England

[madaboutyou]

What do people think of england?
Is it a world leader still?
Is it a rich country?
Is it as good as the U.S
I live in england and I love my country. The only think is, the country is going down hill fast thanks to the stupid goverment. They really don't know a good thing when they see it. Voting for a different party won't help either.
Saying that, if I had all the money in the world, I still think I would stay put.

[degeneration]

I'm Scottish... 'nuff said!


Or more seriously, I also think the government is rubbish, but like you say getting in a different party isn't going to make things better. They are all probably just as bad, but in different ways.

I don't perceive England as being a world leader, nor Britain, but more of a puppet for America. But to a lot of people that would give the impression of power.

I think Britain is still a rich group of countries, with one of the better economies in the world, if I'm not mistaken, but a good economy hasn't helped the health service or rail service or anything like that.

In talking about Great Britain, I personally think the 'Great' should be dropped, as I don't think it is that great anymore compared to what was thought of as great in the past.

As for is it as good as the US... will definitely depend on what areas you are comparing! Food is possibly a bit healthier on the whole in England, but is getting worse (as seen in the increase in overweight people in the UK). Crime I don't think is as bad, or possibly more specifically gun related crime. But then I see more houses in the US have swimming pools! So they gotta be doing something right!

[Faulkner]

"What do people think of England?"

I can't say I spare it much thought!?

"Is it a world leader still?"

Was it ever!?

"Is it a rich country?"

Only as rich as it's yuppies (same as everywhere!)...

"Is it as good as the U.S.?"

Is the "U.S. of A." something to aspire too???

Look, I'll lay it on the tables for you. England came up with some good stuff in the old days..."Carry On" films..."Benny Hill"..."The Sex Pistols"...Hammer films..."Love Thy Neighbour"..."Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em"...etc etc...

My question to YOU is: "What happened?"

Was it Margaret Thatcher's fault? Or what?

Is Prince Charles a homosexual? Did he kill Lady Di?? ha ha...

[Dan Luna]

The Diana thing is like much else these days - an official investigation is held and a report produced, some believe it and some don't.

I like living in England; the climate and scenery suit me.

The large numbers of "asylum seekers" living off our welfare system obviously think it's a pretty good country as well - they cross through quite a bit of Europe to get here.

If we could vote between being in the European Union and the United States, I would go for the US.

[Chook]

I'm Australian, of Scottish origin, who has lived in Great Britain for some time - enough to know and love her.

I love her heritage, her history, her people, her humour, her WARM beer; - even DippyHippy!

She is the most civilised of the civilised, and has taken enlightenment wherever she has colonised. From where else the Magna Carta, and Robin Hood?

She was the cradle of many great intellectual giants of the past and began the Industrial Revolution.

Many of the arts were nurtured in her bosum - "Friends, Romans, Countrymen ..." came from her.

Great empires have come and gone throughout history - so has Queen Victoria and The Iron Lady.

But I sincerely believe that "Britain never ever ever shall be slaves." and that her enduring benevolent influence shall continue for a long time yet.

God Save the Queen!

[Faulkner]

God Save the Queen!

"She ain't no human bean!"

[MikeJ]

Ah, England, dear England.....

OK, in no particular order:

the "Great" in Britain is geographical, not political. It means 'big Britain'. Brittany in France is 'little Britain'. So there's no need to drop it.

Chook: don't do down Oz either, I had a chance to spend a month over there and loved it. The attitude of the people is so "can do" and friendly, so, so different to the miserable jobsworths that inhabit this sceptred isle. I think that's to do with still being a young country, and so many people having gone there for a "fresh start" (enforced or otherwise). ;)

The USA: every parent has one child which causes deep, deep shame and embarrassment...... (why can't you be more like your sisters Australia and Canada?)

The govt: devious bunch of ......., but that's what the ballot box is for. If you don't vote you get what you deserve, sorry, no pity or symapthy for non-voters. Something else Oz got right IMHO. Then if you don't like any of them, they'll know, and not just call you apathetic.

Ever stand for office yourself? Why not? Easier to say "they" aren't running society properly. Sounds like you just let them.

I spent ten years living abroad, and coming back was bit of a shock, loads of red tape and the misery everywhere. But things still happen, you just have to drag your nose out of the rat race, the TV-culture, stop believing everything you're told, and go look for the interesting stuff. The media has gone to the dogs in the past ten years.

