Benidorm flying the flag
Flying your country’s national flag should be a proud occasion… except when it comes to the Brits. The English St George flag is deemed racist by the politically correct and now the BBC management has stepped up a notch, by banning Rule Britannia from being sung at the Last Night of the Proms because of the perceived association with colonialism and slavery. In addition, Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No1 – which most will certainly recognise as Land of Hope and Glory will be played but not sung. Initially they announced that they were both to be banned, then following backlash said that orchestral versions of the patriotic songs would be performed. It is what makes the occasion, watching the flag waving audience singing their hearts out.
My goodness, you couldn’t make it up. The hierarchy at the BBC are far too worried about how they appear and in the current BLM protests across the world and even tried to blame COVID-19 as the reason. A petition gained over 20,000 signatures in just 24 hours after news broke about the ban and many viewers ask to cancel the licence fee. Apparently even bungling BoJo has signalled that he would not be happy if they were ditched and indicated that he does not support the BBC’s decision. The concert is due to take place on September 12 at the Royal Albert
Hall but sadly, this year without an audience.
Here in Benidorm the Union Jack can be seen flying from numerous bars, especially those in the Rincon de Loix area, popular with the British holidaymakers. And it’s not just in British establishments, the Spanish ones have them too – realising which side their bread is buttered no doubt! But there is certainly nothing shameful about it like there is back in the UK. We even have the ‘Union Jack Bar’ here … and very popular it is too!
With the exception of this year, St George’s Day is a wellrecognised event here, with Brits turning out year after year to celebrate – but not yet on quite the same scale as St Patrick’s Day. The launch of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal is another huge annual event here in Benidorm but I fear the pomp and ceremony will sadly be cancelled like virtually every other fiesta has been this year too. Chelsea Pensioners Skippy and Wayne have been coming over for the last number of years to launch the appeal and always mobbed by fans, wanting a picture with them in their distinctive scarlet coats. It certainly won’t be the same this year and I think we all wish we could just get 2020 over and done with and start afresh with 2021. It almost feels like I have been hard done by having invested in a diary for this year – a vast chunk remains empty or crossed out. But strictly speaking it was a personalised one, beautifully embossed from Papier which my daughter bought me for Christmas… wonder if she’ll bother this year! Everyone tries to convince me to use the calendar app on my iPhone, but I like to physically write things down on a week to a view so I can flick through and see appointments at a glance. Old school.
Well September will be upon us next week and the nights will be drawing in. I can already see the difference with sunrise now taking place after 7am and sunsets well before 9pm. There is nothing more magical than watching either and now with more socially acceptable times, I get out to witness them fairly often. Just a little reminder that there are
“only” 118 sleeps left till the C word – no I point blank refuse to say it in August! I am surprised that Iceland haven’t got their festive merchandise in yet although on Wednesday I did notice the selection tubs at the end of an aisle and somehow managed to resist. Perhaps my ongoing dental treatment, at vast cost has something to do with that rather than willpower. The television adverts will soon be playing although with the current crisis the world is in, maybe it will make everyone stop and think before spending vast amounts of money on unnecessary tat for the sake of it. Let’s remember the true meaning of the occasion and be content to be with those closest to us, whether that be family or friends and just appreciate each other and that we have manged to overcome this terrible year intact and together. www.benidormallyearround.com