I knew that book would arrive on the day I didn't bring a bag

[alexsarll]

Every now and then, when I'm reading the news, I come across something which sets off my internal loop of 'Land of Hope and Glory'.
Apparently Britons "go to more concerts, films, plays, galleries and libraries than almost anyone in Europe. They even manage to visit more ruins and monuments than the Italians."
What really seals the beauty of this, though - "the one area where they lag behind the other major nations of Europe is sport. More French, Italians and Spanish than British go to a course or stadium."
Truly we are the chosen people.

[Poll #441380]

Most of my anti-monotheist ire seems to end up directed at Catholicism or Islam, but just so we're clear on the ecumenicality of my hatred, here's a brilliant article about the Greek Orthodox church featuring "a 91-year-old bishop naked in bed with a nubile young woman", nightclub drug dealing by Metropolitan Theoklitos of Thessaly, and a cleric who had a gay affair with a bishop before "leaving the church to embark on a career as a fashion designer in Paris".

edit: Dan, which bit of 'none of the above' is unclear?

Comments

[tiny-tear.livejournal.com]

You need to see if he will turn up
;-)

And if Formula 1 was cheaper I would have gone to a sporting event...

Does me going karting count as a sporting event? If yes I shall need to change my answer

[tiny-tear.livejournal.com]

And I just remembered I did go to a Library... just accompanying Anwen though... I don't really do libraries

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure whether they count participating in sport, actually. Or participating in any of the other activities, come to that. But then I suppose there can't be many actors who don't also attend other plays...

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

I really have to get over the library thing. Perhaps I could mock up some fake ID to get new membership. Oh god. I feel ashamed whenever people ask me the last time I went to a library.

I rarely see theatre, I admit. It's a closed world. Should I see more?

(Greek Orth church = awesome BTW I have some grebt stories abt them but I think yours is pretty darned good)

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I had probably had more than a year away from the theatre before Aladdin, tbh.

Surely with all the librarians we know you can get the price taken off your head?

[beingjdc.livejournal.com]

No concert unless gigs count. Sporting event I don't think so, not really. Well, unless you count watching ksta's flatmate play rugby from a safe distance. Anyway, Babyshambles have some ace tunes, the trainwreck's the problem.

[rentaghost31.livejournal.com]

i wouold have assumed that gigs come under the definition of concert. otherwise I shall have to change my answer

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I'm taking 'concerts' at its widest meaning, just as I'm taking theatre to include panto. I don't recognise high art/low art divides.

[ex-dumbgenius.livejournal.com]

I have, in fact, been to a monument or ruin in Italy. Do I win?

Also I am now going to a library. I don't remember going to a theatre, although I am going to that Savoy Theatre sometime soon. Nor do I remember going to a concert, which means I prob haven't.

[ex-dumbgenius.livejournal.com]

"a 91-year-old bishop naked in bed with a nubile young woman"

Why do we hate this? Jealousy?

[ex-dumbgenius.livejournal.com]

Interviewees in the countries that made up the EU until its enlargement last year were asked if they had been to any one of a series of cultural events in the previous 12 months.

I am thinking that perhaps Italians would not be able to admit to visiting a ruin or monument in the last 12 months because they prob live in one.

[suicideally.livejournal.com]

Though I should point out the "sporting event" was the Goths vs Whitby Gazette match.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I would be guilty on similar grounds if only last year hadn't been such a wash-out for bonving.

[juliet]

Might be lying about the monument - oh no, visited the Abbey at Whitby.

Go see Babyshambles! Because I can't be arsed staying (probably) & would like to know what I missed.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Also, if one's a Londoner then it's pretty hard to go that long without visiting a monument - at the very least you're going to end up casting the odd glance at Westminster or Nelson's Column once a year.

Your Babyshambles logic is, I fear, less than compelling. I'm not the miner's canary/dancing monkey for my friendslist!
Oh, wait - I am, aren't I?

[violentbec.livejournal.com]

ruins were in turkey, does that count?

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

It's about nationalities rather than nations, so yes.

[london-imp.livejournal.com]

I don't think watching Lincoln City counts as an event itself, more like pure theatre!

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I am currently doing the swishing 'over my head' gesture.

[missfrost.livejournal.com]

I can't really answer question 2 as I wondered the same.
Does bowling count as "a sporting event?" If so I can tick all (except the none of the above, obv.)

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

If you can maintain a pint while engaged in an activity, it's a game rather than a sport.

[publicansdecoy.livejournal.com]

Does wandering drunken and confused past The Monument count?

-x-

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

As long as you actually gazed in awe for a moment or two before stumbling on your way.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Ha! Yes, stay for Babyshambles, they're only on at 8.45pm (allegedly) as Pete has to be in bed by midnight or he will turn into a pumpkin. They extended his 10pm curfew especially.

Does stand up comedy count as theatre? I saw Richard Herring last week so that counts, right? However I imagine watching the lads play football in Vicky Park last summer doesn't count as a sporting event.

Hmm. I haven't taken my GK shirt off since yesterday's soundcheck (fell asleep in clothes at 5am).

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I thought it was only for tomorrow that he'd had the extension?

Comedy...hmmm. They probably left that out because it would skew results against the Germans. (/stereotyping)

[alexdecampi.livejournal.com]

On the subject of theatre, you need to go see Derek Jacobi in DON CARLOS. It is awesome, and only on for a very short time.

Caught the first preview night of the Donmar's DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES last week. All about an Irish couple and their battle with alcohol addiction. It was a fine and harrowing piece, but as I left, all I could think was, "damn, I need a drink". Not exactly the intended reaction, methinks.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I have had the film version of DoWaR taped for ages, but have still not got round to watching it. Given I am the man who wanted Leaving Las Vegas re-edited as a comedy, it will probably have the same effect on me.

Is Don Carlos part of that Spanish Golden Age season?

[p-dan-tic.livejournal.com]

several days over the last 12 months I have done "none of the above" ;)

nb for the purpose of that poll I'm not including wrestling as a sport.....

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

wait a minute, our results appear to match pretty well with the actual ones, ooh spooky...

[ex-dumbgenius.livejournal.com]

I think they get their poll data from barrysarll's future posts.

[davebushe.livejournal.com]

There is a whole lot more available on a more regular basis in London so for the last few years I've made a point of going to see things. It would be a shame not to. Lots more gigs, lots more museums and a few monuments here and there.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

wow, that's what i mean to do also. however teh pubbe often gets in the way (especially in the case of gigs). well done you if you actually do it :)

[innerbrat]

Does it count if we work in one?

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I reckon so.

[thermaland.livejournal.com]

They even manage to visit more ruins (...) than the Italians."

Yes but isn't that because many of use live in them?

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I think someone already did that joke...

Really

[dr-deadmeat.livejournal.com]

don't put yourself through Babyshambles. He's not even entertaining wasted, it's all so rehearsed.

Re: Really

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Posting this more than an hour after the concert finished did rather limit its usefulness...