Today we are told it is predicted that the Brits will become increasingly obese because of the lifestyles we lead. Yesterday there was yet another warning about the hazardous levels of our alcohol consumption. So is it any surprise that we are also said to produce the unhappiest and unhealthiest children in Europe?
It makes me wonder if the Brits can do anything right if we believe all these depressing studies. I don’t think that is the case, so where is the good news about our achievements?
If the parents are all drunk and gorge themselves on fast food, is it any wonder that their children are unhappy and unhealthy? I don’t see why the Govt makes so much fuss about this. Let people drink, eat and smoke themselves to death if they so wish. At least that might give their children an incentive to adopt a different lifestyle.
Is life today any different to Hogarth’s Britain:
https://elleeseymour.com/2007/04/17/hogarths-britain/
We’re in the Rugby World Cup final Ellee – we seem to have got that right! I’ve even bought a gnu telly for my Cup Final Party on Saturday!
Maalie, perfect answer. It’s reassuring to know there is a percentage of our population that is not letting the side down.
Well, you begin to wonder if you read the news. We do have underwear shops you can browse in, though!
Here we go again. Not content with banning smoking now they’re on our case about middle class drinking and obesity.
So 13 years may be knocked off your life because of weight. Oh dear.
Just one question. Unless you’re rich or you’re an MP or Minister with a guilt edged pension, who on Earth wants to grow old in Britain ?
Gordon Brown stole my pension from me. Of course I now have a ‘live for today’ attitude – eat, drink, smoke … enjoy what you can before they rob it off you. Then keel over at 60 of a heart attack owing the Government and credit card companies as much as you can. Perfect !
Unless, of course, are you really determined to end up selling up your house to fund a miserable dotage a ‘care’ home staffed by untrained and below minimum wage immigrants – shuffling around dribbling and confused in a crusty nappy whilst some doddery old git bangs out hits from the Human League on a knackered piano. 🙁
(I shouldn’t be here, Ellee – sorry, I just couldn’t resist.)
You should read John Mortimors take on Nanny Primarola and her ticking off middle class tipplers , its in todays Mail .
Why cant all these people in gov and the like just leave other people alone and stop telling us at every oportunity what we can or cant do .
Can you imagine telling Winston Churchill to slim , stop smoking , stop drinking !
If people dont mind being fat , drunk and smelling of fags in their own homes what the heck is it got to do with anyone else .
Theres lots of things that we all do thats ” dangerous ” driving cars , climbing mountains , going into germ ridden hospitals, are these also to get health warnings ?
Im not fat , I do enjoy more than an odd glass of an evening and Im seriously considering (after giving up smoking 25 years ago ) of going out to buy a packet of Black Russians or Sobranie Cocktails .
By the way isnt it rich from Nanny Dawn to say that all this middle class boozing at home ” has to stop ” when her lot have given us 24 hour boozing !
Or perhaps its OK if you possibly do it in public houses and vote Labour.
Kevin, you do sound down in the dumps. I do sympathise as a lot of us are in the same boat.
Georgirl, clever of you to think of Winston Churchill. He certainly did things his way. His mother was quite a character too. Wouldn’t it be dull if everyone led perfect lives.
Oh dear, our England football team have just lost to Russia, another blow for British pride.
An interesting thought and one which has been much on the mind, Ellee.
Yes Ellee Churchill was ” a character ” in every way .
Soldier , war corespondent in the Boer War ( captured , returned as a hero ) Conservative MP , crossed the floor to become a Liberal , crossed back again and Prime Minister twice ,
Saved this country from the nazis . I just adore the man.
If only we still made em like that.
His mother American Jenny Jerome and his aristocrat father Randolf Churchill both were characters ( if I remember correctly his father died of syphalis ) no wonder Winston stod out from the crowd.
Of course if he was around today hed also be turned out because he had his ” black dog days ” we couldnt have a Leader with depression on occasions .
I think he used to simply go to bed till he felt OK again.
No doubt with a large whisky and fat cigar.
Georgegirl, yes, Churchill’s father did die of syphallis and his mother had 200 lovers. I wonder if they realised, this would be their epitath.
https://elleeseymour.com/2007/09/21/how-many-women-could-handle-200-lovers/
I think cigars have largely gone out of fashion. Lots of people probably still have a similar nightcap, it’s medicinal for many too.
I’m told that smoking reduces appetite. Should we…….
Weggis, Don’t tempt me, I could do with losing half a stone.
We gave the world:
“football hooliganism” and
“carry on films” – humour which didn’t quite translate, not even into american english
We gave the world “The Iron Lady” “El Dorado” and “Tony Blair”, I’m not sure the world can handle or take any more, or is ready for anymore
The problem is that the media believes that good news does not sell newspapers or ad space on TV or whatever. So even if the news is good they have to spin it some way to talk about how potentially it could be bad in some way. Sad isn’t it?
Remember the Roman preventative for obesity: stick a feather down your throat and then go back for the next course
We’re insisting on looking at these studies as bad things. But it all depends on how you look at it.
In many of the Pacific Islands for instance, the fatter you are, the more ‘mana’ and respect you get from others.
Likewise, down at my local pub, drinking to excess regularly accords you a great deal of status and prestige.
So – let’s take pride in what we’re good at, Britain. Head up high!
Britain wouldn’t be Britain without the constant moaning about the weather, alcohol consumption, France or our girth sizes by our media and general population. When the whining stops, then we have to worry, ‘for where will Britain be then, poor thing.’
Would you like to order one of the t-shirts I’m planning on producing? They’ll bear the legend, ‘I’m not fat; I’m voluptuous’.
I’ve written about fat being a personal issue but with the effect it will have on the NHS it is really a national issue.
But England’s going to win on Saturday. And even if they lose, the UK still has lovely Johnny Wilkinson. Mmmmm
Liz, I most certainly would I have never seen a stick insect pose as Venus for one of our great Masters!
We need a complete re-think of who we are and where we are going. Despite being an ardent capitalist, rampant materialism, has much to answer for.