Reminds me of the old army joke:

A soldier visits the Medical Officer for a routine medical. The MO asks for a stool, urine and semen sample.

"I am in a bit of a hurry sir, can I just leave you my underpants" replied the soldier....

OK, things still going well here, havent been mugged, burgled or abused by gangs of marauding hoodies. The weather yesterday was absolutely beautiful. We drove up to Hereford to expand our house search and I must say it is an absolutely gorgeous area.
I was warned that 'I would see' when I got here, I didnt understand at the time and still havent seen whatever it is.
The UK is far from perfect and has it's it's issues and the same applies to Australia and indeed every other country.

Argh, carpet in the bathroom!

Just couldn't get away from it when I lived in the UK. Every second house I visited had a carpeted bathroom - even Mrs Stampede's posh aunt's place in Tring.

I had to put up with it in a rental, but when I moved in with Mrs Stampede I ripped it out and replaced it with cork tiles.

Something i have noticed since being back is a healthy increase in patriotism, not chest beating flag waving but pride in Britain and British products. Obviously it has a lot to do with the Olympics and the Jubilee but hopefully it continue.

Cork? Jesus.....

But....my good man.....people always complain that is a bad thing.....products etc...
a fine line between beating and flying....yes, the problem is people watch too much TV

Im not sure why people would complain about patriotism, nationalism yes.

The mother has carpet in her bathroom. It even goes up the side of the bath. It's a very tasteful shade of avocado as are the tiles, bath, sink, toilet, fluffy cover thing on the toilet lid, curtain at the window. And no, it's not a leftover from the late 70s. It was put in to her strict instructions when she moved in 2000 possibly, can't remember. The carpet is the same as the carpet covering the entire bungalow apart from the kitchen. You walk in the front door and it looks like someone's vomited avocado everywhere.

Just sayin....

Edit: Just noticed, if you go on Rightmove site and look at the examples under the search box, they use 'Waterloo Station'. How bizarre.

Fully agree Chris.

I am always reminded of David Niven when people mention patriotism. He was firmly settled in the USA with a great career as an actor and a beautiful wife when WW2 started. He could have sat it out - he was over the age limit for conscription anyway.

Instead, driven by patriotism and the desire to do what was needed and right, he returned to the UK and tried to enlist.

He was repeatedly turned down due to his age, when finally someone took him on in the army. They probably expected him to have a desk job.

He worked his way into the Commandos and to the rank of Lt Col before the war ended. His acting career suffered from the gap, but he never seemed to consider the sacrifice he had made. His wife died the year after he returned to the USA. He never complained about the lost years with her either.

He did the right thing as a patriot. Its trendy right now to deride patriots. Those who do don't hold a candle to men like Niven.

Mp, very suburban....I remember matching carpet sets for the bog. I suppose if the whole house has it then she has no need for the oval strip around the base of it.

Chris, I suppose you are suggesting that nationalism has to be negative. Extreme form - the brand 'national socialism'.

It's good that you see pride in the UK - people often complain about national pride in Australia - they don't tend to mention patriotism or nationalism. It seems to rub people up the wrong way. I imagine watching TV and seeing adverts for 'Holden - Australia' and Australian Super would really grate....for these people.

She has no need for one of those simply because no man uses her toilet.

My elderly aunt is desparately proud of her ADvocardo carpet... And yup, that wasnt a typo... Its just like she says it....

What's he do, go in the bushes?

Who?

The man who, with your old dear, sired you....

Well he's been dead 21 years so I sincerely hope he's not peeing anywhere. Although his ashes were sprinkled on some bushes but unfortunately no one told the man who came to mow the lawn a few hours later, he came in the house and told the mother someone had had a bonfire and the Rhododendrons had ash all over them so he'd swept it all up and put it in the bin. No one liked to tell him what he'd done and Dad would have cried laughing. Hey ho!