St Georges Day.

[Jim Brady]

After all the talk of flying the flag I have'nt seen anything about it being St.Georges Day today.(Unless my eyes are bad and I have missed it)
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Red Lead Ted]

Absolutely agree, Why isn't this a bank holiday in England................ The only dragon around here is here 365 days a year I am married to it, We are to bloody daft here my flag is flying outside the house I am a proud Englishman. This has been flown the world over and known by every country in a hell of a lot of world conflicts were is the respect, Terry.

[Jim Brady]

What is being English?Being English is spending thousands of pounds on a foreign holiday getting to your destination then looking for an English bar!!There are many other things about being English,any ideas?
Regards.
Jim.B.

[j.sabourn]

Jim, this Friday the 25th. April is Anzac day. All over Australia there will be parades Dawn services, grandchildren will be wearing their grandfathers and fathers medals if no longer with us. All ex servicemen who are able will be on parade, most noteable in these parades are the children who are there every year as generation succeeds generation. On my estimation it will be many years before the average Australian worries about whose feelings he/she is hurting by flying the flag. This is the difference between the two countries at this moment in time. Even as a school boy St. Georges day was alwys remembered. This is a continuing part of History occurring in Britain where past values no longer exist. Cheers John S

[Jim Brady]

John do you think St George was put on the back burner because of the Union and we became Great Britain we had the four flags into one so we did'nt celebrate being English we were British.Ireland,Scotland and Wales carried on with their patriotism to their own countries of course.I believe that there was a few reasons why St George lost favour.I think many English people only knew of the flag because of the England football team.
Regards.
jim.B.

[cappy]

yes jim every bugger else is a foriegner

[Keith Tindell]

Jim ref 5, That statement is bang on, when the world cup football was being held in South Africa i was at the local shopping centre here on the island, and all the cars were flying the flag, and guy stood next to me actually asked what the flag was?, i was astounded, and no he was not from some other country, he was a local bloke of middle age, I would think that education now misses our history out completely KT

[j.sabourn]

Its not only the cross of St. George that is not flown, but a lack of the Union Jack, which according to the press which people read abroad is not flown as often as such, due to hurting others feelings. Whether this true or not, as recently claiming I have little or no regard for the media press, is what other people read and believe as true, if this is not the case I am pleased. I saw more of the Cross of St Andrew flown in Scotland when over last, on the short time north of the border than I ever did the cross of St. George. If any politician or council member votes against flying the flag of the country on the excuse it might upset others, the country is already on the fast slope downwards. The Flag of a country is what people have fought and died for, to be told it upsets other nationals, tough titty. Cheers John S

---------- Post added at 10:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:35 AM ----------

Ref. above we have approx. 5 calenders scattered around the house, all made in Australia. Everyone has marked on it St. Georges Day, and we are to all intents and purposes a Foreign Country. Cheers JS

[Richard Quartermaine]

I was employed in Indonesia from Britain where I was resident at the time and held dual British and Australian passports (my parents were British). That's beside the point - I was a member of the St George Association in Jakarta and St George's Day was celebrated in true style. Suffice it to say reciprocation was the name of the game and the Australia New Zealand Association of Indonesia took their turn to put on a party. In those days nationalities were cherished and the expat communities were very, very small compared with the population as a whole.

I'm pleased to say that my Australian made desk diary has one entry for April 23, 'St Georges Day'. I must admit, I am a Monarchist (if it ain't broke don't fix it). The 'Republicanists' are a bunch of aspirants for a presidency. With a track record this crowd has; what a joke!

[Ivan Cloherty]

Don't get disheartened boys the English flag will fly again in abundance, I have faith!

When I lived in the UAE in the 70's every April 23rd Sheikh Al Mahktoum had his office contact all English residents prior that date and invite them to a party at the Hilton Hotel on the creek. He paid for the party, had English Beef flown in together with English cheeses and other English produce together with English Ales and Gordons Gin, with the hotel bedecked in red and white and not a bluddy football in sight.

He did the same for Scotland, Ireland and Wales bringing in goods for their respective countries on their days, a good time to live there if you respected the local laws which is all he asked in return for his largesse, I don't know whether his successor (his son) does the same, I doubt it. No other nations were shown this generosity (not even USA on July 4th) I met him on a few occasions, he was reputed not to speak English, but I know he fully understood it whilst you were speaking to him by what he said to his interpreter before you had finished. Apparently protocol never allowed him to speak to foreign guests direct, he was reputed to have no formal education, but fully comprehend the shipping and engineering projects I was involved with him.

I got to go to two parties with my late wife having an Irish passport and also being registered as Catholics our Liquor Licence was granted for three times allowance that of Church of England because reputedly Catholics took wine with Mass every day, where-as C of E only took wine on Sunday celebrations, all he asked was that we never drunk (even water) in public places during Ramadan. Don't know how modern people would get on because no matter where you go in the world it looks like it is compulsory to carry a bottle of water no matter what you're doing