[quote=Acrylic-bob;955205
Pah! Europeans, they are beyond understanding.
But I think de Gaulle showed that knew us better than anyone might have guessed when he opined that, if it came to a choice between the continent and the open sea, Britian would, in the end, always choose the sea.
Well, they and we have made our bed, now we must lie in it. I have no doubt that our bed will be uncomfortable for a while but at least we won't have anyone nicking all the blankets and blaming it on us.[/quote]
I have given up trying to understand them - (the Italians at least) after 25 years here. They just have a different mentality and have never been able to comprehend the meaning of the saying "you can't have your cake and eat it". British "fair-play " is an alien concept - if you can get away with then it's "fair game" that's the way of thinking over here!
Britain's sea-faring legacy will stand it good stead for the future - the country has weathered many storms through the ages. No doubt this will blow itself out eventually one way or another.
"You make your bed and then you have to lie in it" was a favourite saying of my Grand-mother's, it's of typical of the stoical British nature. A while back though, a friend did say to me "You could always change bed" -must admit it was something i'd never thought of....
