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Icons of England


MIKYSALT

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i read somewhere about morris dancing but somehow dont think that will be taking place at the opening ceremony, probs be either a nautical or hstorical theme!

I think you may find that BBC article still about "Morris dancing" in the BBC's 2012 Olympics section.

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More stuff about possible English icons on this - including Morris Dancing, Big Ben, the Pub, Full English Breakfast, the Oak Tree, the Black Cab, the Red Telephone Box, Fish and Chips, Bulldogs, the Mini, the Bowler Hat, Strawberries and Cream, Robin Hood, Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding, Shakespeare, the Tube Map, the BBC, Marks & Spencer, Winnie the Pooh, Pride and Prejudice, Harrods, Cheddar Cheese, The Lord of the Rings, the Corner Shop, the mini-skirt, the Flushing Toilet, Crop Circles, Magne Carta, Marmite......and loads and loads of others.

I'd no idea there were so many - every country should make a list like this!

http://www.icons.org.uk/nom....t:int=0

:kungfu:

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Beatrix Potter, the Lake District, Whisky, the Highlands, military tattos, Scottish mountains, Welsh and English hillsides and valleys, the national dances of all nations, maritime stuff, architecture, food, history and legends like Robin Hood/King Arthur/Dick Whittington (etc), military history, national saints, historical monuments and sites.  The list is endless and I could go on but I won't.  This is something I had thought about in great detail, but I gave up!  

Perhaps, we could start the fantasy opening cermony instead - that was a lot of fun and would keep us amused!  

By the way, morris dancing isn't all about men in white costumes dancing a silly dance with a man with a pig's bladder you know.  The female version is very serious and widespread in England.  It is as big as majorettes and cheerleading, if not bigger.  The women's version resembles more of Irish and Scottish dancing, but maybe even a bit more precise and repetitious.  Don't knock it, it is our national dance!  I imagine that a bit willl be included in the ceremony that has all of the nations' dancing in it, including morris dancing!  I also imagine that a lot of our modern artists will be taking part.  Expect a lot of the new and old combined as well in some artistic way

Any ideas anyone for the ceremony?

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More stuff about possible English icons on this - including Morris Dancing, Big Ben, the Pub, Full English Breakfast, the Oak Tree, the Black Cab, the Red Telephone Box, Fish and Chips, Bulldogs, the Mini, the Bowler Hat, Strawberries and Cream, Robin Hood, Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding, Shakespeare, the Tube Map, the BBC, Marks & Spencer, Winnie the Pooh, Pride and Prejudice, Harrods, Cheddar Cheese, The Lord of the Rings, the Corner Shop, the mini-skirt, the Flushing Toilet, Crop Circles, Magne Carta, Marmite......and loads and loads of others.

I'd no idea there were so many - every country should make a list like this!

http://www.icons.org.uk/nom....t:int=0

:kungfu:

Well, I suppose Sydney did do something similar with its  lighthearted parade of Aussie icons _ giant rubber thongs, lifesavers, drag queens, crocodiles, sharks, Kylie Minogue, Greg Norman, barbeques, blowflies, prawns, killer kangaroos etc etc _ at its Closing Ceremony.

I reckon the UK is one of the few other countries with a brand of self-deprecating humour that could do something similar.

:kungfu:  :kungfu:

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Of course they will!  There will always be humour.  Does anyone outside of the UK get the Edinburgh Tattoo?  Last year, they did a segment from this kid's group that was started probably just after the war by a guy from the army or something who was big in motorcyles.  It takes deprived kids and teaches them everything about being in a motorcycle display team!  Discipline, fun, precision, professionalism, etc...  These kids did their act and part of it was the youngest or something close (about 7) who was riding this tiny motor bike. He did his act and went off and some others took over and did something, then he came back on again with the sirens wailing and a poice bike was chasing him!  Another act followed and then, again inbetween acts, the 2 came again again, except this time the kid had stolen the police ike and the policeman was riding the kid's bike!  That kindof thing is very funny for live audiences.  Maybe too twee for live ones on Tv though.  You get the idea though!
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By the way, morris dancing isn't all about men in white costumes dancing a silly dance with a man with a pig's bladder you know.  The female version is very serious and widespread in England.  It is as big as majorettes and cheerleading, if not bigger.  The women's version resembles more of Irish and Scottish dancing, but maybe even a bit more precise and repetitious.  

