What makes you think of England?
Jan 10th, 2006, 02:04 AM
#44
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One thing that I think thoroughly sums up the English is our love for the Shipping Forecast on Radio 4.
For those who don't kno
w what this is, it is a weather fore cast for ships, that gives the temperature, the visibility and the immediate prospects. It is of no practical use to anyone actually in Britain, as the weather near Greenland doesn't have a lot of impact on us.
The sea areas have the most wonderful names, Cromarty, Viking, German Bight, Dogger Bank etc.
Radio 4 moved it back about 10 minutes a few years ago and there was nearly riots on the streets. The same happened when they changed the name of Finistere to Fitzroy.
It is almost hypnotic listening. "Viking, 200, rising, good." That to me is the sound of England.
For those who don't kno
w what this is, it is a weather fore cast for ships, that gives the temperature, the visibility and the immediate prospects. It is of no practical use to anyone actually in Britain, as the weather near Greenland doesn't have a lot of impact on us.
The sea areas have the most wonderful names, Cromarty, Viking, German Bight, Dogger Bank etc.
Radio 4 moved it back about 10 minutes a few years ago and there was nearly riots on the streets. The same happened when they changed the name of Finistere to Fitzroy.
It is almost hypnotic listening. "Viking, 200, rising, good." That to me is the sound of England.
Jan 10th, 2006, 02:04 AM
#45
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Why do you think I'm joking?
José Mourinho is a football (soccer)manager. He is currently the coach of Chelsea Football Club, based in South West London. See http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho
José Mourinho is a football (soccer)manager. He is currently the coach of Chelsea Football Club, based in South West London. See http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho
Jan 10th, 2006, 02:48 AM
#47
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Re Jose:
You are aware that he is:
A) Portuguese
B) In the employ of a Russian gangster
c) Manages the club with the worst fans in the whole wide world - before Abramovich came along they were going bust.
D) A bit full of himself. Actually completely full of himself
What of those things makes you think of England? He's got a grey coat. That's as close to English as he gets.
Sir Alf Ramsey, definitely, Bobby Robson I could understand, and even at a push 'Appy 'Arry but Jose? No way.
You are aware that he is:
A) Portuguese
B) In the employ of a Russian gangster
c) Manages the club with the worst fans in the whole wide world - before Abramovich came along they were going bust.
D) A bit full of himself. Actually completely full of himself
What of those things makes you think of England? He's got a grey coat. That's as close to English as he gets.
Sir Alf Ramsey, definitely, Bobby Robson I could understand, and even at a push 'Appy 'Arry but Jose? No way.
Jan 10th, 2006, 03:31 AM
#50
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Non-one's mentioned any sounds (apart from the Shipping Forecast, which I would have chosen):
Parry's "Jerusalem"
Choral evensong (both as in cathedrals, and as in "Ere we go, ere we go, ere we go"
Lots of Elgar (not just Cockaigne and the Pomp and Circumstance, but the Introduction and Allegro, and the Cello Concerto)
Britten's Sea Interludes from "Peter Grimes"
Bax's "Tintagel"
Brass and military band music - say, Malcolm Arnold's "Padstow Lifeboat" march, or anything by the Grimethorpe or Black Dyke Mills Band.
The rattle of a London taxi engine
"Mind the gap"
TV theme tunes: Coronation St, Blue Peter
A whistling kettle and the tinkle of teaspoons on a saucer.
Parry's "Jerusalem"
Choral evensong (both as in cathedrals, and as in "Ere we go, ere we go, ere we go"
Lots of Elgar (not just Cockaigne and the Pomp and Circumstance, but the Introduction and Allegro, and the Cello Concerto)
Britten's Sea Interludes from "Peter Grimes"
Bax's "Tintagel"
Brass and military band music - say, Malcolm Arnold's "Padstow Lifeboat" march, or anything by the Grimethorpe or Black Dyke Mills Band.
The rattle of a London taxi engine
"Mind the gap"
TV theme tunes: Coronation St, Blue Peter
A whistling kettle and the tinkle of teaspoons on a saucer.
Jan 10th, 2006, 03:46 AM
#51
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The original question was: "What makes you think of England?"
I answered with the first thing that came to my mind. I thought this was the idea before the question. May be I have to self criticise before anwering in Fodors.
After a second thought, I am sure you are right, answers like "pubs named Elephant and Castle", "the changing of the guard" or "drinking tea in Warwickshire County" would have been much correct.
I answered with the first thing that came to my mind. I thought this was the idea before the question. May be I have to self criticise before anwering in Fodors.
After a second thought, I am sure you are right, answers like "pubs named Elephant and Castle", "the changing of the guard" or "drinking tea in Warwickshire County" would have been much correct.
Jan 10th, 2006, 04:48 AM
#54
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Not in any particular order:
The smells of Fairy dishwashing liquid and Wright's Coal Tar soap (but not together)
Smarties
Marks and Spencers food halls
Routemaster buses
Train stations
Cold toast with butter and marmalade
A good, strong cup of tea
The smells of Fairy dishwashing liquid and Wright's Coal Tar soap (but not together)
Smarties
Marks and Spencers food halls
Routemaster buses
Train stations
Cold toast with butter and marmalade
A good, strong cup of tea
Jan 10th, 2006, 04:54 AM
#55
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Rather than Ralph Feinnes I would plump for his barking mad relative Sir Ranulph Twistleton-Wykeham Fiennes. Polar explorer and all round loon. He sums up a particular form of British eccentricity - ie he's an explorer that gets lost. A lot. He is also a direct descendent of the bloke that founded Winchester College - which he was too thick to go to, so had to go to Eton instead.
And some sounds:
A Merlin engine on a summers day.
A BSA with the throttle open
Carols from Kings College Cambridge
Music by people who could only be English; Billy Bragg; Ray Davies and the Kinks; Richard Thompson; Viv Stanshall; Neil Innes.
Round the Horne
I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
Theme tune to the Archers (tum ti tum ti tumti tum etc)
Church bells being rung
And some sounds:
A Merlin engine on a summers day.
A BSA with the throttle open
Carols from Kings College Cambridge
Music by people who could only be English; Billy Bragg; Ray Davies and the Kinks; Richard Thompson; Viv Stanshall; Neil Innes.
Round the Horne
I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
Theme tune to the Archers (tum ti tum ti tumti tum etc)
Church bells being rung
Jan 10th, 2006, 05:50 AM
#57
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The little electric pots to heat water for tea that one finds in English hotels and B & B's, in contrast to the coffee pots you find in American hotel rooms. It is wonderful having a cup of tea after a day of sightseeing! My coffee-drinking, American Norweigan husband turns into a tea-totaler in England!
