Uniquely British things

[ChristmasA123]

I went for a walk earlier and saw one of my favourite things.. a random glove stuck on a railing. Obviously someone had dropped it and a kind stranger has put it somewhere easy to spot. I often see dropped items popped on fences/gateposts like this and it got me wondering.. I wonder if they do that in other countries? I've also noticed how polite drivers are here.. mainly! With that little wave or thumbs up when someone lets you through. I've never seen that driving in the US or Europe. Oh and I love the BBC Christmas ident. It's always so cosy. Are there any other cute/ wholesome things that only generally happen in the UK?

@latetothefisting good one! My kids can be so vile to their friends but it's how they show how much they love them!

Putting the kettle on/having a brew.. yes!

I see your sardines on toast and raise you… mince on toast.

Separate taps for hot and cold water.
So much easier with just one tap for both.

@BobbyBobbyBobby

"lovely"

Calling dinner as 'tea' 😅 when I moved to the UK, in the early days, somebody asked me 'have you had your tea?' ... I said oh no I don't usually have tea.. and they were like why?! Only then I got to know that dinner is called tea 😂

Sorry that posted too quickly. Link is scene from Fleabag that shows exactly what British people do when asked how their food is! Came to mind as soon as I opened this thread.

I love that we have national arguments, that everyone has strong opinions on. such as the pronunciation of Scone. (Rhymes with Cone obvs) And the correct order to apply condiments to the afore mentioned sCONE.

Nope it's definitely scone to rhyme with gone!!

And cream then jam obvs!

Tinned Heinz macaroni (that smells like sick but tastes like heaven) on toast

Have you ever tried going to the front of a queue in the UK?! You’d get a mouthful and pushed to the back and not by one person but the whole queue!

In France the queue nicely, lots of “pardons” and people letting others pass.

I have a German friend who thinks we are hilarious drivers who do excessive thanking, eg . if someone gives way to you when it's your right of way anyway.

I was in an H&M years ago in Prague and it took me about half an hour to actually get to a till because people kept cutting in front of me, I was very confused

That when signing off a letter/ email you can tell how much someone hates/ is angry with you based upon

Kindest regards
Kind regards
Regards

Regards= ultimate hatred. This Brit is furious. They've lost all respect for you.

I don't know if it's true in other countries but the slapping of the thighs and saying "right!" To indicate either a need for a cuppa or imminent departure

I grew up in Leicester were everyone queued for a bus in an orderly, (long line) my sister and I were horrified when I moved to Nottingham to discover no one does that!

Letting drivers on side streets pull into a busy main road in front of you. We had German visitors a few years who were astounded at this - they couldn't get their heads round letting a complete stranger go before you when you had right of way.

It's so awkward when you're with someone and you do the big inhale of breath and go to say 'right' and slap your knees to indicate you're gonna leave, right as the person you're with starts a new conversation, once I've attempted to leave and failed, I just accept that I will never be leaving

yarn bombing
cheerful polite queuing
buckets of tea - any ill is cured with a brew
the way we do Christmas

Another vote with scone and gone!!

LOL @kittenkipping that is so true. I only put 'regards' if I want to convey utter contempt and blind fury for how incompetent someone has been!

@fairydustt I just accept I'll never be leaving.
I literally laughed out loud at that

Separate hot and cold taps
Fray Bentos pies
Not ‘showing off’

Being apologetic
Being polite and tolerant - live and let live
Understating
A unique sense of humour
Queuing
Being wedded to traditions (especially Victorian) and the class system

@drV yes it was always tea when I was growing up. Funnily enough I call it dinner now ...