Anyone have good news to share about the U.K.? ??

I like lots of things about the U.K. - beaches that are free to access, free museums, the NHS, the fact that we’re going through Brexit and Indy refs and there hasn’t been widespread rioting or murders, open countryside, national parks, our openness and tolerance in comparison to many other countries, M&S food...the list is endless really. Sure, things could be better but overall it’s not as bad as we often make out it is.

I agree SirC ( are you really a Sir?)
Well said Happychops if misery guts don’t like this thread why join in at all.

Actually, I love our weather, so many changes with proper Seasons, I couldn’t be doing with wall to wall sunshine.

Crystaltipps
Not all of them, but most. IMHO.

No lemon I’m not a Sir (or a bloke!)

Should anyone wish to hear and see André Rieu and his orchestra, there is an extensive video collection on YouTube and a number of his full concerts on the Sky Arts channel.

Great atmosphere here in Maastricht with fans of all generations and from all over Europe in the city for the concerts, Groups of musicians from the orchestra are to be seen around the town throughout the day.

Great stuff, turning out to be the holiday of a lifetime.

I like an orderly queue, and knowing that if the bus is full the people who got there first will be the ones who get on!

Ah! Thanks SirC

Grandad the Andre Rieu concerts on tv are very good, my only ‘dislike’ is his hair, which for some reason I find very off putting.

And people picking up after their dogs (most of the time).

Not having to pay to use the loo (I’m looking at you, Netherlands - even in department stores! <traumatised > )

Another here who agrees SirChenjin Good post.

I cannot be the only one who's noticed that the UK is an abysmal place to live, according to the Labour Party who trade in abject misery (everywhere) and really do need a new logo - "Everything is Awful" Has anyone else noticed?

The research by By Demos "The Optimism Project" states that most people are perfectly happy with their lives in the UK. (You'd think we were living on the edge of an abyss if you read the thoughts of certain GN posters )

If you ask them about the UK in general though, apparently it is dysfunctional politics in Westminster, and dismal politicians telling us 'life is crap' that is bringing them down. The squabbling and self-serving nature of the House of Commons over the last three years has been appalling. It is a topic of conversation, more so than Brexit itself. Most people are outraged that our politicians seem to be working within the Westminster bubble, and have forgotten the people who elected them.

So, most of us are doing OK and most of us are glad (still) that we live in the UK with so many great things going for it.

Perhaps we should stop reading the GN News and Politics forum? Could it be to blame for much of our discontent?

I'm with the optimists!

Ooops, sorry to be a bit political there. (Don't want to bring anyone down.)

The heady sweet aroma in the air of summer flowers in the garden at dusk is my happy time of late.

lemongrove Quote [Grandad the Andre Rieu concerts on tv are very good, my only ‘dislike’ is his hair, which for some reason I find very off putting.] End Quote

lemongrove, he has had long hair (or should that be "longish) for most of his life/career. However, he did re-style it shorter a few years back following his heart problems brought on by stress.

He now has gone back to his more traditional "longish look." So, perhaps the length of his hair signals the level of his stress.

However, he and his orchestra are wonderfull performers and perhaps what does not come across in the recorded televised concerts is how funny they all are when seeing them live.

One minute you are in fits of laughter, and the next, the sound and strength of the music overwhelms you, and you are literally in tears.

And I am not usually the emotional type.

The tv prog The Big Build. The British at their best ????

If everything is so marvellous here one wonders why people who voted Brexit were so dissatisfied....the scenery is the same, museums, beaches, etc

That sounds wonderful Grandad.

Our social secretary suggested going to see an Andre Rieu concert on the continent as she has heard similar rave reviews. "It's all about the atmosphere!" she tells us. Glad you are enjoying it.

The concert sounds lovely grandad, enjoy and have a wine or two for us on gransnet. ?

Amazing coincidence - your name, last poster...

ah well, looks like lamb will be VERY cheap soon

Crystaltipps
Nothing's perfect. That's why there's always room for improvement.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=StTqXEQ2l-Y
If only........

We went to see Andre Rieu in Maastricht two years ago, when The Hoff turned up as a surprise guest (he is loved over there!) Grandad is right, I think we had at least 27 nations represented, just there to enjoy the music and fun. Andre and his singers emerged from the town hall where they had got changed and stood there for about 10 minutes chatting and having photos taken wth the crowd. For some reason he assumed I was Spanish!

Yet more from those who want only to uproot and change this country completely complaining about other people, who have said nothing detrimental but just have a different view of politics. The inference is, yet again that we don't love our country if we don't see everything from their point of view and that we leave if we don't see thing as they do - very Trumpian and very far-right!

I appreciate that currently this is only a suggestion but who knows when the trucks will arrive to round us up? I love a great deal about this country but I am not going to change my mind about people being pushed into poverty or parliaments sovereignty being overturned. Fascism is alive and well it seems, and yes, I do feel threatened by some posts. Grandad, I suggest you stay where you are made welcome and not "othered" in this way.

Noticeable that most of these 'good news' posts are not about good news about the UK at all, but are about some individuals' personal cheerfulness..

My 'good news for the UK today is that some of our national institutions still have an interest in upholding democracy by the elimination of cheating and illegality in order to affect a democratic vote..

Members of the elections watchdog the Electoral Commission, gave evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Sub-Committee on Disinformation yesterday, as a Freedom of Information request was published showing the full scope of its recommendations to the Brexit Party following its recent investigation into its funding.

It showed the extra information the party’s funding system would require in order to ascertain the permissibility of a donor.

This, of course, implies that this identifying information was lacking during the European Elections and, indeed, is lacking now
The Brexit Party is now required to check these historical donations for permissibility.

This means it did not systematically check for permissibility at the time and, as 30 days have elapsed on the vast majority of these donations, laws have likely already been broken on a pretty vast scale.

Going back and checking now will not unbreak these laws.

The Electoral Commission will be well aware that it must enforce these laws impartially..

bylinetimes.com/2019/06/19/impermissible-donors-farages-party-required-to-return-their-millions/

I just hope this one has teeth...

You don't have to pay for a toilet? Wow I feel so proud to be British.