When I think of iconic British automobiles, the one at the top of my list is the Land Rover. Author James Taylor covers the long and exciting history in his book, Land Rover. I knew that Land Rover had quite an long history as a British brand, but I never realized how many functions the Land Rover has had over the years. From being a military vehicle to taking explores across Africa, the Land Rover, has circled the globe.

The book is broken down by the functionality of the vehicle from it’s first incarnation to the glitzy vehicle we see today driven by posh stars. In the book it is said that the Land Rover may be one of the only vehicles one may ever seen. This is such a true statement. It may sound cliche but, when I see nature shows the photographers are most often riding around in a Land Rover. The book also showed how Land Rover vehicles have evolved through the years and the functions that they have held over the years.

I really liked this book. I learned a lot about how the flashy vehicle of today became what it is. I was really amazed to see all of the functions Land Rovers have held, such as ambulances, military vehicles, to explorer vehicles. I had always known that Land Rovers were made to be tough rugged vehicles but it was neat to see how it all came to be. After reading this I realized that the Land Rover is a really cool vehicle. While I do like the posh newer models I think after reading this book I would like to have an older more rugged Land Rover of my own someday.

This book is laid out really well. Each chapter talks about the function that Land Rovers held during different times in history. There are plenty of fantastic pictures that illustrate the long and versatile history of the Land Rover.The book goes on not only to discuss the history of the Land Rover but how the Range Rover came into being as well. This book is real history and eye candy for the Land Rover lover.

Overall this book was really cool. I had no idea how much history was behind this iconic brand. I had read this book just to gain knowledge of the brand but ended up really wanting a Land Rover of my own someday. I also found a picture in the book showing where you can take your Range Rover on a special outdoor terrain course to learn how to drive it as it is meant to be. This book is a must for any Land Rover fan or owner. I highly recommend, Land Rover by James Taylor.

Brit Book Review: Land Rover By James Taylor is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The UK Ministry of Defense has released two rather disturbing videos geared towards servicemen who happen to use popular social media websites like Facebook or Twitter.

It harkens back to the old propaganda posters of World War II – ‘Loose Lips Sink Ships.’

The videos themselves are pretty chilling – but they’re also right. We do need watch what we say on Social Media sites these days – don’t know who’s watching.

That said – it’s safe to keep watching Anglotopia’s social media updates

Check out the videos below.

A mother of an airman in the RAF is using Facebook, but is it may not just be friends and family reading her status updates.

Two Navy personnel have a night out, but is it just their mates who know where they’ve checked in?

What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

Loose Tweets Sink Ships: Chilling MI-5 Ads Warning Against Social Status Updates is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Here’s a selection of photos from the various news outlets highlighting the best pictures of President Obama’s State Visit to the UK today.

The President’s Motorcade arrives at Buckingham Palace – he always travels with his own vehicles.

The Queen greets President Obama and the First Lady.

The Obligatory Couple’s Shot.

The President and First Lady meet the newly minted Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Another shot of The President and First Lady meeting Will and Kate.

The entourage struggles with the wind as they watch the 41-gun salute to the President.

British Soldiers in all their finery perform for the President.

Obama Inspects the Troops with Prince Philip.

The Obamas with Charles and Camilla.

Obama inspects some American memorabilia gathered together by The Queen.

Obama talks to the Dean of Westminster Abbey.

Obama pays his respects at Westminster Abbey.

The Obamas meet the Camerons of Number 10, Downing St.

Obama and Cameron play a game of ping pong at a local British school.

UK State Visit: Photo Picture Highlights from Obama’s State Visit to Britain is a post from: Anglotopia.net

HBO has been hyping Mildred Pierce starring Kate Winslet for a few month now but the previews haven’t really given any indication as to what it’s about.

A new trailer recently released sheds some light on the plot and it looks very interesting.

Check it out below:

HBO Miniseries presents Academy Award® winner Kate Winslet, Guy Pearce and Evan Rachel Wood in a 5 part series, “Mildred Pierce,” premiering March 2011

Mildred Pierce Trailer Released – This time With Plot Details is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Fancy you’re very own British designed and built Harrier Jump Jet?

Check out this video from ITN News:

Harrier Jump Jets Restored and For Sale on eBay is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Have you been in the market for a boat? Perhaps this slightly used aircraft carrier will interest you.

The HMS Invincible has been decommiissioned and is being sold for scrap.

