The Enid Blyton Society

KEVP wrote:Ahh yes, beautiful British countryside. Complete with dog poop, stinging nettles, and adders.

What a narrow minded view of our wonderful countryside.

In fact there's hardly any dog mess in our countryside - its more likely to be in the streets rather than the countryside - a few stingers, easy to avoid - and I've never even seen an adder despite walking often in the country! No deadly snakes, no deadly spiders, no bears, no scorpions, no crocodiles or alligators...

...But country lanes often bordered with many flowers, pretty hedges, shady trees and a patchwork of fields which change throughout the seasons... yes it really is a green and pleasant land.

Hear, hear, Daisy.

I didn't mean to malign the British countryside, just pointing out that there is another side to it that often gets left out of travel programs.

In the USA, it is required in most places that people clean up after their dogs. Dog walkers therefore usually take with them small baggies. And sometimes little shovels ("pooper scoopers")

The requirement to clean up dog mess is common practice here as well.
I much prefer Daisy's interpretation.

So do I, John. You can't beat this country's countryside, it lovely no matter what time of year you visit! I'd rather holiday in this country than anywhere else. We have everything we require right here, sea, sunshine when it comes out from the clouds, magnificent scenery too.

I've only lived in this country 5 1/2 years and I absolutely second everything positive that others here have said about it (and yes, Britain has had laws about picking up dog poo for years — as indeed has Australia). The countryside is incredibly beautiful and I get out into it and travel every opportunity I have. Absolutely no downsides to it that other countries don't have anyway, and so much to delight in. I don't even mind the highly variable weather (coming from an area that's famous for the same thing) — it just adds to the fun!

Now as I happen to be on holiday in the countryside myself at the moment and it's a beautiful evening out there, I'm going to head out for my dinner. Which might even be some traditional British food (which, as I've discovered on numerous occasions, is excellent when done properly, as it very often is).

In Germany dog-owners are also asked to remove the waste of their beloved pets, yet you're still facing the anti-personal-mines everywhere. I suppose it's another case in which the state makes regulations but doesn't bother to check if people are accepting them...

Next:

We're back in England and so excited to finally try a Sunday roast! Then we pick back up in London for some Bangers & Mash and Bubble & Squeak!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUSSIupfIwY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Will they like our English food!!!!

Sadly they were ejected from the last establishment and denied their Spotted Dick...

Julie2owlsdene wrote:I've never heard crumpets being called pikelet before, that's a new one on me.

I remember when we first moved down here, I asked for a balmcake, and no one had heard of one before, and asked me what it was. I said it's a bap!

I know it as a barmcake, which would be a large-ish bread cob/roll with something like bacon, sausage, egg or all three in it. I also know of a barmpot, a really daft person, which is one I don't hear often .

Barmpot. I like that.

Barmpot is a good old northern saying. They use it sometimes in Coronation Street.

It's pronounced bampot in Scotland, bam rhyming with ham. (I'm assuming that the r in barmpot means that it rhymes with harm!...)

Spitfire wrote:It's pronounced bampot in Scotland, bam rhyming with ham. (I'm assuming that the r in barmpot means that it rhymes with harm!...)

I think it's as in 'barmy'