Where Can You See Hanukah Symbols And Lights In London?

 In Central London the best known location is Trafalgar Square. It has the largest Hanukiah in Europe.

The lights are lit up from the first day of Hanukah, on December 14 until the last day, eight days later, Dec 22. 

Out in the suburbs, I saw lights 

1 In front of Edgware station, 

2 In Stanmore, approaching from the station, on the right as you reach the shops.

3 On a roundabout near Brent Cross Shopping Mall.

Nine branch hanukiah and Happy Chanukah sign. Near Brent Cross Shopping Mall. Photo by Angela Lansbury. The large device is electric. The smaller sign on the poster is stylized  but suggests wax candles with flames.

Six point star on mine tart at The Plaice To Eat in John Lewis department store, Brent Cross shopping mall. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

4 You will see several displays inside shops. For example, John Lewis in Brent Cross, in the crockery department. 

Happy Hanukah, at John Lewis department store, Brent Cross shopping mall. Table display. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The Hanukiah And Menorah - What's The Difference?

The menorah is used on Friday nights, with seven candles for the seven days of the week.

The Hanukiah is used during the eight day festival of Hanukah. It has more candle holders, eight, plus the central or end holder for the candle which lights the others.

How Do You Spell Hanukah?

I have seen the simplest spelling, Hanukah, also Hannukah, and Chanukah. When the word is translated from Hebrew into English, there is not standard spelling, the same as translating names and words from Indian languages and other languages.

Hanukah is the festival. Hanukiah is the candelabra.

Useful Websites For Hanukah Lights In London

Brent Cross

Edgware

Golders Green

John Lewis

Stanmore

See next post for the history of Hanukah.

Update on Dec 15 2025

https://www.thetimes.com/world/australasia/article/sydney-shooting-antisemitism-attack-jewish-holiday-chanukkah-zkk6dvt7d

Santa and Elves at John Lewis, Brent Cross

We went to the top floor of John Lewis in Brent Cross to have coffee and cake at tea time. By good luck we were able to see Santa and his elves. 

Seats at his feet for tiny tots were sold out.

Santa and his smiling elves. John Lewis department store, in Brent Cross shopping mall. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

British and International Stores and Supermarkets Such as Waitrose, selling Christmas cakes from Germany, Italy, Spain and France

Halloween Hat from Waitrose.

Angela Lansbury in a Halloween hat from Waitrose, 2021.

Shopping and eating are becoming more and more international each year. In the UK in October I see goodies ready for Christmas. From Germany we get stollen.   

From Italy we get panettone. The name comes from panetto, with the letter t twice, like the English word letter. Panetto, like pain, French for bread, means bread, a small bread. The end one means large.

Panettone pleases my Spanish speaking friends and a Spanish-speaking friend from Venezuela in my London Toastmasters' Harrovian Speakers group. 

From the French croissants for breakfasts have spread worldwide in supermarkets and cafes in supermarkets and cafes alongside. We also get pain au chocolat. At Christmas we see Yule log cakes called Buche de Noel.

The stores and supermarkets themselves have gone international. I see branches of Harrods and Tesco and Marks & Spencers in Singapore. 

What about Waitrose? The two places to go would be a company's own website for up to date information, and Wiki. Since the increasingly sophisticated websites know where I am and want to send me local information, to find out what's going on worldwide I often find it handy to check up in Wikipedia. Wiki also gives the history about 'they' who started a company, as well as 'we' who now own it.

My search is rewarded. I can now tell you:

Wiki: 'Waitrose & Partners (formerly Waitrose) is a brand of British supermarkets, founded in 1904 as Waite, Rose & Taylor, later shortened to Waitrose.' 

Well, who knew! Not me, nor my family in the UK.

'It was acquired in 1937 by employee-owned retailer John Lewis Partnership, which still sells groceries under the brand. Its head offices are located in Bracknell and Victoria, England. Waitrose & Partners has 332 shops across the United Kingdom, including 65 "little Waitrose" convenience shops, and a 5.1% share of the groceries market, making the company the eighth-largest retailer of groceries in the UK. They also export products to 52 countries and have locations in the Middle East.'

Ah. Not just Britain. Of interest to visitors to the UK, but also to travellers worldwide.

'The chain has been described by The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian as having an "upmarket" reputation, although former managing director Mark Price suggested prices are competitive to Tesco, a mid-market chain.'

And for some fun stuff:

'The company has a royal warrant to supply groceries, wine, and spirits to Queen Elizabeth II and, as of 1 January 2011, to Prince Charles.'

Useful Websites

www.waitrose.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waitrose

stollen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stollen

panettone

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panettone

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borscht#As_a_ritual_dish

About the Author

Angela Lansbury was born and bred in Britain, and has lived in the USA and Singapore. Her family has worked in or lived in Spain and Switzerland. 

