Shopping: The New British Religion

It’s December, 26th. Boxing day in early nineteenth century Britain. Boxes of presents and food are being passed from lords to servants, and priests in churches are opening Christmas (charity) boxes to distribute their contents between the poor and needy.

Take a time leap of 200 years, and embrace the Boxing Day mayhem of 21st century Britain; it is centered round the new worshiped Trinity; shop, shop, shop!

Queues and queues of people are filling the streets; the shops; fighting their way to grab the best bargain on a (Wii)game, a (NEXT) blouse or that (ARGOS) HD TV.

The January sales they call it, it’s January blues for me! As if people haven’t spent their last penny on Christmas gifts already, they’re tempted now to drain their credit accounts even more with what may look like a good bargain.

Shopping is being enrooted in the British culture by a capitalist corporate society, where it is practiced as a religion that heals the soul for which the term “retail therapy” is widely used!
You’re just back from the shops after maneuvering half an hour of allocating a parking space, two hours struggling to find what you need in the labyrinth of the supermarket isles, and another half an hour at the till. You turn on the Telly, and yet again, more shopping: a woman is advising on how to get the best bargain for your winter wardrobe, well, give me a break! Even the children programs are interrupted every 15 minutes to present adverts for endless demands and shopping lists!

Can shopping really feed the souls of the British, is it therapeutical as they claim? Can one never have enough Play Station games? Nike trainers? Football teamwear?

The problem with the British society today, as with most of other nations, really, is the new money culture; the material way of thinking, where either you Have or Have not. People are consumed by capitalism after fighting it for many centuries. Where nations like France, fought all means of social discrimination when they announced their revolution in 1789, where no more giving to the rich and taking from the poor is allowed. We are now doing the exact opposite; we are the new slaves of capitalism, where the money power franchises and brands are getting stronger and richer everyday. Thanks to shopping alcoholics who spend and spend more and more, and empower the business mentality to take over, demolishing all the virtues of the dignified society we all wish to enjoy!

Billy Connolly Really Cracks Me Up!

Billy Connolly is a great Scottish comedian. I think that he represents Glasgow very well. He can be the guy that stacks up the shelves at ASDA, or that person from the local pub or even the taxi driver! In fact, anyone you meet in Glasgow can be a Billy Connolly project in progress, except that Billy has made it to international fame.

The most loveable thing about Glaswegian people is that; despite their long history of hard work, meager life and poverty, they have managed to excel in their cheerfulness and wit.
Glaswegians are up for a conversation anytime. They’re very friendly people with lots of stories to share; about their work, their neighbours, their grandweans..etc. It doenst matter to them if you’re a close friend or a complete stranger, you’ll enjoy a bit of true Scottish blather in a Glasgow patter style-the same style that shot Billy Connolly to fame, just anytime anywhere round Glasgow!

Three Projects…One Scotland!

The political furor over Donald Trump's plans to build a £500m golf course on the north-east coast of Scotland is, in my modest opinion, unjustifiable. I can totally understand the Scottish conservation and pride. However, I can’t come to terms with refusing an offer from the multi-billionaire tycoon to inject some money into some forgotten areas of Aberdeenshire? Truth is, that the councilor who cast the deciding vote to reject the scheme, was sacked by his colleagues. Yes, councilors voted by 26 to 10 to remove Martin Ford from his role as chairman of the infrastructure services committee. ..Fair enough, Mr Ford, may I say!

That brings to mind the last dispute over backing the bid of Glasgow to become the location for the UK’s first Las Vegas-style super-casino. Of course, Glasgow lost that bid to Manchester, because not enough Scottish officials supported that bid, which would have resulted in the creation of up to 2,500 jobs and an increase in visitor numbers to the city…shame! Although I am not very keen on the super-casino themes either, as they would cause crime and antisocial behavior to rise, and vulnerable groups of society like the young and the elderly, could be lured into gambling as a result, I am still in favor of the golf resort, though! A golf resort in Scotland is a fantastic idea; it will serve the community by providing job opportunities to the whole of Scotland, who can say no to such an initiative?


Another project that may not see the light, and that is for a six-star hotel in the city center area. Plans have been revealed yesterday for the £125m high-rise hotel, which will replace some vacant shop units in the area. The hotel is the vision of London-based businessman Charles Price, of Progress Property Developments. The 26-storey, six-star Argyle International, with 158 rooms and rooftop swimming pool, will occupy the corner of Argyle Street and Robertson Street, directly across from the SAS Radisson Hotel. The hotel will feature a range of facilities - expected to make it one of the most luxurious and well-equipped in the country…interesting!


The problem with the above three projects, according to many, is that they target an elite small segment of the Scottish community. How many poor people around Glasgow can afford to have dinners at the Argyle hotel, or play Golf at Mr Trump’s resort, or even try a bit of luck at the super-intended to be-casino? …None! All of these projects are foreign investment opportunities alien to the actual urban setting. None of these projects address the real needs of the Scottish community as a whole, and Glasgow’s own social problems in particular.
The Scots are sending a message that they’re not interested in any foreign investments, in a “keep yer money tae yer selves” sort of way!

