I have friends from many different countries and I am often amazed at how passionately patriotic they are of their homeland. I have been told numerous times that America / Canada / Australia / New Zealand / China / South Africa is the greatest country in the world and that not only should I visit but I should move there because it is such a fantastic place.

Brits don’t tend to enthuse quite so much about their own country. In fact, most, seem to delight in telling a fellow ex-pat how grey / rainy / bleak / miserable the UK was on their last trip.

I am sometimes asked what exactly Britain produces now that the shipbuilding, textiles, coal, and steel industries have almost gone. It turns out that we are still very good at banking, insurance, and producing weapons. Not the most popular industries in the world right now.

Britain does however have numerous small companies that I am proud of Bowers and Wilkins (speakers), Marshall (amps), Lotus – (fast cars), Mclaren – (very fast cars), Dyson – (vacuum cleaners), The Body Shop  (cosmetics). Perhaps the company, or corporation to be precise, that I am most proud of is the B.B.C. 

The news section of the BBC is excellent, with correspondents around the world. It has also managed, for now at least, to keep the focus on the news rather than the news anchors (unlike CNN). The BBC  also seems less prone to get two people with extreme opposing opinions on an issue to shout at each other for 5 minutes and call it a serious debate.

Perhaps the BBC’s greatest jewel is its Natural History Unit – the largest wildlife documentary production house in the world. I grew up watching shows like David Attenborough’s Wildlife on One, Life on Earth, The Living Planet, The Trials of Life and Life in the Freezer.

The most recent productions Blue Planet (2001) and Planet Earth (2006) are truly amazing creations. Everything about them is first rate from the quality of the camera work through to the orchestral score.  Stunning. Enchanting. Inspirational.