The late, great Sean Lock was a genius and a real ambassador of true Brit humour. He is sadly missed. https://youtu.be/-m054hsCFr8?si=y-1voIuYmcKk7h9z

“All things English” - What are the common attitudes and behavioural traits that meld together to produce an Englishman or English woman. When you start contemplating that it produces another question - Blimey, how long have you got? That founding objective for this site certainly guarantees an endless umbrella for comment and debate. So while the state of play is at the “genesis” stage, I though I would seize the initiative and disturb the tranquillity of this empty pool by jumping right in. That in itself is a demonstration of an English characteristic. Namely, get in there before anyone else does! So where do we start? For me, and apparently at the top of the list of many a foreign [not English] Johnny or Janet, is our love of queueing. Why is it that, when resources are being distributed or public transport is being used the English, usually without direction, form themselves into an orderly line? For me, it speaks of another characteristic, “fair play”, but it took a Russian born immigrant Konstantin Kisin speaking recently on YouTube to remind me how much more is encapsulated in queueing. He used a one word definition, and that was “civilisation”. The more I thought about it, the more my head started nodding. In this seemly simple action is contained so many other bits of Englishness. There is fairness and equality. Whether or not you are the biggest or the strongest or of exalted social standing, you wait your turn. Within that, allowances are made for those with obvious difficulties like infirmity or pregnancy. That consideration leads on to cooperation. Not only are the vulnerable considered but the order of the queue is defended. Just try and jump a queue to hear a crescendo of tut-tutting. There is silent order and a coming together to achieve mutual benefit. Anything else just “isn't cricket”. Now cricket – that's a subject for another day. Fingers are showing signs of fatigue. That's all for now. Nurse, the screens!

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The smallest of errors can make the largest misunderstandings.

Good morning and welcome to the world of increasing senility. As I struggle to pull my socks on, I try to remember just when it was my knee joints started to crack. Going into the kitchen I boil a kettle to make a cup of tea and then wonder why it is I'm trying to put, not just the milk back in the fridge, but also the electric kettle, and puzzle for a moment as to why it doesn't fit. Ain't live grand! Finally, realising the futility of my efforts, I turn on the TV to find what I knew I would. Today's version of Armageddon accompanied by forecasts of economic implosion. It crosses what's left of my mind, that the nightmare I had woken from this particular morning, which featured zombies working in cornish tin mines was preferable. Strange that! Unfortunately I will have to venture out to the supermarket today as my supply of pork pies is running low. The view from the front window is not too encouraging - damp and dank. Let's hope the car starts. She's getting on a bit, like me, and the cold and the damp get to her as well. Now, what's that that has suddenly illuminated the eastern sky? Could it be the sun, bringing with it a hint of warmth to loosen my old joints? Let's go and see. Bye for now.