‘Cold, isn’t it’ – The British weather chat explained
The weather. Topic of much smalltalk here in Britain. I suspect that’s because it changes frequently, and usually not how you expect it to. As I sit here on a rainy day in early June (!), I’m just starting to…
Back to the EU?
This week, the UK and EU have agreed a Reset Deal to improve the current post-Brexit trade and corporation agreement between the two. But has anything been agreed that will make it easier for Brits to live and work in…
Eurovision Fever Strikes
The Eurovision Song Contest, the Europe-wide (plus Australia and a couple of other countries that aren’t geographically in Europe) musical spectacle is upon us again. It’s a big deal in our house: We tend to have friends over for a…
The Unpredictability of Bank Holidays
My German parents never came to terms with the dates of the non-religious British bank holidays and were surprised every year that the first and last Mondays in May are bank/public holidays, plus the last Monday in August. But no…
To vote or not to vote
Would you have voting rights in another country? There are local elections in some parts of the UK on 1 May but can foreigners who live in the UK vote in them? Democracy is an important part of public life…
10 German-British cultural differences you may not know about yet
I’m fascinated by cultural differences and this is one of the things I particularly love about other countries: how do things work there? Many of them are not obvious to tourists, however. Here are 10 differences between the UK and…
A Guide to fun Easter traditions from around the world
In our house, we blend German and British Easter traditions: I decorate some forsythia branches with beautifully painted wooden Easter eggs (see photo – this is a small-scale version of German Easter egg trees) and decorate the house with various…
A fish out of water
Since April is #WorldAutismAcceptanceMonth and I’m likely autistic, I want to shine a light on this as something close to my heart. I used ‘A fish out of water’ in my strapline because being autistic can feel like being in…
The best place to live
Last week the Sunday Times newspaper1 published its annual list of ‘Best Places to Live’ (in the UK) and the market town of Saffron Walden in Essex won.2 Its attractive setting and green spaces, vibrant market, bustling high street with…
Mother’s Day – Around the world, throughout the year
Mother’s Day in the UK is coming up. Rather later than usual, it will be celebrated on 30 March this year. In the UK, the day moves as it falls on the 4th Sunday in Lent, being originally a church…
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Coaching From fish out of water into your element |
