Bicycle Makeover Complete!

I have been in LOVE with Pashley bikes ever since we arrived in the UK but unfortunately, our budget just didn't stretch far enough to buy one and with their collection of classic bikes ranging from £525 - £995, I'm sure I'm not alone. 

Pashley Cycles have been hand building British bicycles in Stratford-Upon-Avon since 1926, and have named their new special edition model the ‘Britannia’ to reflect their pride in British manufacturing. The vintage styled Britannia cycle is based on their popular Pashley Princess and features a hand built frame, traditional wicker basket and comes in a choice of red, white or blue. 

Get the look for less

Those of you who read my post on Cool Bike Accessories may remember me mentioning 
that I was planning to give my Raleigh bicycle a makeover. Johnny was busy studying over the weekend, so I thought I'd give it a go and I couldn't be more thrilled with the results!!! 

Here are the before and after photos: 

BEFORE: Boring old Raleigh Oakland Hybrid. (Image flipped for comparison).

AFTER: What do you think? The whole transformation was SUPER easy and cost less than £15!

Here's how I did it:
1. Start by give your bike a really thorough clean and leave it to dry
2. Next, remove all the stickers using a hairdryer. A little heat makes them really easy to peel off.
3. Remove the wheels and mud guards, or find a handy man who can! (Thanks Johnny). It's not as hard as it sounds, but if you need some help, check out this You Tube clip for instructions.
4. Place your bike upside down on a drop cloth and let the fun begin.
5. Don't forget to paint the mud and chain guard, for a classic 'Pashley' look.

Tip: Hammerite metal paint is fantastic as it only requires one coat and you can even paint straight over rust. The only thing I found a bit tricky is that it is quite thick and sticky. Work quickly and avoid going over any areas you've already painted for a nice smooth finish. Be careful not to over-apply or the paint will sag. If you have the space, use spray paint instead. It's much quicker and will give you a super smooth finish.

What you'll need:

 

1. 250ml Hammerite Smooth 'Wild Thyme' Metal Paint - £7.98

2. A 12mm Fine Finish Paint Brush - 2.98

3. 750ml White Spirit - £2.48 

4. A drop cloth

5. Disposable gloves (Pack of 8) - £0.98 

...and if you can stretch the budget, these accessories will really help polish off the look: 

6. Quick Release Wicker Basket - £19.99

7. Leather Handlebar Grips - £15.00

8. Leather-look FWE Trail Saddle - £24.99

9. and this oversized Pashley 8mm Bicycle Bell- £19.95! 

Feeling inspired? I'd love to see YOUR before and after photos. 

Share them with our readers here.

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

Looking for somewhere to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in Oxford this weekend?  

Here's a very brief list of what's going on where: 

Oxfringe Jubilee Weekend Oxford Castle, Sunday 3rd June, 12 - 5.30 pm  

The Jubilee East Oxford Street Party Magdalen Road, Sunday 3rd June, 12 – 6pm

Jericho Jubilee Street Fair Canal & Cardigan Street, Monday 4th June, 12 – 6pm

For further details and a full list of events, check out the Oxford City Guide. 

A joyful proclamation of queenly support - by Twisted Twee

In keeping with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations this weekend I thought I'd share a few 

of my favourite British treats... What do you love most about being an expat in Britain? I'm certainly feeling the love for the Queen this weekend; bring on the four-day weekend!

Jubilee sandwich cake - A twist on the classic Victoria Sponge.

The Victoria Sponge

If you're planning a Jubilee themed party this weekend, how could you resist this cheeky twist on 
the classic Victoria sponge? Whilst traditionally speaking, a Victoria Sponge would never be iced 
or decorated like the one pictured here, I'm sure Queen Victoria would let it slide just this once... Sponge cake was her favourite after all.  

A typical Victoria sponge consists of raspberry jam and whipped cream sandwiched 
between two sponge cakes, finished with a light sprinkling of icing sugar.

