This was the view this morning from the Kymin, the big hill behind Monmouth, looking towards Abergavenny, the Blorange and the Skirrid. I’ve never seen it so clear.

This was the view this morning from the Kymin, the big hill behind Monmouth, looking towards Abergavenny, the Blorange and the Skirrid. I’ve never seen it so clear.
“We call our islands by no less than six different names, England, Britain, Great Britain, the British Isles, the United Kingdom and, in very exalted moments, Albion. How can one make a pattern out of this muddle?”
George Orwell, The Lion and the Unicorn
This BBC News article, combined with a recent visit to the USA reminded me of the misunderstanding that exists in the minds of not just Americans and others but – embarrassingly – English people about when to use the word words England and English. I should stress that I don’t believe it’s malicious; more a bad habit whose avoidance can prevent giving offence to those born in the constituent countries of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland outside England. I also stress that I’m no constitutional expert: my own qualifications are merely having been born in England and living in Wales.
In short England is used wrongly to refer to the sovereign state whose formal name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This misuse went on in political circles until relatively recently, with Winston Churchill speaking during World War Two of ‘England’ when he was referring to the aformentioned sovereign state. Or was he? There’s an essay for a first year PPE student.
Recent devolution of some government powers away from the United Kingdom government and parliament in Westminster to Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland have served to make this issue more important to handle sensitively.
My guide for the uncertain:
I walked from Monmouth to Tintern along the Wye Valley today and took this at Bigsweir, half way between Wales and England.
The confluence of the Monnow and Wye Rivers: the mouth of the Monnow. Whence presumably comes the name of the town, Monmouth, nearby.
Went for a walk here today as I hadn’t seen the countryside on this side of town. Picture is taken with my mobile phone so very wide angle too much foreground!) and panorama stitching a bit iffy.
Monmouth is to be one of the beneficiaries of the Sustrans connect2 scheme after the project was the winner of the People’s £50 Million Lottery Giveaway recently. The scheme aims to provide cycle and foot paths into town across the Wye and Monnow rivers, going some way to restoring the town’s connection with these rivers.
A sign in one of Monmouth’s main car parks states that Monmouthshire County Council “excepts no liability” for loss or damage to property. So if it excepts no liability does that mean that it accepts all liabilities?
Technorati Tags: Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Wales, English, signs, spelling, typo, language
Originally uploaded by Monnowman.
The Monnow bridge in Monmouth was nearly inundated by a high water level today. This photo was taken mid-morning on Monday.
Flooding has brought huge problems in the neighbouring county of Gloucestershire.
Found this in the Monmouth group on Flickr.com. It’s the medieval bridge over the Monnow River at Monmouth shortly before it joins the River Wye (hence Monnow-mouth…Monmouth…geddit?).
It certainly looked picturesque that day. Why is it never that pretty when I walk past?!
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