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Abby S's avatar

I wonder if you're mainly talking about London and the home counties, which I find increasingly blase about unkind behaviour. And I'm always pleasantly surprised by the kindness and warmth of places further north, where there seems to be more sense of community. I grew up Glasgow, which has a gritty kindness that is missing in the affluent South. You find it in most places in Scotland and the North of England (can't speak for Wales) . It may not run to free nuts with a drink, which is more of a cultural thing, but it's there in other ways. It's there in the affluent South too, but you have to look hard for it. That's my experience anyway.

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Stella Tsantekidou's avatar

I love the Brits, the UK is my adopted homeland, but I have to agree that the tightness and lack of generosity extends to more than just feelings. I always assigned this to the fact that communities are not as tight knit, everyone has to move flats every other year and you have to buy everything. In Greece it is very common for people to have family members who grow some kind of vegetable or raise chickens or whatever and share those goods liberally. My mom is an accountant and does the accounting of old people in our neighbourhood for free. It is also common for people to live with family which has its ups and downs. Before I came to the UK Greek students shared amongst ourselves the “horror” story of British parents charging their offspring rent to live in the home they grew up in after they graduated but a quick scan of the Times comment section makes you realise it’s very much a normal thing for many people here. Having said that, as mean as Brits can be they can be just as grateful and giving once you make the first move. I like to view them as grumpy little onions, and my job as a seasoned Greek cook is to pull the layers back till I get to the sweet middle. The juice is worth the squeeze. Great piece x

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