But the good points: still (amazingly) the most cosmopolitan and tolerant society I've seen; there is still room for individuals, eccentrics and geniuses to thrive; beautiful diverse landscape; intellectual, religious and political freedom; a lot of stuff we take for granted.

Are we wealthy? If you mean "standard of living" then yes, very wealthy, on a global scale. But it's badly distributed, and inappropriately spent.

Compared to USA, I think the crime rates are more relevant than number of swimming pools. England's most dangerous city (murder rate) is hundreds of times safer than America's safest.

I find it worrying that a country in which fewer than one in five even have a passport and barely two hundred years of history behind it, thinks it understands the rest of the world enough to be it's "policeman".

But here's a good one I heard about the transatlantic divide:

Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way
Americans think a hundred years is a long time

[DippyHippy]

Well, a hundred years ago we had quite a substantial empire but I wouldn't have said it was a world leader as such, more a world dominator. Many nations have their day in the sun, for example Italy during the Roman times, Egypt during the reign of the Pharoahs, etc and that was England's. It's nothing like that now.

I don't vote because I've yet to meet an honest politician and I agree with what Douglas Adams wrote (in jest?) in the Hitch Hiker's Guide: No one who desires power should ever be allowed to have it.

If they desire to change the ways things are for the better, then that's something worth fighting and voting for but bitter experience has shown that many politicians will put on their idealistic face and quickly lose it again once they're in power.

Things might be different in Australia - I hope so - but trust me, none of the politicians here are worth the paper the election posters are printed on. I often row with my Aussie friend in Melbourne over politics but since I've never been to Oz, I don't know what your guys are like. If the politicians here were trustworthy, I'd certainly introduce compulsory voting but they're not. I'm not apathetic - I *do* care, which is exactly why I don't vote because I'm not going to vote for some idiot I don't believe in simply because I have to vote for *someone* by law.

I'll tell you what I can't see the logic of: voting for Party / Person A without caring about their policies, just to stop Party / Person B from getting in.

Okay, I guess everyone will be saying I should stand myself but although I have the idealism, I don't have the drive, confidence, knowledge, ambition or the thick skin for it. Maybe in another 30 years or so... But if I ever met anyone who did and who wanted to run, then I would support them wholeheartedly. Actually Mike - do you want to run? If I like your policies, I'd support you :)

Over here, the politicians will tell you whatever you want to hear to get into power and once they're there, they'll do and say whatever it takes to *stay* in power. Whether this only applies to England or not, I don't know, but that how it is here. Tony Blair is a classic example giving the promises he's made on health and education - and look at the Hutton enquiry... the government blameless and the BBC allegedly doing some sexing up of their own. Whitewash, anyone?

I was never really a fan of Diana... I think she got in over her head and although nobody should have been hounded like she was (and God knows that would get to anyone), towards the end she used the press as much as they used her. All that coy "I want to be the queen of people's hearts" didn't wash with me!

[Faulkner]

Dips, you got it in one, pal. And no, it's no different down here in the "Lucky Country". We've got the "2-party" DEMOCRATIC system, just like everywhere else...LIBERAL/LABOR...TORIES/LABOR...REPUBLICAN/DEMOCRATIC...etc etc... Oh me oh my, what wonderful CHOICE i have as a VOTER in a DEMOCRATIC country!!! GOD BLESS THE "FREE" WORLD!!!!

No one who desires power should ever be allowed to have it.


One of the best quotes I've heard lately.

[jimmy]

I can't believe nobody acknowledged England's greatest gift to the world.........

THE BEATLES......and a hundred other great Rock and Roll groups!!!!!!!!!! "Spot of tea, anyone?"

[DippyHippy]

LOL!!! I don't mind the Beatles but I wouldn't call myself a fan... I don't know if they deserved all the fame and attention they got. They were all very talented people of course but McCartney and Lennon were the driving force behind it all. A case of two talented people coming together at the right place and at the right time to create something quite incredible :)

[jimmy]

Dip, Lennon and McCartney were certainly a great writing team, but all four were the band and of course Harrison was by far the best musician, at least in the beginning.
You had to be there to experience that era, it was doors busting open and a great new way to express oneself in music!,...for some of us! ;)

[Faulkner]

Don't get me started on music, Fraser will have to close this down! :P I HATE the BEATLES! Let's talk about REAL music...'60s ROLLING STONES...with Brian Jones on guitar..."Fortune Teller"...whatta song!!!

[MikeJ]

Dippy, Faulkner: Douglas Adams definitely got it right, that's one of my faves....

