Where Are You Really From?
A Conversation about Belonging
Barry and Margaret Williamson
January 2024
Since September 2021, it has been compulsory to have a UK sticker on the rear of a vehicle while travelling abroad, even if the number plate already contains a 'GB'. According to the Government, the “UK symbolises our unity as a nation”. According to people we have met on the mainland of Europe, it just symbolises yet more post-Brexit confusion.
This UK sticker has given rise to numerous interactions and conversations with fellow travellers on numerous mainland campsites. Reactions have ranged from amusement to derision and from curiosity to sympathy. Sometimes we only have to mention the dreaded word ‘Brexit’ for it to be understood as just another part of that insanity. Who could have voted for that. They ask looking pitying on.
Here is a typica conversation with fellow campers, let’s call them Karl and Heidi - ambling past the back of our motorhome.
Karl Look at that, UK, do you think they’re from Ukraine?
Heidi Surely not, they wouldn’t be here on holiday in a motorhome.
Karl That sticker looks rather cheap plastic just stuck on the back, it can’t be official.
Heidi Perhaps it’s just a sign of support for Ukraine.
Karl Probably. It’s better than having a Ukrainian flag which people may not recognise.
Margaret intervenes, having overheard this conversation, speaking in English, French or German as appropriate.
Margaret No, we aren’t from Ukraine, although we do support them.
Heidi So what does the UK mean?
Margaret UK stands for the United Kingdom.
Karl What do you mean, ‘United Kingdom’?
Margaret Well, we have a Queen (at that time) and all our four countries are united.
Karl The Queen has a Kingdom?
Margaret Well, the previous one was a king, and the next one will be a King.
Heidi What four countries?
Margaret England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Karl I’m sure I read somewhere that Northern Ireland was still in the EU.
Margaret Well, it is to some extent but it is still part of the UK.
Heidi Which part?
Karl Interrupting. I thought that Scotland wanted independence.
Margaret (Ignoring the last two remarks) The government likes to think that we are united.
Karl But your official number plate says GB. Why is that?
Margaret It stands for ‘Great Britain’.
Heidi What’s that? Is it different from a United Kingdom?
Margaret It’s England, Wales, Scotland and lots of little islands.
Karl What happened to Northern Ireland? Did you remove it?
Margaret No, it is part of the British Isles but it was never in Great Britain.
Heidi Does that mean that it wasn’t Great?
Margaret despairs
Karl Why is Britain Great?
Margaret I guess we used to think so, certainly before Boris Johnson and Brexit.
Karl So have you changed from UK to GB or the other way round or are you both?
Margaret We are both, except for Northern Ireland. Since last September, cars must say UK.
Heidi Is it official, have you got permission?
Margaret Oh yes, the government did inform the United Nations last July.
Karl I’ve seen some motorhomes with ‘Ecosse’ on the back. What’s that?
Margaret It’s French for ‘Scotland’, something that Scottish Nationalists use.
Heidi Why?
Margaret Please don't ask them.
Karl What about FR that I can see there?
Margaret Its a part of England called 'Forest and Fens', somewhere like Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
Karl Is that where you are from?
Margaret Oh no It's just where the motorhome happened to be first registered.
Heidi Looking more closely. That’s the EU flag on your number plate.
Margaret We say that’s for the Sake of Auld Lang Syne.
Heidi What’s that?
Margaret It’s Scottish. It means for the sake of the old days, of former good times.
Karl Overall, it does seem to me that you are neither United nor Great.
Margaret Looks like it.
Heidi To sum up, where are you really from?
Margaret England! Well, Yorkshire really. Although I’m from Lancashire originally and my grandad was Irish.
Heidi and Karl In unison. Enough!
Conclusion: Great? United? Better not to use adjectives when naming a country. Things can change!
January 2024
Since September 2021, it has been compulsory to have a UK sticker on the rear of a vehicle while travelling abroad, even if the number plate already contains a 'GB'. According to the Government, the “UK symbolises our unity as a nation”. According to people we have met on the mainland of Europe, it just symbolises yet more post-Brexit confusion.
This UK sticker has given rise to numerous interactions and conversations with fellow travellers on numerous mainland campsites. Reactions have ranged from amusement to derision and from curiosity to sympathy. Sometimes we only have to mention the dreaded word ‘Brexit’ for it to be understood as just another part of that insanity. Who could have voted for that. They ask looking pitying on.
Here is a typica conversation with fellow campers, let’s call them Karl and Heidi - ambling past the back of our motorhome.
Karl Look at that, UK, do you think they’re from Ukraine?
Heidi Surely not, they wouldn’t be here on holiday in a motorhome.
Karl That sticker looks rather cheap plastic just stuck on the back, it can’t be official.
Heidi Perhaps it’s just a sign of support for Ukraine.
Karl Probably. It’s better than having a Ukrainian flag which people may not recognise.
Margaret intervenes, having overheard this conversation, speaking in English, French or German as appropriate.
Margaret No, we aren’t from Ukraine, although we do support them.
Heidi So what does the UK mean?
Margaret UK stands for the United Kingdom.
Karl What do you mean, ‘United Kingdom’?
Margaret Well, we have a Queen (at that time) and all our four countries are united.
Karl The Queen has a Kingdom?
Margaret Well, the previous one was a king, and the next one will be a King.
Heidi What four countries?
Margaret England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Karl I’m sure I read somewhere that Northern Ireland was still in the EU.
Margaret Well, it is to some extent but it is still part of the UK.
Heidi Which part?
Karl Interrupting. I thought that Scotland wanted independence.
Margaret (Ignoring the last two remarks) The government likes to think that we are united.
Karl But your official number plate says GB. Why is that?
Margaret It stands for ‘Great Britain’.
Heidi What’s that? Is it different from a United Kingdom?
Margaret It’s England, Wales, Scotland and lots of little islands.
Karl What happened to Northern Ireland? Did you remove it?
Margaret No, it is part of the British Isles but it was never in Great Britain.
Heidi Does that mean that it wasn’t Great?
Margaret despairs
Karl Why is Britain Great?
Margaret I guess we used to think so, certainly before Boris Johnson and Brexit.
Karl So have you changed from UK to GB or the other way round or are you both?
Margaret We are both, except for Northern Ireland. Since last September, cars must say UK.
Heidi Is it official, have you got permission?
Margaret Oh yes, the government did inform the United Nations last July.
Karl I’ve seen some motorhomes with ‘Ecosse’ on the back. What’s that?
Margaret It’s French for ‘Scotland’, something that Scottish Nationalists use.
Heidi Why?
Margaret Please don't ask them.
Karl What about FR that I can see there?
Margaret Its a part of England called 'Forest and Fens', somewhere like Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
Karl Is that where you are from?
Margaret Oh no It's just where the motorhome happened to be first registered.
Heidi Looking more closely. That’s the EU flag on your number plate.
Margaret We say that’s for the Sake of Auld Lang Syne.
Heidi What’s that?
Margaret It’s Scottish. It means for the sake of the old days, of former good times.
Karl Overall, it does seem to me that you are neither United nor Great.
Margaret Looks like it.
Heidi To sum up, where are you really from?
Margaret England! Well, Yorkshire really. Although I’m from Lancashire originally and my grandad was Irish.
Heidi and Karl In unison. Enough!
Conclusion: Great? United? Better not to use adjectives when naming a country. Things can change!