Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
It's also tiny and the high street reminded me of Catford Shopping centre on a sunny day...not in a good way!
I really like it. It's not everyone's taste but it's like a little British Monaco with a couple of nice beaches and lots of home comforts. Also, it has pubs.
I'm also a fan of the Living Daylights and love the Bond links. The top of the rock is fantastic, as is the military history.
Bermuda is next on my list but, expensive. And maybe might feel too American - which will annoy me.
I’ve a friend who’s a teacher in Bermuda. I am constantly reminded on Facebook how glorious his life is over there.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
The Right seem uniquely sensitive about this and flags as well if I'm being honest.
The notion of a Government Minister, who really should be dealing with other more serious issues such as housing, proclaiming by diktat what flags can fly and when they have to fly from certain buildings is absurd.
The trouble is the Right, like the Left, love telling people what to do on the basis they know best.
I don't give a toss about the tedious flag debate. You need to get off Twitter if that's your beef because the fact you mentioned it is a dead giveaway.
England is brilliant. You don't need to get on your high horse and be a partisan nitwit every time someone says so just to feel better about yourself.
Don't be a party pooper. Join in. Tell us what you like about it.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Milton Keynes.
Poor old Crawley (whilst the centre has some OK bits), the grey housing estates that surround it - pretty bad.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Milton Keynes.
Noooo, MK is fine. Quite pleasant in places. I know people like to mock it, but if forced, I would far rather live there than about 50 other towns in the UK
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Milton Keynes.
Noooo, MK is fine. Quite pleasant in places. I know people like to mock it, but if forced, I would far rather live there than about 50 other towns in the UK
We used to go a bit when I was little and we had family friends. I haven't experienced it as an adult. No desire to really. If it isn't a soulless 1960's town planning distopia, it will do till one comes along.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Based on my experience, dilapidated villages near Redcar (though there are nice places nearby). Grim.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Milton Keynes.
Poor old Crawley (whilst the centre has some OK bits), the grey housing estates that surround it - pretty bad.
Stoke - poor town centre for a "city" Paisley - I thought it was going to be nice as it had an Abbey... The area around Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr (The Gurnos) Hemel Hempstead - incredibly ugly Coventry - just depressing
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Milton Keynes.
Poor old Crawley (whilst the centre has some OK bits), the grey housing estates that surround it - pretty bad.
Thing is with ugly towns in the south (and there are some absolute shockers) I always think, well, at least they have agreeable countryside very close, and they have a pleasant climate (by UK standards) -proper warm summers, milder winters.
And in the SE they are near the fun of London, which makes up, perhaps for the horror of home. Cf Bracknell.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Brighton.
Actually, I have to say, my home town of Woking is an utter mess and has been for years. It's New Croydon.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
South East London inland from the river seemed horribly depressing to me.
Edge of conurbation sink estates.
Small, isolated pit villages which have never discovered a new purpose.
The flatlands where Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk meet.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
The Right seem uniquely sensitive about this and flags as well if I'm being honest.
The notion of a Government Minister, who really should be dealing with other more serious issues such as housing, proclaiming by diktat what flags can fly and when they have to fly from certain buildings is absurd.
The trouble is the Right, like the Left, love telling people what to do on the basis they know best.
I don't give a toss about the tedious flag debate. You need to get off Twitter if that's your beef because the fact you mentioned it is a dead giveaway.
England is brilliant. You don't need to get on your high horse and be a partisan nitwit every time someone says so just to feel better about yourself.
Don't be a party pooper. Join in. Tell us what you like about it.
Let's have some unity for once
Stalking a hare with my pup tonight, in the East Leics sunshine, throwing long shadows over the ridge and furrows of fields never machine plowed was rather lovely. The hare was too quick.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Brighton.
That's the People's Republic of Brighton I think you mean. Well served by its MPs, I am sure.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
South East London inland from the river seemed horribly depressing to me.
Edge of conurbation sink estates.
Small, isolated pit villages which have never discovered a new purpose.
The flatlands where Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk meet.
