A kinda-sorta defence of my city and country: all that medieval nonsense like the House of Commons and House of Lords not getting tea together still happens today because people think it's quirky and fun. There's also a convention that says you're not supposed to accuse other politicians of lying when you're in the Commons, leading to the classic example of one Member of Parliament accusing another of "being economical with the truth".
Fun essay! And I agree about the food: on a previous trip, I commented that we had had some of the best food we had ever eaten, and an English friend assumed I was being sarcastic. But no! I was talking about Chinese, Indian, . . . mmmmm.
A kinda-sorta defence of my city and country: all that medieval nonsense like the House of Commons and House of Lords not getting tea together still happens today because people think it's quirky and fun. There's also a convention that says you're not supposed to accuse other politicians of lying when you're in the Commons, leading to the classic example of one Member of Parliament accusing another of "being economical with the truth".
Oh, this makes sense—traditions are indeed quirky and fun. And I like “being economical with the truth” much better than the US version (“fake news”).
Great read! Love love me some London! Just wrote about my complex affinity for “her” a few days ago! https://substack.com/home/post/p-167930273?source=queue
Fun essay! And I agree about the food: on a previous trip, I commented that we had had some of the best food we had ever eaten, and an English friend assumed I was being sarcastic. But no! I was talking about Chinese, Indian, . . . mmmmm.
Snoopy did Bulwer-Lytton wrong! His novels are fun!
I guess I will have to check them out!