To ask you to share what you like about the UK

[Songsofexperience]

The last few weeks, months, years have felt so divisive: the ref, multiple elections, polarised debate, cultural/political/environmental crises etc.
In the spirit of Christmas, I'd love to escape that for a bit. Especially today. We don't know who will govern us tomorrow. Chances are millions of people won't like the outcome. In the meantime, can we celebrate what's good about the place and what brings us together?
I am being unashamedly cheesy here, but I think it would be great to be positive for once!

-That the vast majority of people are decent and caring.

-That we talk about the weather all the time and are constantly taken by surprise by it despite the fact we know it changes all the time.

• That we have freedom of speech.

• That we have good BBC dramas.

• London and the huge variety and diversity that comes with it.

• Home Bargains 😂

Were both British but did live abroad. Brought our kids home to a better life.

• NHS!!!! Not appreciated until you dont have it.
• countryside
• british ethos- spirit, politeness
• Education system & for free!
• funded childcare
• cheap food
• history
• countryside

I could go on but best pick kids up!!

The Queen

Where do I begin?

Freedom
There are places to go and complain when we are wronged in any way.
The emergency services
The NHS
Free education (till 16)
Ability to practice religion freely
Organisations that are set up to care for vulnerable people ie social services, Samaritans etc
Proffessionalism
The cool weather.
Heating when it's cold
Fans when it's hot.

I mention the above because the country my parents come from struggles to provide it.
I love the UK and was raised here. It's morals and values were what initially attracted my parents to emigrate.

It's provided me with an opportunity to work hard and be rewarded for it.

@ChristmasSpirtsOnTheRocksPleas, Scottish raspberries even better
Stilton and cheddar cheese
Sunday roast with loads of gravy
Pie and Mash
Kent cherries
Soda bread
Christmas pudding
Friday night curry
Love this country

Free to access NHS and schools.
History and places to visit.
Television programs that could not have been made anywhere else.
David Attenborough.
The British sense of humour.

The countryside
British wit
The diversity
The fact that we don't have any crazy weather experiences, no massive tornadoes or earthquakes etc.
Yorkshire puddings

Oh and the musicians/artists we produce!

Water is usually safe to drink right from the tap

Beautiful wildlife - 🦌 🦊 🦡 🦔

I want to say more politically stable than some European states but that remains to be seen

Lots of airports so quite easy to get away (and come back again)

The variety and beauty of the landscape especially Wales and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland
The Welsh, Gaelic and Cornish languages
The NHS and welfare state (in the US you will get politicians arguing that the welfare state shouldn’t exist - even the Tories have never done that)
Tolerance
Pubs
Humour
History and Literature
Football
Rugby
History and literature
Indian food!

Gorgeous countryside.

Brilliant sense of humour, unmatched anywhere else.

Mild climate.

Rare instances of natural disasters.

Sunday dinners.

Traditional local accents.

Masters of irony

Tea

Literature

London, or bits of it. Especially when all the Christmas lights are up in central london. I just love the atmosphere.

English countryside.

British humour

British television, like dramas and comedies etc. I don't enjoy many US shows.

Unarmed police

Garden centres

Queuing

My DH... he is English
Food - so much choice
The national trust & other charities - it's great - where I come from its either state funded or privately owned...
I like the language, it's lovely and not to complex, it's easy to learn and when spoken well has a nice ring to it (but you can only appreciate that if it your 2nd or 3rd language)

Employment laws

Education to 18

No child labour

Generally kind to animals

Country pubs, beer gardens
Public footpaths
Diversity

Regional accent and dialect variations, Welsh language, Scots and Irish languages.
How green it is.
Lack of earthquakes, volcanoes and extreme weather.
Temperate climate.

in the US you will get politicians arguing that the welfare state shouldn’t exist - even the Tories have never done that
On a point of order, they have, but not for a long time - the Tories argues that pensions would “rot the moral fibre of the working classes” when they were introduced.

Mint sauce. Apparently many other countries don't have it.

Pasties - again, not universal. Who knew?

Crisps that aren't pringles type shot in tubes, in weird flavours like paprika!

I like that things are a bit scruffy here, obvs the NHS and free at the point of delivery public services.

How much more progressive we are (although it’s being so tested at the moaning) but overall for a very small island population we are accepting, tolerant and progressive.
On the whole, if you’re not hurting anyone, you can just crack on and live your life. And your differences are protected by law too.

That we queue - it’s almost unheard of not to ram raid buses, buffets and aircrafts in other countries.

Our absolute, defining culture and regional differences. Literally 10 miles can take you to massively different dialect, quirks, delicacies and characteristics

We’re very lucky on the whole

Many things previous posters have mentioned including the mild climate and lack of horrible creepy crawlies.

The fact that despite the election and Brexit and not having a functioning government and everything else, we do still get on with life - the country sort of runs itself and people generally get along with each other.

Whatever people say, the UK is very tolerant and a lot less racist or sexist than many other places on the globe.

the smell of moorland heather
the sight of a sunset over the Hebrides
the taste of haggis
the laughter of good company
Our cherriness in adversity
manner on the roads - yes really (expect Bournemouth)

NHS
Fish and chips
Sense of humour
Tea
Being left alone to be yourself