Lesley Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 I have just been sent this by email One of the British national daily newspapers is asking readers "what it means to be British?" Some of the emails are hilarious but this is one from a chap in Switzerland... Being British is about driving in a German car to an Irish pub for a Belgian beer, then travelling home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a Japanese TV. And the most British thing of all? Suspicion of anything foreign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 So true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swiss Chick Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 You know I heard this joke from my husband the other day. He has heard it from a work college. Wound't put it past my hubby to have sent an e-mail to the newspaper since we live in Switzerland. Will have to check with him later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 That is so funny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 And the most British thing of all? Suspicion of anything foreign. I don't think that's true anymore. Not of the British anyway. Maybe of the Americans... ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 And the most British thing of all? Suspicion of anything foreign. I don't think that's true anymore. Not of the British anyway. Maybe of the Americans... ! You want to try Banbury Hon. It's better now as it has got more cosmopolitan since the M40 was put in, but I never heard such bigotry and prejudice until I came here -most of it bred from ignorance. Banbury was a small market town, more or less cut off until they built the motorway 16 years ago. it helps me to undrestand the resentment, but not to excuse it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 There you are then Clare - it's you task to re-educate Banbury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 The old boy next door is a one man national front! A couple of years ago there was a moslem wedding in the street, it was fantastic - cavalcades of decorated cars, asian music, food all round and beautiful outfits. The whole street came out to watch, applaude and join in. What did George do? He called the police!!!! I have given up trying to educate him - he doesn't speak to me anyway now (which is sad) after he found out that I am 'foreign'! There is a lack of acceptance here, even amongst the youngsters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 1, 2006 Author Share Posted February 1, 2006 Did anyone else see 'Who do You Think You Are?" with Julian Clary following his family history tonight? His mother said she hoped he wouldn't find any 'foreigners' on her side of the family and had apparently been rude for years about the German ancestors on his father's side of the family. I was desperate for him to find some foreign blood - and sure enough he did! She also had German ancestors It made my night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Same here lesley the look on her face when she found out.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Just checking...Is this one of those threads that I should avoid? Religion, politics and folk dancing wasn't it (the subjects that I should avoid)!!! That's right, Dan you're learning! I'm enjoying the "Who Do You Think You Are?" series, and yes, Lesley, that was a classic bit! But, she wasn't deliberately offensive, just innocently ignorant! I would rather hear someone calmly expressing her fear/prejudice, than for her to think it but not voice it. Especially as it meant that some of her ignorance could later be dispelled. Also, I thought JC spoke eloquently, and the search information was fascinating. They visited St.Albans too......"Napsbury Mental Hospital", now given over to housing, and "care" in the community. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Goodness Sheila, is Napsbury still there? I had forgotten about that. There was a mental hospital at Shenley too, I daresay that has gone over to housing too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Goodness Sheila, is Napsbury still there? I had forgotten about that. There was a mental hospital at Shenley too, I daresay that has gone over to housing too. There were at least 4 large Victorian "asylums" here when I was a child, within beautiful, enormous grounds. I suppose the 20 miles from London in leafy suburbs seemed a good environment at the time. They must have been grim in some ways...hard to argue if you didn't need to be there. But, what a lot of patients to "disappear" in a short space of time, some of whom needed safe provision anyway, and some who'd of course become institutionalised. They were all closed & land sold off for new housing estates, with just a few units remaining for present psychiatric care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 That's quite sad really, but I think that a lot of people who were put into the 'asylums' in the old days are now more accepted in the general community - they even used to lock away menopausal women! (although Phil might agree that I need locking away )I remember that there were quite a few people with Downs Syndrome at Shenley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 3, 2006 Author Share Posted February 3, 2006 I'd have been locked away more than once then Being 5 months pregnant when first married and now being menopausal, for a start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Running down the garden in my PJs must be certifiable too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 In this weather Clare, most certainly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 3, 2006 Author Share Posted February 3, 2006 I run up the garden in far less - but only in the summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 You'd better not have one of James' webcams then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 3, 2006 Author Share Posted February 3, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