Coalville isn't up to much. Lovely little hospital, but not much else going for it.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Didcot? But I only know it around the railway station.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Brighton.
Actually, I have to say, my home town of Woking is an utter mess and has been for years. It's New Croydon.
I’m quite liking the new development in Woking.. may help when they stop the endless roadworks around the town. Though with Victoria Arch being replaced that won’t be happening for years
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
The Right seem uniquely sensitive about this and flags as well if I'm being honest.
The notion of a Government Minister, who really should be dealing with other more serious issues such as housing, proclaiming by diktat what flags can fly and when they have to fly from certain buildings is absurd.
The trouble is the Right, like the Left, love telling people what to do on the basis they know best.
I don't give a toss about the tedious flag debate. You need to get off Twitter if that's your beef because the fact you mentioned it is a dead giveaway.
England is brilliant. You don't need to get on your high horse and be a partisan nitwit every time someone says so just to feel better about yourself.
Don't be a party pooper. Join in. Tell us what you like about it.
Let's have some unity for once
Stalking a hare with my pup tonight, in the East Leics sunshine, throwing long shadows over the ridge and furrows of fields never machine plowed was rather lovely. The hare was too quick.
Divine. Jealous.
I did a beautiful walk today along an old railway line (day off) I saw hares boxing, pheasants preening, foxes hunting and deer bouncing. Birds of prey too..
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Milton Keynes.
Poor old Crawley (whilst the centre has some OK bits), the grey housing estates that surround it - pretty bad.
Thing is with ugly towns in the south (and there are some absolute shockers) I always think, well, at least they have agreeable countryside very close, and they have a pleasant climate (by UK standards) -proper warm summers, milder winters.
And in the SE they are near the fun of London, which makes up, perhaps for the horror of home. Cf Bracknell.
Yes, well done for looking at the positive side to Crawley dwelling - I like the approach.
I'd mention places in Scotland, but actually I've never really been anywhere bad - I mean I've been to places in dire need of an injection of cash, but nowhere that hasn't had great bones/potential. Some of the odd sort of small (fishing?) hamlets in Aberdeenshire/Angus are pretty dull, just boring two storey cottages built along a straight road, with a bus stop and a Londis. But they're small and surrounded by countryside and near to the sea.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
The Right seem uniquely sensitive about this and flags as well if I'm being honest.
The notion of a Government Minister, who really should be dealing with other more serious issues such as housing, proclaiming by diktat what flags can fly and when they have to fly from certain buildings is absurd.
The trouble is the Right, like the Left, love telling people what to do on the basis they know best.
I'm surprised you've fallen for their flag distraction, to be honest. It cannot have taken much time from his schedule, and most people don't care about flags, so it seems pretty clear that it was a minor thing done principally to annoy the small number of people who do get worked up about it. Based on your response, it worked.
As for the Left or Right loving telling people what to do on the basis they know best, without being wishy washy about it, I cannot say I'd think centrists are immune to that. It's pretty much the point of a political party that it tells people what to do because the party has come up with an idea they think is best.
Oh sure, many individuals will make comments about 'the people' knowing best and not interferring as much as possible and all that, but end of the day all politicians propose major things to either force or encourage people to do things as they 'know best'/
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Didcot? But I only know it around the railway station.
Medway towns were pretty grim (Well excluding Rainham and perhaps Rochester)
There is some truth to the point that general reporting would suggest the EU programme is entirely in the doldrums, when in fact they have been picking up for months, albeit far slower than our own ramp up, and are getting pretty sizable numbers done.
However, part of the reason for the impression it is still going absolutely terribly is the EU leaders have spent so much time bitching and moaning about how they don't have enough vaccines, which gives the impression they are stalling. So the media are really now the main driver of the impression of failure.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
The area around the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh, particularly Shotts and Harthill. Portsmouth. Stoke on Trent. North Kent around Dartford and Gravesend. Hull. Muirkirk. Blackpool. Castleford. Shankhill Road and Falls Road.
