Changes worth celebrating, that have happened in my lifetime

[Brains]

mm -Housing a tricky one brains.
More than.

The quality of UK housing has risen from a very low base in the 1900's to a much better base by the 2000's
However I totally agree that the quality of housing in the UK is abysmal when compared to other north western European housing stock

Unfortunately every time there has been a housing shortage in the UK, the Government of the time (all parties) have taken the easy route out and built volume not quality, which in turn causes another housing problem 20-30 years down the line.

Hence we have a housing shortage now and no easy way out unless cheap volume housing is knocked up to become tomorrows slums

 

[Andy in Germany]

The rise and rise of the English language.

As kids we were all forced to learn French or Esperanto as they were going to be the world's lingua franca but now the European Union has English as the default language (despite it not being the official language of any of its members) and English Language schools are ubiquitous.

The flip side of this is that British kids don't learn other European languages to anything like the same level, which places them at a disadvantage, not just in learning one language, but also in developing the skills to learn others later.

 

[Blue Hills]

Apologies if already posted.

The revival in quality beer.

(I well remember a deluded american tourist in a london pub in the late 70s/early 80s looking at a pint of fizz, admiring it,and telling his wife what a great british beer he was about to drink - suppose he'd grown up on bud)

 

[Blue Hills]

The quality of UK housing has risen from a very low base in the 1900's to a much better base by the 2000's
However I totally agree that the quality of housing in the UK is abysmal when compared to other north western European housing stock

Unfortunately every time there has been a housing shortage in the UK, the Government of the time (all parties) have taken the easy route out and built volume not quality, which in tern causes another housing problem 20-30 years down the line.

Hence we have a housing shortage now and no easy way out unless cheap volume housing is knocked up to become tomorrows slums

I'd query/dispute a lot of your post brains but we'd be onto politics rather than the cheery tone of the thread - feel free to start another thread if you want.
all the best

 

[Andy in Germany]

Would you put money on that ?

In my opinion it's a case of 'when' not 'if', England will rejoin the EU.
10 years possibly, more likely 20 years.
To save face, England may not 're-join' in full, but rejoin in all but name.

I'm guessing the application will probably be in ten years or less. Entry in about 20; it will take a long time to regain the trust lost in the last few years.

 

[Notafettler]

Safer for the occupants , not so much vulnerable road users.

Wrong the body of modern cars are designed to "crumple" resulting in pedestrians and often cyclist being able to walk away when hit at much higher speeds. Of course this doesn't apply to vehicles with "bull bars" and to a similar degree to SUV where they tend to be sent under the car. On the upside it does give the driver of those types of vehicle the feeling of manliness and superiority. The epitome of the latter is land-rover drivers with bull bars.

 

[Notafettler]

it will take a long time to regain the trust lost in the last few years.

You live in a dream world where your extremely protectionist EU is considered to be the best way forward for society. Its for benefit of France but mainly Germany. In the case of euro Germany were the ones that gained and most of the rest of Europe lost out. Good bye and good riddance.

 

[Brains]

Careful! There's some tricksy wording in there:
"and it will happen within 20 years or more"

All Empires fall eventually:

The Arab Califate, the Greeks and the Roman Empire all managed about 750 years
China, Egypt and Persia all lasted well over 1,000 years.
Whereas the Macedonian, Mongolian and British Empires expanded too fast, controlled most of the known world and were gone within a couple of centuries.

I'll take your bet with a fixed time frame within our predicted lifetimes (and a guarantee of payment)

 

[matticus]

All Empires fall eventually:

The Arab Califate, the Greeks and the Roman Empire all managed about 750 years
China, Egypt and Persia all lasted well over 1,000 years.
Whereas the Macedonian, Mongolian and British Empires expanded too fast, controlled most of the known world and were gone within a couple of centuries.

Wise words.

But sadly rather off-topic Happy to chat later about which sort of empire we are currently building!

 

[bitsandbobs]

The rise and rise of the English language.

As kids we were all forced to learn French or Esperanto as they were going to be the world's lingua franca but now the European Union has English as the default language (despite it not being the official language of any of its members) and English Language schools are ubiquitous.

English is an official language of two EU member states.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Apologies if already posted.

The revival in quality beer.

(I well remember a deluded american tourist in a london pub in the late 70s/early 80s looking at a pint of fizz, admiring it,and telling his wife what a great british beer he was about to drink - suppose he'd grown up on bud)

Equally, the acceptance that not everyone wants to drink alcohol.

 

[Notafettler]

IMO supermarkets are controversial.
Far too much power.

Partly responsible for the demise of town centres, car centric planning and marginalisation of walking & cycling.

All supermarkets will close down we will all have our main shop delivered. There will be and already is an increase in convenience stores. So medium and large supermarkets will disappear. They will all move to the Ocado style warehouses (i note that Tesco already has a few). The infill will be convenience stores. The extremely expensive Coop is trying its hardest to get in there first. As most independent stores buy there supplies from large companies who get similar discounts there will be place for them to. Obviously the plague is speeding up the process. It will probably not help town centres more likely the opposite (not all supermarkets are miles from town centres). But it will result in less cars on the road.

 

[Notafettler]

Equally, the acceptance that not everyone wants to drink alcohol.

Equally the acceptance that you will struggle to reintroduce prohibition either in the literal sence or by increased taxes.

 

[Notafettler]

All Empires fall eventually:

Including the EU dictatorship!!

 

[Notafettler]

Careful! There's some tricksy wording in there:
"and it will happen within 20 years or more"

Or it could be sarcasm....obviously.