My head is still spinning from the diverse displays of patriotism and cultural pride demonstrated this July in England. It’s just that in the States there really isn’t a comparison for any of these events.
Proud Flag Waving Fans
World Cup fever was as hot and heated as the temperature this July on this usually temperate island. For months the populace was whipped into a frenzy of patriotic madness. Americans participate, but we do not share in the intensity of this one sporting event. Everything stops; a collective breath is held when your country is playing.
HD television sets flew off the store shelves in preparation for the games. The disappointment was palpable. With a 5 second delay in the broadcast, HD viewers would hear their neighbors cheering, ruining the suspense as the ball approached the goal. The biggest insult to HD viewers was when a commercial was broadcast just as England made the only goal against the USA team.
The unfortunate soul who pushed the button to play the commercial was accused of being Scottish by the press the following morning.
As World Cup hysteria gripped Europe, we decided to head to Germany to celebrate our Independence Day and watch the games. It was quite shocking to see taciturn Germans displaying such intense patriotism. Germany erupted in spontaneous parades and celebrations with the refrain of, “Don’t cry for me Argentina” punctuated with honking horns at the 4 to 0 score. Losers go home.
Germany’s Paul the octopus’ celebrity status had spread across the pond when his World Cup predictions were part of the BBC news and commentary. Fortunately, after correctly predicting Germany’s loss to Spain, he survived the sudden demand for calamari. He proved to be a bookie’s nightmare with a 100% accurate prediction rate of the World Cup game winners. Here is a video of him predicting Spain as the World Cup winner:
Superstar Gardeners
In Washington, D.C., I used to lust over the gorgeous photos of exuberantly confident English border gardens and the ostentatious opulence of grand estates’ gardens. I thought that climate was the differentiating element. What I discovered is that gardening embodies the ardent British love affair with the bucolic life, uniting artistic expression with scientific understanding. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has done an excellent job achieving its corporate vision: to promote gardening and horticulture in Britain. I believe it is this dedicated effort on a national level that is at the core of what characterizes the difference in degrees of enthusiasm between the British and Americans. Granted, we Americans also adore our gardens, but the British have taken it up a few notches. The result is a country competing for the international “Best in Bloom” award.
This summer’s RHS flower shows are perfect examples of the mind-boggling obsession that the English have with gardening. The prestigious, sold-out Chelsea flower show was a must-attend celebrity event complete with royal visits. All five days received media coverage worthy of major national news. A month later the largest flower show in England, held at Hampton Court Palace, also received superstar media attention. Winning a medal at either show guarantees the designer stardom. The only thing that comes close in the States is the Philadelphia flower show, a poor imitation and no real comparison.
Luckily, I scored two exhibitors’ tickets to one of the seven days of the popular RHS Hampton Court Palace show. Even after watching a full hour dedicated to the show on the BBC, I was completely unprepared for the enormity of the event, managing to see a mere fraction before being overwhelmed. Throngs of people filled the sprawling 34 acres. I inched along from one breathtaking display to the next. Here are photos of my visit:
Aeronautics Industry Struts Its Stuff
I have attended a few air shows in the States, but there’s no comparison to the stupendous event put on by the aeronautics industry at Farnborough this year. This was an international trade show showcasing the latest aeronautics technologies in warfare, surveillance, green applications, and commercial flight. We were not disappointed, for assembled were the latest and greatest big-boy toys designed to impress and awe. Talk about trade show swag!
Steve and I attended one of the non-trade days. We got to climb into jet cockpits and test new imaging technology for passport control. The Red Arrows performance stole the show. Here are photos of the event:
Granted this was just a trade show, but the British were proud to be the hosts of this magnificent event. Steve is bound and determined to get an invite to the for-trade-only days in 2012.
Every place we have ever lived has had something incredible to offer. I live in a charming village in England and this past July has been GREAT!
Your comments, thoughts and questions are appreciated.
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