Any underrated bits? Can I suggest much of West Yorkshire, partIcularly Bradford. Between Stockport and Buxton. Galloway. Rural Ulster, especially the Antrim and Down coasts.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
The Right seem uniquely sensitive about this and flags as well if I'm being honest.
The notion of a Government Minister, who really should be dealing with other more serious issues such as housing, proclaiming by diktat what flags can fly and when they have to fly from certain buildings is absurd.
The trouble is the Right, like the Left, love telling people what to do on the basis they know best.
I'm surprised you've fallen for their flag distraction, to be honest. It cannot have taken much time from his schedule, and most people don't care about flags, so it seems pretty clear that it was a minor thing done principally to annoy the small number of people who do get worked up about it. Based on your response, it worked.
As for the Left or Right loving telling people what to do on the basis they know best, without being wishy washy about it, I cannot say I'd think centrists are immune to that. It's pretty much the point of a political party that it tells people what to do because the party has come up with an idea they think is best.
Oh sure, many individuals will make comments about 'the people' knowing best and not interferring as much as possible and all that, but end of the day all politicians propose major things to either force or encourage people to do things as they 'know best'/
We're waiting to find out the rules for normal cultural and sporting life to begin this spring and instead the relevant Government department is farting around about flags.
There is some truth to the point that general reporting would suggest the EU programme is entirely in the doldrums, when in fact they have been picking up for months, albeit far slower than our own ramp up, and are getting pretty sizable numbers done.
However, part of the reason for the impression it is still going absolutely terribly is the EU leaders have spent so much time bitching and moaning about how they don't have enough vaccines, which gives the impression they are stalling. So the media are really now the main driver of the impression of failure.
It is mad. They are clearly picking up speed, they should be singing positive songs, to their happy people. It's just because they aren't doing as well as UK/USA - and they will catch up with the UK, to an extent
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
The Right seem uniquely sensitive about this and flags as well if I'm being honest.
The notion of a Government Minister, who really should be dealing with other more serious issues such as housing, proclaiming by diktat what flags can fly and when they have to fly from certain buildings is absurd.
The trouble is the Right, like the Left, love telling people what to do on the basis they know best.
I don't give a toss about the tedious flag debate. You need to get off Twitter if that's your beef because the fact you mentioned it is a dead giveaway.
England is brilliant. You don't need to get on your high horse and be a partisan nitwit every time someone says so just to feel better about yourself.
Don't be a party pooper. Join in. Tell us what you like about it.
Let's have some unity for once
Stalking a hare with my pup tonight, in the East Leics sunshine, throwing long shadows over the ridge and furrows of fields never machine plowed was rather lovely. The hare was too quick.
Divine. Jealous.
I did a beautiful walk today along an old railway line (day off) I saw hares boxing, pheasants preening, foxes hunting and deer bouncing. Birds of prey too..
So much nature. Right on my doorstep.
We see the hare most days, usually at the same spot, but he is getting wise to our approach. The pup keeps up with him for a few hundred yards, but the hare is only in second gear, with plenty in reserve.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Didcot? But I only know it around the railway station.
Medway towns were pretty grim (Well excluding Rainham and perhaps Rochester)
I'm surprised you've fallen for their flag distraction, to be honest. It cannot have taken much time from his schedule, and most people don't care about flags, so it seems pretty clear that it was a minor thing done principally to annoy the small number of people who do get worked up about it. Based on your response, it worked.
As for the Left or Right loving telling people what to do on the basis they know best, without being wishy washy about it, I cannot say I'd think centrists are immune to that. It's pretty much the point of a political party that it tells people what to do because the party has come up with an idea they think is best.
Oh sure, many individuals will make comments about 'the people' knowing best and not interferring as much as possible and all that, but end of the day all politicians propose major things to either force or encourage people to do things as they 'know best'/
I'm not sure I've "fallen" for anything - the flags is of course cheap political points scoring but the fact the Conservatives wheel this out time and again and the stock response seems to be to ignore it rather than actively challenge it surrenders that part of the field. The insidious undercurrent becomes you can only be patriotic and Conservative which as we both know is absurd. There are plenty of patriots and internationalists beyond the centre right and yielding patriotism to one side of the debate doesn't sit well.