.... but for compulsory voting, I wasn't proposing to make you "vote for someone", just show up and be counted - I also demand a "None of the above" option on the ballot paper as an essential part of the exercise! I hate the bipartisan/first-past-the-post system with a vengeance, it does NOT deliver democracy in any real sense, just variations around the theme of "Dumb and dumber".

I think in the UK, some of the (currently) smaller parties would be worthwhile, but they'll never get the votes under current practice, alas.

Whilst I was out of the UK, I lived in a place small enough to not need political parties - every member of parliament was elected individually. Sure, you get "voting blocs" in the House, but you don't get spin-doctors, whips, and Ministers too s***-scared for their careers to face up to the PM. It wasn't perfect, but it made me realise just how sleazy the whole British system has become - I hate to say it, but it has become very "Presidential" like the USA. (To US readers: sorry, I have nothing against Americans, just the behaviour of your govt.)

As for Aussie politics, I know very little, except that you can keep John Howard at that end of the globe, thank you very much ;)

Oh, and for the BIG ISSUE ... Stones or Beatles???

SEX PISTOLS!!

[jimmy]

Hey Faulkner,
The Stones aren't even worthy to roadie for the Beatles. :P

[Graceless]

Actually, the two party system isn't "everywhere", and not even in all the countries you specified. Those just happen to be the well known and established parties. Democracy does not indicate this voting system, nor does this party system indicate democracy.

[DippyHippy]

Mike, re "none of the above" - definitely!! If "none of the above" were a party, they'd win by a landslide. Actually, I should probably look into the smaller parties more, as the chances are there's something there I agree in.

As for music... all I can say is "God save the Queen... the facist regime!!"

That was actually the No.1 best selling single in the UK during the week of the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977... but, for one week only, the charts were doctored as sales from some of the leading record stores were discounted (for reasons not adequately explained)

The official No.1 Single? Cliff Richard. Ahhhh... nice.

[Chook]

Quote degeneration:
"I'm Scottish... 'nuff said!"
Be proud, lad! The Scottish are the best fighters in the world!
Remember Coludden - Bonny Prince Charlie's boys, dead tired from days of marching and suffering from lack of food, nearly tossed the fresh British troops here.
My old man said Scottish fighters, German Officers and American equipment would be invincible!

Quote Faulkner:
"Is Prince Charles a homosexual? Did he kill Lady Di??"
In the "Olde Days" British Royalty were spared the press; and it's a shame that today the press can crucify them and get away with it. Let's face it - the whole Royal pageantry Thing is a gigantic revenue-producing spectacle - but wonderful. And, to me, the value of British Royalty is the stability it gives the leadership of the country. The Queen is a Super Mum; and I'll go along with that. (Not that I think that she was actually a good mum - all her kids are pretty debauched, if you ask me, but I would rather not know but rather look up to them. Like not wanting to know your daughter "did it" last night.)

Quote Dan Luna:
"If we could vote between being in the European Union and the United States, I would go for the US."
Fair enough - but you must have little interest in history and culture (no criticism Dan).

Quote MikeJ:
"The attitude of the (Australian) people is so "can do" and friendly."
Will Mike, had you known them 20 years before your visit you would have been more impressed. Two blokes would be digging a trench and they'd race each other to see who could finish first. Unfortunately that's not how it is today. Out beaut climate encourages outdoor sports so we are pretty sports-mad - but many of the non-sports-people are overweight, like in the USA. Yes - we are very friendly and lay-back and, generally help anyone, but "call a spade a spade".

"I hate the bipartisan/first-past-the-post system with a vengeance, it does NOT deliver democracy in any real sense, just variations around the theme of "Dumb and dumber". "
What system would you propose Mike? You can't MAKE the dumb smarter if they just won't be informed. Remember the old saying - "The people get the government they deserve." Never a truer saying!

"As for Aussie politics, I know very little, except that you can keep John Howard at that end of the globe, thank you very much ."
Who would you prefer - Mickey Mouse? (Don't answer that!)

Quote DippyHippy (Faulkner's "Dipstick" LOL):
"I don't vote because I've yet to meet an honest politician."
Hey Dippy - put yourself up for office, impress the people with your honesty, and "Do something for your country …, not …"

"Okay, I guess everyone will be saying I should stand myself but although I have the idealism, I don't have the drive, confidence, knowledge, ambition or the thick skin for it."
BS! Do it man! DO IT!

"many politicians will put on their idealistic face and quickly lose it again once they're in power."
Same thing happens, especially, in Africa. The blacks have a saying - "The Chair changes the man."

