UK Cooler Stop

[ThreeDee]

Happy Belated Birthday, Christine!

I love that you list "eating" as the first activity in your great day My kinda girl.

[Colswann1]

Was religion ever part of the classroom curriculum in the U.K., and if so how long ago was it abolished?

Yes Michele, it's the same here - the downgrading of all that is Christian from most schools. We still have some church schools but even there Christianity has to diluted.

[Kiwigirl]

I love that you list "eating" as the first activity in your great day My kinda girl.

It has got to stop now though, doesn't it, lol?

[Colswann1]

What did I tell you: Andy Murray is the worlds best - USA Open mmm!

[ThreeDee]

YAY for ANDY MURRAY!!!! Much cheering in our house

Nah, Christine. No need to stop the eating! There will be someone else's birthday to celebrate, after all.

[Arpy]

Echo: Hurrah for Andy Murray!

There was some discussion in our house today as to the worst English (and that is language, not country) accent in the world; what do you folks think is the best? (My brother would say Welsh, I'm not sure I agree.)

[Colswann1]

There was some discussion in our house today as to the worst English (and that is language, not country) accent in the world;

What do you make of this my native Yorkshire tongue:
'Sither eer, wen tha cums art t' lake, tha's ad thi chips.' Spoken in a deep flat vowel way! Surely the worst!

Meaning: 'Look here, when you come out to play, you're in trouble!.'

Scotland's, Ireland's and Wales' accents are hard for a Yorkshire/Englander to understand all the time. But Welsh is rather tuneful and melodious, but then they are the best choir singers ever.

[Arpy]

Understood, Colin!
That's only because I read too much Secret Garden.
I haven't decided which is my favourite, because when I hear one I like, I am never sure where it's from. Definitely English, and probably not too far south or too high north, but I'm not Henry Higgins, so I can't say. David Niven has a really nice voice, but that's just his voice . . .

I don't know about the Welsh choirs -- I know Aled Jones and Katherine Jenkins are terrific singers.

(But so is Alfie Boe.)

[Colswann1]

Seems that I'm not the only one to have forsaken the UK!

Just back from a cruise, with friends, of the Med - very nice weather, pleasant places and too much food, by far!

[Arpy]

I'm jealous. I would like to visit the Med, but maybe not on a cruise. More like some village in Turkey or Greece.

[Kiwigirl]

My husband and I have always promised ourselves a 6-month stint in the Greek Islands when the last child becomes independent. We want to stay in a village for most of that time. Then I want to go to Scotland or England or Ireland (or all three) .... for a decent period of time too.... what I'd really love is to go long enough to feel like I lived there, but that would require at least 2 years in each place.

Seeing as the kids are most likely going to explore the world after their graduation, it could be a really good time to do it - giving them lots of space and a base to come back to. Some days I can't wait.

[Colswann1]

My husband and I have always promised ourselves a 6-month stint in the Greek Islands

Go for a mini break Christine; Greece is a great place to visit. I remember (picture this) eating the best steak every on a lovely balmy evening overlooking a calm ocean in the lovely Island of Crete--Go for it girl, you and your husband deserve it after raising a family!

[Colswann1]

Do any other countries bother with Guy Fawkes Day (bonfire day - 5th Nov) and burn guys on a fire and have fireworks and eat hash, sticky oatmeal parkin and toffee apples etc.?

We also have Halloween a few days before with trick or treat - I think most western countries have this.

[deejay]

No, Guy Fawkes is uniquely English.

[Kiwigirl]

We have Guy Fawkes. We don't burn a guy, we just send a lot of money up in smoke. It's pretty.