According to the BBC:

HMS Invincible has been put up for auction on a military disposal website.

Invincible is being sold by the the Disposal Services Authority, which says it has secured receipts of more than £900m for the MoD in the past 16 years.

The Barrow-built light aircraft carrier, which has an estimated metal weight of 10,000 tonnes, will “almost certainly” be sold for scrap, said naval expert Jon Rosamond.

HMS Invincible was decommissioned after 25 years’ Royal Navy service in 2005.

Mr Rosamond, editor of Jane’s Navy International, said: “It has been offered by the MoD for non-warlike purposes.

“Even if someone did want to take it on as a going concern it would never be used as an aircraft carrier again.”

Work began on Invincible at Barrow in 1973 and the ship entered active service seven years later.

Prince Andrew was on board Invincible as a Sea King helicopter pilot during the Falklands War.

Bids for the ship, which is based in Portsmouth, have to be in by 5 January.

That’s right – if you have a few hundred million quid lying around – you can bid on the offical UK government auction website.

Click here to check it out.

If you’re a budding dictator looking to take over the world – don’t get too excited – they won’t sell it to you for anything other than scrap.

Looking to Buy a Boat? How about an Aircraft Carrier? is a post from: Anglotopia.net

HMS Trincomalee

When you arrive in Hartlepool, one of the first things that you notice is that unlike your typical English town of this size, the steeples of churches aren’t the only thing you see rising above the roofs of houses. Here in Hartlepool, the closest thing we have to a skyline are the masts of HMS Trincomalee. This retired Royal Navy ship currently floats in a Historic Quay museum and the silhouette of the ship is unmissable when you arrive in Hartlepool.

Earlier this week the National Museum of the Royal Navy, which is currently undergoing a complete rebranding, named HMS Trincomalee as the first official affiliate of the museum which is based in Portsmouth. Today HMS Trincomalee will be inducted into the National Museum of the Royal Navy, and in a special ceremony the flag of the NMRN will be hoisted up onboard HMS Trincomalee to mark the occasion. According to an official press release from Hartlepool Borough Council:

The affiliation aims to increase the understanding and importance of the Navy to Britain’s heritage and to display the relationship between HMS Victory in Portsmouth (a first-rate ship of the line) and HMS Trincomalee (a frigate of the same period), typical examples of the British Fleet in the 18th and 19th centuries.

HMS Trincomalee in Hartlepool is in the Core Collection of the National Register of Historic Vessels of the United Kingdom because of her importance to the maritime heritage of the UK and has the proud claim of being the oldest British warship still afloat. Built in Bombay, India in 1817, the Trincomalee was brought to Hartlepool in 1987, where it took over 10 years to restore the ship to her former glory. She is now the premier attraction at the Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience, attracting more than 54,000 visitors a year.

I’ve visited Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience once with my family, and the opportunity to board HMS Trincomalee is really an experience unlike any other. You truly get to experience the conditions sailors of this time worked in with very low ceilings and sloping floors. It was a wonderful day out and an attraction that was enjoyable for all ages. It’s an amazing experience and I definitely think HMS Trincomalee deserves pride of place as an affiliate of the National Museum of the Royal Navy.

The restoration of HMS Trincomalee was overseen by the Duke of Edinburgh himself and as the patron of the vessel he visited Hartlepool last spring to inspect the restoration work that had been done on the ship. Prince Philip flew in by helicopter for a few short hours and after having a good poke around he praised the work done to restore HMS Trincomalee.

As part of the new affiliation, the NMRN has loaned out some important diaries to the HMS Trincomalee Trust which were actually written onboard the ship but have been stored in the NMRN’s archives for over a century. To read more about this special exhibition, here is a report from BBC Tees about the journals and today’s special ceremony.

Crew diaries reunited with HMS Trincomalee on Teesside

After the Tall Ships Races earlier this summer which drew hundreds of thousands of visitors, Hartlepool Borough Council is hoping this new affiliation will be another boost to the area’s tourism, attracting vistors to this very unique piece of history we have floating in our Historic Quay.

Dispatches from the North: Royal Honor for HMS Trincomalee is a post from: Anglotopia.net

In my opinion one of the biggest advantages to living in the North of England is that you are just a short drive from Scotland. My husband has worked in Scotland for over a decade stationed at both of the Royal Navy bases in Scotland, Rosyth right outside of Edinburgh on the East coast of Scotland and Faslane just outside of Glasgow on the West coast of Scotland.