[damienpaul]

Well I am an Aussie with very close Scottish, Irish and Philipino ties, I love the British Isles - especially their shows - the Bill, the Goodies, Monty Python - awesome stuff.

Every Christmas we sing ' Scotland the Brave' and 'God Save the Queen'

I love all those music bands mentioned, and get this, i am 27 years old and love the Beatles!!! then again i love Midnight oil and Elvis, and Limp Bizket....anyways...

I have always planned to go over and teach there just to be able to explore my own heritage.

[Chook]

You wouldn't regret it Alice.

Our City Orchestra Conductor has gone over to Brit. for a year and we are getting some fantastic E-mails - ha! - mostly about the freezing weather there now , but they LOVE it just the same. Of course going from Summer here to Winter there was quite a shock.

[madaboutyou]

thanks for all your posts and I agree with most of them. However, the thing about their being less crime in this country maybe true, but when their is a crime no one gets punished. Take the other day for example: An illegel immigrant, driving without a licence or tax ran over a ten year old boy and killed him. What did he get: less than two years in prison. Unbielievable.

[Tiny]

This is the real world... accpet it :(
More farms mean more foods
More cities means more violences

[DippyHippy]

England certainly has a lot of culture and history but so does every other country in Europe. I go down to London a lot because it's only about 45 minutes on the train - I love Westminster. The architecture and history is amazing.

I don't think it's a fair comment to say that someone doesn't have an interest in culture simply because they're choosing the US over Europe. That's a pretty huge assumption and there are many many reasons as to why someone would choose one country over another to live.

Both Australia and America, although considered to be (by some) quite "young" countries, both have a considerable amount of culture and history themselves. They might not have kings and queens, but when you consider the cultural heritage of the indigenous people coupled with the individual histories and cultures of the many towns and cities, there's literally a whole new world waiting to be explored there.

Did Charles kill Di? I highly doubt it... as for his sexual preferences, who knows, that's his business!

BTW, the press have got something of a gag order imposed on them when it comes to royalty... there are some royal stories that don't get full coverage or which are partly covered up whereas in the US, you tend to find more details and/or rumours being leaked and reported.

[Chook]

Quote Dippy:
"I don't think it's a fair comment to say that someone doesn't have an interest in culture simply because they're choosing the US over Europe. "

Fair-enough response.

Wih respect - I've never really had a yearning to visit the US because, in a way, it is too close to Australia for my liking.

I mean - where are the ancient castles and cathedrals, Gothic and Baroque architecture, the smell of History, the land of Kingdoms and kaleidiescope of changing empires in either Australia or America.

ANyone been to Durnstein, on the Danube, in Austria - just out of Vienna. THAT'S history!

[damienpaul]

Although, there are no castles, I would contend that 2 places that I have visited/worked in have a very rich culture:

Lightning Ridge - home of the Black Opal in northern New South Wales - something like 50+ nationalities there, but, by far the most profound is where i am now:

Alice Springs , right in the middle of Australia - here there are at least 3 traditional caretakers - Aranda, Pitjinjara and Walpiri; but also there is a confluence of these people, the Australians who have come from all over the country, Canadians, Americans, Japanese, Indian, Sri Lankan, Iranian, the list goes on - all the cultures have kinda merged to a degree here - I mean we celebrate the 4th of July just after we have 'Cracker Night' - the celebration of self government in the Northern Territory. Last week out of curiousity, I counted the separate flags we have in town, I counted 33 nationalities.

Each culture has left their mark, adding to what was already here, making a new 'castle' with many 1000's of hands

[Chook]

Quote Alice (aka Damienpaul):
"Lightning Ridge - home of the Black Opal in northern New South Wales - something like 50+ nationalities there, ..."

I would agree that Lightning Ridge is unique, probably in the world. Why? Because there are about 500 official addresses there, but 5,000 live there (something like that!)

If you arrive in Lightning Springs and walk down the street in a suit everybody disappears - they think you are the Tax Man. Why do they disappear? Because it is an Opal-mining town and there would be more millionaires walking around in black singlets, shorts and thongs - unshaven - than anywhere else in the world.

Go out into the surrounding mining areas and there are mining-holes everywhere - and they reckon that something like every tenth hole has a body down it -"accidentally" fallen in but never found. :ph34r:

Lightning Ridge - unique alright! Bloody miles from anywhere; and all you've got around it are kangaroos and emus.

