OKinUK Blog

My awareness of what is British and what makes a Brit tick is heightened at the moment. There are several contributing factors...

I spent a week in Cornwall with friends from Germany. A great time was had by all: sea kayaking, walking small stretches of the South West Coastal Path, jogging, meeting with a dear friend from uni and meeting her daughter for the first time, eating, playing monopoly (don't assume the 7 and 14 year olds enjoyed that more than the grown-ups - "YES! I'll build a hotel on Park Lane"...)

 Of course, as the only Brit in the group questions and comments on Great Britain came my way. "I had no idea England was so big - that it would take so long from London to Falmouth". Distance is distance and although everywhere in the UK is no more than 72 miles from the coast, when you choose to visit some coast in Cornwall, reckon on at least 4 hours from London...

"Why do you have so much packaging?" "Why do you build small houses so close together?" Whilst I might have pondered on these questions, I find I am not able to answer them.  

Even a brief walk through a German high street will show there are far more bakers, butchers and independent shops than on your average British high street, so perhaps we start here: a call to the supermarkets of Great Britain? "Why do you package everything?"

A shopping trip to the cold meats counter of a German butchers would see you leaving with a delightful selection of" Wurst" wrapped in waxed paper, which is later, yes, you guessed it, RECYCLED! Not a plastic bag in sight. The fact is, we are well behind in this area and at some point we took a wrong turn and we are finding it very hard to find our way back. This is quite incomprehensible to many of our visitors.

Also contributing to my reflection on what makes a Brit tick: I went to the last night of the Proms celebration - the one in the park.  Contrary to the original idea of the Proms (accessible and affordable classical music for the masses) this affair costs £25 to cross the barrier erected in Hyde Park. A cup of Pimms (complete with cucumber and other fruits: £4).

 Nevertheless, this is a great place to observe the "best of British": deck chairs, silly hats, flag waving and pelting out "Rule Britannia" at the end of the night.

I was heartened to see other flags being waved: coincidentally, quite a lot of flags from Germany and Cornwall as well as Irish, Australian, Dutch and a whole host of others. Did that ease the slightly awkward sense I had whilst singing, "Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves..."? That's another discussion... 

Closing words of the night reminded us that music unites us all. How true. The Abba tribute band, Björn Again proved that. Nothing like a good Abba tune to bop along to - waving union jacks as we go... but only at the last night of the Proms.