English and Proud of it !

Friday 23rd April

So here we are on Friday the 23rd of April. Saint George’s day and Shakespeare’s birthday.

Wednesday just gone was also the Queen’s Birthday – don’t remember if it was her real or official one.

With all this happening this week, and with me undergoing some strange attack of patriotism – I have been trying to track down some English event this week to celebrate it all (well, to go and drink and socialise at…) but I have found absolutely nothing.

In a final last ditch attempt to find out what is going on (or not as the case appears) I contact my liaison at the British Embassy here in Phnom Penh.

‘Sorry, Darren’ he apologises, ‘we used to have a budget for holding parties and things for such occasions, but they have just cut the amount down and down over the years. These days it is just about all we can do to offer you a coffee when you come round to see us.’’

Outrageous!

I mean, what is the point of having a British Embassy that does not hold an Embassy ball every now and then ?

Forget about Visa’s, lost passports, pending criminal charges and all that tourist lot. What about those of us who live out here? What about our needs ??

All in all a very poor showing.

So, not to be defeated by the wealth of inertia sweeping across all Englishmen abroad, I set about launching an Email and Text campaign to rally the troops to a central drinking point this evening.

So far I have; 2 Scots, 1 Irish, 2 Aussies and 3 of my Khmer colleagues who have no idea what I am banging on about, but they think it must be important to me so they will do whatever I ask of them.

I am sure I would have had more success if I had just said ‘’Its Friday, lets go drink beer’

It is sad but true, as a nation, we are an apathetic bunch these days.

At least I managed to get a red rose for my buttonhole this morning.

‘‘Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George’’

D