As for the Left and Right being two cheeks of the same backside, I think deep down we all know that and as a good liberal authoritarian, I'm sure I'd enjoy forcing people to be tolerant. That being said, is that what Government should be about? Am I happy with a moral aspect to Government, am I happy with Government policy deliberately aligned to a series of social objectives (home ownership being one example)? Should Government be consciously or unconsciously in the business of social engineering or is it an unavoidable consequence of policy?
OK here's a list of lovely British places that get overlooked
Northwest Herefordshire where it meets Wales. Sublime rolling hills, Hergest Ridge, no one goes there
Northwest Devon, and northeast Cornwall, completely empty, glorious countryside lots of undisturbed villages
The Surrey Hills, surprisingly magnificent, great walking
Ludlow, a gem, foodie paradise
Maldon, on the River Blackwater
The Scoraig Peninsula in far northern Scotland, one of the few settlements you can only reach by sea
Northamptonshire (not the town) quietly serene, ditto neighbouring Rutland
Mid mid Wales, towns like Llandrindod Wells, gorgeous
Ely
Hexham
Jarrow - yes, I know, but the juxtaposition of Saxon churches and industrial power and ruin on an epic coast is sublime
Ardnamurchan
Basically all of Northern Ireland
"Northwest Herefordshire where it meets Wales. Sublime rolling hills, Hergest Ridge, no one goes there"
Don't tell other people about it!
Much of Herefordshire is overlooked. People know the Wye valley in the south, Symond's Yat, the Malverns, but if you go west or north it gets emptier, and is just as lovely. A wonderful county
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Didcot? But I only know it around the railway station.
Medway towns were pretty grim (Well excluding Rainham and perhaps Rochester)
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
The Right seem uniquely sensitive about this and flags as well if I'm being honest.
The notion of a Government Minister, who really should be dealing with other more serious issues such as housing, proclaiming by diktat what flags can fly and when they have to fly from certain buildings is absurd.
The trouble is the Right, like the Left, love telling people what to do on the basis they know best.
He's dealt with Everton's new stadium in pretty short order. Gone up in my estimation.
OK here's a list of lovely British places that get overlooked
Northwest Herefordshire where it meets Wales. Sublime rolling hills, Hergest Ridge, no one goes there
Northwest Devon, and northeast Cornwall, completely empty, glorious countryside lots of undisturbed villages
The Surrey Hills, surprisingly magnificent, great walking
Ludlow, a gem, foodie paradise
Maldon, on the River Blackwater
The Scoraig Peninsula in far northern Scotland, one of the few settlements you can only reach by sea
Northamptonshire (not the town) quietly serene, ditto neighbouring Rutland
Mid mid Wales, towns like Llandrindod Wells, gorgeous
Ely
Hexham
Jarrow - yes, I know, but the juxtaposition of Saxon churches and industrial power and ruin on an epic coast is sublime
Ardnamurchan
Basically all of Northern Ireland
Romney Marsh has a lovely, eerie beauty, as exemplified by Thomas à Becket church, Fairfield.
Between Hereford and Shrewsbury is lovely - you are so far from everything. Ditto across to West Wales although don't get stuck behind a slate lorry or caravan. I also really like the areas around Taunton. Also the New Forest and Jurassic coast are lovely but I love the inland areas around the Cranbourne Chase AONB - very underrated.
Patrick Maguire on Twitter 'Northern Tory MPs feared the party would contrive to mess this up and by selecting a North Yorkshire barrister who ran against Richard Burgon in Leeds East in 2019 some will conclude they have
The reaction from her prospective parliamentary colleagues: - "Utterly bonkers." - "I wonder how much they were given to select her?" - "CCHQ must have run the numbers and concluded it's no longer there for the taking."
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
I assume that you're joking.
It's a market town with a small mountain attached. Somewhat lacking in space for about sixteen million fat Brits to flop about on beaches and get pissed.
We definitely got the wrong end of the Treaty of Amiens - we kept Gibraltar, Spain got Menorca.