My husband at work, imagine if that was the view out your office window?

Despite the close proximity I’ve only been to Scotland twice, once four years ago when I first visited Britain and then again last week. They tell me that the weather there is usually cold, gray and rainy but both times I have been there the weather has been clear, sunny and warm. I’m thinking the Scottish Tourist Board should consider hiring me to come up and visit during major events because I seem to bring unusually gorgeous weather with me when I visit Scotland. I feel quite privileged that I have seen Scotland only at its very best.

Last week my husband needed to drive up to HMNB Clyde in Faslane so he could pick up all of his gear that had been shipped back after he returned from his last deployment in the Persian Gulf. Instead of making the 4 hour drive on his own and turning right back around we decided to make a little vacation out of the trip. We booked one night at a RSR (Royal Sailors Rest), also known as an “Aggie” which is a kind of retreat/B&B that can usually be found in the areas surrounding Britain’s Naval Bases. The RSR is a faith-based charity geared toward giving sailors and their families a relaxing refuge in an alcohol and smoke free environment. The RSRs were created by Agnes Weston (hence the term “Aggies”) for the Victorian Navy at a time when the Royal Navy was plagued by alcohol abuse among its sailors. The RSRs were started as a “pub with no beer” and provided respite for sailors in a Christian environment. The RSRs still provide spiritual, alcohol-free recreation and accommodation for serving Royal Navy personell and their families. This RSR Hotel, Braeholm, was open to the public as well but Royal Navy and Royal Marines personell receive 20% off the room rate which also includes a delicious breakfast in the morning.

RSR Hotel Braeholm in Helensburgh, Scotland outside HMNB Clyde

We had such a relaxing stay at Braeholm and a lovely drive around Gare Loch where HMNB Clyde is situated. After one night at RSR Braeholm and an amazing breakfast in the morning we headed out for home. There is something about Scotland that gives my husband and me a sense of adventure. On our first trip to Scotland we stayed one night in Edinburgh which turned into a drive up into the Highlands and lunch at a game lodge which had been converted into a B&B which then turned into another night staying there in the middle of nowhere up in Highlands. This time around as we were driving we passed one of those familiar brown road signs pointing the way to a landmark or attraction which you see all over Britain. My husband mentioned he had passed this sign for Drumlanrig Castle nearly every week for years and had never actually gotten off the motorway to see it. So we immediately put on our indicator, exited the motorway and took a little detour in search of this castle.

Even if the castle had been a disappointment, which is wasn’t, the drive there on a long winding road through the Southwestern hills of Scotland was breathtaking. It was the most beautiful drive I have ever been on and totally worth the detour. We pulled along the side of the road to snap some photos and visit some Scottish sheep.

On the way to Drumlanrig Castle

After this pleasant, winding drive we finally arrived at Drumlanrig Castle. It was nothing like I expected, and although smaller and less opulent, it instantly reminded me of Versailles with the long tree lined drive and carefully maintained hedges and gardens. As soon as you turn the corner to the long drive leading up to it you suddenly feel you should be approaching by horse and carriage. I felt I should at least have a pair of coconut shells to bash together for effect.

The long whimsical drive up to Drumlanrig Castle

We didn’t have the time to go inside the castle, but exploring the grounds was definitely worth the trip out.

From the back garden of Drumlanrig Castle

I hope it won’t be another four years before my next visit to Scotland, but I do hope that the sense of adventure strikes us each time and we discover more of Scotland’s hidden gems in visits to come.

Dispatches from the North: An Adventure in Southwest Scotland is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Last year I wrote a post on my blog Anglophile’s Digest about Poppy Day, I had actually forgotten about what I had written, but when I was going back to check out what I had written about last year I decided to repost it here. As I have mentioned before, my husband is in the Royal Navy so Poppy Day is really important to him and both of our families.

Today is Armistice Day. I didn’t realize until now that this is the one non-religious holiday that America and Britain share. In America, Veteran’s Day is also commemorated on the day of the Armistice. Having experienced both holidays in both countries I am sad to say that America’s observation pales in comparison to the honor which the British bestow upon their veterans on this day. If you asked the average American civilian what date Veteran’s Day is, if they aren’t looking at a November calendar chances are they couldn’t tell you. I am sure this morning when everyone turned the page on their day to day desk calendar, more than one office worker turned to a coworker and commented “Hey, did you know today is Veteran’s Day?” I find it sad that Americans need a small italicized reminder on their calendar or date book to remember such an important day in our history. By contrast, if you asked a British citizen what date Armistice or “Poppy Day” falls on they will quickly answer “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month”.

