UK
Man, I inadvertantly created a monster.
:help
Let me try and repair some bits that have gone crazy.:rolleyes
Hopefully, without sounding smug and self satisfied.
I am an Irish-American (Mom born and raised speaking Gaelic in Connemara), Dad from Chicago. I was born in London, raised in LA (where my bro, Mom Aunts etc still live and which I consider home).
I finished my education at University in England, married a Geordie girl (European specialist who runs IT in Europe and Africa for the most recognised symbol of the US on earth..burp) and have two very posh privately educated "English" kids. (lucky old me....them!).
I also have a Geordie mother in law....:bang ... but let's carry on with the positives.
I have 15 first cousins in Australia and every one of them whupped me at whatever sport we played..(even the girls). I love Australia!!!
Yes, even I watched the last few overs of both the Edgbaston and Old Trafford Tests
and I generally hate cricket.
I love Europe and France has the best standard of living in the world (life -work balance and climate / countryside, oh and I speak fluent French). :speech
I joke about Britain and I do hate the climate and the price of gas but what I do love about this little island is the people. The self depriciatory sense of humour, irony and modesty and lack of xenophobic, nationalistic, tub thumping bigotry, disguised as patriotism that has so scarred much of my beloved USA.
(Please note airbond.) (And believe me guys "Old Glory" still flies at my window and will 'till they bury me.)
I would move back to the US tomorrow, just to bask in the sunshine and pay $2.50 for gas, so would my kids, but until the mother in law "pops her clogs" my wife would not, so here I am.
I have travelled throughout the world on business and for pleasure and the only place I hated was China (pre the Tianmen square incident.)
So... I love the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, India, Ireland and the UK and even love the "cheese eating surrender monkeys" and their friends in Europe. (Yes, my SUV was built in South Carolina but wears a German badge..You can't beat German engineering).:toast
What I also love is my Sideshow collection and this here board and it's wonderful interplay of nationalities united in their appreciation of this hobby.
Dave, Frankenfan, Creech, MiskatonicNick , Frodoeyes, Ironman, Gooball etc.....all from other sides of the Globe but united in their love (however it is expressed) for Sideshow.
So stop buggering about in what Dr Johnson called "the last refuge of scoundrels"..patriotism, and hug the wider world of the Sideshow fanatic!!!
And Sideshow please send me my Oz, my Xander, my Highlanders (and for my unapologetic sycophancy please announce Giles in the newsletter).
PS lastly, Screaming, as a moden History MA specialising in World war Two, (tragically long enough ago to have almost been there), I have never seen a link drawn between the Austrian "Corporal" Hitler and the Royal line of Queen Victoria?????????
Although as an "Irish Republican" the thought does make me snigger. :skull