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? 🤦🏻‍♀️

Absolute nonsense. Anyone is free to fly an England flag.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flying-flags-a-plain-english-guide/flying-flags-a-plain-english-guide

@Mementomorissons see I don’t see them as working class at all - I see it as a very middle class affectation of pompous royalists who bang on about the war as if they defeated Hitler themselves 😬. Can’t bear them - and yes I judge 🤷‍♀️😂

As someone who lives in NI where people are fond of a fleg(!) or two, my answer would be 'No. Fecking. Way .... No'😆😆

My DH has one in the back garden on a massive tall flag pole and I just hate it. Don't see the point and they go really tattered after a while.

Send him to live in NI. More flags then he could ever need or want

@Lavenderosa I think she was joking 😂

You may also need planning permission, depending on the height, so even if you relent, other people may still object!

Let him do it if it makes him happy! I don't mind a Union Jack but the England flag does give off slight hooligan vibes unless it's on top of an old church or castle

The house up the road has one. I feel like he (it must be a man) is keeping the estate informed about important events (even if it it’s in some sort of flag code).

There's a certain type of person who puts a flag pole up in the garden. Don't be that person

Does anyone know any women who have been the driving force behind erecting a flagpole in the garden? This seems to be a very male thing, I assume because it’s a large sort of phallic shaped object.

I thought you were going to say your dh wants you to take up pole dancing.

I’m actually snorting at this. Thank you for this laugh, I needed it today 🤣

Was just thinking the same thing.

I think I find it more baffling, that he can’t really see any issue with it. He says he thinks it’s no different to the neighbour having a cherry blossom tree in her front garden. I would say that’s quite different, myself.

This is like something my dad would have done if he’d thought about it.

he also collected coins and was in the scouts.

The fella two doors down from us has one in his bank garden. I quite like it in a kitsch sort of way and like a PP he has seasonal and relevant flags that he changes around as necessary. Recently off the roster was his Santa bedecked 'Ho ho ho' one and he has a newcastle united one flying high currently. He has a jolly roger and a union jack as well as a northumberland flag. makes me smile.

Would i want one in my own garden? no. 😂

There are two houses I drive past often with flag poles in their front garden. Both are absolute dumps. One has a old banger on bricks on the drive and one has a skip. I just associate them with rundown houses.

Your neighbours might not say anything but they’ll be annoyed. I would be.

Twat round our way out one up when Brexit happened. Makes me feel angry whenever I see it. Flag shagger. Gammon. That what flags say to me.

My old neighbour has a flagpole on the apex of his bungalow's roof.
Occasionally quietly rattled in the wind/ didn't bother me (we could see it from our living room window).
Usually Union Flag but changed it to an NHS one during Covid.

I associate it with racist wanker/football wanker, but I do sort of agree with him that it shouldn't be a bad thing to show patriotism.

Off to Google a Jolly Roger flag; all I can think of is the sweets!

Edited to add: oh it's the skull and crossed bones! I never knew that :)

What sort of person? I’d be interested to see if that’s representative of my parents and the house I grew up in.

Has your DH ever explained actually why he wants a flag?
Yeah, this was my first thought too.
Sadly (and I say sadly because it does seem to have been hijacked lately by racists) I'd be wondering and/or making assumptions about anyone flag flying in their garden.
Why he wants to/his reasoning would be key for me!

I lived in the US as a child. Flags were very popular, but unless they were on a public or commercial building tended to be attached to the house on a bracket. I wouldn’t have one, but think they look fine.

Erecting a flagpole that is prominently visible from other people’s properties, which is what people seem to do here, is just obnoxious.

Having read the whole thread and all your responses OP I am currently Team Flag.

I would like more information though, will flags be themed according to time of year/occasion or will it always be a Union Jack. Is there room in this plan for occasional whimsy/Jolly Roger?

Will there be a short ceremony event day for raising and lowering of said flag?