She is the author of several books on public speaking and quotations.

She is a member of Toastmasters Clubs meeting on Zoom with visitors from the UK and USA, India, Sri Lanka, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Through the Toastmasters mentoring program Angela has connected with individuals in Vietnam and Romania, and Belize, a different connection each month. Please come to the next BHA Toastmasters meeting on the 3rd Saturday afternoon every month.

Angela is a member of Harrovian Speakers, London (two Monday evenings each month (BST or GMT) currently part in person and part on Zoom, and VP PR for BHA (1st Monday evening and 3rd Saturday afternoon Singapore Time; and TCA, one Tuesday evening a month, both currently on Zoom, as well as secretary for Singapore Online Dynamic which is online only and always, Friday evening 9.30 pm Singapore time.   

Please share links to your favourite posts.

CARPET WOES

Carpet price
We get an initial estimate for carpet from John Lewis. Very high.

If you want a long-lasting good quality carpet, and have the budget, I would go for John Lewis.

However, if the tenants won't know, won't appreciate it, won't look after it, and you have to replace it because it is damaged or you need new carpet to compete with other new build properties in the area, go for a cheaper chain such as Tapi carpets, or a little local family-run business if you get a recommendation.

We get a lower estimate from elsewhere.

Fitting Price
After we pay for the carpet, not at the same time, we get a second bill for fitting. Now too late to change the order.

Furniture Shifting Price
We pay extra for the company to shift furniture.

They turn up and complain they were told there wasn't much furniture but there is a lot.
The company says I must pay the carpet fitters and the carpet company will repay the difference.

Contact With Sub-contractors
Because of data protection, nowadays you can't in the UK get the mobile of the carpet fitter or the inventory checker, because of data protection.

I think the company should give every person acting on their behalf a pay as you go system or pager.

Dust
I was not warned about dust. When the old carpet is pulled up, dust goes everywhere. All over the new paint. All over the bedding and curtains. Over small items such as table lamps.

I rush around moving things out.

 I open the sliding doors and windows.

The movers have their own vacuum cleaner, which is good. But they only do the floor, not the furniture covered by dust.

They leave with the bedroom furniture in the en suite bathroom, as I discover later.

I ask for the spare carpet to be left. One small piece covers the inside of a wardrobe.
The spare piece is too heavy for me to lift. It could be used to carpet another small room.

The new carpet prevents the front door opening and shutting. They say I now have to have the bottom cut off the door. I don't think I am allowed to do that, in case it damages the appearance of the communal area. I would rather wait for the carpet to settle, or try to adjust the door hinges if their is a slight gap at the top.

A wood-look synthetic flooring would have been cheaper and not obstructed the door. However, the lease will not allow floors of wood, granite etc to minimise noise to adjacent flats or those above and below.

But the imitation wood also has problems. See next post.

However, look on the bright side. The new carpet looks terrific. The spare piece solves the problem of the wardrobe elsewhere.
(Photos will be added later.)

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

  

Happy Hallowe-en

Hallowe'en has arrived in the shops. The month of October. Here's a window in John Lewis, Watford with a display.

I remember when Hallowe'en was almost unknown in England but the Americans made a big thing of it. Now all the supermarkets in England are full of Hallowe'en costumes.

Here's a cake in the window of Genuine Cakes, who have a shop in Hatch End and a stand in the centre of the mall in Intu in Watford.

If you bought Hallowe'en hats or fingers or face paints in previous years, you have time to get them out, ready for your home or away parties. As you travel your trip will be enhanced by the hallowe'en window displays and decorations.

If you are on a budget, try poundshop.com
If you need to stock up on hats or outfits for any other occasion, they will be cheaper the day after Hallowe'en.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Pearl Quality and Pearls in Singapore and Japan

Here's one store in Singapore with a website. They clearly state that some of the pearls are faux which is a fancy French word for false, which is a good sign.

In the UK I once went with a friend to buy a Xmas gift of a pearl necklace in John Lewis. I had always previously thought that a major department store might be reliable. However, I think you often get more interesting design in speciality shops. We were told that pearls should be re-strung every year to guard against loss. What a nuisance for the recipient.

For the amount paid for a pearl necklace, matching pearl bracelet and pearl ring - three items to worry about breaking or losing a pearl, the buyer could have bought his lady a solid gold necklace which would always have kept its value and never broken.

http://www.chomel.com.sg

Japanese shops also sell pearls. I once bought silver grey pearl bracelet, in silver, at a good price from a shop in Japan. You can either buy them on holiday in Japan or on line.

I also found a Tahiti Pearl Market on Facebook.

