about this as I’ve experienced the confusion of being a pub for the first time. Be sure to check out the rest of the posts for Britannia in Brief Week.
It should be straightforward – I mean, you’ve got bars here in the US – but I’ve always been struck by the trepidation that fills visitors to Britain the first time they have to step up to the bar at the pub and navigate the strange ritual of British pub etiquette. Quite understandably, no one wants to make a public fool of themselves in that inner sanctum of British culture, the public house.
In our book Britannia in Brief my wife Leslie, who blogged here on Anglotopia on Tuesday, and I explain the different kinds of pubs you’ll encounter, what they’ll serve in different parts of the country and how to navigate the culture. Following are a few tips which will help maximize your own pub-roving travels!
Do’s
Go to the bar to order drinks. Only very smart establishments, (i.e. not pubs,) will have table service.
Order beer by the pint (men) or half-pint (women); never by the bottle.
Pay for your drinks when you’re served, and expect to pay in cash.
Offer to buy drinks for all your party rather than just slipping off to bar on the quiet. The British tend to drink in rounds – etiquette of rounds can get complicated,) so if your offer is taken up, don’t be alarmed – you’re off the hook until everyone’s had a turn. (Though if you want a glass of water or a packet of crisps, or some such, as well as a drink go get that yourself.
Don’ts
Tipping will cause confusion. If you must, offer to buy the bartender drink which they may chalk up for later, but most Brits would only go to this extreme if the publican had just single-handedly rescued him and his family from a burning car.
Don’t be afraid to bring a child to the pub during the day, especially in the country. Unlike America, this won’t have social services coming to take your child away!
The pub is not the place to order frou-frou drinks. No self-respecting publican will serve Long Island Ice Tea, Buttery Nipple shots or Espresso Martinis. This isn’t to say there aren’t pubs that will serve these, it’s just that they’re not the sort of pubs any self-respecting tippler should frequent.
Don’t ask for or expect the bar staff to pour you a particuarly large measure of liquor. Though prices vary between pubs, measures do not and are strictly regulated by law. For spirits the standard serving is 25ml, the EU having done away with the wonderful old measures: 1/6th of a gill in England and 1/4th of a gill in Scotland.
Be a little more reticent about drumming up conversation than you would be at home. It’s not that people don’t want to talk to you, it’s just that they’re a little taken aback when someone they’d never laid eyes five minutes before suddenly sticks out their hand and introduces themselves as Tim from Topeka. To the Brits this sort of bumptiousness is annoying and plays to all their stereotypes of the loud American. Break the stereotype, be yourself, be patient, don’t try to hard, go with the flow and you’ll find yourself welcomed and appreciated by the natives!
There’s still a few days left to get our exclusive pub themed design: Britannia Pub.
In honor of our current reprint t-shirt called The World of Tea here’s an article from the Anglotopia archive on how to make the perfect cuppa.
I was raised in a tea drinking house. While most Americans started their day off with a hot cup of coffee, hot tea was the drink of choice in my house. In fact Christmas morning did not officially “start” unless my mother had a cup of tea in hand. Presents were to be left alone until that mug of steamy goodness had reached my mother’s hands. I cannot tell you how many cups I have made in my lifetime. more than I can count. My mother always took her tea the British way, with a bit of milk and sugar. Most Americans drink their tea with honey or lemon, not milk.
As I have had a lifetime of tea-making, I would like to think I have perfected it into an art. Without further ado, here are my tips to make a fabulous cup of British style tea.
Pick a Quality Tea: This is the most important key to making a good tea. After all it is what you are going to be brewing and drinking. We prefer Twinings Tea. They have been selling tea since 1706, what they don’t know about tea is not worth knowing. They offer many types of teas, that come as loose leaf or in a tea bag. No matter the brand you chose, make sure it is a quality British tea.
Choose The Type of Tea Leaf You want: Now that you have a quality tea picked out, you must brew it according to the tea, loose leaf verses tea bag. For loose leaf tea, you will need a strainer or a tea ball. They can be found almost anywhere. They are filled with the loose leaf tea and dropped into the mug to brew. Tea bags can simply be put into a mug.
A Good Boil: Before you boil water for tea, make sure to use new water, pour out any water that has been sitting in the tea kettle. The old water can make tea taste bitter. To get the perfect cup of tea, the water must be very hot. The tea needs some time to brew. While the tea is brewing the water will certainly cool down. If your water is tepid, it will be cold by the time your tea is brewed. You can even fill your tea cup with hot water from the tap to warm the cup.
Give it Time: Once you have poured your steaming hot water into your teacup, drop in your loose leaf tea ball. For a tea bag, I recommend placing it in the teacup before pouring in the water. No matter what method you choose, you must allow the tea to brew before you and anything to it. Follow the directions on the package. It usually takes anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes.
The Perfect Color: When adding milk to milk to your tea, you want to have it come out as a warm tan color. Before you add your milk, make sure to take out the tea ball or tea bag. Add just a bit of milk about 2-3 teaspoons per 8-oz. cup of tea. Then add sugar to taste.
