Why don't we sometimes talk about what is good about Britain for a change?

Fair point Witzend.

Freedom, so many freedoms. Great thread M0nica and some really great reminders of just what good things there are about the UK.

Love the comment - been able to turn the tap on and get clean water. So many places in the world where you can't do this.

To be able to do my previous job without an armed escort. Yes I have been in this position in some other countries.

And as someone said - to be able to leave my house in clothes of my choice.

PollyTickle

How about our language, nicked from many others but we’ve still made more complicated to learn than any other
Bough
Tough
Cough
Though

Poor, pour, paw, pore !!!

Yes, the spelling can be a bit of a nightmare for learners, but other aspects? Verbs hardly conjugate, except for the 3rd person singular, no noun genders to have to learn, no declension of nouns.

Take Russian, for starters - two infinitives for every verb, plus full conjugation, not to mention declension of nouns (3 genders, same as other languages I can think of) and adjectives - six cases!

IMO English makes up for its admittedly tortuous spelling, with the lack of that heavy learning burden in the earlier stages.

^I especially love our history, our castles and stately homes.
It gives me goosebumps for example to visit Hever Castle and stand in Anne Boleyn’s childhood bedroom and imagine her there.^

I too love visiting these places and learning the history. Have been to Hever. We went to Hampton Court last year. A memorable day. Some kind person in the queue had complimentary tickets which he didn't need and gave us them.

Don’t forget CADW Gwen looking after Welsh heritage

Beautiful countryside in most areas, Scotland, England Wales & Northern Ireland.
Diverse shopping areas.
People who will work and care
Our National Trust
and English Heritage

adaunas

It’s true what VR says, and there are lots of threads daily announcing things that aren’t perfect here, but just for once, on this thread which is about the good things here, I want to sing Barbra Streisand’s song.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=-Yfh_CpA9Sk

Don’t rain on my parade.

I have it playing adaunas and thank you for your words. I hope this thread continues to uplift me.

Whilst it’s probably true that we don’t have the most varied scenery in the world it’s probably safe to say that, for its size, the UK must come pretty close.

We have mountains, lakes, forests and beautiful beaches to rival anywhere.

I especially love our history, our castles and stately homes.
It gives me goosebumps for example to visit Hever Castle and stand in Anne Boleyn’s childhood bedroom and imagine her there.

Our scientists are pretty damned great too

That wasn’t a criticism of our language just an observation re our quirkiness

How about our language, nicked from many others but we’ve still made more complicated to learn than any other
Bough
Tough
Cough
Though

Poor, pour, paw, pore !!!

I love our ability to find a thousand ways to describe the same weather.

Pouring down today
Raining cats and dogs
Coming down like stair rods
Belting down

You get my drift

MOnica sorry you started this as a positive thread and now has turned.

But I am sick for people knocking things that are bad about this country of ours. Because I dared suggest if someone doesn't like it here they could move I am criticised by the usual posters you like to do this on numerous threads.

No doubt they will complain to Gransnet and get this deleted which has happened to me before.

I am the sort of person who finds a positive out of a negative. No matter how silly . I wouldn't want to live my life moaning about things when there are so many thing to take joy in.

v

It’s true what VR says, and there are lots of threads daily announcing things that aren’t perfect here, but just for once, on this thread which is about the good things here, I want to sing Barbra Streisand’s song.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=-Yfh_CpA9Sk

Don’t rain on my parade.

Whiff

vegansrock if you don't like living here there is a whole world out there you may find somewhere you would like to live more. No one has to stay in this country if they don't like it.

We have that freedom to choose which a lot of people in other haven't got that right.

She never said that. Read her post. Fair play and open mindedness are supposed to be two British values,

“Whiff* where did I say I didn’t like living here?
What I don’t like is people saying “ if you don’t like it live somewhere else”.

This is a lovely thread.

I'm sure we can do without the "if you don't like it move somewhere else" tendency.

Toleration, remember? One of the good things about this country?

Missed countries out?

vegansrock if you don't like living here there is a whole world out there you may find somewhere you would like to live more. No one has to stay in this country if they don't like it.

We have that freedom to choose which a lot of people in other haven't got that right.

I love everything about this country of ours the good and the bad. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. There is no such think as perfect anyway perfect would be boring.

No country is perfect no people are perfect but I think we have a wonderful place to live. And agree with all the pluses posters have put.

Vegansrock does have a point though. I’ve contributed to this and please don’t get me wrong there are lots of things which are great about this country but I think the “best and most beautiful “ ones are a bit much ! For example nobody can honestly say our countryside is “the most varied” in the world.

Josianne

^What I find slightly uncomfortable about these sort of threads is the tone of exceptionalism ( “ we are the best")
I disagree. Several posters on here have used phrases like nowhere is perfect or insipte of all the bad stuff. I think everyone here is being realistic, not puffed up, about our country. And to be sure, beauty is in the eye of the holder, so some things are "the best" for us.

Sorry that was to vegansrock.

Mollygo

The ability we have to point out the good things about our country when someone starts a thread like this.
We know it’s not perfect here and other countries have lovely things, but it’s great to celebrate what’s here. Thanks M0nica.

Well said.
Crossed post!

^What I find slightly uncomfortable about these sort of threads is the tone of exceptionalism ( “ we are the best")
I disagree. Several posters on here have used phrases like nowhere is perfect or insipte of all the bad stuff. I think everyone here is being realistic, not puffed up, about our country. And to be sure, beauty is in the eye of the holder, so some things are "the best" for us.