There are many aspects of Britishness and Englishness and Life On The Isle which I love and embrace with all my heart. But the British sea is not one of them
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You survived Glastonbury, that's more impressiverainsingerJuly 4 2008, 17:49:55 UTC
Oooh, is Clacton meant to be dire? I'd never heard of it before.
Not that my arteries are averse to clogging - chessecake they embrace - but fish and chips... I don't know. Maybe if they came with mayonnaise. Do you eat it with vineagar? If so, what does vineagar add to it?
Re: You survived Glastonbury, that's more impressivemeepettemuJuly 4 2008, 17:58:35 UTC
I'm not sure if it's *meant* to be dire, but certainly, in my part of the world (30 miles from Clacton), pretty much ANYWHERE is better than Clacton *grins*.
I do eat it with vinegar. it adds a certain.. piquantness (read, flavour), to the chips. And mayonnaise.
For me, the English seaside is as comforting as the smell of freshly cut grass, and for the same reason: it reminds me of pure happiness I had as a toddler when I lived with my grandparents. The beach with its bell-wearing donkeys, icecreams and 10p ride on animals was a fascinating riot of colour and activity. The sea itself was not relevant, as I recall.
I like cheap seaside towns for the kitch value now. There is something naughty about very hot chips and vinegar in the sea air. But I will always be a rockpool fiend and offer no defence. :)
Ha! In Nuneaton, there was a chip shop down the street aways from Meep's house and I insisted on having chicken and chips on a parchment paper (I'm allergic to seafood). I thought I was being so English! The portions were so big, I had half that night and the other half for breakfast/lunch/something the next day. My arteries surely screamed in horror, but then again I have had plenty a Big Mac in my time.
I've always wanted to go to Brighton. I thought George IV designed the pavilion there after the Moors.
I don't know how Meep put up with me. I hit England determined to have tea and scones, and chips in a newspaper, like all the English do, right? Right?
The Pavilion was designed as George's bachelor pad, and it is inspired by 'the Orient'. There is tonnes of wood - oak, pine, whatever, carved to look like bamboo, rich colours, snakes and dragons in the carpet patterns, wallpaper, lights and general furnishings.
You can get a good feel for it from the photos here
The British seaside sums up something quintessential about being British ... something to do with the attitude that makes us look back on World War II with rose-tinted nostalgia and that made us, as a nation, cleave to the notion of rationing and making-do with frankly unholy glee.
Making-do is culturally ingrained in us, and places us, as a race, slightly at odds with modern life and its "land of plenty" approach. The British are happiest when faced with slightly crap cuisine which, while not actively poisonous, requires a certain amount of imagination if it's to be enjoyed. We like cars that are slightly rickety. We revel in home-made, slightly wonky shelves, taps that don't quite turn off (or on), heating that ... doesn't. We like queueing for inept service that we can then complain about to other Brits who understand our complaint because they have also queued for inept service. We like weather that's specifically designed to undermine our social arrangements. We like our tube stations to close at precisely the same time
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I like fish and chips with mushy peas and salt and vinegar, I'm not happy though if the batter is soggy, it has to be crispy as that takes away the artery clogging feeling slightly. I like the British seaside too but I've only ever been to Brighton on the South Coast, my experience is mostly Yorkshire seaside and the horror that is Blackpool. I very rarely go in the sea though, that's certainly not so appealing!
I'm holidaying in the UK this year but the Lake District, not the seaside, I'm not a sun worshiper and am quite happy with grey summers.
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You went to Clacton. I am surprised you lived through the experience!
Fish and chips, i have to admit, i love. I think it's BECAUSE of the grease, and the fact that my arteries know exactly what clogging they're getting!
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Not that my arteries are averse to clogging - chessecake they embrace - but fish and chips... I don't know. Maybe if they came with mayonnaise. Do you eat it with vineagar? If so, what does vineagar add to it?
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I do eat it with vinegar. it adds a certain.. piquantness (read, flavour), to the chips. And mayonnaise.
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I like cheap seaside towns for the kitch value now. There is something naughty about very hot chips and vinegar in the sea air. But I will always be a rockpool fiend and offer no defence. :)
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I've always wanted to go to Brighton. I thought George IV designed the pavilion there after the Moors.
I don't know how Meep put up with me. I hit England determined to have tea and scones, and chips in a newspaper, like all the English do, right? Right?
gui
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You can get a good feel for it from the photos here
It's fab. As is all of Brighton and Hove
[/biased] heh.
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Making-do is culturally ingrained in us, and places us, as a race, slightly at odds with modern life and its "land of plenty" approach. The British are happiest when faced with slightly crap cuisine which, while not actively poisonous, requires a certain amount of imagination if it's to be enjoyed. We like cars that are slightly rickety. We revel in home-made, slightly wonky shelves, taps that don't quite turn off (or on), heating that ... doesn't. We like queueing for inept service that we can then complain about to other Brits who understand our complaint because they have also queued for inept service. We like weather that's specifically designed to undermine our social arrangements. We like our tube stations to close at precisely the same time ( ... )
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I'm holidaying in the UK this year but the Lake District, not the seaside, I'm not a sun worshiper and am quite happy with grey summers.
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