Little Britain, Lazy Britain

One thing I am noticing already, here in Britain, is a general attitude of "Oh, don't worry about that, come have some tea, we'll do it tomorrow." This is particularly evident in the approach taken towards repairing Earl's Court Road, a very busy thoroughfare, just near where I am staying. Whatever department is reponsible for maintaining the road - probably the Mayor of London - dug several large holes on Wednesday and Thursday. Then did nothing on Friday, or for this weekend, at that. The result is a massive traffic snarl up at all hours of the day and night. But this is acceptable - apparently. I'm not even sure why they're digging the holes. All it seems to be in aid of is providing a large number of fat pricks in fluoro green safety vests with an excuse to stand around and sip hot drinks from a thermos.

But this gives one an insight as to why a country like Britain, which is quite frankly tiny compared to Australia or America, struggles to maintain anything resembling an efficient highway or public transport network. Because the country is lazy. Some decades ago, in a famous speech, Winston Churchill said he had blood, tears and sweat to offer in service of his country. I don't think you'd find many people in England these days prepared to work up a sweat. The only tears split come when England inevitably gets dumped in the quarters at the World Cup, and the only blood is the stuff that comes out of the Big Brother House and sent straight to the HIV lab.

No wonder companies and employers over here love to employ colonials and eastern europeans. Because we're actually prepared to work hard for a quid, because the exchange rate is so brilliant when we take them back home. Your average pom knows nothing of this, and thus is content to broaden their arse as opposed to their mind, wasting away the hours behind their desk practising their throwing skills as they attempt to land a rolled up ball of paper in the trash can.

No matter what you do or see in "British" Britain, you always get the impression that it could be done faster. That's why I go to the local Indian Sainsbury's, instead of to the British staffed Tesco's for food shopping. You might not be able to understand what they're saying, but you get in and out of there quickly. As opposed to standing around bored while the checkout ladies gossip on like a pair of fishwives, as they lazily sort through your groceries.

What this country needs is another good war, to shake it out of it's lethargy.