Gibraltar is strategic days. Still has value now and through that and the Cyprus bases we can basically lock down oversight of the Med.
Some suggestions that the Government might have another go at the failed experiment with Malta, and attempt to formally integrate Gibraltar into the UK. Would give it representation in Parliament, although it would retain a very high degree of autonomy.
Such a novel arrangement might, perhaps, be called DevoMax, and getting it to work in a way acceptable to all concerned could provide a model to use in the future...
I am still amazed at the fact that the Maltese voted to integrate with the UK in 1956 and we turned them down.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
The Right seem uniquely sensitive about this and flags as well if I'm being honest.
The notion of a Government Minister, who really should be dealing with other more serious issues such as housing, proclaiming by diktat what flags can fly and when they have to fly from certain buildings is absurd.
The trouble is the Right, like the Left, love telling people what to do on the basis they know best.
I don't give a toss about the tedious flag debate. You need to get off Twitter if that's your beef because the fact you mentioned it is a dead giveaway.
England is brilliant. You don't need to get on your high horse and be a partisan nitwit every time someone says so just to feel better about yourself.
Don't be a party pooper. Join in. Tell us what you like about it.
Let's have some unity for once
I don't understand this nationalistic stuff. Where you are born is an accident of birth. I am just grateful I was born in a first world country. Britain has some great stuff (pubs spring to mind) and some duff stuff just like all places. There are lovely places in the UK, but I can't think of anywhere that is patch on Sarlat or Cortona.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Brighton.
Actually, I have to say, my home town of Woking is an utter mess and has been for years. It's New Croydon.
I’m quite liking the new development in Woking.. may help when they stop the endless roadworks around the town. Though with Victoria Arch being replaced that won’t be happening for years
I get the impression half the people here live within 10 miles of Woking. I know I do.
I don't know if that is the best approach, but 20 years ago West Virginia had an obesity rate of 23%, the worst in the country. Just 20 years later that would make it the least obese state. We are following hot on the heels of the yanks.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
The area around the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh, particularly Shotts and Harthill. Portsmouth. Stoke on Trent. North Kent around Dartford and Gravesend. Hull. Muirkirk. Blackpool. Castleford. Shankhill Road and Falls Road.
Any underrated bits? Can I suggest much of West Yorkshire, partIcularly Bradford. Between Stockport and Buxton. Galloway. Rural Ulster, especially the Antrim and Down coasts.
Bradford is fantastic, not been for a while. You can obviously get an amazing curry, but just a few miles from the centre there is wonderful countryside. If you head up to Queensbury and head north past Haworth, Keighley and up to Skipton it is beautiful.
Other places I've remembered St Ives in Cambridgeshire, Rutland too. Also between Chipping Norton and Towcester
I don't know if that is the best approach, but 20 years ago West Virginia had an obesity rate of 23%, the worst in the country. Just 20 years later that would make it the least obese state. We are following hot on the heels of the yanks.
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
I assume that you're joking.
It's a market town with a small mountain attached. Somewhat lacking in space for about sixteen million fat Brits to flop about on beaches and get pissed.
We definitely got the wrong end of the Treaty of Amiens - we kept Gibraltar, Spain got Menorca.
Gibraltar is strategic days. Still has value now and through that and the Cyprus bases we can basically lock down oversight of the Med.
Some suggestions that the Government might have another go at the failed experiment with Malta, and attempt to formally integrate Gibraltar into the UK. Would give it representation in Parliament, although it would retain a very high degree of autonomy.
Such a novel arrangement might, perhaps, be called DevoMax, and getting it to work in a way acceptable to all concerned could provide a model to use in the future...
I am still amazed at the fact that the Maltese voted to integrate with the UK in 1956 and we turned them down.
Patrick Maguire on Twitter 'Northern Tory MPs feared the party would contrive to mess this up and by selecting a North Yorkshire barrister who ran against Richard Burgon in Leeds East in 2019 some will conclude they have
The reaction from her prospective parliamentary colleagues: - "Utterly bonkers." - "I wonder how much they were given to select her?" - "CCHQ must have run the numbers and concluded it's no longer there for the taking."