Forgive me Alice - but I know LR pretty well. REAL Australian outback. I must say that there are some real characters living there if you are into that sort of thing.

[damienpaul]

I have a fond place for Lightning ridge cause when I was working at a mates mine, we found a few opals - he let me keep a couple (3 still in my possesion) 2 were sold for $12000....but sheesh did i ever feel funny walking around with a bundle of $50 notes.

But getting back to england, I actually have more friends there than in the place where i grew up (Melbourne). My dad has fond memories of the journey from Edinburgh to London, on their way to board a ship to emigrate to Australia in 1955 - he still remembers the countryside - even though he has never returned there.

[madaboutyou]

Right, the reason I brought up this subject in the first place is because a friend of mine got his hands on a bit of cash and the first thing he wanted to do was to move to the U.S- Why? He said that he felt they had a better way of life other there, more jobs, more chance of a better future, and mainly he wouldn't have to travel so far to the nearest fast food restaurant. This made me raise an eye-brow.
Before then I always thought that we was just as rich, just as good as them.
I think I have some answers.
England is a small country. The U.S is a big country. That's why america has such things as the sapce program and blows up miles of land on any hollywood movie-they can afford to and we can't. The land we do have has to be used responsibly. Also having a small country makes such things as the battle of britain seem even more special because we was fighting with few men against a large country with a lot of men. Not only that, one member mensioned more people have swimming pools in Maerica then we do over here- well their are less people over here. I think if you done the maths, people-swimming pools ratio would equal out, as with cars, housing, fast food chains, computers, planes etc.
The other side to it is the weather. It's poor, lets face it. If this was known as the sunny isles, people would think more of us, just like they do of australia. The thing that gets me down most is waking up and watching the rain running down my window.
Lastly we have different attitudes than ither countries. The most of us don't want a space program- waste of money and land.

[Faulkner]

England had its hey-day with SEX PISTOLS. Nowadays its just one big NIM-BIN!!! Bloody ferals everywhere!!! England, America, yes, even AUSTRALIA - they might as well be one big country!!! Why doesn't your friend think about moving somewhere different?...like, for instance, TASMANIA???

I think one reason why the rest of the world think highly of Australia is that our accent isn't ANNOYING like Yank-english, or Pommy-english...!? Ha ha ha... And we certainly don't speak French down here!!!

Australia "the sunny isles"??? Sheesh, move down to Melbourne, the weather here is SCHIZOPHRENIC!

YANKS: Where is "Married With Children"??
POMS: Where is "The Benny Hill Show"???

[Chook]

QUOTE Madaboutyou:
"The thing that gets me down most is waking up and watching the rain running down my window."

In Australia you'd be outside stuffing around; in Great Britain you are inside THINKING - note the intellectuals and great universities there of the past and present.

"The land we do have has to be used responsibly."
This applies to Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania now - a big issue!

"Also having a small country makes such things as the Battle of Britain seem even more special because we were fighting with few men against a large country with a lot of men."

.... "We will fight them on the beaches ..... etc. We will NEVER give in!"
What immortal words from a great man. This gutsy attitude is the "Great" in Britain - not her empire.

"Lastly we have different attitudes than other countries. The most of us don't want a space program- waste of money and land."

Mate - within the Editorial of The Times, received yesterday, there were ten (10) Letters to the Editor - one each from South Africa, New Zealand, The Netherlands and Australia, and six from the USA.

Of the ten letters only two were FOR a Space Program - mostly because of cost. So the UK is not the only nation against this program.

Isn't it human nature - "Distant fields are greener."

[Josh]

Certainly looks, Chook, like you're down on Australia. Perhaps you should head over and live in sunny old England?

The fact that some of England's universities have been around for that many more years than Australian universities should mean they have more tradition and more people of note. But, you only have to look at the wolrd wide standing of aussie universities (that haven't been around nearly as long) such as Uni of Melbourne and UNSW to know that we don't just sit out in the sun and "stuff around outside".

Plus ... we don't always go outside. Sometimes it's just too damn hot!! Like today. 41 degC!!

[Weaselbunny]

Everywhere has its pros and cons. 41 degrees.... I can't even concieve of how uncomfortable that would be.

In Britain we moan about the weather because it's grey or murky or foggy... but at least we neither freeze nor bake when we step out the house (not to the extreme anyhow).

As for politics, I'm with Doug Adams (and Plato!) those fit for leadership are the ones who don't want to be leaders. But the thing with politics is that there is no system that works, human nature always gets in the way.