What to look for when buying pearls
Not so exactly round that they must be machine made.
Nor huge imperfection.
Larger pearls cost more.
The expensive lustre or mirror quality, compared with the cheaper dull matt or chalky surface.
Colours affect the price, but what colour you like may depend on your skin colour, so a cheaper colour might suit your better.
An x-ray will reveal the inside showing whether they are man-made and solid, or built in layers like a tree. A magnifying glass will show the slight irregularities of a natural pearl.

Writers on the site say that if you rub two real pearl's together, they grate, but two fake or mad-made pearls are smooth. I'm not sure I'd risk damaging my own real pearls or anybody else - unless I was sure they were fake and wanted to prove the point. That's why the real pearls are divided by knots, firstly because they are valuable so will be kept for ever, not just a season, but secondly because real pearls are more likely to scratch each other with their protrusions.

More discussion on:
http://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/showthread.php?1206-What-makes-a-freshwater-higher-than-AAA

More information from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, researcher, author and speaker . 

Living Abroad or Holidaying - shopping cheap and quick

Would you believe it - you can shop from John Lewis in the UK anywhere in the world, for about £10 delivery charge on those items which say available for international shipping. I had looked for John Lewis and the system saw my computer was logging on from overseas and up popped sg.johnlewis, but when I hunted for the store no such place existed in Singapore, it was all online.

I was looking for heatproof table mats. You arrive in your second home or rented apartment and suddenly decide you must have some item you have six of at home like coasters and table mats. The trick to searching online is to know what terms to use.

Here's what I discovered:

DAESO
Japanese company, selling items for only two dollars (Singapore dollars) found all over the world:
China, Japan, HK, Macau. Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand.
I went to the branch in the centre of Singapore on basement 4 B4 at Ion, Singapore's equivalent of Piccadilly Circus. For two Singapore dollars I could buy
Bookends (I think it was for one bookend, so $4 for the pair, but still a great price;

At the sales desk I found the cashiers accepted only cash or NETS which is the local debit card.  They had the items I'd been looking for: pads to go under furniture so it doesn't scratch the floors, zips to make my jacket pockets more secure, hangers, floor mops.

UK
In the UK Poundland (Harrow and elsewhere) now take credit cards. (So does Primark, selling cheap clothing store, which usually has gloves and socks for £1, t-shirts and vests for about £5 upwards, often a rummage box of flip flops for £1 or £2, and a sale rail or bargains.

Singapore
DAESO
fishpond.com.sg (free shipping worldwide)
Mustafa Centre (huge 24 hour store) online I couldn't even check the MRT (nearest train station or bus), but I could read about the company.
Qoolo
Spotlight

UK
99p stores
BHS
Poundland
Pound stretcher
Poundworld
Primark
Online:
Amazon free shipping if you join Prime; Ebay (prices and shipping vary; lots of clothes and products from China offering free shipping); Etsy (USA and worldwide; prices and shipping varies).

USA & Canada
Dollar Tree
Dollar Stretcher
Etsy

Australia
Daiso

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

Sales and Skates: Shops Open and Sales Starting Boxing Day (Saturday 26) or Sunday 27th 2015

Check online to see which stores are opening, and who has a sale on. Fenwick is opening.

Even the little shops such as Tesco Express have signs in their windows that they are opening Boxing Day (January 26th). Some of the shops which are opening won't start sales until Sunday 27th.

John Lewis in Watford's Intu said they would start their clearance sales on Sunday 27th.

Or maybe look for an ice show for the children or adults.
Nutcracker on Ice at the Royal Albert Hall, 28 December (Monday) until Jan 2nd. Tel:020 7838 3100. Half price tickets for children under 16, on some ticket prices.
royalalberthall.com

Later in January there's a novelty ice dance performance, Vertical by Le Patin Libre. From Tuesday 12th Jan to Sat 16 2016.
Tel:0844 453 9017.

If you still haven't got your Xmas present sorted, of you've got money as a gift and owner who you can spend it on, for Torvill and Dean fans there's a tribute lunch .
www.variety.org.uk

See my previous post about ice skating in London and worldwide.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

Watford's Winter Lights at Intu

The descending white lights in Watford's Intu mall. The John Lewis sale starts Dec 27th 2015.

See also my previous posts on lights inside and outside Intu, the Santa grotto and more.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

Packing parcels and presents and stationery when travelling

If you are travelling by plane you may have to open wrapped parcels for inspection, as well as answering the question: 'Did you pack this yourself?'

Therefore, if travelling by plane, you might need to pack wrapping paper, gift tags (which can be cut from wrapping paper), ribbons, greeting cards, sticky tape, scissors.

Scissors should go in a checked in suitcase. If you put scissors in hand luggage they are likely to be confiscated.

If you are travelling by train or coach or bus or in your own car you will probably be able to wrap parcels in advance.

