The Return of an Old Question.

[Shadow Man]

I know this has been asked (including by myself) many times, but I have not seen one posted for a while.

Whilst we live in a country that are killing our boys and girls due to pathetic government underfunding in the middle east and baby rapists are getting off with a suspended sentence when TV licence dodgers are serving time, I need reminding what exactly makes me proud to be British. Everytime I doubt the greatness and my dream of further imperialism is washed aside I think of many things.

Off the top of my head I shall say:

Sebastian Coe
Torvill and Dean
Rolls Royce Heritage
Elgars' Nimrod
Fish and Chips.

This is not a thread for further assassination of GB, so please add your own list of positive pride so I can sit back and say "Yep, Britain is Great".

A possibly boring and well worn thread, but hey ho.

Thank you.

[johnlambert]

A mixture of this

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FatHLHG2uGY
and
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rU8fK7PV_c0

not forgetting this:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dxXjt7d4MiQ

[whiffey]

This is a hard one, but I do have a penkife - Taylors Eye Witness - which claims to have been made in Sheffield UK. Its lead content is not stated.

[Whickerman]

As someone who visits your country regularly, can I add:

Bath
Shortbread
Real Ale
BBC 2
Stephen Fry
The Wicker Man
Hammer Movies
Harry Potter
Tiswas

and of course

Nigella Lawson.

[Goodsoulette]

Cream teas
the beautiful west country
tea
British Indie music at present and the Mighty Muse.

[nutgoneflake]

The old "queuing" chestnut! Where else in the world would you find a group of people queuing sensibly for one checkout, but not only that:- people who, on seeing another checkout being opened, will wordlessly organise a 'feeder' queue so that everyone still goes to the first one available!

This happens in our local Co-op almost every time I'm in there, and it never fails to impress me, sad old fart that I am...!

[bobtheturkey]

anfield on a european night

[hau kola]

The Stretford end.

[bobtheturkey]

lovely and tranquil the stretford end :)

[FUZZYBEE]

Hi shadowman, I know totally what you mean, some days I wonder what on earth I am still in this country for and not sunning myself in the med.........however mr fuzzy and the little fuzzies spent bank hol monday in London and we saw the changing of the guard, and all the ceremony that goes with it and I felt extremely proud and even a little bit tearful (don't know why). We had a picnic in St.James park, saw big ben, the london eye etc etc. And the hi-light for me was looking at the two lovely memorials on the embankment of those who gave their life in the war, it was sooo special. Mind you give it two weeks and I'll be moaning again about the government wanting to put cameras in wheelie bins. I think like anything you take it for granted until you actually step back and look at our country..be it London or the most beautiful view in scotland or the best beach in Dorset....we do take some beating.

[Hellyon]

The way everyone pulls together when there is a real crises like 7/7 - all prejudices forgotten just help given.

When England gives maximum points to Ireland and vice versa in Eurovision (americans just don't get the complex relationship between us)

Fly past of Spitfires makes me weep with pride.

Chelsea Pensioners and the Rememberance Day Parade

Steve Redgrave

Plus several things already mentioned

[bensmum]

Dare I say the british weather? It's something we all moan about but it makes Britain the lovely green place it is.
Our scenery - we are a small island but we have some wonderful extremes
Our tolerance. We may seem to be intolerant at times but compared to other countries we are brilliant.
Edward Elgar
David Attenborough
Monty Python (and our sense of humour generally)

[Silversky]

William Shakespeare,
Churchill,
The monarchy,
The beatles,
Rolls Royce,
Jaguar,
Bentley,
'Pint of Bitter'

Theres a few I can think of..

[zig_zag]

http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/hazardous/ risks-former-sheep-dip-sites-nov06/html/images /figure-a3.jpg

[Kleiber]

The Scottish & Welsh mountains, the Sussex Weald, the view from the top of the Cranbourne Chase (over 3 counties), the New Forest, cream teas, fried breakfasts, roast dinners, Glengettie tea (the best!), proper milk, our love of our pets, the weather (I know I was moaning about it a couple of weeks ago, but I love the changing seasons), blackberrying in the countryside, Harvest Festival, jam-making,(this sounds like word association, doesn't it?), historic buildings, our wildlife. Shame we've got such a lousy government - this is a beautiful country!

[Hellyon]

Kleiber - on behalf of the New Forest I'd like to thank you! Any part in particular?

[dot.hawkes]

a lady who works for me just spent a weeks holiday in prague and she had a pre-booked/paid taxi to take her and her companion back to the airport at the end of the week. the taxi driver tried to rip them off and charge them again, she had tried arguing with him but he was getting threatening, her friend stepped forward and said, 'Excuse me , we are English and we do not tolerate being spoken to like foreigners!"' he backed off and they went into the terminal, lol they are both near retirement and quite frightening when riled!

[Kleiber]

Hiya, Hellyon - no particular part, all of it really. It was my old stamping ground when I was younger and we used to ride our horses from Codford in Wiltshire down to the Forest for 3 days. We stayed at the Three Lions in Stuckton (it's a posh pub now, not like it was when we used to go!). I also like Burley and I have fond memories of Strange's, the butchers (also gone now, I believe). I'd love to go back, on a bit of a sentimental journey, but living in west Wales, it's a bit of a trek! Maybe one day..... K xx