Any ideas anyone for the ceremony?

I thought the women's version were the Garland Girls (not Judy) and the Druidettes?  

Of course, "London Bridge is Falling Down

Falling Down...

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By the way, morris dancing isn't all about men in white costumes dancing a silly dance with a man with a pig's bladder you know.  The female version is very serious and widespread in England.  It is as big as majorettes and cheerleading, if not bigger.  The women's version resembles more of Irish and Scottish dancing, but maybe even a bit more precise and repetitious.  

Any ideas anyone for the ceremony?

I thought the women's version were the Garland Girls (not Judy) and the Druidettes?  

Of course, "London Bridge is Falling Down

Falling Down...

Ah yes, but some berk in America bought London bridge, so if it is IS falling down, it's your problem!!!!!  

Seriously, young female morris dancers these hve more in common with majorettes and cheer leaders, inlcuding their costumes!!! It's also a very serious business...  I don't mind you taking the piss, but those who are involved with it might bite your arms off!!  We wouldn't want that would we Miles?

By the way, why all the anonymity?  We always know when you log on as an anonymous member, as you aren't on the list when your replies get posted!!!!  Not very anonymous is it?  Why all the subtefuge.  If you don't want PMs from people then just don't answer and block them!!!

Just a suggestion anyway, it's your decision!

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A long line of people queing up to get their teeth pulled a the dentist could be an Icon of England.

..or a bus stop with 2hrs worth of waiting passengers queing up in winter's icy chill....with 3 buses tailgating each other approaching on the horizon, 2 of which have the 'Sorry - Not In Service' sign on the front...leaving the 3rd bus to cram pack the public in like sardines, with kids screaming, wierdo's dribbling, teenager's swearing and spitting, and grannies nagging.  :rolleyes:

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The problem about 'icons of Britain' is that people normally come up with things tourists associate with Britain.

I mean M&S was one of the things included on the list, but to be honest, the only people who shop at M&S are tourists. Tescos is a much more British icon.

Anyway, my list of British icons (or rather, what I associate Britain with):

- Home Office building at Croydon

- Canary Wharf

- The City

- Tescos

- NHS

- Bank of England

- Arab shops on Harrow Road

- Heathrow Airport

- The LSE

- Atlee, Gaitskell and the Socialists of the 50's

- Liberal middle classes who patronise Islington bars and think having a mixed race baby is the latest fashion accessory

- Chavs

- The M4 and M1

- Urban sprawl and characterless suburbs

- A tendency to always stand on one side on the escalator

- A tendency to let people out of tube carriages before entering them yourself

- A habit of giving up seats on buses and trains to old people

- Vodafone, O2 and Orange, BT, HSBC

- People with a cold exterior but hearts of gold

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A long line of people queing up to get their teeth pulled a the dentist could be an Icon of England.

..or a bus stop with 2hrs worth of waiting passengers queing up in winter's icy chill....with 3 buses tailgating each other approaching on the horizon, 2 of which have the 'Sorry - Not In Service' sign on the front...leaving the 3rd bus to cram pack the public in like sardines, with kids screaming, wierdo's dribbling, teenager's swearing and spitting, and grannies nagging.  :rolleyes:

And ou think that's unique to Britain, think again my son!!!

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I shop at Marks and Spencer all the time, for food anyway - but then I am originally from Harrogate so maybe that's why!

I do think the queue is a good one, British people always queue (even when there's nobody in front !) - we could use this at the Olympics themselves so that the legitimate queues will not be noticed so much!

 :kungfu:

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