If You are Making a Pot of Tea: Make sure to have a good quality tea, and boiling hot water. I prefer loose leaf tea for making a pot of tea. The general rule is one teaspoon per person drinking from the pot, plus an additional teaspoon for the pot. Tea in the pot generally has to brew a bit longer but is well worth it. Make sure to use a tea leaf catcher to catch the leaves when pouring the tea from the pot. I prefer the models that sit on top of the tea cup.
Have the Proper Tea Tools: Just as important as good tea, having the proper tools to make the perfect cup of tea is equally important. Every kitchen should have the following; a well made tea kettle to boil water, an air tight container for the tea, a nice deep teacup, a teapot with a creamer and sugar bowl, a tea strainer, a tea ball to steep loose leaf tea. I think nice tea set is an essential for every kitchen, it is a wonderful thing to pull out when you feel like having a nice pot of tea for yourself or to enjoy with company.
I probably drink ten times my weight in tea during a single year. I love how it can wake you up in the morning, and calm you at night. Tea has a way of warming you up during a cold, drizzly afternoon like nothing else. I think I will go make a cup right now.
There’s still 72 hours left to get The World of Tea – our exclusive tribute to the afternoon cuppa. Click here to buy now.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally written by John Rabon over on Anglotopia and we’re republishing it here.
The 60s were a transformative time in Britain and the States, from the Space Race to beginning of Doctor Who. One of the biggest cultural changes was the British Invasion of bands from the United Kingdom to the United States. Influenced by the States’ own Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Buddy Holly, Elvis, and other musicians, a new era of British Rock n’ Roll exploded over the isles and became so popular, their homeland couldn’t contain them. Many of these bands play on today, either together or as solo acts. Everyone on this list is in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and while this list is only my opinion, here are some of the best artists and their best songs from this time.
In honor of our special reprint run of Britain Rocks 2015 here at Anglotees.com, here is our pick of the top ten bands of the British invasion along with our favorite song for each.
10. The Small Faces – “Tin Soldier”
Founded in 1965 and splitting for the first time in 1969, The Small Faces were one of the most famous mod groups of the period. “Tin Soldier” was released in 1967 at the height of their popularity, and while songs like “Itchycoo Park”, “Lazy Sunday”, and “All or Nothing”, did better in the charts, this song, in my opinion, is the one that rocks out the most. “Lazy Sunday” can be found on the soundtrack for “The Boat that Rocked/Pirate Radio”.
9. The Animals – “The House of the Rising Sun”
Originally a rhythm and blues group, The Animals formed when deep-voiced singer Eric Burdon joined in 1963. Their second single, “House of the Rising Sun”, was their first big hit, becoming incredibly popular on both sides of the Atlantic. The traditional folk song tells the story of a young man whose life goes to ruin in the gambling houses of New Orleans. Though it was recorded several times before, The Animals’ cover is the most successful commercial version.
8. The Hollies – “Bus Stop”
Formed in 1962 in Manchester, The Hollies are one of the few groups from the 60s that never split up. Throughout the decade, they spent 231 weeks on the UK charts, the 9th most of any British band. Despite their success, their first hit in the US didn’t happen until 1966 with “Bus Stop”. The song was written by Graham Gouldman, responsible for another hit further down this list.
7. Dusty Springfield – “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me”
Born Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien in 1939, she began her singing career in 1958 and went solo in 1963. “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” was her top hit, first released in 1966. The melody was based on an Italian song, “Io Che Non Vivo (senza te)” – “I, who can’t live (without you)”, then given English lyrics by Vicki Wickham and Simon Napier-Bell, both of whom lacked much songwriting experience at that point. It reached no. 1 in the UK and no. 4 in the US, and like many songs on this list, was featured in the 2009 film “The Boat that Rocked/Pirate Radio.”
6. The Kinks – “All Day and All of the Night”
The Kinks were formed by brothers Dave and Ray Davies in North London in 1963. Both brothers stuck with the group until the band’s retirement in 1996. Like most bands, they were influenced by American rhythm and blues, but also by British hall music, folk, and some country. Picking their best for this list was a very difficult choice, but ultimately came down to “All Day and All of the Night” for me. It has a distinctive opening riff (much like the runner-up, “You Really Got Me”). It hit no. 1 in the UK and no. 8 in the US.
5. Tom Jones – “It’s Not Unusual”
Well before Carlton Banks was nerding up the dance floor to this man’s signature hit, Tom Jones was the biggest vocalist of the 60s. Born Thomas Jones Woodward in Wales, he started with the group Tommy Scott and the Senators in 1963. Later that year, he was discovered by Gordon Mills, who became his new manager, moved the singer to London, and rebranded him as Tom Jones. His first hit, “Chills and Fever”, did not make the charts, but the follow-up, “It’s Not Unusual” more than made up for the dud. It reached no. 1 in the UK charts in 1965 and crossed the pond at no. 10 in America.
4. The Yardbirds – “For Your Love”
The Yardbirds could almost be considered a super group in that three of its guitarists were also famous either when they were with the band or as part of other groups. These men being: Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton. Formed in 1963, their name referenced both the hobos hanging around the rail yard and jazz saxophonist Charlie “Yardbird” Parker. Clapton was still the guitarist when “For Your Love” was released in 1965, though he left soon after and was replaced by Beck. As mentioned earlier, this is the other song on the list written by Graham Gouldman, and reached no. 1 in Britain and no. 6 in the States.
