The neighbours have put Union Jack flags across their hedge.

Those types are everywhere - we have them here in Australia too. All that is needed is surplus of testosterone, and a serious deficit of brains, together with some real or imagined slight by a person of 'other' ethnicity, and they're off.

I have met those families too! What the extremists did not like or know about were the traditional country dances and traditional songs etc! That was not particularly important to them nor did they want to get involved in tasting traditional English food! All they wanted to do was drive about in open trucks waving the cross of St George and being abusive to anyone they thought was not English!

nanaej but I bet they arrived in time to enjoy any free buffet on offer.?? the parents at DDs school who never participate in celebrations all seem to have very honed in noses when a free buffet is involved but never partake in the overall activities.

Vampirequeen that is exactly my feeling too..the extremists have taken ownership of the flags and made them represent hate, racist nationalism and aggression.
When we celebrated St George's Day in school I always tried to accentuate the positive aspects of St George and promote traditional English values, foods and pastimes..none of which seemed to appeal to the BNP/EDL families at the school!

I have spoken to DDiL and she has promised to put net curtains up so that no one who doesn't like going to the seaside will be able to see the seaside themed bunting. You cannot be too careful!

Perhaps it's catching.

Flickety! That post sounded just like one of....someone else's!

We all put bunting up along our lane for the jubilee last year and our neighbour also put the flag up on his flag pole. It all looked all jolly and festive. DGD is going to have seaside themed bunting in her bedroom. I do not think it will be visible from SC, she lives in York, but people in the houses behind will be able to see it when the lights are on and the curtains not drawn.

I think that's a big problem. We've let our national flags be taken over by extremists and it's time we took them back. To reiterate I want the flag to be a symbol of national pride not nationalism.

I would be worried about the union flag on the hedge, if I was of some other ethnicity and thought they were having a go at me.

It has reminded me of summat that happened to my friend just after 9/11. Her husband was originally Turkish and they therefore had a Muslim name, though neither of them were interested in any religion. This is Australia by the way. One day she found rancid pork fat in her letter box (ie an outside letter box at the end of their drive). The next day pig's entrails were on her drive. She went to the police and they immediately classified it as a hate crime.

They soon found the culprit - her rather nasty next door neighbour. The officers gave the old cow a police caution: this means the old woman has to stand up in front of the policeman while he tells her off and warns her off. I've seen a caution being given - they can be quite scary. She left my friend alone after that - not a peep.

I was thinking, draping Australian flags all over the dividing fence could have been a similar sort of thing, except bits of old pig are cheaper.

I am with you there vampirequeen, I hate it when the flag appears to be an excuse for a brawl, and on these occasions I always say 'not in my name', but of course I was born and bred in this country, so would not get reported by the media.

As was said earlier we need to take the flag back from the BNP and EDL and take pride in our nation. For all her faults (and she has many) Britain is a pretty good place to live. I just worry that national pride turns into nationalism.

Three cheers to those folks who put flags on their hedge. It's harmless.
A bit more patriotism might be a good thing, instead of endless carping about the country we live in..... and are lucky to do so when compared to many countries in the world.

In the suburb where I used to live, one household had the Union Flag painted on the garage door. I suppose it saved the expense and hassle of a flag pole.

Hi grannyknot...I've not been well but ok now

I saw Costa in Waitrose was busy setting up the union bunting this morning!

I am not bothered by 'the' baby's arrival and if it pleases some people to celebrate by flag displays it seems harmless enough. I think, on balance, it is important that the St George cross and the Union flag are used more and more by 'moderate' citizens to reduce the impact of its use as the symbol of extremist groups like the EDL/BNP and other right wing fascist groups. If we all put up flags on regular occasions it might take the power away from those groups.

I am with you movedalot. There is so much horrible other stuff going on around the world a flag over a hedge to celebrate the birth or a child, royal or not, is great; pity everyone can't do the same.

If I had one I would too Frank.

Hivampirequeen I wondered what had happened to you ...

My grandfather always used to hang out a Canadian flag (he was born in Canada) and a Red Ensign (a lot of the family were merchant seamen) for special occasions. We only gave up when the flags got moth eaten.

In Italy all the public buildings fly flags, even in the smallest towns vampirequeen always the Italian flag and usually the EU flag. A peace flag will often be included as well. If it's a special occasion like Liberation Day then it is multiplied 10 fold.

One of my neighbours has a permanent flagpole. She flies the union and St. George's flags whenever her our mp is visiting. I noticed it was flying this morning.

Must be Sutton Coldfield thing, not what you would see in our vilage

If I had a choice of our wonderful flag draped over someone's hedge or a grubby mattress thrown in the garden I know what I would choose.
And it certainly beats the houses that are covered in Christmas decorations at the start of October . !

I don't see the point of flags in gardens but I would like to see more made of them on public buildings. I recently saw a town hall in France that had three flags flying......the EU flag, the French flag, and the local flag. I liked the way it celebrated local, national and international pride.