Roaming Brit
  • Blog
  • The Story Of Us
  • Other Blogs
    • Forever Enduring Cycles Blog 2015 >
      • Forever Enduring Cycles
      • Bipolarcoaster
      • Books For Sale
  • Gallery
  • Spain
    • First Month
    • Three Months
    • Six Months
    • One Year
    • 2 Year Anniversary
    • Spanish Views
    • Gran Alacant >
      • GA Advertiser
      • Gran Alacant News
      • LoungeD
      • No Wives Club
  • About
    • New Life
    • Wedding
    • 21 Years
    • Timeline
    • My Story
    • Australia 2016/17
  • Guest Bloggers
    • Penelope Wren
    • Debra Rufini
    • Claire Coe
    • Richard Guy
    • Optimistic Mummy
    • Julie Rawlinson
    • Letters Of Hope
  • Links
  • Contact
  • My Writing
    • Short Stories From My Youth
    • Verruca Almond
    • The Streets

From a new life in spain, to an old life in britain, 'roaming brit' documents uncertain times!

Picture

On 31st January 2016, my partner and I left Southampton to start a new life as Expats in Gran Alacant, on the Costa Blanca. This blog will document our journey, as we navigate the Spanish system, travelling a path untried and untested. With Brexit looming, political turmoil in Europe and an unpredictable future, harsh decisions have to be made. Illness, family bonds and a Change of heart all make for challenging times in a life of a 'Roaming Brit!'

Picture

Are You Being Served!

13/7/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture

Picture
Wifi has been off for over twenty four hours now, so I have come to Zest to get some blogging done.  I have deadlines to meet.  There is nothing like sitting in the sun and writing.  It adds to inspiration.  I wanted to write a bit about one of my favourite programmes, 'Are You Being Served'.  

Yesterday I was sat at home with Jamie watching this comedy sitcom of the seventies and eighties. We haven’t done that in a while, not since we arrived in Gran Alacant, to be exact, nearly six months ago. To be honest I am not blogging live, while I am writing this, as the internet has been down all day, which is the reason I am watching ‘Are You Being Served!’ Darrell and Jamie are just off to the Bank to collect my card. Yes in Spain you can collect someone’s card for them. We are quite well known in these here parts anyway now, so they are well aware that we are all related as it were, some strange alternative family, if you like!

With no internet all day and a few hours before I return to work after siesta, Jamie has just put on the film of ‘Are You Being Served’ for me. I have written about this fabulous sitcom before, and I can’t say how much this television programme cheers me up. In the film, the staff of Grace Brothers travel to The Costa Plonka, for a works holiday. Acting like typical Brits abroad, the shenanigans that follow are hilarious.

Picture
​This was my favourite comedy, when I was growing up. It was the first time I became aware of my sexuality also. Mr Humphries was a role model for me, as strange as that may seem today. Apparently he is not PC enough, and we should forget his character, ever existed, what absolute nonsense. You see back then and now, I had no problems, or did not take offence by the way John Inman portrayed a gay man, far from it. In fact his portrayal was absolutely great, and a wonderful reminder of the times. Social history, preserved on film that should never be forgotten, wiped under the carpet or hidden from anyone! It documents a time in Britain and the World when social change, as it stands today was in its infancy. The only people who are offended are those that do not have a sense of humour, or can not relate to the comedic value of this show. Take it from me, as a gay man I was never upset or shocked, embarrassed or disgusted by any part of this cult TV show! 

Picture
Of course as most readers of my blog know, Mollie Sugden was my comedy hero. One of the funniest actresses of her generation, her stern matronly persona, full of character, was always a joy to watch. From body language, facial expressions and posh Northern tones, Mollie played the archetypal Yorkshire lass, who had delusions of grandeur, well above her station, looking down her nose at the lower class maintenance department. She was a girl, who had worked her way to the dizzy heights of Head of Ladies Wear, was head hunted by harrods, took elocution lessons to project an air of authority, whilst hiding a nip of gin in the perfume bottles on the counter, in her department, drinking with Mrs Axelby in the local hostelry and a bit of a man eater on the quiet. The character of Mrs Slocombe was so successful because everyone of us who watched her on the television, knew someone like her and could quite easily relate to her. Mrs Slocome in reality was as vulnerable and fallible as us all, but she was just able to be herself, keep a stiff upper lip and hide the real person she was. In one of the episodes, the only one, her first name was spoken of. None of the staff who she worked with knew her full name, because Mrs Slocombe was a very private person.

Picture
There was something quite sad about Mrs Slocombe, living alone, with her pussy, no husband, few friends and her very private life, which is why everyone of us could see a part of us in her in some way. Betty Slocombe used to remind me of my Gran. Her perfectly coffered hair, which like my Gran, changed colour often, back combed and set, nails, painted and high heel shoes, all perfect, all matching. I used to think Mrs Slocombe was extremely glamorous, just like my Gran. In fact I still do!