The way I see it is you make the best of where you are and you go where the wind blows you. I'm originally from the town that came number one in a British book called 'Crap Towns' but I'm very fond of the place none the less. A place is what YOU make it.

As for crime rates, America may have a higher murder and gun crime rate, but we have more in the way of muggings, burgleries and stuff like that (if you believe statistics).

Beatles, Stones, Pistols... love them all. Cliff Richard... no thank you. Not only did he get number one unfairly over the Pistols, but I was led to believe that a few years ago Iron Maiden were the Christmas Number one, but as it wasn't fitting to play Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter on BBc1 on Xmas day, they made Mistletoe and Wine number one instead. Grrr Twix! :angry:

How does he sleep?

[Tiny]

As for crime rates, America may have a higher murder and gun crime rate, but we have more in the way of muggings, burgleries and stuff like that (if you believe statistics).

You are saying the truth out :lol:

[Chook]

I'm not down on Australia, Josh. I think its the best country in the world to live - but not the most interesting. (Nah! I've lived in "sunny old England" - remember a time when it was so bloody foggy you couldn't see the time on your watch if you stretched your hand out.)

Weaselbunny comes from "Crap Town"! :D :D :D
Should suit Faulkner if he goes over :P .

[Weaselbunny]

It's actually called Hull!

As for fog, we only have fog when it isn't raining!

[Chook]

HULL - The bottom of the Ship of State.

Don't think I've ever been there. What's it like, really, Weaselbunny?

[DippyHippy]

LOL Weasel - I was amazed that my town, Luton, wasn't in the top ten (it's not in the book at all) and that nearby St Albans, which I'd always quite liked and had considered quite posh, came in at No.50

RE crime - I wouldn't put any credence in any crime statistics because the one (BIG) X factor is the number of crimes that go UNreported.

At the end of the day, where someone wants to live is very much a matter of personal choice. Not everyone is going to like America and even those of us who do will like it for different reasons. Just because Person A doesn't like or understand Person B's choice of residence, doesn't invalidate their choice. It's as individual as your choice in music, films or books. I don't like horror, I like sci-fi, but sci-fi isn't any better or worse than horror, it's just different.

[madaboutyou]

Weaselbunny I think hull is a great place, well the hummer bridge anyway. That's really does make me fell proud to be British, British engineering and skill at it's finest. I walked across it just two days ago. I don't actually live in hull; I was just visiting my brother who is at Hull University.
I think the reason it came top in the book was because it has the biggest council estate in Britain, and I don't know is you are aware but it's got a really funny smell to it- perhaps it something people get used to after a while.
P.s. Pity the best thing about the city, is the thing you have to use to leave the city.

[Weaselbunny]

Ah... what can you say about Hull? :rolleyes:

The writer of Crap Towns said basically that it smell of death! :huh:

That, technically is inaccurate, it all depends what part of the city you're in. The avenues smell of bad sewers, around the industrial area it smells of chocolate factory (gross if you're not used to it, quite pleasant if you are!) And if you can smell fish down Hessle Road it means it's going to rain!

It's a great place, loads of history. But it looks different to other city centres because many of its beautiful old buildings were bombed to $4!T during WW2, so there are a lot of 60's concrete monstrosities.

I love Hull, the night-life is great, the people are friendly and salt of the earth, you can get on a bus and chat to the stranger next to you, who won't try to edge away thinking you're a hatchet killer just for talking to them!

Cheap living, cheap booze, what more can you ask.

Last I heard, Bransholme (in Hull) was the biggest council estate in Europe, don't know if that's true, but we do have many other estates also, more than you can shake a stick at (but keep a tight hold of your stick cos it might get nicked). :ph34r:

Having said that, I'm currently living in Doncaster and the other night the chap who lived six doors down from me got murdered in his home. :unsure:

Maybe it's just me lowering the tone of these places! :P You best pray I don't move near any of you if that's the case. ;)

Hull gets a bad rap, but everyone I've met from different towns in Britain has had mainly nice things to say about it. Now that I've moved away I have this strange feeling of pride about the place.

The Humber Bridge is great, it's the hottest venue for the local suicides! As for the Humber Estuary, you don't want to go in there unless you don't mind coming out with webbed feet!

The best thing about Hull is the accent.

Toad in the hole (Yorkshire pudding with sausages baked in it) = Terd in the erl
Popular soft drink = Kerka curler
Leader of the Catholic faith = The Perp

I could go on and on. Fortunately I grew up just outside Hull and escaped the accent! :P