Sunday, November 25, 2007

Park life

You know..i've actually droned on about some fairly negative points of view in the last few days..maudlin and downbeat perhaps due to yet another birthday. And any one could be forgiven that i don't actually have any national pride. Well I want to tell you that I do.

This cold and damp little island somewhere off the coast of France in the north Atlantic is my home. My heritage. It is not a place of singing chimney sweeps or cross-dressing Lords in rambling country mansions. It is not a place of high tea and Public schools,polo and pin stripes.It is a land that has changed so very many times seeing the face of society become richer and more varied than it has ever been.It is a 'Green and Pleasant Land'..where Cricket and Rugby stand alongside Banghra and Gangsta Rap. Where the Last Night of the Proms, Tea Rooms, Scones and Cream meet Kebabs, Chicken Tika, 'alco pops' cheap lager and ipods.Medieval castles and London eye, Green Grass and Motorways.

It is a land where there is a National Health Service..where if you get knocked over the Paramedic feels first for your pulse instead of the health insurance card in your pocket. It is a land where you can become what you want.

There is of course much that is wrong..but there is much that is very good. I can stand in my photograph in the park where I played as a child and say in honest truth. " Iam an Englishman"
Happy Sunday to you, I've had some wonderful lovely comments this week..I'm quite at a loss for what to say. So I'll lapse into stereotypical English: "Cheerio old chums..chin up!"

11 comments:

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

If there are no cross-dressing Lords in rambling country mansions, then I'm not coming over.
Really! You in your paradise of socialized medicine! We are heading for a spectacular bankruptcy due to our medical expenses, and those are just regular check-ups and whatnot. We haven't settled with the birth of our youngest yet. They may repossess him!

I'm pleased that your spirits are lifted, and your picture is adorable.

Niall young said...

Julie.. :-) The cross dressing is not an elitist thing..It's available to anyone.
It seems it's possible to be born into debt..live with debt and leave a debt when you drop dead..

I am indebted to you.

Jonice said...

And you dolook happy on your picture!

Have a lovely week, Niall :)

Devil Mood said...

That's the spirit!
Most European countries look up to Britain and model their ideals and rules on the british ones - "you" must be doing something right!

Niall young said...

DM..ah..! I was half expecting you to mention 'The Bulldog Breed' and 'Stiff upper lips'...But yes, I thinnk you are right..it's just an English trait that one finds it hard to accept praise.

aMus said...

***There is of course much that is wrong..but there is much that is very good*** How true and the sooner we realise this, the better ...

Nice to see the spirits rise...and must say you look 'dapper'

Niall young said...

Thinking aloud..What ho..!

Preeti Shenoy said...

You are looking great.Imagine being able to live in the very same place where you played as a child! For me, that will be a hundred places--scattered in memories!

Tys on Ice said...

' care for a cuppa, old chap?'...well, thts the nearest brit accent I can do...u do look spiffy :)

Niall young said...

Jonice...actually I was thinking of something else..but yes..I was happy!

PS..Yes..this is I suppose my 'turf' as it were.

Tys..Absolutely spiffing old chap..I say..a cup of tea would be splendid!

Preeti Shenoy said...

Niall just read your reply to Tys--cannot imagine you going all Brit!!! Cannot stop laughing either!