I love being BRIT-ish!

With the Winter Olympics upon us, as with the 2012 games, I have begun to once again feel very patriotic, and it got me thinking about what it is I love about being British. So I have compiled a list complete with our many isms and schisms that make us British. Here's a list of my likes and gripes;

LIKE: Our culinary innovation makes us responsible for one of the most famous dishes in the world- Fish 'n' Chips (no-one says 'and'). Traditionally eaten on a Friday, but tastes just as good on any weekday or Saturday afternoon- hold the mushy peas!

LOATHE: Our obsession with the weather, talking about it, speculating about it, complaining about it, downloading apps to track it. Moaning about the weather is the number 1 'go to' subject if you are ever stuck in any of the following awkward situations with a stranger; in a lift, in a slow moving queue, beside a slow boiling kettle in a place of work, or stuck on London Transport- although here you can flitter between complaining about the weather and the transport system.

LIKE: Britain is steeped in such rich culture and history, with our museums, cathedrals, castles, towers and famous bridges, not to mention art galleries, theatres and architectural landmarks. 

LOATHE: It is a well-known fact that Brits when abroad like to holiday under the illusion that they have not really left the UK, and therefore insist on a diet of English breakfasts, pie and mash and chips. Finding a British watering hole with 'good beer', where we can watch Match of the Day and X Factor is top of the itinerary. And it is unheard of to try and learn a few pleasantries in the native speaking tongue to get by, but instead we insist on speaking in slower English (because of course that's the only reason you're not being understood by someone who doesn't speak English- the speed!) and by way of compromise we do so with our 'generic' foreign accent, no matter where we are in the world.

LIKE: Britain is home to one of the Fashion Capitals of the world- London! Goodness only knows why Posh Spice had to go all the way around the world to find that out?!

LOATHE: The unbearable pressure to do 'something nice' on the bank holiday, even if there are predicted snowstorms and motorway closures, and anything short of running a marathon, landscaping the local playground, abseiling down the London Eye or swimming the English channel for The Guinness Book of Records is deemed an utter waste of a bank holiday. So the fact that you re-organised the bookcase, or finally clocked Grand Theft Auto should be 're-versioned' before you attend the morning meeting on Tuesday!

LIKE: I love the British resilience and commitment, best demonstrated by us staying at the seaside and 'sun-bathing' for 8 hours in celebration of the hottest day of the year so far, even if that means it is only 10 degrees with short spells of sunshine, heavy winds and light rain. Without fail, if we've booked a coach, you betcha we will be there on that stoney beach we could have sworn was sandy (but then remember that was Margate- we always forget the sandy beach is Margate! doh!) playing rounders down-wind and eating cold sandwiches with cold fingertips, whilst wrapped up in picnic blankets, 'making the most of it!' 
Cup half full kinda people- that's us Brits! 

LOATHE: Paying taxes! This is not a party political broadcast, but it does feel like nowadays there are taxes for everything to buy, to sell, to live, to drive, what next? That was a rhetorical question Prime Minister if you're reading this, which I'm sure you are!

LIKES. We are pioneers in not just fashion, but also music, creators of sounds like garage, funky house and grime- which cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world! 

And finally I received a mixed response to this one; The Royal Family! With some saying that the Monarchy is not relevant or necessary as part of British culture, and others feeling very patriotic when it comes to our royals. I for one could only imagine how dull it would be without the likes of Wills, Kate and Harry. Visit my instagram page to see a pic of Prince Charles boogying with The Three Degrees- priceless!