Asthma Inhaler Anyone? Or a Vitamin D Supplement Will Just Do for Now??

Asthma.org.uk reports that there are 5.2 million people in the UK who are receiving treatment for asthma: 1.1 million children (1 in 10) and 4.1 million adults (1 in 12). Vitamin D deficiency is very common, and really worrying. It seems that lack of sunshine exposure, wet weather and stay in-door no-other-choice lifestyle just adds to the problem. Apparently, there are other complications of vitamin D deficiency, which includes rickets; a disease which causes bow legs, and surprisingly recorded the highest number of cases amongst the Asian community, due to darker skin colour: which reduces sunlight absorption. Worrying stats that makes me keenly tempted to just pack my cases, head back to the desert, build a wee shack and just spend the coming three years sun-bathing, to make up for all the sunshine and goodness I was denied here in Britain! not having a proper lavatory facility in the desert should be the last thing to worry about, or shouldn’t it???

Scottish Football Mania!

One thing I can’t understand, is the Scots obsession with football! Last night’s Celtic game with AC Milan recorded a triumph for Celtic as they qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, thanks to a late goal from Scott McDonald. Not too many of the Scots I knew rejoiced though, as most of them were Rangers’ fans. However, nothing could stop the faithful Celtic fans from celebrating. As soon as the second Celtic goal hit Milan’s net, I could hear fireworks blasting everywhere!

It somehow reminded me of June 2006, following England's exit in the quarterfinals of the World Cup at the hands of Portugal. The atmosphere felt almost the same; a pure Scottish triumph; fire works lit up the sky!

Being a dedicated fan is something that is learnt from a very early age. You see babies wearing stripes from as early as a few months old! Supporting a team is like a rite of passage; a young boy may follow his Daddy’s rituals of wearing the stripes, watching the game on TV or going to see the match live. Later, he may join him at the pub, or go with his own peers to cheer his favourite team to victory.
A “football fan” for a Scot is an honoury title; it gives a Scot self empowerment and a feeling of big achievement.
No mum or Dad is more proud than those of a football player. All the Scots want their children to play football; it’s every young boy’s dream.

Football has become an institutionalized sport in the UK in general, and in Scotland in particular. The Major matches are almost national holidays, with nearly all fans maneuvering ways to, almost religiously, watch the game live. It is the trademark of British “yob” culture, a big religion that swept the nation off its feet, and knocked down what was left of British saneness!

Food, Glorious Food!

When the French President Jacques Chirac made his famous comments about British food in the run-up to the G8 summit in Scotland in the summer of 2005, the British media went ballistic!! He actually declared to one of the papers that “the only thing that the English have ever done for European agriculture is mad cow disease”!!



The poor French president must be a man who honors good food, and who doesn’t? Surely British food is not on top of anybody’s favorites; and when it comes to food, who better to judge than the Brits all time favorite enemy: The French; who- to the Brits misfortune- possess one of the most refined cuisines of the world.

Thinking about British food, the first thing that comes to mind is, of course, Fish and Chips; the British traditional classic, which is alright! Then there is roast beef, sausages or any other cooked meat, served with a poor selection of vegetables, and some sauce or gravy. Full British Breakfast may include a variety of sausages, ham, baked beans, poached eggs and some toast, which fails to impress in any way! Pies are ugly variations of pastry and bad choices of fillings. Puddings, in general, lack the kick that you acquire from a sweet dish, they are very plain and ordinary.



Problem with British food is that it fails to impress; it is very straight to the point and not well- presented.

Coming to Britain from the Middle East, is a big transformation. Food in the Middle East is heritage, and cooking is a way of life. The British can never understand this because they come from a first world background, where the pace of life is quicker than spending time roasting onions, or boiling rice. Fortunately for us (Third World people), food is priority, and cooking is art.
We celebrate our food, and we socialize through eating together.

The British have borrowed most of their modern cuisine dishes; the most famous of all is curry, the classic Indian dish.

Aisles in supermarkets are filled with ready meals from all around the world. You can choose whatever tickles your fancy from hundreds and hundreds of different recipes. Unfortunately, these super market versions, although nicely-packed and perfectly how-to-cook instructed, lack the taste, aroma, and nutritional value of home made versions.

The island geography and climate affect food and agricultural produce, that’s why it’s rather common to find Jaffa oranges, Spanish tomatoes, Italian apples, Moroccan green beans, and many other international produce in retail in local shops and supermarkets here. All the imported-usually shipped- food produce never tastes as good as it does when it is freshly picked; Its sprayed with tens of pesticides in order for it to make it through to Britain. Local produce is discouraged, because of the high cost, so big supermarket chains rely on imported low quality food.

Consider your self lucky if you’re living in a place, where food is abundant, and where women still enjoy cooking for their families. If you were like me, a person from the Middle East, consider your self even luckier, that you still enjoy the delicacy of the simple life, and that your life is not yet as fast, as complicated, and as fast rhythmic as the British way of life!