I am glad to be British because

A garden shed near me proudly flies the White Rose of Yorkshire!
I rather like the Exmoor flag but regrettablyhave no reason to fly it.

Deary me. This thread has degenerated into what would locally be called on Twitter a #fleg discussion! Please don't go there! We specialise in flags here.

I have dual nationality being British and Irish. I wouldn't mind living in the Republic of Ireland. Very friendly talkative people ....but no NHS! Charged for having to stay in hospital!! Or I would like to live in England near my children and grandchildren where people are tolerant and polite but a bit reserved.

As it is I am stuck here in N.Ireland with the best and worst of both worlds

Dare I say ,Ahem,all the wonderful Britishness ,is the envy of the world.Thats why they want to come here.

Bread! In bakers' shops. It's much better than anything you can buy abroad. French loaves always look better than they turn out to be. Ours are delish.

I don't agree that "Britishness ,is the envy of the world" Marmark1 and I think it is one of the British arrogances think it is. Many of the richest countries are seen as good places to go to and most people would just like their own country to be safe. Why should people want to be us if they could have safety and a reasonable life in their own country and who has interfered so much and caused a great many of the problems.

I like living here but can we please get things into some sense of proportion.

I do feel, and it is probably just the way I read it, but rather than "I am glad to be British because ... " which feels as if it carries a sense of entitlement I would be happy to give lots of answers to "I like living here because ..." that would include all our forum members, where ever they live, too.

Bread is good in Norway too. Just saying

And bread I make at home, even in a machine, is at least as good as any I've bought anywhere, including actual manna (made from sprouted wheat grain; delish) in Los Angeles. Just saying again.

I use strong Canadian wheat.

I can't remember if I've been to Norway. Is Gothenburg in Norway? I've been there.

I can't remember why I went to Gothenburg. It rained.

No. Gothenburg is in Sweden.

I bought some Wessex Mill strong flour from the garden centre yesterday. I must remember to get some in time for lunch. I used to use the Canadian extra strong from Waitrose, when I used to be very serious about breadmaking. It was very good. I used half wholemeal and half strong white. Nowadays I see you can buy ready mixed 'half and half' flour.

Ah yes! Sweden. I'll have to look into doing Norway.

This is more interesting than flags isn't it.

one of these would be nice

Thatbags The bread in Iceland was very very good as well. No doubt made in the same tradition.

I must try and get some recipes.

Manchester Christmas Market comes out in the Top Ten Christmas Markets in Europe. So that's something else that is good about being British. We copy things well.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Sounds good anno!

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

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

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