For about a month leading up to Poppy Day, everyone wears a paper poppy on their lapel. The proceeds go to the British Legion and one of the most amazing things is that every single television personality makes the poppy a permanent part of their wardrobe for the month leading up to Armistice Day. Even the contestants on The X Factor (Britain’s version of American Idol) wear a poppy on their outfits on stage. I guess it could be compared to the American flag lapel pin, no Member of Parliament would be caught dead without one pinned to their suit.

I suppose here both World Wars quite literally hit closer to home. The British isles were heavily bombed by the Germans and there are still reminders everywhere of the death and destruction. Here in the North, one of the biggest reminders is the depressed economy.

Before the World Wars, Hartlepool was a major English port and a hub of industry with several dozen shipping companies calling the port of Hartlepool home, accounting for nearly 250 ships. Hartlepool’s position as a major British port made it a strategic target for the Germans. On the morning of December 16, 1914 Hartlepool became the first town in Britain to be bombed by the Germans. On this day over 1000 shells rained down on Hartlepool from German ships. Guns on the Heugh (pronounced “Yuff”) Gun Battery in Hartlepool fired back around 150 shells with more accuracy than the German ships and initiated the first and only land to sea attack from the British mainland and severely damaged the attacking ships. Despite this contribution, World War I and the following Depression crippled the once robust Hartlepool shipping industry only to be revived again during World War II. Yet again, this prosperity made Hartlepool a prime target for the Nazi forces and Hartlepool was raided from the air 43 times during the course of World War II. This once and for all cut off the Hartlepool shipping industry and it has never recovered since.

Hartlepool’s story is similar to many other British towns, which is maybe the reason that Armistice Day and honoring their veterans is such a hallowed tradition here. Particularly in the working class towns of the North where the economic effects of war are still relevant decades later, these stories still hit close to home and in many cases the people who lived through them are still around to remember.

I am sitting here in my front room, I live in an old Victorian home on the sea front that was converted to flats. I imagine that the residents of this house would have had a front row seat for that first bombing in 1914. As I sit here I can see the peninsula of the Headland much as it would have looked back then. Although it is a misty day I can see a few cargo ships out to sea, but I have seen naval ships out here as well and ships of war look much different from the merchant ships the residents of this house would have been used to seeing from their front windows. I can only imagine what it would have felt like for whoever who sat right here and watched the shells being launched from the German ships onto the Headland from this distance, far enough away that the falling shells probably didn’t make much sound to penetrate the quiet of that early December morning, but close enough to see the flashes and smoke. It must have been horrific to watch.

A plaque at the Headland War Memorial with the names of the men killed in the December 16th Bombardment of Hartlepool. A Remembrance Day service is held at this memorial every year on the Sunday before the Armistice.

If you had by chance forgotten that it is Veteran’s Day, please take a moment to reflect and to remember the veterans who fought for their countries and to protect their loved ones and families back home. I will leave you with the poem (written by a Canadian soldier in WWI) that was the inspiration for making the poppy the symbol for remembering those who give their lives for their country.

In Flanders Fields

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, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 – 1918)

Dispatches from the North: Lest We Forget is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Alright, so the Royal Navy doesn’t exactly rule the waves these days as they have in the past. In fact, the Royal Navy currently has less than 40,000 personnel which is fewer than the number of students at my alma mater, Michigan State University. Still, the Royal Navy is the Senior Service (original branch of the British military) and a prestigious institution, and I am a proud Royal Navy wife.

My husband is a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy, which to put in terms of pretty much every other branch of the military in both the US and Britain is equivalent to a Sergeant, but the Royal Navy always insists on being different. He has served 21 years and has been involved in most of the major conflicts in the last two decades including patrolling the Irish Sea during The Troubles, a NATO deployment to Macedonia during the Kosovo conflict and most recently a deployment to the Persian Gulf searching the Straits of Hormuz for mines. He is deployed to the Persian Gulf once again, although for security reasons I can’t share much else about their current mission there. He has had a long and dedicated career, but I am new to the military life myself.

