Brine is thicker than blood

Of interest to me is the news in the paper that we - the British - are genetically identical to the Germans, or at least, those Germans from Friesland, Holstein and Jutland. Still, the concept of a "people" is more than just flesh or blood. The difference, it seems, is due to the geographical fact of us being seperated from Europe, and as such, we've avoided the otherwise certain conquests by Philip II of Spain, Louis XIV of France, Napoleon and Hitler. Whereas we've gone 940 years without being succesfully invaded, the French have had five republics, two empires, two monarchies and three occupations since 1789. The Germans have had two republics, a monarchy, an empire, a dictatorship and two occupations. Spain has had three monarchies, two occupations, a dictatorship, two republics and a civil war. And so on. In return, we've had one monarchy. 21 miles of English Channel, we thank you. :-)

On another note, I was out for a few drinks last night at "Sleepers", one of the new wave of trendy pubs hitting Hull. In case you're thinking that I'm being a bit patriotic in the first paragraph, I'd like to point out that you can't beat a Czech lager. Or three...