London Underground Celebrates 150 Years

In January 2013 the London Underground celebrated it's 150th anniversary in operation.  Although the plans were approved in 1855 to run tunnels between Paddington Station and Farringdon Street via Kings Cross, largely due to shortage of funds, the first opening did not occur until January 9th 1863.  Within months of opening 26,000 passengers were carried each day.  Hammersmith was opened next in 1964 with many more to follow in the coming years.

The early tunnels were made by a cut-and-cover method but this caused a lot of destruction above and disruption.  The first trains were steam powered requiring ventilation to the surface using shafts. In later years and advances in technology the tunnels were built deeper underground.

During World War I many of the stations were used as air raid shelters. (My mother remembers sitting in one over at Earls Court!)

The custom built escalators in the stations are some of the longest in Europe.  Angel Station has the longest at 197 feet long and a 90 feet rise.

Today the underground serves 270 stations by rail, Fourteen of which are outside Greater London with approximately 2.7 million journeys made every day. Victoria is the busiest station.

The phrase "Mind the Gap" dates to 1968 and in most stations is the original voice recorded. The 'roundel' logo was adopted in 1908 to make the stations easily recognizable.  The nickname the tube was born when it was referred to as the two-penny tube due to cost and shape of the tunnels.

An estimated half a million mice live in the underground!

Remembrance Day

By guest blogger Penny Underwood.

 

On November 11th. 2012 an Annual Remembrance Service was held at St. Martin in the Field in Dunwoody, Atlanta, Ga. This was started 38. yrs. ago by a Brit, Reggie Mitchell, and Father Martin Dewey Gable.

It started with a prelude, "I vow to the my country", followed by a hymn and Order of Morning Prayer. The First Lesson was read by an Australian Consul; followed by "Jerusalem"; the Second Lesson; Apostles Creed; prayers and Address. After the Offertory hynm the National Anthems of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Great Britain and America were sung. This was followed by a bagpipe lament "Flowers of the Forest"; the Last Post; 2 Minutes Silence; "Reveille" on the trumpet, the poem "In Flanders Field" and "Words Of Remembrance", concluding with a prayer, Benediction and closing hymn.

                                                                  

                                             WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE

                                   They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old,

                                          Age shall not weary them, nor years condem

                                         At the going down of the sun and in the morning

                                                      We will remember them

                                                      We will remember them

 

                      IN FLANDERS FIELD                       

               In Flanders fields the poppies blow

                       Between the crosses, row on row, 

               That mark our place; and in the sky

               The larks still bravely singing fly

                Scarce heard amid the guns below 

 

                We are the dead. Short days ago

             We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow

            Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

                         In Flanders fields

 

                Take up our quarrel with the foe

              To you from failing hands we throw

                The torch; be yours to hold it high

                 If ye break faith with us who die 

                 We shall not sleep, the poppies grow

                             In Flanders fields

                                                         Lt. Col. John McCrae {1872-1918)

The Moon Under Water

While in St. Petersburg for Convention earlier this year we came across a wonderful restaurant serving British and colonial food called The Moon Under Water.  I thought the story behind the name was an interesting part of British history.

Here is the story from their menus and website.

The name came into being following the activities of Recruiting Sergeants in the 18th Century who spent their time visiting taverns in order to 'press' people into joining the British Army.  Many of the methods were extremely dubious and they would go to any length in order to get men to sign up since their pay depended on it.  Once the man had accepted the "Queens Shilling" by fair means or foul, he was deemed to have become a recruit.  On entering the tavern a Recruiting Sergeant would very often sit next to some drunken oaf and secretly drop the Queens shilling into the man's pewter tankard.  When the drunkard lifted the tankard and the ale touched his lips that was it!  He was regarded as having accepted the Queen's shilling and was in the British Army.  He was carted off for service in some far off campaign and almost certain death.

As means of countering the practice, the glass bottomed pewter tankard was introduced so that if a customer was in the least bit suspicious as to whether a coin had been dropped into his tankard, he could hold it up and look underneath before taking a drink.  The sight of the Queen's shilling under the ale with froth above was likened to that of 'the moon under water'.

The Mission

 I wrote this piece back in 2003 but the sentiment still carries today.  Hope you enjoy!

The Mission

Time was running out on my trip home to England.  I had spent time with family and friends and had eaten vast amounts of chip shop chips and Cadburys chocolate as my ever-tightening waistband attested too.  Yet, I was still left with one important mission to complete before my return to the US and today was the day!

I walked the familiar half-mile up town towards the high street, a trip I had taken for granted as a child when I would complain loudly every step of the way wishing my Mum would fork out the 10 pence for the noisy bus to take us around the estate.  Now, whenever I go home, I look forward to that walk and gladly leave the car behind.  Even in the drizzling rain that seems to float up under my umbrella, I am not deterred from making this journey.

The high street is bustling with people, intent on getting the weeks shopping in and wondering what to make for Sunday dinner.  Friends greet each other as they pass by asking about loved ones and sharing who has the best veg on sale at the market this week. Ahead I see my target, a shop window, opaque with steam and many shadows moving purposefully inside.  I push the door open with anticipation; I have been waiting for this for years.

There, in the glass and chrome cases, are a dieter’s nightmares.  Every shape, size and color, laid in perfect rows upon wax paper waiting for the silver tongs to take them away.  My mouth starts watering as the sweet sugary air fills my nostrils making my stomach say yum! Decisions, decisions, so hard to make one!  Finally, the smooth thick brown topping on a delicate tanned pastry calls my name and I decide on the chocolate éclair. 

Complete with a pot of tea for one, a thick, chipped white teacup and saucer and my prize I make my way to a table in the corner.  A splash of milk and the steaming strong tea is poured into my cup.  And now for the moment I have been waiting for.  Inhaling in the sweet aroma as I lift the éclair, I take that all-important first bite.  Snow white cream oozes out the sides plopping on to the tea plate.  My mouth is filled with a blissful velvet sweetness that only this combination of ingredients brings. My eyes are half-closed in pure delight; every bite is heaven. Between sips of tea the éclair disappears at an alarming speed until I am only left with chocolate covered fingers. A satisfactory sigh escapes me and my mission is complete.