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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 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?

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 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.

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!

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.

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.

jura2 Fri 09-Aug-19 14:45:36

varian, so have some in France, and all over the EU, and even here in Switzerland. TBH their life is not going to be easy, as their British neighbours, and the locals- are absolutely furious and disgusted with them- and the local authorities will make it difficult for them to go through the hoops. You know, those who do not speak Spanish, French, etc, even after DECADES in the country, those who do not use local artisans and businesses, those who even buy their shopping on line from Tesco and get it shipped over in white vans (with the white goods, etc, for their renovations)- etc, etc.

varian Fri 09-Aug-19 14:41:20

And Newcastle-upon-Tyne?

And our house?

growstuff Fri 09-Aug-19 14:22:31

There should also have been a circle round Liverpool and Manchester.

varian Fri 09-Aug-19 14:14:41

Apparently many Brits living in Spain also voted to leave like this caller to James O'Brien, a conservative who agrees that we were lied to but that's because politicians always lie and anyway the "British bulldog spirit" will get us through it!

www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/james-obrien/caller-no-deal-brexit-british-bulldog-spirit/

newnanny Fri 09-Aug-19 12:54:30

Not just Birmingham voted to leave but most of East and West Midlands, Yorkshire and Wales too. I can remember a map of UK with Scotland and a circle around London and NI being different colour to show they wanted to remain.

Overthehills Fri 09-Aug-19 10:31:36

And before you accuse me of being a right wing facist I voted remain in the 2016 referendum.

Overthehills Fri 09-Aug-19 10:29:22

The SNP is a minority government in Scotland - do the maths.
I live in Scotland and I didn’t vote SNP therefore Scotland did not vote for them.
The result of the 2014 referendum was No.
They do not have a mandate.

almcg2001 Fri 09-Aug-19 09:45:05

And if the Scottish Greens are added , Holyrood has a pro-independence majority.

jura2 Fri 09-Aug-19 09:35:02

Merrymary, wow I had no idea that is the case, Thanks for educating me. Will have to research further.

Merrymary Fri 09-Aug-19 08:45:29

If Scotland used the First Past the Post system as used in Westminster instead of Proportional Representstion, the SNP would have 80% of the seats in the Scottish Parliament. A rather sizeable majority!!!

paddyann Thu 08-Aug-19 22:25:01

Scotland DID ,they have been the biggest party in Holyrood for ten years .There hasn't been a Tory government voted for in Scotland since the mid 1950's and dont get me started on the "election " of the new PM ...We ,the Scottish National Party also have more MP;s in WM than the other parties added together .How does that make us NOT a majority ?

Overthehills Thu 08-Aug-19 21:34:46

The SNP is a minority government. “Scotland” did not vote for it ...

Merrymary Thu 08-Aug-19 20:30:56

I couldn’t agree more Paddyann - Scotland has so much potential and is a fantastic wee country. It will be even better when we are able to govern ourselves.