I am glad to be British because

Here's a nice controversial concept for you - I do really love a good haggis!

Oh heavens, I have insulted all those who would rather have a black pudding! Bad! Bad! I have excluded someone from a thread by expressing a preference. I should be put against the wall and shot for that!

FFS (again I swear!) a thread for something is a thread for something, not a thread against anything else. Start another thread for something else if that is the thing you prefer, don't silence those who want to express their liking for the subject of the thread.

I always feel excluded when you clever chefs show off your skills: I can't cook. Boo hoo, rub eyes.

The white poppy wearers seem the most pugnacious, odd that.....

Yes lets bash the UK, but with particular attention to England, there are a couple of posters on GN who veil their dislike for anything English very thinly on

People leave this country to go abroad for a multitude of reasons, one of course is the weather, some just want wall to wall sunshine and yes there are a whole raft of wonderful places to live abroad. On occasions there are those that don't always adjust to their new habitat as well as they thought and come back. I think it's fair to say that emigres leave here for countries that enjoy similar freedoms that we have. I don't suppose too many would wish to eke out their retirement in Saudi Arabia for example or any other particularly repressive place. Whilst the UK is not a utopia, does such a place exist? I think on the whole it's one of the better places in the world to be living in.

FFS Does EVERY thread have to have a fight in it????

Tell you what GG, why not just tell us something nice, that you really like about Britain, and if you can't think of anything, tell us where you would prefer to live, and why? That would make some kind of sense.

Don't be silly, Gracesgran. I said they don't have to contribute - and why would they if they aren't British?

"If I lived in France, I may well have started a thread I am glad I am French"

"I am glad to be Pakistani, or Sri Lankan or whatever"

There is a great difference between what you are suggesting Soon and saying "I am glad to live in France, Pakistan or Sri Lanka"

Ana you have summed just what I was saying by suggesting that if you are not British don't contribute! How positive is that

A thread about our country ( and most on the forum are from here) should never be construed as negative.If it is, well, this says something about the poster I'm afraid, and not the subject.

In other words gracesgran the others could start their own threads.

It is not an either or situation.

Well, they don't have to contribute, just as Gransnet members who don't have grandchildren don't have to post on threads relating to grandchildren.

How on earth is a thread entitled 'I am glad to be British because..' so very negative?

I think it would be great if they wanted to start a thread saying
I am glad to be Pakistani, or Sri Lankan or whatever because

A lot of people are glad to be the nationality that they are.

If I lived in France, I may well have started a thread I am glad I am french because, because I might have been for all I know.
So I cant see any sense of entitlement at all.

And would there be entitlement if it was the best country?[I have managed to confuse myself now].

A country has to be the best one I would have thought.

I offer up Britain as a contender.

I do wonder if some of you realise just how, a thread you think is positive, is very negative to others - as I said to all the people who are Gransnet members and are not British for a start; they are excluded from this thread.

Other countries can be different yet still exciting, even if they are worse. 2 of mine have gone, but all in all would probably say they are worse. They will still stay there for a while though.

Can I ask Anniebach why you have only holidayed abroad once?

Yes, just what we need on a Monday morning, yet another negative thread...

A thread - what I don't like about the UK perhaps ?

Sounds good except for gluwein which is the spawn of Satan, gaaaaah! Tried it twice, shudder.

We need to remember a lot of people choose to leave this country , work, retirement , marriage, they are not choosing countries worse than this one are they ?

Sounds good anno!

I think that Jingl has a good point in saying that we copy things well here,
Especially with relation to food.We still have a core British food tradition but have absorbed Indian food ( now traditional!) French bread, and French cheeses, Italian food of all kinds and so on. The Indian food has been here a long time,since the days of the Raj almost, but since package holidays started in the 60's then we have demanded and got so much from other cuisines as well.Christmas markets, sometimes with German or Belgian stall holders and sometimes all British stall holders is another thing.Also outside cafes, you see them in all our towns now, almost regardless of weather!

Interestingly, jingl, there's hardly a British stallholder in the whole of the Manchester Christmas Market! Plenty of Germans selling gluwein and other Continental goodies.

Judthepud I have already explained about Terry Wogan upthread (in response to Iam64's similar comment).

The British Isles is a group of islands that includes the large island incorporating England, Scotland and Wales, and the smaller island incorporating Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland. Plus other small islands such as The Isle of Man and The Isle of Wight etc etc. 'The British Isles' is a geographical term, not political.

Great Britain is the larger island (i.e. England, Scotland and Wales). This is also a geographical, not political, term.

The United Kingdom comprises Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This is a political term.

So yes, Terry Wogan does come from The British Isles.

I am glad that I live in a country where I can turn on a tap and (most of the time) clean fresh water comes out.