I have lived in the UK all my life and in recent years have become more and more disillusioned and saddened by the way things are deteriorating. This piece states very clearly what has gone wrong and why. I can't see any signs of things improving in the near future, but I really hope they will and the British spirit will somehow rally again.
That sense of disillusionment seems increasingly widespread. I’m not currently based in the UK, but I feel it too, perhaps because I still have such deep affection for the country of my birth.
I’ve grown more pessimistic over the years, but oddly, trying to diagnose the problems brings a strange kind of relief. I use The Times like therapy some days. And maybe if more people start to see things clearly, there’s still a chance of renewal.
I think I know what you mean about the relief gained from diagnosing the problem, making sense of things does bring a comfort of sorts and puts things on the mind map more clearly. In amongst the grim news there are often little beams of light, and I try to find them and focus on them to balance out the pessimism. Recently I've signed up to Looking For Growth - thanks to a Times article - and am impressed with their efforts. I also appreciate the work being done by Surfers Against Sewage and hope that more of these groups will form and help to turn the tide of entitled apathy that has allowed things to deteriorate and rubbish and vandalism to proliferate. There are still lovely things about living in the UK tho, and if enough of us wake up and make enough noise then maybe things will improve. I hope so anyway.
A very welcome dose of optimism, Jan — thank you. I’ll check out those recommendations. It’s heartening to know there are groups like this making a difference.
Thanks for this excellent, if dispiriting, summary of the situation.
Many thanks.
A perfect summary. Thank you.
Thank you — much appreciated.
I have lived in the UK all my life and in recent years have become more and more disillusioned and saddened by the way things are deteriorating. This piece states very clearly what has gone wrong and why. I can't see any signs of things improving in the near future, but I really hope they will and the British spirit will somehow rally again.
That sense of disillusionment seems increasingly widespread. I’m not currently based in the UK, but I feel it too, perhaps because I still have such deep affection for the country of my birth.
I’ve grown more pessimistic over the years, but oddly, trying to diagnose the problems brings a strange kind of relief. I use The Times like therapy some days. And maybe if more people start to see things clearly, there’s still a chance of renewal.
I think I know what you mean about the relief gained from diagnosing the problem, making sense of things does bring a comfort of sorts and puts things on the mind map more clearly. In amongst the grim news there are often little beams of light, and I try to find them and focus on them to balance out the pessimism. Recently I've signed up to Looking For Growth - thanks to a Times article - and am impressed with their efforts. I also appreciate the work being done by Surfers Against Sewage and hope that more of these groups will form and help to turn the tide of entitled apathy that has allowed things to deteriorate and rubbish and vandalism to proliferate. There are still lovely things about living in the UK tho, and if enough of us wake up and make enough noise then maybe things will improve. I hope so anyway.
A very welcome dose of optimism, Jan — thank you. I’ll check out those recommendations. It’s heartening to know there are groups like this making a difference.