Tag: england

A visit to Bletchley Park, home of the codebreakers.

Geekdad Passport: Bletchley Park

Tom Fassbender2

When it comes to World War II, much attention is placed on the battles that took place throughout Europe, sites of monumental confrontations and decisive victories. But some of the most epic battles were fought silently on the grounds of Bletchley Park, a British estate just north of London in the small town of Bletchley.

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Seven Books American Kids Love (That This Brit Never Knew Existed)

Sarah Pinault2

A recent behind the scenes discussion at GeekMom about Childrens literature prompted fellow GeekMom Sophie to introduce many of our writers, and readers, to the children’s books that are invariably read by British children, and that British parents have memorized! On the flip side of this, having grown up in England only to be the mother of American children, GeekMom Sarah has been introduced to a whole host of adventures that she had never been exposed to before.

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The Möhne Dam after the Raid © Crown Copyright

70 Years Since the Dambusters Raid

Sophie Brown2

This week is the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters raid, one of the most celebrated military operations of World War Two but not very well known outside the UK. All week here in the UK there have been special documentaries about the attack, as well as news features, and showings of the 1955 movie. This afternoon my home city is celebrating with a special service at the cathedral and a flyover by a Lancaster bomber, the plane that performed so spectacularly in 1943.

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Get Ready for The Children’s Republic of Shoreditch

Jenny Bristol

In just two days, on July 4, 2012, a group of kids will take over an area of London. They will rename it The Children’s Republic of Shoreditch. There will be passports, an embassy, and many cabinet positions. Local people will be able to visit, and check out this new, independent country. Learn more from the video they put together. Unfortunately, I am thousands of miles away from there, in the western portion of the United States. But if anyone closer by has a chance to visit, please report back in the comments! I’d love to know what this newest country is like.

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MCM Expo Hits Manchester

Sophie Brown1

This weekend saw the first ever MCM Expo held at the Manchester Central convention centre in Manchester, England. The organisers have been running expos across the country for several years but this was the first time the event has ventured into the north of England, filling a surprising void in the sci-fi and fantasy events […]

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Being British In The Land Of The Free On The Fourth

GeekMom1

Hello my name is Sarah, and I’m a British citizen. For years I had mixed feelings about celebrating the Fourth of July with my American boyfriend/fiance/husband. Thinking it would be disrespectful of me, to both countries, to celebrate, I would go back and forth between abstaining and reveling. I would think “It’s not my holiday;” but then […]

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The Lost Gardens of Heligan

GeekMom1

I am a sucker for growing things, hence I have just added the Lost Gardens of Heligan to my “must see before I die” list. Just look at that picture! Located in Cornwall, England, Heligan has been the seat of the Tremayne family for more than 400 years. With 200 acres open for exploration, visitors […]

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Discover Jane Austen: A Life Revealed

Jenny Bristol

What better year than 2011, the 200th anniversary of the publication of Sense and Sensibility, her first published novel, to learn a bit about Jane Austen’s life? Maybe you’ve seen a movie or two made from her books, or maybe you’ve even read the books themselves. But Jane Austen’s life had few things in common […]

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