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A very English Brexit

(213 Posts)
GracesGranMK3 Wed 07-Aug-19 09:19:28

With nothing left for the old Etonians to go out and conquer they turned their minds to the EU and gave us a very English Brexit.

This is not a Scottish Brexit, they did not want it.

It is not an Irish Brexit, they learned long ago that the clever people are those who can negotiate, starting with a clear view of what they want to achieve.

It is now not even a Welsh Brexit. Quelling natives is not in their DNA and they now know the English will treat them a lot worse than the EU (who see them as equals) ever did.

So why are we allowing the remains of the English upper-classes to do this to us? Is it their kindness to Nanny? Is it their ability to swear and tell lies while tossing their remaining hair? Who knows.

But I do believe that when history writes up this strange period of self-flagellation (another joy of the old and dying English upper-class) it will be seen as a very English Brexit.

Nonnie Fri 09-Aug-19 15:43:38

Callistemon Thu 08-Aug-19 17:46:48 cor, you waz posh! Bought our first house in 1968, brand new, no central heating, no double glazing, had to wait months for a phone and then it was a party line! No one to give us second hand furniture so saved up for some and then for carpets. Of course we were happy because we knew no different but I wouldn't give up all the things we now have.

Callistemon Fri 09-Aug-19 16:46:56

grin

It was only a 2 bedroomed semi, Nonnie, bought in 1969 but it had oil-fired central heating with a monster boiler in the kitchen!

We bought some secondhand furniture from friends of my brother who were emigrating.

And DH made a coffee table from his mother's old dining table, it had an orange tiled top. Very fashionable.

Greta Fri 09-Aug-19 17:14:44

I'm sure there were some houses with central heating in the early 1970s. My point is – was it the norm? The same for double glazing. We moved into a terrace house in 1974. It was on a new estate, built only three years previously and we had neither. Also, no shower in the bathroom!

Nonnie Fri 09-Aug-19 17:18:25

Oh I remember tiled coffee table tops, ours were stacking and green!

Shower in the bathroom? No, had to run a bath every morning.

growstuff Fri 09-Aug-19 17:20:28

My parents bought a new build 4 bedroom house in 1966, where I lived for much of my childhood. We didn't have central heating, double glazing or a shower in the bathroom. We only had a second toilet under the stairs, because my parents paid extra.

Nonnie Sat 10-Aug-19 10:45:17

Completely off thread but, while we are being nostalgic, does anyone remember toothpaste in tins? I was thinking about this when cleaning my teeth this morning, perhaps it would be more environmentally friendly?

Alexa Sat 10-Aug-19 11:52:17

Yes, Nonnie, I do. You rubbed a wet toothbrush over it.My little chum had it and I thought it was better than tubes. 'Gibbs Dentifrice'. There were pretty pictures to collect under the cellophane wrap.

Nonnie Sat 10-Aug-19 15:51:03

Ooh Alexa I don't remember the pictures. Funny how these things come to mind after so many years!

GracesGranMK3 Sat 10-Aug-19 17:58:13

So is all this nostalgia what you want to return to? If so can we find you an island somewhere as I don't think many would want to join the nostalgic old, living as we did then.

Callistemon Sat 10-Aug-19 18:17:08

I think you can still buy tooth powder in tins Nonnie but not sure if it's in shops, just online.
Always tasted a bit antiseptic, not unpleasant, just different.

Callistemon Sat 10-Aug-19 18:41:12

I rather liked my house, my life then!
I wish I could go back to having that much energy.

And I'd have a list of questions about family history for my mum and dad.

Dinahmo Sat 10-Aug-19 21:44:37

Varian virol was malt extract - my brother had it because he was rather small. My Dh used to make beer (using hops etc not a can of stuff to which you just added water) and my treat was to have the malt extract tim to scrape out once he'd used the contents. Delicious. Some please as scraping put a condensed milk can when i was a child.