Proud to be British??!!

  • Well I have been feeling somewhat ashamed and embarrassed of my country lately . HOWEVER . Today I found out that the UK gave absolutely no points at all to Abba in the 1974 Eurovision song contest , the year they won. A little bit if history we Brits can be proud of. Has cheered me up a fraction.

  • 😂


    Well for a start I've never felt particularly "British" anyway. Britain = 3 very distinct nations and even though I have blood from all 3 mixed in with that of a few other nationalities I have never identified as British despite what convention and my passport say. I feel English enough to support the England sports teams!


    I'm proud of who *I* am but appalled at both the actions of the current Westminster government and the attitudes I see and hear from many English people. I've always loved Scotland as a holiday destination but since living here these last 3 years I can't get over the different feel of it, how much nicer it is. It's not perfect of course, nowhere is, but I much prefer living here and can say I'm proud to be resident here. It also amplifies how disconnected Westminster is from here. Contrary to what many English think, it's the various Westminster governments many Scots hold in contempt, not the English people.


    Re the Abba thing - wow, you obviously hate them! I've never much liked them, though I recognise their ability to knock out a catchy tune. A few of their singles were genuinely good. But I've never liked the bright shiny saccharine top-end sound that makes my teeth hurt. I love good pop music but Abba isn't where I seek it. That said, the 1974-77 Annifrid still brings to mind the pre-adolescent stirrings I had about her!


    I have an affection for eurovision, watched the shows at the weekend and thought Bjorn Ulvaeus gave a really nice speech, he's a good man.

    Abandon all reason

  • Feel much the same. Didn't really mean to get serious . However although I've never be been there (only for a few hours) I look at the Scotland and the Scottish with envy. Had booked a two week touring holiday of Scotland early June. Always wanted to do that. Next year maybe . They seem to get so much more right. I dislike the notion of nationalism with an intensity, which to me says we're better than others, we will look after ourselves and sod the rest . It's an unhealthy and self harming attitude. Quite different from pride/ joy / celebration of your culture / heritage. Which of course is different for us all even from the same country . We all have shame and pride. England to me, the land of Genesis, Kate Bush, David Bowie, The Beatles , Motorhead. Monty Python . Britain, Birthplace of socialism a mixed culture of the four nations and many others. That's nice. For every good though there is a bad. ANYWAY. More importantly. Right now I'm in a turmoil of emotion. Bursting with pride at the thought of giving no points to Abba. Embarrassed with shame that they're probably the most popular group ever here and we did do much to promote them. Yes you're right . I really hate them. Others may read this. ( Shall I get my crash helmet now?)

    Edited once, last by Mr.Farmer: Inserting quote from Backdrifter. ().

  • I'm half Scottish, through my father, and was conceived in Dumfries, though they moved to Chester before I was born, mother's home town. By age 17, having spent 3 weeks a year with relatives in Scotland, I worked out I'd spent effectively a year of my life in Scotland. (3 weeks x 17 years = 51 weeks plus one on a school trip tot eh Hebrides.) I know Scotland well, and still have relatives there (who I have more contact with than the ones locally!) but I wouldn't say there are huge differences between England, Scotland or Wales (whose border is less than 3 miles from me, and where I worked a lot) but the south east, including London, is a different world, where people seem happy to squeeze themselves into a tiny area of land, relative to the rest of us. I've never understood why! Proud to be British, and English & Scottish. Without us, Europe would have had a much different union, one nobody could have left! We don't/didn't seem to get much gratitude, particularly from Charles De Gaule!


    As for Abba, they were sugary pop in the early days, but they got much better. The last 2 singles, Under Attack, and esp. The Day Before You Came, are brilliant, sublime, beautifully crafted songs. Waterloo was Eurovision. In that arena, it deserved to win, though I can never understand why the UK keeps entering unknown acts when we could be putting world class ones in (not by our definition, perhaps, but by the general public.) Take That, for example!

    Ian


    Putting the old-fashioned Staffordshire plate in the dishwasher!

  • I'm a proud Englishman and British Citizen. I'm extremely worried at the moment for the country....:/


    I live in Canada. The government are showing their true colours by offering lies to the public, shame on them!...:(


    Hopefully the Brits can offer good common sense and not rely on what the government says. :)

  • I don't know why you'd be proud of the UK giving 'nul points' to what turned out to be the greatest Eurovision song ever (although that isn't saying very much).


    I am married to a Brit and love the country. It has been ten years since our last visit. I am desperate to get back when this is all over, although it won't be any time soon.

  • I don't know why you'd be proud of the UK giving 'nul points' to what turned out to be the greatest Eurovision song ever (although that isn't saying very much).

    I'm not being all that serious. Waterloo may well be the greatest ever Eurovision song, and it's also really annoying! Can't actually say I like any song it's produced. Having said that, the contest itself can be fun . I put myself through it for a laugh every other year or so. I do have a thing about Abba though. One of those omnipresent bands I just can't get away from. Have you seen the film Yesterday.? It made me dream about waking up in a world without Abba. Bliss.^^

  • Unfuckingbelievable.


    I have family in the area. It was chaos. Fights, traffic gridlocks, tons of litter left on the beaches. A councillor was trying to control stacked-up traffic at one of the beaches, and for her efforts she was shouted at, insulted, spat at, and had stuff thrown at her.


    My niece's friend lives near one of the beaches and says that even before all covid issues started she and her neighbours would get people parking across their driveways, blocking them in sometimes for an entire day, using the area as free parking for the beach, laughing and sneering at them when challenged and not caring about possibly being fined.


    People, eh? What a bunch of bastards.

    Abandon all reason

  • I have family in the area. It was chaos. Fights, traffic gridlocks, tons of litter left on the beaches. A councillor was trying to control stacked-up traffic at one of the beaches, and for her efforts she was shouted at, insulted, spat at, and had stuff thrown at her.


    My niece's friend lives near one of the beaches and says that even before all covid issues started she and her neighbours would get people parking across their driveways, blocking them in sometimes for an entire day, using the area as free parking for the beach, laughing and sneering at them when challenged and not caring about possibly being fined.


    People, eh? What a bunch of bastards.

    That's horrible. I confess if a car parked across my driveway on purpose like that and I got attitude from the person doing it, I have a feeling some total bastard would come along and badly scratch the paint work with a key. Or deflate the tires. And they would never be found. And I would shake my head and wonder what the world was coming to.

  • I have family in the area. It was chaos. Fights, traffic gridlocks, tons of litter left on the beaches. A councillor was trying to control stacked-up traffic at one of the beaches, and for her efforts she was shouted at, insulted, spat at, and had stuff thrown at her.


    My niece's friend lives near one of the beaches and says that even before all covid issues started she and her neighbours would get people parking across their driveways, blocking them in sometimes for an entire day, using the area as free parking for the beach, laughing and sneering at them when challenged and not caring about possibly being fined.


    People, eh? What a bunch of bastards.

    People really are unbelievable. We're hoping to visit friends in Swanage ( to far from Bournemouth) in a week or so but not sure now. I'm sure no one intended to make national incident but no one turns back or goes away when asked. It just so moronic . On the same day there was a party Brixton and celebrations in Liverpool. The riot turned up went to just one of those events.