Englishness

I like it here. I like Irish people and I like Ireland. Sure, like every country it has its quirks, its things that are wrong (I don’t know enough about the Irish economy or politics or any of the other serious issues to comment (and I wouldn’t be so forward anyway – I’m more light entertainment – think of me as a kind of Bruce Forsyth of the blogging world) and stuff that’s downright silly (like why do they only sell school clothes in the summer holidays? Don’t Irish children rip their trousers in November?) but I think 73man hit it on the head in his comment about Irish miles versus English miles. The only difference is the perception about why it is important to measure things ‘properly’.

I miss my English mates, but our new Irish friends are kind, thoughtful and full of fun too, and it doesn’t matter that we’ve only known them five minutes. An evening in with them has my sides aching and lasts until 4am. People talk to you at the bar and wave when they pass you in the village, even if you’re not really sure that you actually know them. I was horrified when back in England, to find that I snorted rudely to myself when some snooty woman in the queue in Tesco ignored my cheery attempt at conversation. ‘Pah’. I thought. ‘Stuck up English cow’. And then immediately thought ‘oops’ when I realised what I’d done. But think about it, there’s something typically English about that little scenario. Yes, she probably had a million and one things to do, she was probably planning what precocious little Barolo to have with her Pasta Alfredo or mentally doing spreadsheets, I don’t know. My point (and yes, I’m getting to it) is that we could all do with learning a little from our friends here across the water: she could have taken a couple of minutes out of her rush rush hurry hurry mental gymnastics to wind down with some friendly conversation. I mean, us Brits are probably fairly efficient, but why are we all so far up our own backsides?

And no, I’m not going to turn into one of those irritating twats that have been here for five minutes and then start affecting a mock Irish accent (Lord knows, the one on the Simpsons Movie was bad enough), pretending to understand GAA and over-pronouncing Taoiseach. Apparently there’s too many of us in the country already. Oh, and I also know that I live in a rural area and maybe people aren’t quite so accommodating in Dublin. I have a sneaking suspicion that they are, though. Maybe we could all do with learning a little from each other. All together now: ‘nice to see you, to see you…nice’.

No Responses to “Englishness”

1. 73man says:

   August 11, 2007 at 12:03 pm

   Aaah, now don’t be too hard on yourself….”Brits are probably fairly efficient, but why are we all so far up our own backsides” Ah sher arent ya grand!
2. englishmuminireland says:

   August 11, 2007 at 1:49 pm

   Ah shur it’ll do me good te be doin dat Oirish ting and pokin fun at meself, loik….deadly (I would note here that my Irish accent is significantly better in type than in person.)