British snow

One of those quintessentially British things is the ability to complain about the weather no matter what the weather is. If it’s raining it’s too wet, if it hasn’t rained in a while it’s far too dry, when the sun’s out it’s sweltering hot and when it’s cloudy we just wish the sun would come out. But there is nothing, absolutely nothing, we love moaning about weather-wise more than snow.

This evening I happened to find myself out on the snowy streets of Brighton. Here is a conversation overheard between two guys leaving a house:

Guy 1: Well this is shit.

Guy 2: Don’t say that, it’s quite nice. Look at it.

Guy 1: Yeah but it’ll look horrible tomorrow.

Guy 2: It’s beautiful now though.

Guy 1: Yeah but think what it’ll look like tomorrow, it’ll be really horrible.

Guy 2: Maybe, but just appreciate it for what it is now. Live in the moment.

See what I mean? The Great British, always expecting the worst and never enjoying things for what they are in the moment.

Here’s a song about snow.

Britishness

Recently on Cerys Matthews’ show on Radio 6 the topic of what makes you British was being discussed, and so I got to thinking on this topic and here are a few things I thought:

It is so British to…

Complain about the weather no matter what the weather, complain full stop. Never look on the bright side of life. Refuse to raise your hands when clapping and only lightly tap them together at the end of something you didn’t enjoy, instead of just walking out. Apologise to someone who walked into you. Apologise all the time for no apparent reason. Not accept a compliment. Be quietly stubborn. Always respond that you’re okay when asked even if you totally aren’t. Subdue all emotion.

It is so British to frown upon excessive displays of emotion. Perhaps if we jumped and screamed and hugged, kissed, yelled at, cried, screamed in the street every so often we wouldn’t have so many mental issues and problems of emotional disengagement. Or, you know, maybe we’d be arrested.

I realise this list makes it seem everything about being British is terrible. It isn’t, we also make a great Victoria sponge.