Not sure where the other deaths were (care homes?)
Looks like France is about 3-4 weeks from peak? It won't be as bad as ours, because they do have vaccines (if not enough), but it will be a rough few weeks for them
The problem is that they haven't got close to vaccinating the vulnerable groups.
Really? Who the hell have they been vaxxing then?!
They've used the vast majority of their AZ on younger people.
Idiotique!
I was saying this a little while back - the way the cases was creeping up reminded me of the UK just before our latest wave.
I have a very nasty feeling that we are about to see what would have happened here without the vaccinations coming in - the hardest lockdowns barely hold the new variants.
Trouble is, if it gets that bad, I can see them seizing all our vials, including Pfizer, in blind panic
If it gets that bad, they still have to get arms jabbed. Perhaps it would act as a persuader.
But if it gets that bad and their people want the jabs, if we're still doing all right I doubt if we'd grudge them.
But we desperately need those Pfizer jabs, I believe, because they are the second doses for many Brits.
Without them their immunity wanes and we have to restart the whole damn vax programme
I fear that this is what the French minister is referring to when he says we won't get our second doses. We won't get them, because the French/EU will steal them
I don't know if that is the best approach, but 20 years ago West Virginia had an obesity rate of 23%, the worst in the country. Just 20 years later that would make it the least obese state. We are following hot on the heels of the yanks.
So what is the best approach, doc?
For me, banning the sale of biscuits. Just cannot say no to the buggers.
More seriously people have talked for years about more emphasis on sport in schools and the like, so either we've not done it, or it hasn't worked, and either way, why not?
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
I assume that you're joking.
It's a market town with a small mountain attached. Somewhat lacking in space for about sixteen million fat Brits to flop about on beaches and get pissed.
We definitely got the wrong end of the Treaty of Amiens - we kept Gibraltar, Spain got Menorca.
Gibraltar is strategic days. Still has value now and through that and the Cyprus bases we can basically lock down oversight of the Med.
Some suggestions that the Government might have another go at the failed experiment with Malta, and attempt to formally integrate Gibraltar into the UK. Would give it representation in Parliament, although it would retain a very high degree of autonomy.
Such a novel arrangement might, perhaps, be called DevoMax, and getting it to work in a way acceptable to all concerned could provide a model to use in the future...
I am still amazed at the fact that the Maltese voted to integrate with the UK in 1956 and we turned them down.
Perhaps if we ask nicely, they’d let us integrate with them?
I can’t see how people can back the Tories at EVS in Hartlepool. Labour have always held the seat, retained it by 8% less than 18 months ago, and that was with Jez the turnoff in charge rather than Super Keir. There’s also no chance of Brexit not happening by voting Labour now, even if they don’t support it.
Yes, there maybe local factors that put off backing what seems enormous value Lab EVS, I’m not convinced, but I don’t get how people can think it’s a better than 50% chance the Tories will take it
Labour have not always held the seat. It was Tory before 1945 and fell to them again in 1959. Labour majorities earlier in the 1950s - and when gained in 1964 - were pretty small.
I don't know if that is the best approach, but 20 years ago West Virginia had an obesity rate of 23%, the worst in the country. Just 20 years later that would make it the least obese state. We are following hot on the heels of the yanks.
So what is the best approach, doc?
For me, banning the sale of biscuits. Just cannot say no to the buggers.
More seriously people have talked for years about more emphasis on sport in schools and the like, so either we've not done it, or it hasn't worked, and either way, why not?
It seems to me that we don’t really understand food properly.
I remember in school learning how to bake Cornish pasties —- but not how to properly chop vegetables, why a sofrito is used in almost every recipe, and the best ways to treat carrot.
That was 30 years ago, in another country, but doubt its any better now (and is probably worse).
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Milton Keynes.
Poor old Crawley (whilst the centre has some OK bits), the grey housing estates that surround it - pretty bad.
Have heard it is called "Creepy Crawley" by folks from nearby?