Free Wrapping In France
If you buy chocolates and gifts in France, the shop assistant usually asks if your purchase is a gift. If so, they wrap it for you for free, usually with a ribbon imprinted with the company name as advertising.

Wrapping Parcels and Bows Guide
Below is a link to a handy guide to wrapping from John Lewis department store in the UK. If you learned to cover school books in protective paper at school, you will already be familiar with folding paper over corners making triangles.The video reminds you to fold under cut edges for a neat, straight effect. Also it shows how to do accordion or concertina effect folding  to make a triple fold.

Another neat trick is covering joins with coloured sticky tape or ribbon. If you have double sided sticky tape that's handy for attaching ribbon. A good idea to pack that. It's the sort of thing which is hard to find when short of time on holiday, especially in resorts short of stationery shops, and when assistants don't speak English.

Office Stationery  - miniature travel kit
 I find it handy to have things like that with me. At my most organised moments I have gone away to a conference with a complete office kit. In the old days one used to travel with a hat box or a beauty box. Now it would be handy to have an extra briefcase or pouch contained everything for cards and gifts and stationery such as:

Ruler. Tape measure with both inches and centimetres. Paper clips. Scissors. Small size guillotine. Card index cards. Ribbons. Greetings cards for a birthday, anniversary, birth of a boy or girl, engagement, wedding, thank you card, invitation card. Gift tag. Wrapping paper, Ribbons. Hole punch. Stapler. Double sided sticky tape. Coloured felt tip pen. I have bought miniature office kits aimed at travellers or children, including a small size stapler and a stationery kit like a small suitcase about the size of a pack of playing cards. Children's rounded tip scissors with deckle edge for cutting paper.

I bought a set in Poundland for only one pound. It included of a stapler and hold punch.

You could also pack a box of Xmas cards. In the box put a pen for fancy writing and a glitter pen. Plus your Christmas card list, with addresses, phone numbers, correct spelling of people's names and their children's and spouse's names. This is a useful reminder, even if you are not sending cards but sending emails, text and phone calls on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer, author, speaker.
Author of How To Get Out of The Mess You're In.

http://www.johnlewis.com/inspiration-and-advice/home-garden/winter-2012/how-to-wrap-christmas-presents-video

Foreign Currency - from where? The garage!

I had heard you were likely to pay more if you left buying currency to the last minute and bought from some of the major airports such as Heathrow. You also risk arriving late, and not having time to change money, or forgetting.

If you want to compare rates, several money comparison sites on line will help you.

You can get currency from all sorts of places. Often at big hotels, even if you are not a guest at the hotel. In the UK often from a bank. Or from a post office - which might be at the back of the nearest news agent shop.

Now you can also get currency delivered to a garage (UK terminology)/ petrol station (US terminology). For example, to the Waitrose mini shop in the Shell garage/petrol station, on the Dome Roundabout on the St Albans Road in North Watford.
http://www.waitrose.com/content/waitrose/en/home/groceries/30_Offer_Dig.html


http://www.moneysupermarket.com/travel-money/?p=0&keywords=best%20%2Bcurrency
Johnlewis.com/foreigncurrency
Angela Lansbury. Travel writer and photographer. Author and speaker.

Update on worldwide travel insurance UK National Westminster Bank Platinum Account Cost and Cover

The cost per month is £16 for the platinum account giving worldwide travel insurance. (Compare with upgrading, for example, John L e w i s (spaces because spellchecker wants to change the department store name to newish).

Go to the N a t W e s t  website and you can get a callback live chat.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author, speaker.

London Loo-Hopper Finds Where To Buy British Perfumed Hand Lotion

One of the advantage of having espresso coffee or tea and cake in a grand hotel or smart restaurant, instead of a quick nip into a cafe, is that you can indulge in the delights of the grand loo. Not just a clean, dry shelf for your handbag, but perfumed washing gel to make you smell superior, plus a hand lotion, sometimes the same scent, sometimes another perfume.

Whether it's a birthday or a business meeting, a chance to smarten up for the selfie and even if you forgot to put on perfume, you can come out smelling of roses, or lemon, or whatever they have chosen for you.

In the Langham hotel in London I discovered Penhaligon's Quercus. I wrote down the brand and the perfume, and took a photo of it as a memory aid. Just as well. It took me a while to spell Penhaligon's correctly.

I found the company's website, plus products and pages on Penhaligon's offered by others such as Selfridges, John Lewis and Amazon. That led me to some reviews.

I'd been wondering about the origin of the name. I found that in wikipedia. Penhaligon is a place name, the name of the company founder.

If you want a souvenir for yourself, a gift of something British to take home to a friend or family member, or something for your Xmas list, you could try Penhaligon's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penhaligon's

Which other perfumed lotions have I liked? The White Company.
http://www.thewhitecompany.com/
You find their shops in many shopping malls and you can buy online.