I know, I know, there is a stereotype that English people are polite and humble. Well, let me tell you the more time passes, the more that stereotype feels more like a laughable myth,

In the past week I have faced :-

a) A Megabus driver swearing angrily in my boyfriend's face when he told him the previous Megabus driver and coach had failed to turn up. My boyfriend had been standing for an hour and a quarter in the cold and rain at this point and was very calm when addressing the angry coach driver.

b) When leaving the turnstiles at Euston, I walked straight ahead with the direction of the traffic (people traffic I mean). A girl from left cut across the way you were meant to walk to go on the far right. She bumped her bag across my feet and I said "oh I am so sorry, I am so so sorry" (Yes I know, why did I say sorry? My natural reflex?). She turned and gave me the filthiest look and continued to walk. I felt really badly hurt by this but my boyfriend was having none of it "Actually it was your f*cking fault!" he yelled after her. He isn't usually confrontational but apparently if someone is going to throw me a dirty look when it is their fault he is going to kick up a fuss. There were continued angry words until she had disappeared. I know that you shouldn't react to rude people but my boyfriend and I are both coming to the end of our tethers with the UK population at the moment.

c) I opened the door for someone on the way to the University library. He gave me a look up and down and said "Cheers B*tch." I'm not going to lie, my eyes filled with tears at this statement. I am a woos but I just felt so humiliated and i don't even know why.

d) During a seminar I told the lecturer the book he recommended wasn't in the library - "Well, well, we have a right little know it all at the front of the class, don't we?" I think I felt similar to the way Hermione did when Snape attacked her for trying to answer questions. I am also the only one who responds to discussion in this lecturer's class. I will not be doing that again in a hurry...say goodbye to the only person who bothers to do the work (i'll still do the work but just not speak).

e) When I went to post a parcel this morning at the Post Office, the guy looked at the parcel I gave him and paused. I had put two stamps on it already and just needed a few more and for it to be sent as a parcel (it wouldn't be allowed in a post box). "Did you find these stamps just about anywhere or did you buy them?'. "I bought them and stuck them on." Pause. "Right well I don't believe you so you are going to have to use a whole new set of stamps which I will stick over the top" and then he charged me. Not only had I wasted some stamps on the parcel but I had to pay for the privilege to do so!

So...basically...sadly....I have to inform you that English people and their manners are slowly fading away. It's unfortunate and quite demoralising but I hope some opposite change comes swiftly around soon :( I want fellow mannered English people back please! x