There are many idiosyncrasies and eccentricities that Brits are renowned for the World over. Our obsession with tea and biscuits, for instance. Likewise, our love of fish and chips, Sunday roasts and full breakfasts. These days, however, what we eat is less of a national trait than it once was as British cuisine now includes a wide variety of foods that have been assimilated from other countries in Europe, India, and other parts of the world. A takeaway meal in Britain could just as likely be a pizza, curry, spring rolls, or a kebab.
In addition to our previously mentioned penchant for forming queues (see Part 5), another strange quirk of the British is our use of the word ‘sorry.’ To those who do not know us, it can make us seem overly polite, even self-deprecating, but it is far more complicated than that. Sorry can have a range of meanings depending on the context, from a straightforward apology to a request for someone to repeat themselves (meaning I did not catch what you said). Sorry can be an expression of faux sympathy (it is a shame that you feel this way or find yourself in this position). It can be used as an entrée to a conversation (can I butt in here) or as an excuse to leave (I have to go now as I am losing the will to live). However, it can also be a term of indignation (I do not believe you just said that), or as a precursor to a rebuttal (you are wrong). Like many things with the British, it is about understanding the nuances. For those who struggle with interpretation, life may be getting easier as the use of sorry as an apology seems to be falling into misuse. When those in Government refuse to say sorry for any mistakes they have made, no matter how blatant or calamitous, people will inevitably follow their lead and this sad state of affairs will become the new normal. Depressingly, we are seeing this practice begin to filter down already in an increasing reluctance amongst some members of the public to own their mistakes, turning instead to the Cabinet-approved tactics of denial, blaming others or obfuscation.
A very British celebration - the Queen’s 2012 Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in heavy rain. Photo by Steve Mann on 123RF.
Another British peculiarity is our fixation with the weather. It is the topic that we are famed for talking about above everything else. When there is nothing else to say, it is a natural default setting to throw in a comment about the weather. Oscar Wilde may have said that conversation about the weather was the last refuge of the unimaginative but the fact that everyone in this country has an opinion on it makes it the perfect ice breaker. There are so many expressions in our language that are weather-related, such as come rain or shine, saving for a rainy day, a storm in a tea cup, blowing with the wind, chasing rainbows, looking on the bright side, being snowed under, or feeling under the weather. This fascination with meteorology may stem from the fact that the British climate is notoriously diverse and unpredictable. Many types of weather can be experienced in a single day. The reason for this distinct variability is down to geography. Britain is an island that sits between the Atlantic Ocean and the European continental landmass. It also happens to be where five main air masses intersect – the Polar Maritime Air Mass, the Arctic Maritime Air Mass, the Polar Continental Air Mass, the Tropical Continental Air Mass and the Tropical Maritime Air Mass. Another variable to throw into the mix is the position of the jet stream, a high-altitude ribbon of fast-moving air, which has a significant bearing on the weather at surface level. These different pockets of air arrive over Britain from different directions, some from over land and others from over the sea, and bring different weather types. They create a lot of turbulence as they meet and fight for dominance over the British Isles. This extraordinary mix of atmospheric conditions is what makes our weather so changeable. One might have thought that living with such uncertainty would have made us more cautious and prepared for every eventuality but it seems not. We do still find ourselves in the middle of a storm without adequate protection.
When it comes to sport, football is a national obsession. It is called the beautiful game, presumably for its simplicity and entertainment value, but that does not mean that everyone loves football – some loathe it - but for those who commit to it, it can be more a way of life than just a leisure activity. Before Covid-19 resulted in team sports and social gatherings being restricted, every week millions would play the game, attend matches, as well as watch matches on TV or via streaming services. It evokes passion, pride, emotion and camaraderie like no other sport. Sir Alex Ferguson, probably the greatest football manager in history, is once reported[1] to have said that “There are two things you can never change in life, the football team you support, and the way you walk.” Football supporters are fiercely loyal to their team. It gives rise to intense local rivalries and can even divide households. In normal times, this tribalism would be seen and heard on the terraces with opposing fans waving scarves and flags, cheering, singing and chanting to encourage their team and intimidate the other side. For now, with elite matches still being played behind closed doors, games can feel flatter and lack tempo without the febrile atmosphere and collective emotion that comes from the crowd. But for most, it has still been better to have some football to watch through lockdown rather than none. Credit to all those who have made it possible and continued to provide entertainment and excitement during a very difficult period. If only they could apply the same single mindedness to sorting out VAR and the offside rule…
Perhaps our most idiosyncratic feature is our sense of humour. When it comes to humour, what makes Brits laugh can be completely baffling to foreigners. What makes our humour so unique is probably down to us living on this small group of islands. The British sense of humour contains strong elements of sarcasm, understatement, self-deprecation and farce. These traits enable us to see the funny side and laugh at the absurdities of everyday life. Retaining a sense of humour, even in the darkest of situations, can lighten the mood, diffuse tension, limit confrontation and be an effective stress reliever. Laughter is a coping mechanism which can be incredibly useful in the midst of a pandemic to keep spirits up, make us more resilient and distract from the grim reality confronting us.
Humour is a powerful tool that can be used to create connections, build rapport and create a sense of togetherness. The downside is that by making a joke about something can make it seem that we are not taking it seriously. The point is that the use of humour has to be balanced and not something we should seek to hide behind all the time. There are occasions when a diversionary wisecrack is called for and others that demand an earnest response. The trick is to be able to tell the difference and respond appropriately, particularly if you are the Prime Minister.
[1] Alastair Campbell in The Guardian, 15 May 2017, “Come on, you reds! Why football tribalism won’t work for Corbyn this election."
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