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Brighton.
Actually, I have to say, my home town of Woking is an utter mess and has been for years. It's New Croydon.
I’m quite liking the new development in Woking.. may help when they stop the endless roadworks around the town. Though with Victoria Arch being replaced that won’t be happening for years
I get the impression half the people here live within 10 miles of Woking. I know I do.
I can’t see how people can back the Tories at EVS in Hartlepool. Labour have always held the seat, retained it by 8% less than 18 months ago, and that was with Jez the turnoff in charge rather than Super Keir. There’s also no chance of Brexit not happening by voting Labour now, even if they don’t support it.
Yes, there maybe local factors that put off backing what seems enormous value Lab EVS, I’m not convinced, but I don’t get how people can think it’s a better than 50% chance the Tories will take it
Labour have not always held the seat. It was Tory before 1945 and fell to them again in 1959. Labour majorities earlier in the 1950s - and when gained in 1964 - were pretty small.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
OK, let's be honest, what are the WORST bits of Britain?
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
Milton Keynes.
Poor old Crawley (whilst the centre has some OK bits), the grey housing estates that surround it - pretty bad.
Have heard it is called "Creepy Crawley" by folks from nearby?
Yep. - Whilst that isn't really deserved (it's shitty but it's not creepy), most if they can try to deny living there. Crawley Down and Ifield are both Crawley really but their residents would stress that they live in those places not Crawley proper.
I don't know if that is the best approach, but 20 years ago West Virginia had an obesity rate of 23%, the worst in the country. Just 20 years later that would make it the least obese state. We are following hot on the heels of the yanks.
So what is the best approach, doc?
For me, banning the sale of biscuits. Just cannot say no to the buggers.
More seriously people have talked for years about more emphasis on sport in schools and the like, so either we've not done it, or it hasn't worked, and either way, why not?
We have become a society which wants instant gratification.
And nothing is more instantly gratifying than food - cheap, quick, enjoyable and able to be consumed throughout the day.
If food tasted as crap as it used to people would eat less.
If food was as expensive as it used to be then people would eat less.
If food took as much preparing and cooking as it used to then people would eat less.
Comments
The poor urban sprawl around "West Bromwich" is hard to beat
North East London around Edmonton and Tottenham, horribly bleak
The old coal mining towns southwest of Glasgow: OMFG
Outer Cardiff heading west, just so dreary
Luton?
The ugliest countryside might be the Thames estuary, tho it has a certain poetic mournfulness maybe
A few of the smaller, dying towns around Manchester
What have I missed?
England is brilliant. You don't need to get on your high horse and be a partisan nitwit every time someone says so just to feel better about yourself.
Don't be a party pooper. Join in. Tell us what you like about it.
Let's have some unity for once
So must have swung some votes.
Love to hear about those 50 towns.
Scunthorpe looks a bit crap.
Paisley - I thought it was going to be nice as it had an Abbey...
The area around Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr (The Gurnos)
Hemel Hempstead - incredibly ugly
Coventry - just depressing
And in the SE they are near the fun of London, which makes up, perhaps for the horror of home. Cf Bracknell.
Actually, I have to say, my home town of Woking is an utter mess and has been for years. It's New Croydon.
Edge of conurbation sink estates.
Small, isolated pit villages which have never discovered a new purpose.
The flatlands where Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk meet.
Though I think some people now might enjoy that this issue was debated in response to residents (I cannot read story, but the summary amused)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2019/12/18/harry-meghans-sussex-title-unfairly-acquired-should-ignored/
I did a beautiful walk today along an old railway line (day off) I saw hares boxing, pheasants preening, foxes hunting and deer bouncing. Birds of prey too..
So much nature. Right on my doorstep.
We all know they're toilet.
https://twitter.com/john_lichfield/status/1375507128845168640
I'd mention places in Scotland, but actually I've never really been anywhere bad - I mean I've been to places in dire need of an injection of cash, but nowhere that hasn't had great bones/potential. Some of the odd sort of small (fishing?) hamlets in Aberdeenshire/Angus are pretty dull, just boring two storey cottages built along a straight road, with a bus stop and a Londis. But they're small and surrounded by countryside and near to the sea.
