No partying - I don't drink or do any drugs except MJ and I'm waiting for that to grow in the garden ;-)
I didn't see the parade this year but I did hear the French airforce acrobatics team scream over my house after it, as they do every year, because we're on the flight path when they've finished their show over the Champs Elysées. Otherwise, it's been a quiet day watching the Tour de France until my grandsons (5 and 6) arrived. They are now in bed - and I will soon be following their example.
It did prompt one reflection, however: most countries seem to have a widely-celebrated national day, but not the UK (unless I've forgotten something, in which case Kentish may be able to correct me ;-). Which is weird...
No national day to my knowledge. Used to celebrate Empire Day when I was very young in school in the late 1940s. Most of the kids wore their Cub/ Boy Scout, and Life Boy/Boys Brigade uniforms to school and that was as much as I recall. Obviously even the though of an empire has gone by the board. I think Brits are very selective in the way they show patriotism. Being proud is one thing. Displaying it with a flag on your house might be considered odd. Time and place I think.
That said, I think Brits could do with a massive dose of optimism. Core difference, I think, between Brits and Americans is Americans generally have a sense of optimism about things. A national day in Britain might be a catalyst for some optimism.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/14/2023 06:28PM by Maude.
Today is the first day of Proms, and it will culminate on Sept. 09, and from watching previous Proms, that final night of Proms seems to be quite nationally uplifting.
But I'm cynical enough to see that all those celebrations around the country are blindingly 'White'...
The Proms, last night or opening night, are not a national holiday. The last night is an occassion for flag waving done somewhat anonymously in a crowd as part of tradition but it might seem embarrassing to do it individually by having a flag flying over your house or on your car. Does not mean Brits are not patriotic, they just don't wear it on their sleeves like a badge. But don't ever dare to under estimate it when push comes to shove. Another Brit here might explain it better.
My analogy of the difference between British and American outlook in regards to optimism and outlook attitude.
Tweo Brits stand on a street corner and a man driving a Ferrari pulls up at the light. One Brit comments: "Look at that car. Jammy so and so, wonder who he ripped off to get a car like that."
Same scene, two Americans see the Ferrari roar to a stop. One says to the other: "Look at that fantastic car. One day, I'm going to have a car like that."