To think England is a bit boring?

[Annalikesblue]

I'm from England originally. I was working abroad for a long time.

I moved back recently to work, and for a family reason. I probably won't stay here forever. Maybe for two to three years max.

Do any of you think that England is a bit boring?

Every street, wherever you go,
has the exact same shops.

The Weather is bad. People are miserable. When you go to groups, people are so serious.

It just seems so dull and lifeless

Are you retired?

No why? I am very much a working person with dc 😂

Sorry, it's just you sounded like my retired dad complaining about his busy exhibition and concert diary!

Do you live in a small town in Suffolk by any chance Savingthehedgehogs? 😄

(It sounds lovely!)

Not from England, but I disagree that it is boring, HOWEVER, I think it is like most countries, dependent where you are and your interests.

I love history, art, and architecture, don’t like hot summers or cold winters (I’m used to much worse) and I don’t like to drive (where I am is very walkable) so great place for me, but I do struggle at least my area to find things that are not alcohol-focused to do that isn’t the gym or a movie in the late evenings. To do that, I usually have to take a train to London which I don’t mind but it does mean it is something that is usually a one-off and I can’t commit to something that has several sessions. Find it does make it harder to meet people with similar interests.

It's incredibly boring.

I'm not including Wales or Scotland in this, but in England when people say "look at my amazing view!" it's normally a field. Grass. The most boring type of plant life there is. Not what I would call any kind of view.

And that's an upgrade because most people's view is a wall or fence or another house.

Our animals are boring. Pigeons. Grey squirrels.

Our hobbies are boring. Queuing and Netflix.

Our food is boring. Everything native is beige, or fried, or beige and fried.

Weather is boring, and when it's not boring it's miserable.

I'm not originally from England but I've lived here for 17 years, and I definitely don't find it boring...in fact I'm a bit shocked that anybody would. I have family members living in 3 other European countries and I feel lucky that I don't have to live in any of those. It's one of the most diverse countries in Europe, London is one of the best cities in the world, the countryside is beautiful...I could go on for hours!! Another thing I really love about it is the British sense of humor. Honestly, there's lots of nations that have zero sense of humor, I just don't know how I made it through the day without people understanding my silly jokes and sarcastic comments before moving here. 😅I think you may need to look into relocating to a different area of England, every country has a few dull places, you just need to find the city or town that suits you!

I get this, I think you're absolutely right.
And I think the national isolation thing in the UK is really stark post Brexit.

I think also you are more likely to appreciate this if you have lived and worked elsewhere. It might not be so apparent to someone who has just travelled and holidayed abroad.

It's not a slight-some pp being defensive.
It's geography and politics. Look at this country on a map. Teeny tiny island nation.
Look at the loss of empire and how industry and exports have shrivelled. Look at the embarrassment of an entire nation telling a unified Europe "fuck off, we want to do our own thing, stop dominating us". Eh? How? Still scratching my head.

Rudderless, isolated country.

I agree op.

I also absolutely hate that all socialising revolves around alcohol. Still, I suppose being drunk takes your mind off the shitty grey rainy weather.

I was in Greece this summer....we visited an area where there were few tourists...it was full of local young people sitting in the sunshine, playing music, jumping into the sea, chatting...just so so lovely. What a nicer life for young people

I'm teetotal.
Never bored.

We're obviously not as cosmopolitan as OP, but DH and I have a great life.

Oh and in this country, dogs are valued more than children.

The more you think about it, the more horrible you realise it is.

This made me laugh! Poor old you, searching out the grey and the beige and weeping and moaning about your sad dull fate to be in such a place.

Lebanon isn’t boring. Neither is Gaza, or Ukraine, or the Sudan.
however I don’t think you’d want to be living in those places.

I’m a historian, and trust me, boring is good.

Oh and try going for a meal after 9.30pm.

Its impossible

Christ, what a miserable world view you have.

Teenagers do that around here all the time - the beaches and lakes are always full of teens in the summer - swimming, kayaking, eating fish and chips, and no alcohol in sight.

I don't drink at all and never get bored. There's tons of things to do and plenty of ways to socialise that have nothing to do with alcohol.

What is there to do on a cold December evening? It's miserable. And yes I'm teetotal and I can think of things to do but vast majority of the British public are obsessed with drinking....so try suggesting something else and see where that gets you

I don't find it miserable.

I'd go out for a nice meal somewhere, go to the cinema or the theatre, go for a walk to see the Christmas lights, have friends over for board games or a movie night, light the fire and just enjoy good food and good company.

I personally find misery attracts misery - if you go about thinking everything is shit, then well, it's no wonder you don't have a good time.

Why would you think that was even a close or an appropriate comparison?

@Annalikesblue I'm currently living abroad but i miss the little antique and vintage shops,cosy pubs, going for a coffee, lots of live music and theatre, restaurants, curries etc etc.. Not dull.

I'm not sure where you live OP.

I had a day off today, went browsing the shops with dsis. Small market town, normal shops plus five individual boutiques. Had a good time but why oh why is the colour palette this autumn black, brown, hard green and cream. Not flattering !!

Saw roe deer, muntjac and hares on the way home. Now making apple & almond tart for dessert. With cream.

no-one's miserable in my house 😊

Try living in New Zealand! Now that's isolated!
It's never been easier or cheaper to get to mainland Europe but yes, we are towards the edge of the continent and can't change that!
Anywhere can be boring - it's a state of mind.

Apple and almond tart sounds amazing - I was just thinking earlier that it's perfect weather for an apple pie or crumble

If you don't like pubs or dogs, consider your social life over.

I've never understood why people like pubs...horrible dark, depressing places