My Partner and I recently returned from a further Business trip to the U.K. and during our visit we went along to the "Classical Spectacular" at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday November 21st. 2008. Now whether you are a Classical Music Buff (my preferences are Progressive/Rock Music) or not, the evening was hugely enjoyable due mainly to the enthusiastic and humorous Conductor, the audience which ranged from young children to Senior Citizens and the general ambience and feelgood factor amongst all that attended.
For almost 3 hours I felt somewhat transfixed as if my life had entered a time warp or bubble of sorts and it brought back feelings of what life used to be like in England. Togetherness, friendship, respect and good manners, things that sadly seem to be missing in the main nowadays in England. I felt in my element and totally absorbed throughout the evening.
Pomp & Circumstance and Rule Britannia both led to the hordes enthusiastically waving flags, singing along and adding to a great atmosphere.
The evening ended with a large net of balloons high in the arena being released and cascading down into the audience when they were then burst with abounding energy. A great fulfilling evening spent amongst people of similar ilk.
Having grown up in London it all reminded me so very much of how wonderful life was in those years past.
On leaving the premises reality kicked in and we drifted back into nowadays England. My short nirvana had ended.
I am sure that I speak for many when I say that I was once very proud to be English but sadly this is not now the case. I do not recognise England anymore.
Oh for times past!
I want to emphasise that I do not live in the past, those that know me will fully endorse this, and firmly believe that controlled change and progress in life is necessary yet so much is missing in England now that can never be retrieved nor in fact relived.
Much of the demise can be put at the feet of the so called Dogooders and also the excesses of political correctness that seem to dictate the way that life is to be lived in England.
Whereas once I was patriotic my allegiance has all but diminished to the extent that England is in effect alien to me now.
It is no wonder that the many English people that I talk to and that live in Spain are all of the same opinion. They too talk of and hanker for England past.
Moving to Spain has been a great step for us and we pride ourselves in having integrated with the Spanish and adjusted our predictable and weather influenced lives in England to live the Spanish way. We have studied, absorbed and learnt the native tongue and made many Spanish friends who have been so very accommodating.
Business dictates that we have to visit the U.K. frequently and, of course, it allows us time to be with our families. But for these reasons, England would now be a dim and distant memory for us and certainly not a place that we would long to visit.
My views are mere observations and I am grateful that eyeonspain has given me the platform to express my innermost thoughts.