Pimm's - the quintessential summer tipple.

Pimm's

This classic British beverage is almost as much a tradition as the cup of tea, and during the summer months, the British down it by the gallon. Those of you who read my post entitled, 'It's Pimm's O'clock' way back in March, will also know that I am quite partial to Pimm's advertising campaign. It's oh so refreshing and fabulously fruity; take a look for yourself. 

Elderflower Pressé

Another of my new found favourites is elderflower cordial. Mix this with some soda water, fresh lime and lemon juice and a little bit of mint and you'll have an elderflower pressé. The Old Parsonage on Banbury Rd also make a delicious cocktail called an 'Elderflower Collins', which I highly recommend.
 

Scones

There's nothing quite like a homemade scone fresh from the oven, but mastering this simple tea-time treat is harder than seems. I'm told that the secret to a perfect scone is all in the butter, (which should always be at room temperature and rubbed quickly into the flour), but mine always pale in comparison to my Nan's. Topped with jam and cream, (which is always clotted in the UK), Ruby's scones were always crisp and golden on the outside and delicately light inside - Scrummy scone perfection. (A British blend of scrumptious and yummy).

Clotted Cream

Thick, rich and indulgent with the consistency of soft butter, this sweet yellow cream is an essential ingredient to all cream teas and is traditionally made in Devon and Cornwall. It has a very high fat content, (at least 55-65 %, which in the United States would be Classified as butter) and is often topped with a deep yellow crust. Truth be told, I prefer double whipped cream with my scones, but these sorts of opinions are best kept to oneself when taking tea in Britain.

Summer Pudding recipe from Peyton & Byrne - British Baking

Summer Pudding

I still can't quite get my head around why all desserts are called 'puddings' in the UK, but at least this one fits the bill. Summer pudding is deliciously moist and made of sliced white bread, (preferably stale), which is layered in a deep bowl and then packed with juicy summer berries. It's much easier than it looks! You just leave it to soak overnight and then turn it out onto a plate before serving.

Cuppa tea time

Nothing is considered as quintessentially English as a good old cup of tea and I fear the whole nation would come to a stand still without it. Each year the average person consumes 2.5kgs of the stuff, contributing to Britain's long running title as the largest per-capita tea consumer in the world. With all the 'tea breaks' going round I'm not in the least bit surprised!

Everyone has an opinion on how to make a ‘proper’ cup of tea, but I've never taken this as anything more than a bit of British banter. Boy was I wrong. Preparing tea in this country is a very serious matter! Did you know that scientists recently discovered 'that the key to the best tasting brew is to let it sit for six minutes?' I had to laugh. (Telegraph, Sat 02 June 2012).

It's Pimm's O'Clock!

OK, perhaps I am getting just a little over excited, but has anyone seen the seven day forecast?

Summer is finally on its way and as far as I'm concerned, there's no better way to celebrate.

Pimm’s is surely the quintessential English summer drink and it’s not difficult to see why. It’s wonderfully refreshing and absolutely delicious when laced with summer fruits and mint. So arm yourself with a picnic rug and a couple of friends and set off for your favorite summer spot, whether it be Port Meadow, The Trout, Perch, Cherwell Boat House or the The Fishes in New Hinskey - you'll be sure to blessed with some sunshine this weekend, so go ahead and order a Pimm's!  

If your planning on catching some rays as the English ladies do - be sure to wear a nice bra! (Don't worry, if you don't understand what I mean, you soon will).

 

I just love this ad, ‘ice’ is so cool, and ‘orange’, well she goes without saying. A brilliant 

concept, and perfectly cast! For those of you that didn’t catch it, here’s the recipe:  

Grab yourself a bottle of Pimms No.1, now take a jug and fill it with ice. 

Mix one part Pimm’s No. 1 with 3 parts lemonade, 

Add sliced cucumber, orange and strawberries, and a little mint 

and you’re ready to go!