guess what we're saying about you

[DaSwede]

Over here there's a saying - you do hear it so often that it's almost a coined phrase - about the Britons:

(xxx) - nobody's better at that than the English!

...and I'm wondering if you can guess what it is.This is not a trick question, by the way. It's something that many Swedes genuinely acknowledge your superiority at. So what do think it is, or what do you feel it ought to be?

I'm not on the internet every day, but I promise to return here with the correct answer in a not too distant future.

[jno]

I'd have said binge drinking, but I'm told the Swedes themselves are not bad at that. They used to be brilliant inventors, but that no longer seems to be the case. Their footballing is no longer quite up to the mark. They are known to Australians for their whingeing....

No, I give up! I look forward to hearing the answer.

[clarabel82]

it's not queuing is it?

[PhilBy]

Could it be drinking tea?

[n00dles]

How about making Tea ?

[nogsy]

goin to ikea

[B00]

Dry sense of humour?

[B00]

Talking about the weather?

[Pippa68]

Got to be whingeing..or making bad coffee.

[DaSwede]

Reading your replies, I suddenly realize how much we talk about you... we do say a lot of that. Certainly we believe that you use the phrase "I'll put the kettle on" as a panacea, and yes the dry sense of humour... yes, you are right, the bunch of you. But deargod what flagellants you all are (in the second sense, of course, I wouldn't presume to know anything about the first one)... (- well at least those of you that are British. The rest of you may just be dauntless...) - the thing I'm referring to is a good thing! Something we admire you for, dammit. So do try again. I'll be back. Promise.

[DaSwede]

As I said, you're actually all right. Sort of makes me wonder if were saying all those things about you because YOU are saying all those things about you... But what I had in mind was: Drama productions for television/good acting/good directing. (Probably you're superiour at stage productions as well, but we don't know that.) Ever since the first BBC version of "The Forsyth Saga" we've known where to come for the best understanding of what acting is (and directing and so on.) When "I, Claudius" appeared, I was in complete awe, and as you've gathered by now I was not the only one. As I said, it really is almost a saying: Anything on tonight?/Some new British series, don't know what it is/Oh but if it's British...!

This holds true even for simpler productions like for instance "William and Mary", and for actors in minor parts. Such as for instance the actress (don't know who she is) who played the housekeeper at Soames & Irene's in the recent production of "The Forsyth Saga." Such a very small part, such marvellous acting. Her face as she stopped outside the bedroom door as Soames was forcing himself upon Irene.

Robbie Coltrane et al in "Cracker"... ...or even just watching a workshop for actors! I saw a documentary featuring John Barton from The Royal Shakespeare Company, working with the actors together with Sir Peter Hall, and I couldn't have felt greater admiration if I'd been watching a documentary on brain surgery.

Yeah you know what you're doing. Be proud. Thanks all who answered, it was fun reading!

[PhilBy]

Did you ever get to see Alan Bleasdales 'The Black Suff' & the follwing 5 part series 'Boys from The Black Stuff'?

If you didn't, add it to your must see list :-)

[DaSwede]

Thanks a lot, PhilBy - no I haven't (seen it) but I will (add it...). To be honest with you I don't know who he is, but I found a good interview at

http://www.catalystmedia.org.uk/issues/nerve3/ articles/bleasdale.htm

(the link doesn't seem to work), and will remember him now. Thanks!

[aidantraffor]

Gis a job?