The seventies and eighties was a time of strong women, and Mrs Slocome was no exception. As the late 1970s rolled into the 1980s, Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister in Britain and Mrs Slocombe’s roll in ‘Are You Being Served’ changed to that of a more self assured, powerful person. She still had her insecurities but she evolved into a much more authoratative figure, able to do all the things that the so called men she worked with could not do. Her famous catch phrase ‘Weak as Water’, was a term used to describe her male colleagues, who never seemed to be up to the job, unable or unwilling to take on responsibility. Slocombe was a doer, not a thinker or procrastinator. As a strong Northerner, she always jumped in head first, thinking later, whatever the consequences. Her most famous catch phrase was ‘I am unanimous in this’. It was the strongest indicator as to her role in the comedy series. She was the matriarch and in reality she was running the show, while the weak men at the top merely thought they were. This great Lady of the TV Screen was the one in control, just like all the women in my life. The women on both my fathers and Mothers side were extremely strong minded Ladies. I always saw women as the stronger sex and Mrs S was a reinforcement of that view.

​I have lived abroad before in Australia and now in Spain.  I do miss The UK, not all the time, just some of the time.  In Australia, when I missed home I would watch ‘Are You Being Served’ on HBO and today I also watch it, as a reminder of my roots, but on a dodgy box from a guy in the pub.  The biggest factor in me staying in Spain this time and not returning to The UK, is having access to home, wherever I am.  For me technology has stopped the home sickness and allowed me to feel comfortable with where I am.  The biggest fear when one moves abroad is isolation.  Having access to ones old life at the touch of a button is important!

‘Are You Being Served’ has always played a big part in my life.  It has always been the tonic I needed to cheer me up, when I am feeling down.  It played a massive part in my childhood and plays a big part in my adulthood.  Certain programmes touch the heart strings, trigger long forgotten memories or just take us back to better times Are You Being Served, does that for me!



0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    48-year-old Author and professional blogger. Expat formerly living in Gran Alacant on the Costa Blanca! Currently, residing in my home town of Portsmouth on the south coast of England!

    Picture

      Contact Luke.

    Submit
    Picture
    Click me & email for more information!
    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Asia-2019
    Australia
    Bettys-revenge
    Bipolar
    Bipolarcoaster
    Britain
    Bullying
    Business
    Cancer-research
    Cats
    Characters-i-have-known
    Charity
    Charlatan-or-confidant
    Christmas-thoughts
    Claybornes-world
    Coming-out-stories
    Cooking
    Coronavirus
    Current Affairs Politics
    Darrell In The Uk
    Dunbars
    Easy Horse Care
    Events
    Events That Shaped My World
    Family
    Fascinating-facts
    Gran-alacant
    Guestbloggers
    Guest-bloggers
    Ibs
    Immigration
    Information
    Inspirational People
    Interviews
    Japan And Thailand 2020
    Jersey-2019
    Lockdown-life-in-photos
    Lounge-d
    Luke-martin-jones-awards
    Memories-of-fareham
    Memories-of-home
    Memories-of-southampton
    Memories-of-spain
    Me-too-oxfam
    Milestones
    Moving
    My Life
    My Writing
    Non Touch Toast
    Oxfam Sociopathy
    Penelopewren
    Penelope-wren
    Photographs-of-hope
    Quotes
    Rabs-world
    Reviewing-gran-alacant
    Santa-pola
    Self-isolation
    Shopping
    Short-stories-from-my-youth
    Short-stories-from-my-youth
    Southampton
    Spiritual
    Teaching-jamie
    The-darkness
    The-streets
    The Two Of Us
    Travel
    Verruca-almond
    Visits From Friends
    War In Europe
    Weight Loss & Health
    Year-in-review-2017
    Year-in-review-2018
    Year-in-review-2019
    Year In Review 2020
    Year In Review 2021
    Zest

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Tweets by realtruthblog
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture


    Instagram
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    A place to call home
    Finally, a place we can call home.  A community of like minded individuals, who used to call Britain home.  Now Spain is our choice, an altogether gentler, happier, sunnier and safer experience!
            Luke Feb 16
    Picture
Picture

Telephone

+447999663360

Email

lukemartin.jones@gmail.com
  • Blog
  • The Story Of Us
  • Other Blogs
    • Forever Enduring Cycles Blog 2015 >
      • Forever Enduring Cycles
      • Bipolarcoaster
      • Books For Sale
  • Gallery
  • Spain
    • First Month
    • Three Months
    • Six Months
    • One Year
    • 2 Year Anniversary
    • Spanish Views
    • Gran Alacant >
      • GA Advertiser
      • Gran Alacant News
      • LoungeD
      • No Wives Club
  • About
    • New Life
    • Wedding
    • 21 Years
    • Timeline
    • My Story
    • Australia 2016/17
  • Guest Bloggers
    • Penelope Wren
    • Debra Rufini
    • Claire Coe
    • Richard Guy
    • Optimistic Mummy
    • Julie Rawlinson
    • Letters Of Hope
  • Links
  • Contact
  • My Writing
    • Short Stories From My Youth
    • Verruca Almond
    • The Streets