DH and his flag pole dream….

[Lilysienna1]

DH mentioned a few years ago, that he has ‘always wanted’ to have a flag on display in the front garden. A proper flag on a pole, that we would raise up every morning, and ‘fly at half mast’ when the occasion calls for it.

I have never ever even thought of having a flag. We are British and I know it’s quite common in America, but not so much here. DH isn’t a football fan, so it’s nothing to do with the flag flying we see during the World Cup and the like.

last year, for Christmas he said the only present he would wish for, was to have that flag. He was most disappointed with the watch and aftershave he received instead.

He has now mentioned it to 13 year old DD who thinks it’s ‘kinda cool’ and she could imagine using it behind her for tik tok dances.

So now, I’m being made out to be highly unreasonable and a bore, for saying I do not want to raise a bloody flag every morning and see it outside the front of my house every day. I did try to compromise by saying ‘maybe’ a small one in the back garden, but DH says it’s to go out the front only, and why should we be ashamed of patriotism.

We don’t live in a grand estate home, just a detached house in a redrow cul-de-sac. The neighbours wouldn’t be affected as there are large trees between our only neigbours drive and ours, and we are on the corner.

However, everyone that comes in and out our road will see it as it’s the first house.

what would you do?? Give in and say yes to DH and his flag pole or put your foot down? Am I really being that unreasonable and boring? Does anyone else fly a flag? 🤦🏻‍♀️

Cannot help but think that this is true. The comments on this thread are absolutely dreadful - so much hatred and bigotry, ageism and pathetic name calling - flagshagger, gammon etc. 🙄

There’s a very lovely Georgian house in my town with a flagpole out front. Lots of different national flags are raised, each with a little notice to explain what they are commemorating, eg revolution days. It’s quite interesting and doesn’t come across as bigoted. The house is pretty though, which helps make it appear more elderly former naval officer vibes rather than mid life crisis Akela or football hooligan.

I live in NI, I was quite surprised to find one day after moving her that the lamppost outside my house had been transformed into a flag pole. Maybe he could try that? It’s quite noisy when it’s windy though. And it’s not all year round. I don’t think I could cope with the noise all year round.

As long as it's slightly shielded and he has flags for different occasions I say let him fly his freak flag high

That would be just England. The rest the home nations fly their flag with pride

I drive through an ‘elderly demographic’ area to visit my parents. There are several flag poles outside various humble bungalows. It seems to be an ageing-man-thing.

They generally fly the Union flag, but then for international sporting events it’s the George cross, the Union for olympics, ‘merry Christmas’ numbers in December, the relevant nation flags on St George's, St Patrick’s, St David’s and St Andrew’s, a garish bunny on Easter, they were half mast when the Queen and Phil popped their clogs, and they were half mast recently, which I assumed must have been for Charles’ prostate 😂 (they’re also clear royalists).

So, yeah. That could be your life, too! 😂

What flag does he want to fly? I would assume he was a racist or nationalist if any of the UK flags

So my neighbour is a racist because he will fly the flag of St George later on as the rugby is on? As will others in my village. Ok then...

I wouldn't have a problem with it, if it was something my DH wanted and wasnt for reasons or views i found offensive. The only thing I would be concerned about is peoples perceptions ( but should we care what strangers think)
I know it's bad but flags have become the symbol for the racist minorities lately in both England and Scotland... no idea about Wales.

Depending on the age of your Redrow estate, you might have a caveat in the documents which mean you can’t put a flag out the front of your house. Similar to ones which say people can’t bring vans home to stop anti-social parking (like that is the only cause) but they aren’t really enforced so you’d probably get away with putting one up…but it might help your argument against the flag.

Neighbour had a flag pole. He’d had it for years apparently. In back garden in view of my windows . Flag was rarely on it , I think becuase he was elderly.

. I posted on here a year or so back. Drove me a bit nuts as every time high winds it leant a little further- it used to make me feel abit drunk when I looked at it. He also had bunting on his shed and gnomes a plenty .
the positive side was the little owl used it nightly as a perch - which was cute

it finally came down in storm last year. Oddly I sort of miss it, the owl misses it. The gnomes remain unmoved

Explain

Nothing racist about the Welsh flag. We fly it absolutely everywhere.

Imagine having flags at “half mast” while you had a prostate op! Poor King Charles. I’m sure it was meant well but it’s going a bit far I think.

I recommend a flag with a big pineapple on it. Completely harmless and fun! See your popularity in the local area soar!

Haha... unlikely to happen and no, that would just be weird.

I had a neighbour with a flag pole. He used to have the Union Jack paired with flags themed to whatever was going on. He had a valentines flag, an Easter flag, a rugby World Cup flag, an NHS flag, a Halloween flag etc. I used to love seeing what he had flying when I walked past.

'Most people who have flag poles are racist' What an absolutely ridiculous assumption to make. How do you know this? Do you know all the people who fly flags personally to make this statement? Or are you just offended that some folk actually have pride in their country?

😂

I always think flag poles are a bit...weird. Unless on a stately home. But you know what-each to their own.... he good get some interesting flags to put up and rotate them a bit-it might become a bit of a neighbourhood 'thing'! He could get the local kids involved in designing a flag or whatever... it might be quite nice!

There is a house near us with a flag pole. They fly various different flags including an emoji/smiley face. Our children love spotting it when we drive past and seeing what they have up but I would t want one in my own garden so I can see why you’re reluctant.

The ‘pride in our country’ brigade, in my experience, do have racist tendencies 🤷‍♀️.

A house over the back from me has a flag in their back garden.

I find it really useful on days when you're not sure if it's worth putting the washing out on the line or not. I check the flag and then decide between line or dryer depending on how flappy the flag is.

Ah cross post with @cristokitty -that's the sort of thing I mean!

In our village it's really common. I'm from Australia and like seeing the flags- nothing wrong in being proud of a wonderful country like Great Britain, IMO.

There is a man though who changes them all the time- mainly around various national days. So 4th July he has a US flag. It was Australia day a few days ago and he put up a New Zealand flag by mistake I assume which made me laugh. I like looking at the flags and if i don't know them sometimes go home and look them up. Learned alot that way- like the flag of Nepal which is currently my favourite.

Christmas advent numbers in December is fun. Then a new year flag: that’s got your Christmas presents for him sorted OP! A big flag with the new year on it! You could have a changeover ceremony at midnight with champagne: out with the old and in with the new!