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We're British, Innit

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Rowan
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Interest in HF: I love history, but it's boring in school. Historical fiction brings it alive for me.
Preferred HF: Iron-Age Britain, Roman Britain, Medieval Britain
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We're British, Innit

Post by Rowan » Sun January 25th, 2009, 4:47 pm

With my birthday just around the corner (I'll let you work out when it is :p ), my best and dearest friend Jean sent me two books about England as gifts. The title of this thread is the title of one of the books. It's an irreverent A-Z guide of all things British.

So I thought I'd ask those who live in the UK what locations, habits, events, etc. you consider to be quintessentially British.
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donroc
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Post by donroc » Sun January 25th, 2009, 4:56 pm

Wedding night advice to brides: "Close your eyes and think of England."

Also Noel Coward's classic, "Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun."
Image

Bodo the Apostate, a novel set during the reign of Louis the Pious and end of the Carolingian Empire.

http://www.donaldmichaelplatt.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXZthhY6 ... annel_page
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Volgadon
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Post by Volgadon » Sun January 25th, 2009, 5:45 pm

Plum. Bonzo Dog Doo Da Band.
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alice
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Location: birmingham uk

Post by alice » Sun January 25th, 2009, 6:15 pm

I was trying to think of anything quintessentially British, and all I could think of was some of our comedians, who sum up some attitudes of Britishness, although they are parodying them. Here's a few, enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiWJWLCo ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZCIKjYDf1g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajC4Az4w ... re=related

Here's the real one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hubyFqSUaGA

sorry, posted the same link twice, I meant to do this one :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQWPR9TM ... re=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS37SNYjg8w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx_6WekX ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx_6WekX ... re=related

our football...... :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4CXY6TV ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQWPR9TM ... re=related
Last edited by alice on Sun January 25th, 2009, 6:24 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Vanessa
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Currently reading: The Farm at the Edge of the World by Sarah Vaughan
Interest in HF: The first historical novel I read was Katherine by Anya Seton and this sparked off my interest in this genre.
Favourite HF book: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell!
Preferred HF: Any
Location: North Yorkshire, UK

Post by Vanessa » Sun January 25th, 2009, 6:43 pm

I'll watch those links later.

Drinking tea. Pantomimes. Rain, especially sitting in it in our coats when we're having a barbecue - we are not going to be beaten. Talking about the weather.

I'll have a think!
currently reading: My Books on Goodreads

Books are mirrors, you only see in them what you already have inside you ~ The Shadow of the Wind
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Libby
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Post by Libby » Sun January 25th, 2009, 9:05 pm

  • afternoon tea
  • morris dancing
  • garden parties
  • bowler hats and umbrellas
  • black cabs and red buses
  • church bell ringing
By Loyalty Bound - the story of the mistress of Richard III.

http://www.elizabethashworth.com
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EC2
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Post by EC2 » Sun January 25th, 2009, 9:31 pm

Watch Wallace and Grommit The Curse of the Were Rabbit and you'll get the gist!
Les proz e les vassals
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard n’I chasront

'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'
Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal

www.elizabethchadwick.com
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Perdita
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Post by Perdita » Mon January 26th, 2009, 1:10 am

*Queuing
*Sitting on the beach in the rain, wearing a rainmac and pretending we're having fun
*Laughing at ourselves
*Buying rounds in the pub
*Moaning about Gordon Brown
*Marmite
*Feeling guilty about everything
*'Elf and Safety
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pat
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Location: Adelaide, South Australia

Post by pat » Mon January 26th, 2009, 11:21 am

*Afternoon tea - had one once with proper cucumber sarnies and cream cakes in a fantastic garden. Was lovely!
*Having a grill-a-cue as it is raining and every one came round for the burgers and sausages!
*canals


And a person - Terry Wogan! OK so he is Irish but hey!
A good book and a good coffee, what more can anyone want? xx
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sweetpotatoboy
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Post by sweetpotatoboy » Mon January 26th, 2009, 11:43 am

So funny to read some of the things that are viewed as quintessentially British, but that bear very relation to modern-day Britain...

Yes, see some of our current comedians, or watch a soap such as Coronation Street to see what British people look like and spend their lives doing...
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