As I was planning my wedding in 2007 I got involved on the message boards on top wedding website theknot.com. I got to know a bit about military life from the woman on the military brides message board andI found that  there are so many differences between the US military and British military.

Some differences have more to do with geography than protocol. For example, the “army brat” phenomenon. Children of military families in the US are moved around from one side of the country to the next every few years, never staying at one school too long and leaving their friends and its a hard life for the families. In the UK, you can easily drive from one side of the country to the other in a matter of hours so although there is housing on base, most families opt for staying in their hometown and putting down roots while the service men and women go away to work during the week. Some military families opt to move close to the base so they can have a relatively normal home life, but for the most part family housing on UK military bases is nothing like it is in the US and most families choose to remain in their hometown and away from the base.

Although this means less moving around from place to place, it also can create a bit of alienation. One of the things I really envy about military wives in the US is the communities they form. Especially during deployments they can understand each other and get together and support one another. I love that I can put down roots and build a life in one place, but it would be so nice to be surrounded by people who understand what I am going through and its something many British military wives have a hard time finding.

There is one major difference in protocol that I can identify. British military personnel do not wear their uniforms in public nearly as much as American service men and women. It is customary for members of the American military to wear their dress uniforms for formal occasions and also to wear uniforms while they are traveling. In the British armed forces, its not quite the same. Members of the British armed forces rarely wear uniforms outside of work and military functions. During The Troubles, members of the military were targeted so they were discouraged from identifying themselves as military in public. In the past this protocol was a matter of safety, but the practice has stuck even as the need for anonymity has diminished.

Another major difference is that people stay in the British Armed Forces for much longer, there is a higher concentration of “lifers” than in the US military. With a smaller population but a high position of power on the world stage, its important for Britain to keep a strong and well-trained military. In the US, for many that enlist the military is a stepping stone to higher education and a civilian career. After their initial enlistment is up the military pays for their education, and this is a big part of the US military’s marketing and recruitment process. In the UK, the armed forces are not promoted as a way to pay for college and get on-the-job training. The armed forces are promoted as a career choice and for most who enlist, the military becomes their career.

This culture of long service is perpetuated by a well-structured incentive plan. A “Full Career” in the Royal Navy is 18 years or until the 40th birthday, whichever is later. After a Full Career a member of the Royal Navy can retire and receive a full pension (which they do not pay into) which is based on their salary when they leave the Navy and how long they have served. They also have access to health care that is separate from the NHS, and also free dental care which is a service civilians have to pay for.

Military life and protocol aside, the Royal Navy’s biggest legacy is slang. “Jack Speak” is a language all its own that after centuries of development has even made its way into civilian vernacular. There are many common sayings that originated in the Royal Navy such as letting the cat out of the bag, piping hot, long shot and chewing the fat. Many of these sayings have worked their way out of Jack Speak but left an impression on the English language on both sides of the pond, and it continues to evolve and twist. The US military has a intricate system of abbreviations and acronyms but these are mostly practical and work-related. The Royal Navy on the other hand speaks a language all its own that has less to do with work and more to do with life aboard a ship. I can’t think of any profession in the world whose jargon could match the intricacy and nonsense of Jack Speak.

Along with Jack Speak, the Navy also has a ridiculous culture of nicknames. Nobody is called by their real name, and in many cases people who work on ships together and live together for years never know the real legal name of their fellow shipmates. For example, my husband’s name is Jason but he is know in the Navy as George and few people know his given name. (The name George comes from his North East accent, which is similar to the Geordie accent of Newcastle.) For most people in the Navy, they have a home life where they are called by their given name, and then they have their Navy alter ego where they go by a completely different name altogether.

I never thought that I would become a military wife, and I certainly never thought that I would marry into another country’s military. Before I became a military wife myself I always looked on this life as a very difficult and less than desirable one. Now living through it, being a military wife makes me feel like I can handle pretty much anything, and more importantly that our marriage could survive just about anything. Although this life isn’t what I expected and is often very difficult, its an adventure and I wouldn’t trade it for a normal domestic life.

Further Reading: If you are interested in the full history of the Royal Navy, check out To Rule The Waves: How the British Navy Shaped the Modern World by Arthur Herman. I read it a couple years ago and its one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read, it reads more like a novel than a text book. Its a must read for any Anglophile!

Dispatches From The North: Ruling the Waves – Life in Britain’s Royal Navy is a post from: Anglotopia.net