British Culture: Albion Never Dies

Don't be shy, send me a message!In this episode, I interview Chris Hunt, known on Instagram as ‘British Bond Addict’, you can find him here: https://www.instagram.com/britishbondaddict/ He and I work together to identify The Seven Pillars of Britishness:(1)   Humour (spelt with a ‘u’)(2)   A stiff upper lip(3)   Embracing a range of accents(4)   The class system (5)   Gentlemenliness (not a word)(6)   Patriotism (7)   TeaWe also talk about the British inability to let go of the past, and how we teach what Britishness is to children. You can always find me on: https://www.instagram.com/flemingneverdies/ Message me and tell me, do you say ‘scone’ or ‘scone’?Also, also: you can find more from Chris here, being interviewed by another Chris talking about James Bond movie posters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTjAj7lye3Q Support the show

Discover the fascinating British heritage in Hong Kong through the lens of James Bond films. Explore how Ian Fleming's experiences shaped the portrayal of this vibrant city. Dive into the Peninsula Hotel's rich history during World War II and its evolution into a luxurious landmark. Indulge in the charm of British-style afternoon tea at the hotel's elegant lounge, where breathtaking views of Victoria Harbour await. Themes of cultural transformation and historical legacy tie together this captivating exploration.

Don't be shy, send me a message!Thank you to everyone who contacted me after the last episode, in which Caine and I talked about tea and biscuits. We asked, 'What are biscuits in the USA?'Thank you to 'Ladies Who Bond' on Instagram for giving me a great answer. You can find her great account here: https://www.instagram.com/ladieswhobond/ Also, thank you to Jon Auty, who also contacted me. He runs the podcast, 'Behind the Stunts'. You can also find him on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/behindthestunts and also find him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestunts/  You can contact me here: https://www.instagram.com/flemingneverdies/   Perhaps you have something to say about how I pronounce 'scone'?Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Last week, I travelled 5 hours by high-speed train from just north of Hong Kong to Fuzhou, in Fujian, famous for its tea culture. I met with an old friend called Caine who is an expert both on British culture and Fijianese tea. This is the second part of our discussion.In this episode, we talk about the quality of tea in teabags (as opposed to loose tea). Caine asks me about Turkish tea culture, and we also talk about what different people have with tea. We don’t shy away from the big debate; are ‘Jaffa Cakes’ actual cakes or biscuits?  We also touch on tea culture in Hong Kong, Taipei, and Malaysia.  You can find Caine’s Youtube series on Fujianese tea here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLniTySl7qc  P.S. Serious question: What are ‘biscuits’ in the USA? Respectfully, this baffled us throughout our discussion. Message me your answers on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flemingneverdies/   Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!This week, I travelled to Fuzhou (China) and met Caine, an expert on British culture and on the traditional tea culture of Fuzhou. We talked about the origins of tea culture, both Chinese and British, and about the real ‘lived culture’ of tea in both countries. We also talk about tea production in Fuzhou, and on the tea and coffee culture of the Middle East. Enjoy! You can find Thomas at: https://www.instagram.com/flemingneverdies/  Take a look at Caine’s Youtube series on Fujianese tea here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLniTySl7qc This shows Caine’s trip to a Fujianese jasmine farm, and a tea processing plant, in order to get some traditional Jasmine tea. Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Just a quick update to say what to expect, what's coming up, and what's going on!You can find Thomas at: https://www.instagram.com/flemingneverdies/Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Caine is an English teacher in Fuzhou, China, and has been for more than 8 years. He teaches, lectures, blogs, and appears on Chinese television talking about about British culture.  You can find Thomas at: https://www.instagram.com/flemingneverdies/You can find Caine on: the Chinese internets, or visit beautiful Fuzhou and just ask around!Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!This podcast asks the question, "What is Britishness?"Listen to find out what to expect from future episodes! Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Thomas reviews the classic British novel "From Russia With Love" by Ian Fleming, first published in 1957 with a film adaptation starring Sean Conner following in 1963. This podcast was originally created by Thomas for an online book group he set up in March 2020 for British and American expats under lockdown in Wuhan, China. They were working for the company EF (Education First), where Thomas has worked as a manager for four years.  Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!This is my favourite chapter of Ian Fleming's penultimate 007 novel 'You Only Live Twice. It's quite different from the classic 1967 film with Sean Connery; we see a world weary Bond at the end of his career. Perhaps we shall see something like it with the 25th 007 film, No Time To Die. On the other hand, perhaps it will forever stand alone, telling its unique story.  Support the show