Hi all,

Britain is a small island in the North Sea and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean.

Our weather is the constant subject of British conversation. Our weather changes every day and is not predictable.

In summer, the rain is slightly warmer than in winter.

Were the Empire buiders motivated to find lands that were warmer and drier than Britain?

The maps of the British Empire seemed to only include countries that were desirable holiday destinations.

Over 25% of the world was part of the British Empire and was the largest 'holiday Empire' in history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire

There was no attempt by the Empire builders to include Europe. Who in their right mind would go to Europe in order to find the Sun

It seems strange to me that at the height of British Empire building the home industrial economy was strong.

The only logical answer was a search for international sunbeds and beaches.


Where should I go find the sun?

This is me in holiday mode:





Best Regards,
MB_Avro.

to the penisular and the orient, give me my pimms now boy...

on an aside, kinda backfired for old Cook though, little bit hotter than he expected.

fruitbat

I had a Cambridge-educated professor (thus, more than a bit "Red") who maintained the Empire was the healthy outlet for all the slightly mad, like Clive, who conquered India in an opium fog.

Only mad dogs and Englishmen...

Yea, it must be the rain and cold. What self- respecting African or Asian or any other warm country inhabitant would go galavanting about in such hot weather? Sit back, laze about and drink mango...

England on the other hand has cold, rain and grey weather nearly 24/7 and people have to do something to get out of it, so what`s better than Empire building? And all those hot people in warm countries will be far too busy relaxing to do much about it.

England, a damp foggy island nor-noreast of Ushant. (From C.S forresters Hornblower books)
Well the weather isn't that bad is it. Atleast not in the east midlands.
Economic development can be corelated with climate, so in a sense, the rapid industrialisation and later empire building can be attributed to the weather. Or it can be the drive to find new kinds of alcohol, how can one make rum without sugareeds for instance.

There is an old joke that a true Englishman need know only two phrases in any foreign language:

1) Do you speak English?
2) Fetch someone who does!

I think I would like to live in Great Britain.That´s my kind of weather.And the English countryside,rolling hills and hedgerows.
I liked to watch the BBC program "Escape to the country".Seeing those small villages with red phoneboths and small cornershops....get a warm fuzzy feeling inside.Maybe I was an Englishman in my former life

I was in England one summer and I thought it was a beautiful place,

however,I wasnt there for very long so I can't judge the weather.

But, did'nt the British Empire include Canada and parts of Greenland? Those are places cold enough to freeze your pi$$ to a tree and you with it.



(This is slightly off to the side but still a little on-topic)

when I saw this thread,

this was the first thing I thought of,

...so I just have to post this link. I just have to because its just so damn funny.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzcLQRXW6B0&feature=related

I think all the colonial empires of all European powers were caused by European males fleeing their wives -who finally found them wherever they hid.

quote:

Originally posted by DuxCorvan:
I think all the colonial empires of all European powers were caused by European males fleeing their wives -who finally found them wherever they hid.

There maybe some truth to this.

Men sought adventure via the Empire. It was viewed as a 'right of passage'. At the time in Britain, the vast majority of people never ventured beyond their home town.

Dux..you are rivalling my avatar. This site isn't big enough for the both of us


Best Regards,
MB_Avro.

quote:

Originally posted by MB_Avro_UK:
This site isn't big enough for the both of us

OK. If I close my legs tight, and you lose weight, we may fit in it.

Thread was stuck on Avros reply(forum software playing up),one of you will deffinately have to go!

quote:

Originally posted by M2morris:
But, did'nt the British Empire include Canada and parts of Greenland?

Canada perhaps, Greenland was a part of the Norwegian (sic!) North Sea Empire until someone forgot it was actually Norwegian in 1814, and it has since belonged to Denmark. The Danes, not great skiers by nature, has been very cooperative with every Greenlandian effort to become independent.

I always though the Empire thing was an excuse to go somewhere where you have a medical reason to drink Gin-Tonic.

quote:

Originally posted by steiner562:
Thread was stuck on Avros reply(forum software playing up),one of you will deffinately have to go!

But I have the biggest Pith Helmet. Does that count?

Best Regards,
MB_Avro.

quote:

But I have the biggest Pith Helmet. Does that count?

Avro, let's not turn this into a pithing match!