As for the Left or Right loving telling people what to do on the basis they know best, without being wishy washy about it, I cannot say I'd think centrists are immune to that. It's pretty much the point of a political party that it tells people what to do because the party has come up with an idea they think is best.
Oh sure, many individuals will make comments about 'the people' knowing best and not interferring as much as possible and all that, but end of the day all politicians propose major things to either force or encourage people to do things as they 'know best'/
However, part of the reason for the impression it is still going absolutely terribly is the EU leaders have spent so much time bitching and moaning about how they don't have enough vaccines, which gives the impression they are stalling. So the media are really now the main driver of the impression of failure.
Northwest Herefordshire where it meets Wales. Sublime rolling hills, Hergest Ridge, no one goes there
Northwest Devon, and northeast Cornwall, completely empty, glorious countryside lots of undisturbed villages
The Surrey Hills, surprisingly magnificent, great walking
Ludlow, a gem, foodie paradise
Maldon, on the River Blackwater
The Scoraig Peninsula in far northern Scotland, one of the few settlements you can only reach by sea
Northamptonshire (not the town) quietly serene, ditto neighbouring Rutland
Mid mid Wales, towns like Llandrindod Wells, gorgeous
Ely
Hexham
Jarrow - yes, I know, but the juxtaposition of Saxon churches and industrial power and ruin on an epic coast is sublime
Ardnamurchan
Basically all of Northern Ireland
Portsmouth.
Stoke on Trent.
North Kent around Dartford and Gravesend.
Hull.
Muirkirk.
Blackpool.
Castleford.
Shankhill Road and Falls Road.
Any underrated bits?
Can I suggest much of West Yorkshire, partIcularly Bradford.
Between Stockport and Buxton.
Galloway.
Rural Ulster, especially the Antrim and Down coasts.
So what do Germany do? cancel lockdown
Don't tell other people about it!
As for the Left and Right being two cheeks of the same backside, I think deep down we all know that and as a good liberal authoritarian, I'm sure I'd enjoy forcing people to be tolerant. That being said, is that what Government should be about? Am I happy with a moral aspect to Government, am I happy with Government policy deliberately aligned to a series of social objectives (home ownership being one example)? Should Government be consciously or unconsciously in the business of social engineering or is it an unavoidable consequence of policy?
Worth a debate another day.
Instead of working a deal with us to help, they try to steal our vaccines.
Gone up in my estimation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Becket
'Northern Tory MPs feared the party would contrive to mess this up and by selecting a North Yorkshire barrister who ran against Richard Burgon in Leeds East in 2019 some will conclude they have
The reaction from her prospective parliamentary colleagues:
- "Utterly bonkers."
- "I wonder how much they were given to select her?"
- "CCHQ must have run the numbers and concluded it's no longer there for the taking."
Lovely countryside but the town's gone seriously downhill.
So is Sunderland.
Bridgewater is very disappointing, considering you are in Somerset.
Much of Kent is quite tatty.
Mull is great. Very much all of Scotland.
Llandrindod Wells is wonderful little gem of arch-Victoriana in the middle of nowhere.
The French countryside, and indeed townscape are, paroisse for paroisse, much nicer than the U.K.’s.
Other places I've remembered St Ives in Cambridgeshire, Rutland too.
Also between Chipping Norton and Towcester
More seriously people have talked for years about more emphasis on sport in schools and the like, so either we've not done it, or it hasn't worked, and either way, why not?
I remember in school learning how to bake Cornish pasties —- but not how to properly chop vegetables, why a sofrito is used in almost every recipe, and the best ways to treat carrot.
That was 30 years ago, in another country, but doubt its any better now (and is probably worse).
And nothing is more instantly gratifying than food - cheap, quick, enjoyable and able to be consumed throughout the day.
If food tasted as crap as it used to people would eat less.
If food was as expensive as it used to be then people would eat less.
If food took as much preparing and cooking as it used to then people would eat less.