3. The Who – “My Generation”
Roger Daltry, Pete Townsend, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon. These four count amongst the greatest legends in rock for their songs and antics both on and off stage. The four formed the band in 1964, out of an earlier group known as The Detours. Having already cracked the top ten of the UK charts with “I Can’t Explain”, “My Generation” hit a chord with young people in the 60s who felt their more conservative parents didn’t understand them. Daltry’s stutter in the song is inspired by the stuttering blues of John Lee Hooker. Above is their famous performance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, when one of the crew overloaded Keith’s drum kit with too much gunpowder.
2. The Rolling Stones – “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
Always seeming to come in second place, The Rolling Stones are the single-best group from the 60s still playing today, outlasting the no. 1 entry by forty-four years. The ever-changing group was formed in 1962 and seemingly always anchored by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts. Arguably their biggest hit, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was almost not released. According to Wyman, the vote to release the single was 3-2, with Wyman, Watts, and Brian Jones voting in favor, and Jagger and Richards voting against. Though Wood would eventually replace Wyman, the band plays on.
1. The Beatles – “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
Was there ever any doubt who would be at the top of this list? It may be clichéd, but there really isn’t much that can be said about this band that hasn’t been already. Instead, we’ll turn to the song. Paul McCartney had once said that the band members told manager Brian Epstein that they didn’t want to go to America until they had a number one record. Once released, it knocked their own “She Loves You” from the no. 1 spot in the UK charts. Later, a few American stations began to play the single and it caught on like wildfire, giving The Beatles the no. 1 record they wanted. What followed was history in the making, as the band’s landing in the States sparked the British Invasion, enabling every other artist on this list to become a hit in America.
To wrap up, I really can’t stress how awesome a film like “The Boat that Rocked” is and how much it puts the British Invasion artists on display. From The Small Faces to The Who, the film shows how pirate radio stations in the 60s helped these bands make waves that turned into a musical tsunami. If you can, I suggest finding the original cut on Blu-Ray from either the UK or Australia as that particular disc is region-free.
For a limited time – in fact just 3 days left – get our t-shirt tribute to the British Invasion called British Rocks! 2015. The British Invasion is an iconic moment in American History when the best bands from Britain came to our shores and rocked. This shirt is dedicated to all the great British music that has crossed the pond over the years. From the Beatles and The Who to the Rolling Stones and Queen, this shirt is dedicated to them all. If there’s one thing all Anglophiles can agree on it’s truly that Britain Rocks! Available in Men’s, Women’s, V-neck, Long Sleeve, hoodie and sweatshirt until Friday Noon CST starting at $16.99. Details here.
Now, inevitably a post like this will be about what we left off the list – so to head that off – what are your favorite songs of the British Invasion? Let us know in the Facebook comments!
In honor of our current t-shirt – Mind the Gap – here are 13 random facts and figures about the London Underground you probably didn’t know.
There are a few days left to buy our limited reprint run of Mind the Gap – our tribute to the London Underground. Available in men’s, women’s, long sleeve, v-neck, hoodie, sweatshirt and tote bag starting at $16.99 and shipping worldwide. Order now before it’s too late!
1. Today the Tube carries 1,107 million passengers each year to 270 stations.
2. London Underground is colloquially known as ‘the Tube’, which originally referred to the deep-level train lines which were used by trains of a smaller and more circular cross-section, as opposed to the less deep “cut-and-cover” lines that were built first and originally used steam locomotives. The term now embraces the whole system.
3. The average speed of a Tube train is 33km per hour/ 20.5 mph
4. The number of miles/km travelled by each Tube train each year is 114,500 miles/184,269km
5. The length of the Tube network is 402km/249 miles
6. Every day over 1000 people accidentally leave something on the Tube. All the items are sent to a basement office in Baker Street that employs 40 full time staff. At any one time it holds 200,000 items of lost property; some of the weirder items in the past have included Samurai swords, false teeth, three dead bats and a 14 foot boat. Items not claimed after 3 months are either sold at auction or given to charity.
7. The disused tube station Aldwych is often seen on screen, and was used as a location for scenes in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, Atonement and V for Vendetta
8. The maximum depth of the Tube below ground level is at Holly Bush Hill in Hampstead, where the deep level lines run 68.8 m/221ft under ground
9. The longest escalator is at Angel station: it’s 60m/197ft, with a vertical rise of 27.5m/90ft
10. Baker Street is the station with the most platforms – it has 10
11. London’s busiest Tube station is Waterloo, with 57,000 people entering during the three-hour morning peak. The busiest station in terms of passengers each year is also Waterloo with 82 million
12. During 2011-12 The London Underground carried a record numbers of passengers with 1.171 billion journeys made
13. Albus Dumbledore, a character from the Harry Potter series, has a scar just above his left knee in the shape of the Tube map
There’s still 4 days left to get your exclusive Mind the Gap t-shirt! All orders must be in by January 2nd, 2015.
