Thursday, July 5, 2012

The Blue Riband Couple

 In England, a Blue Riband  (prounounced RIBBON) is a wonderful biscuit (cookie) covered in thick milk chocolate.  In America, we give blue ribbons for those who come in first place in a sporting event or at a county or state fair.  The origin of this expression is from the prize of The Blue Riband given to the ocean liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean with the fastest time.  In England and most English-speaking countries it is still spelled Blue Riband but like a lot of words, if we can't change the word completely, we will at least change the spelling! (In French, it is Cordon Bleu).  It is still a term to describe something of high quality and that is why I think that my inlaws, Joan and Peter, deserve a Blue Riband!

Besides putting up with me as a daughter-in-law, they are just the nicest couple ever and such good sports.  We go to a pub and I find a table for them, want to see what I don't notice until we sit down?


Do you think that Peter might have posed for these Father's Day socks?  We had already gotten the bright red "Keep Calm and Carry On' mug for him , and when I saw these socks, I thought it was uncanny how much it looked like him!  And I am sure you are thinking to yourself, please don't tell me that you gave your elegant father-in-law that movie, "Dumb and Dumber"!  Oh yes, I did!

Now, I should have taken photos of them working so hard on my tangled yarn.  You see, I had taken some yarn to England to make something for their friend, Betty, who was always so good to watch their dog when we went out.  Unfortunately, it became so tangled that I gave up on it...but not the Blue Riband couple!  They both set to work and worked so hard on it, and got all the knots out and I was able to make my small crocheted piece thanks to their great work.  THANKS, Joan & Peter! 



Look,  I found a boat for you, think you could get The Blue Riband in this one? Would love to see how fast you could cross the Atlantic...I'll meet you in Savannah, and we'll try to meet up with Silke for coffee! And maybe Mac & Janet can make it too!

23 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Wouldn't it just?!
      I'd make sure that J & P would have some English biscuits to go with our coffee, ahh...English biscuits, so good! And then, we could have a Southern breakfast with OUR biscuits! :-)

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  2. Kay- What a wonderful, dear couple. I love that he was a good sport and posed with his cup and blues on. He does look like the sign!!! Blessings- xo Diana

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    1. Dear Diana,
      We thought it was very amusing and Peter IS a good sport!
      And they are a very dear couple, you can tell by the photos, can't you?

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  3. Lol, those socks DO look just like your father in law!! As you know, Dumb and Dumber is one of my favourites, so great choice - I'm betting he'll really enjoy it :)

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    1. Hey Jane!
      Isn't it funny? I love it when little things like that can cause so much enjoyment! And guess what, he DID like the movie, I think more than he thought that he would! Since he watched it with me, I MIGHT have influenced him a little bit! (And Richard likes it as much as I do!)

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  4. A lovely post about lovely people!
    From all you've told us about them on here, I agree - they do deserve a blue ribbon :-)
    Funnily enough, I never thought of the actual meaning of Cordon Bleu. To me - as it will to most Germans - it simply means a certain way of cooking veal Schnitzel: the Schnitzel is cut open and stuffed with a slice of cheese and a slice of ham, then turned in egg and breadcrumbs and fried until golden brown.

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    1. Dear Meike,
      Thank you!
      You are making me hungry even this early in the morning! Isn't that interesting that that dish is called that, it must mean because it is a very high quality dish! Sounds like it to me!
      And I just realized, we have the same dish here, only with chicken...it is chicken cordon bleu. Not that I have ever attempted it! :-)

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  5. They look like the ideal in-laws. You are blessed, and so are they!

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  6. Mmm...those Blue Riband biscuits sound wonderful. So interesting to hear of the derivation of the name.

    Your in-laws really do look like sweethearts---how wonderful that you have such a close relationship with them.

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    1. Dear Beth,
      The Blue Riband biscuits are wonderful, almost as good as my inlaws!!!

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  7. They look like a charming couple! Definitely deserving of a blue ribbon!

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  8. What a sweet-looking couple. It's so nice how you all get along so wonderfully. And I don't think anyone would have to put up with you, Kay. I imagine you're fairly easy to get along with -- and easy to like! Those Blue Riband cookies sounds yummy.

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    1. Dear Martha,
      Ha! I am easy to get along with, just give me a book and I will leave you alone!
      Oh, an English biscuit with a cup of tea or coffee...so good! But you know, I'll just bet that you have good biscuits or cookies in Canada. Do you call them biscuits or cookies?

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    2. We kind of use both terms here. I mostly say cookies, but I also use the word biscuits for certain types. I don't care what they're called as long as they're tasty!

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    3. Hey Martha,
      Like you, biscuits or cookies, just let me have them and I am happy!

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  9. The resemblance really is amazing and fun. They look like such a kind, friendly and loving couple. How lucky you are to have such a wonderful set of in-laws!

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    1. Hey Kay!
      So glad that you can tell how much fun we had laughing at just a pair of socks!!
      And yes, I am lucky! :-)

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  11. I haven't had a Blue Riband in years; I didn't know they still made them.
    This is a lovely post, Kay. Your in-laws look like a lot of fun. They must be if they are still smiling when you find them a table next to the loo!

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    1. Dear Tracey,
      I don't ever remember seeing Blue Ribands in England either, but I really enjoyed them on this last visit! Oh yes, I couldn't resist taking that photo of them right by the loo... I didn't notice it until we sat down! (And that is at the pub up on Beachy Head, if you are ever there, you can think of me!)

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