Blimey!
Five years after moving to the UK with my new English wife I became eligible for a UK passport. All I had to do was cough up a sizable wad of cash and sit the new citizenship test.
The Home Office suggested I study their book called ‘Life in the United Kingdom’. But I decided to take a different tack. Instead of studingy for the test by reading a book I spent 12 months experiencing life in the UK first hand.
That's where my readers came in. As discerning connoisseurs of the travel genre they were an untapped font of really useful knowledge. And when I asked them about the things I should see and do in my travels they responded - big time.
Some of them even let me kip on their couch when I was passing through.
I only made a disgrace of myself once.
Ok, maybe twice.
WhO The HELL IS DANIEL O'DONNELL?
27
It's funny what little nuggets of information you pick up when you're travelling.
Sometimes it's a fascinating tidbit from the past, a crucial fact that doesn't appear in the history books. Other times it's the reason why one set of football supporters call the supporters of another football team a particular name.
Just got back from Dartmoor National Park where I finally found out who Daniel O'Donnell was.
I'd seen his face plastered on mugs and salt and pepper shakers in tacky souvenir shops across the nation. But it wasn't until I got to Lord's Cafe in Princetown that someone explained the hold that Daniel has on ladies of a certain age.
They didn't explain why.
And frankly, I'm glad they didn't.
Have Your Say
Blimey! was a truly interactive experience: A book moulded and created by reader's suggestions.
You guys told me the places I needed to go and what I needed to do to fully understand what makes the UK tick.
Those of you who live in the UK gave me insider tips. And those of you who had only visited the UK told me about the places and things that struck you as quintessentially British when you visited here.
To be honest, I wouldn't have been able to do the trip without your help. And the book is so much better for your involvement.
So thanks!
Favourite Photos
One of the most iconic images for those of us not born in the UK is the old red phone box.
On my first visit to the country in 1986 one of the first things I did was jump inside one to make a call back home to tell my family I finally made it to England.
I was surprised to find the interior plastered with the calling cards of friendly, half-naked girls.
I took this photo in Holborn just the other day. It seems the girls in England are still feeling friendly.
As I make my journey around the UK I'll be posting more pictures from the trip here.
Travel Photos
