Harmonious Britain?

Question

You are English, Irish, Welsh or Scottish. Pay one of the other home nations a complement for once! Go on don't be shy, theres something you must surely admire!! If you can't be nice, don't answer!! I'll start you off, i'm Scottish but I think the Welsh national anthem is a brilliant anthem.

Yes Padraig mate, anything at all.

Answer 1

I'm of Irish and Scottish blood but was born in England. I think England is one of the nicest countries in the British Isles, simply because being so enormous, and the most populous of the nations (about 50 million people, compared to the other nations with only a few million in each), it has the resources to offer people a lot more. It's very diverse, fun and lively. Parts of England are also warmer and sunnier than other areas of the British Isles.
Many people from the other nations go to England to carve out careers in numerous fields, including and especially government and the media. On tv and radio, you can see and hear many Scots, and some Irish people. And in government, Scots fill many high-ranking positions that affect mainly England. They seem to love being in England. Some of my Scottish relatives live in a part of Northamptonshire, England known as "Little Scotland".
When my dad first took me to visit them, I thought we were in Scotland, because a) it was a long car journey there, and b) they had Scottish accents. Though I later learned that it was called Corby.

Wales is also a great country, with lots of warm people. Wales has a fantastic coast, especially in Aberystwyth and Tal-y-bont (not far from Cadair Idris, which is a great mountain to climb, where you end up above the clouds when you reach the top, depending on the weather of the day. Climbing up, you're almost burning up with the heat, then when you get to the top, it's freezing and you're shivering).
Shell Island, Harlech, Wales is a good holiday resort. It's lots of fun because every evening, the road connecting the sandy island to Wales gets covered by the sea until the morning. You can stand in the road while the sea rises up and covers it, it's heaps of fun. There are a lot of giant white jellyfish though. And Portuguese men of war. I don't like them.
Mount Snowdonia National Park is great. You can swim in deep, cool, fresh flowing water there. Paradise.

Scotland is pretty marvelous and unique too, and every bit as good as England and the rest of the Isles. I'm fond of the broad highland Scottish accent. I love spending time with family, who are in Buckie, Burghead, Elgin, Musselburgh, Cromarty, and other places there. There's a place in Cromarty where it's nice to sit and watch the sea, the interesting line of oil rigs, occasional passing cruise liners, and chat to tourists who stop to admire the scenery. Lossiemouth is fun too. I like to watch RAF planes flying about, doing their practising, though the pilots don't seem to like to be photographed, because I tried to take a photo of one that was flying very very low and the pilot looked towards me, saw my camera, and abruptly changed course.
Salmon, sold freshly-caught on a particular harbour I go to often, is so delicious, and extremely filling. The people are very generous and welcoming. And I love haggis and Scotch pies. Though I asked for a Scotch pie in a chip shop somewhere there once and the girl selling them looked a bit embarassed for some reason, and she said "mince pies?"

I can't speak of Ireland as I haven't been (yet). But all of the home nations have great, unique qualities and people. I still only know a fraction about the British Isles though, as there's just so much to see and do, places and people to visit etc. Including relatives I haven't had a chance to meet yet.

Great topic, Diver.

Update: About Scotland: I forgot to mention! I'm a Jimmy Shand fan. I first heard his music at a party when I was about 4 and I've loved it ever since. It's the ultimate in fun Scottish dance music. If you haven't heard it, listen to De'il Among the Tailors. I love that. My other Shand favourites are in a question I asked a short time ago. Try them out too.

Answer 2

I'm Welsh but live in England now. I did live in Scotland for a couple of years too. I'm the first to admit that the Welsh do have a chip on their shoulder re. the English. Albeit for some sound reasons, but it's still a shame that some welsh people don't seem to be able to get over it and welcome the english into their country. I can't fault the hospitality of the Scots, I really enjoyed living in Fife and Perthshire. I miss the Stovies nights! And their haggis is pretty good grub too. England has its merits too, mainbly Devon and Cornwall and I never fail to have the wow factor when I pop into the smoke. London will always be a fascinating city. I don't go much on the jellied eels though!!

Answer 3

I lived in Scotland, Ireland, England and worked in North Wales, as an odd one out (I'm Dutch) here's my sixpence.. England is great country for its humour, its bleak cities with inspiringly positive people and its creative people in film, design and especially the theatre. Wales can boast about a fabulous landscape dotted with history and its own lovely language. Scotland can match England in most anything on its own terms, while I love their perpetual underdog charm, and Ulster.. Well Ulster has a rich culture all of its own too, a perseverance to be in awe of. I've never been to a more hospitable people, despite such hostile politics.

That said though, a lot is wrong in the UK and with the UK. The increasing gap between rich and poor, the lack of choice in elections when the parties clone eachother, the anti-European and anti-immigrant policies that always re-appear and the rate of teen pregnancies to name but a few. I believe Scotland, as a country with roughly 5 million people, a decent economy and a long history, should become independent soon. Despite the Welshness of the Welsh I can't see them surviving on their own though. And let's not get into Ulster independence here eh. You're too right, harmony among all Brits would be a good thing - but for it to exist, I think the Brits should contemplate going into the EU as four equal nations first of all. That would be Great.

Answer 4

I'm English, but consider myself British, I actually find the Welsh, Scottish, or Irish accent attractive on a girl.

Answer 5

Come on Diver! You know right well that mostly the Biritsh factions do admire each other and thr racist haters are in a small but vocal minority. But to ask us to hug each other IN PUBLIC is a step too far.

As an example of how we are knotted together. I'm Irish born living in England and my three best mates are John (Welsh) Eric (English) and Brian (Scottish). I love the three of them to bits and would do anything for any of them. BUT PLEASE DON'T ASK ME TO DO IT (OR EVEN SAY IT) IN PUBLIC. As to my female friends Agatha is Jamaican, Lauraliy is Icelandic, Bec is French, Maggie is London. [London is London is the fifth element of this fantastic archaepeligo on the Northwest tip of Europe].

yeah! Let's hear it for Englarland, a fantastic melting pot of cultures and races which acterally muddles along in spite of Blair, Motorways, Soccer and the looming Olympics.

Answer 6

I like English football, Scottish whisky, Welsh ???, Irish pop groups (U2, Corrs). Can't think any further.......

Answer 7

I am from Harrogate in England. Harrogate is cool and is in Yorkshire which is pretty damn excellent.
I have visited Wales and Scotland and they were great places. I once had sex with a Scottish girl and she was FANTASTIC.

Answer 8

I love Scotland esp the people!
I like Wales esp the people!
I like Ireland the people and the 'crack'
The thing I like about England is the roads and rail stations leading out!!

Answer 9

could language count? i like scottish gaelic. by the way, i am irish.