Great things about Great Britain

[wheretoyougonow]

It feels like the world has gone slightly mad around us and everything is very negative. I want to start a thread about the positives of living in Great Britain.

I am sure there will be many a negative to the positive e.g great nhs experience vs waiting times but let’s keep this as a proud thread. There are lots of things that we do well. Can be light hearted or serious.

My initial thoughts are:
When I had a sudden medical episode where I was dying, within 40 minutes I was in hospital with a medical team who saved my life.
When there is an international major sporting event, in my area, lots of flags are displayed of different countries. No one bats an eye to this.
We have a great variety of restaurants.
Our homegrown tv programmes are often awesome.
I (mostly) love our comedians and sense of humour.
When there is an International crisis we can be brilliant. The young lads stuck in the Thai cave being an example.

The fact that our fire services will send a team to rescue a dog from a cliff or a fox stuck jammed between two walls.
😊

What else is there? Other than fish? And I know that might come across as snarky, but it’s not, I thought it was fish and rice and nothing else.

So yes then. Thanks for confirming.

Yeah true British arrogance is annoying.

Yep the unashamed tenderheartedness toward animals. The community rallying when a litter of motherless ducklings was found was quite something.

Our music is amazing.
Stunning countryside.
Hilarious sense of humour.
Stately homes and architecture.
Have to dash but so much more.

Cheese
Builders tea
The affectionate use of the word "cunt" by people from Glasgow.😊
Trees and parks in cities.
Period dramas.
Temperate climate
The breakfasts.😍

Belfast. It's class, so it is.😁

London is a beautiful city, the parks are stunning and I can walk my dog for miles off-lead through multiple parks and still be in the west end in 30 mins.

We have great food and access to quality basics at a very reasonable price (having recently been in the US and see the pure shit they eat, I have a new appreciation for having access to quality basics without weird industrial ingredients and antibiotics)

Our culture, the music, theatre, authors, architecture etc.

Oh wow , well where do I start ?
Wonderful scenery , gorgeous coastlines , beautiful countryside .
Stunning Architecture , generally mild weather because we live in a temperate maritime climate , no scary wildlife .
No earthquakes to speak of , no typhoons 🌀
most of us have a fantastic sense of humour, fantastic TV dramas .
Also the music too , decades of amazing music .

London's getting lots of well deserved love but GB has other amazing cities too.

I'll start with Manchester.

Well I'm hardly responisble for my area (a medium sized city in the U.K) am I haha. Any pub that you go into in this city is not great.

I must try and find some really nice pubs out in small villages.

The rivalry between the English, Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh while still being able to come together for big British occasions.

The melting pot of people from all over the world who genuinely get on together better than in most other countries.

Spring. If you've ever lived in countries by the equator you'll appreciate spring in the UK. It's just so glorious after the winter months.

Sport. Like it or loath it, the UK is the home of some of the biggest sports in the world. We may not win much but we compete in all of them.

The lack of extremes of weather, geology and deadly animals. We're unlikely to be nibbled to death by a hedgehog.

I could go on...

@FoulBlister I agree with all you say and definitely about Pulp and Bowie!

A Nice Cup of Tea
Crumpets
Kate Bush
PJ Harvey
I grew up listening to British music, I love it, I love a good festival.
Love for gardens and parks
National Trust
Good beer and cider
Scones
Haggis + neeps and tatties
Harry Potter
Using churches as play areas or concert halls
Jane Austen
There is a cheese wrapped in nettles???
Top quality butter and dairy in general
M&S, Waitrose and John Lewis
Pies and pasties
Volunteers
Feminists
Museums are free
Period dramas
The Office

Scotland and Northern Soul UK wide my passion of 44years.

Literally anything. It's the rice that makes it sushi. We made sushi a few years ago with avocado, egg and veg in.

The unique grey green light. The best music. The irreverence and lack of patience for religious nonsense.
Nowhere is perfect but I love my country . It’s tedious that British people are supposed to suffer from colonial guilt. My ancestors were all peasants as far as I know so bore off with that.

There is a cheese wrapped in nettles???

There is a cheese called 'Tickle More Goats'.

Seasons
Green lush vistas
Seaside towns
Humour (and the difference between northern and southern humour)
Characters of all walks of life
Manners
National Trust fabulousness
Picturesque villages
Canals
Free museums and libraries (and BorrowBox)
NHS saved my partners life - that should be at the top of the list!
Lots to love and be grateful for

@ScarlettjuneI love the British education system it allows us to cut and paste:

The UK government has issued formal apologies or expressions of remorse specifically to Ireland (the Republic of Ireland and Irish people generally) for historical actions, most notably regarding the 19th-century famine and actions in Northern Ireland. These apologies are aimed at repairing relationships and acknowledging past wrongs. 1, 2, 3, 4]
Key apologies and expressions of regret include:

• The Irish Potato Famine (1997): Prime Minister Tony Blair issued a statement expressing remorse for the British government's inaction during the famine of the late 1840s, acknowledging it as a "massive human tragedy". 1, 2]
• Bloody Sunday (2010): Prime Minister David Cameron officially apologized on behalf of the UK government and country after the Saville Report found that British troops killed unarmed civilians in 1972, calling the actions "unjustified and unjustifiable". 1]
• Northern Ireland Historical Issues (2011): While not a formal legal apology, Queen Elizabeth II expressed deep sympathy and regret for the "heartache and loss" of the past during her historic visit to Ireland, which was widely seen as a landmark gesture of reconciliation. 1, 2]

There are lots of wonderful things about Great Britain. I say that as an Irish person.

I was exposed to a lot of British culture as a child and young person, growing up in Ireland. I read a lot of incredible children's books written by British authors. My family and I watched a lot of British TV - everything from Play School, Grange Hill, Top of the Pops (us kids), Corrie (my Mam), All Creatures Great and Small, The Sky at Night and lots of wildlife documentaries (my Dad). So many brilliant comedy series over the years too - 'Allo 'Allo, Only Fools and Horses, Blackadder, The Royle Family, Gavin and Stacey etc. etc. British TV was infinitely better than Irish TV (still is). And I haven't even started on British pop music. British culture has enriched my life to a huge extent and I am very grateful for that.

Most of my holidays tend to be sun holidays (for obvious reasons). I've only visited a tiny part of the UK. London is an incredible city, with so much to offer. I also enjoyed a weekend in Edinburgh. Two very different cities. Next time I visit the UK, I'd like to visit some more scenic, rural locations.

I am ethnically Indian. It is true that racism in the UK is on the increase and I have posted previously that this is worrying. However, every day I meet many many tolerant open minded people who really just want to get on with people. The challenge we have is to get this majority to speak louder.

Yes London is an incredible city! Forgot that on my list!

Oh and I never mentioned the British film industry. I've enjoyed lots of wonderful British films over the years, featuring some very talented actors and actresses.

We're much kinder to animals than much of the world.