Avalon beauty

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I'm always drawn to the houses of Sydney's Northern Beaches - they have that effortless, laid-back charm I find really appealing. This home has just been listed for sale, and as I've never met a beachy weatherboard I didn't like, it's going straight to the inspiration folder:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKEABop7usJr3sOu6hlkzLFrZAM2L50x5UtuMuGnbZRqEZ-xvAzdofM-XFCGid5OWsxA_ryJ13sLqnx4ljsLZKnPEkgKcTeJNPWomN93UdqtPQ4i4ONN1imtu5oJl9nVTAr6ir8C7ky5R/s1600/main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKEABop7usJr3sOu6hlkzLFrZAM2L50x5UtuMuGnbZRqEZ-xvAzdofM-XFCGid5OWsxA_ryJ13sLqnx4ljsLZKnPEkgKcTeJNPWomN93UdqtPQ4i4ONN1imtu5oJl9nVTAr6ir8C7ky5R/s640/main.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqs_Bgw2twa623iTuWibgGQxvS2Z9ThDTANktx-x3W3L2FzBY-1FAcMDy7NaSQydh1YNA_TyLYfTtxCHepi-YQTSIUteVJDl4sXwQdn6ZWevm4Ir3M85hHdUHbhQd0qO_mG3kLmy28iNR0/s1600/image2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqs_Bgw2twa623iTuWibgGQxvS2Z9ThDTANktx-x3W3L2FzBY-1FAcMDy7NaSQydh1YNA_TyLYfTtxCHepi-YQTSIUteVJDl4sXwQdn6ZWevm4Ir3M85hHdUHbhQd0qO_mG3kLmy28iNR0/s640/image2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KaIUcP9hUQRswSBn9AMNi_wOZ3-Znj1hkb4f_CgxdO_bpaW6smFG3hzsnUECwJp_b7AE7u7Ui-6mrQzIYpGiLTKdiTmNNQBEPd3eGvWG62t49Ukbpx-bqnhkHz4Y65hOkv5svwAODesa/s1600/image3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KaIUcP9hUQRswSBn9AMNi_wOZ3-Znj1hkb4f_CgxdO_bpaW6smFG3hzsnUECwJp_b7AE7u7Ui-6mrQzIYpGiLTKdiTmNNQBEPd3eGvWG62t49Ukbpx-bqnhkHz4Y65hOkv5svwAODesa/s640/image3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BT7a5fbLbG1fZdg47orni4712o4V167Fzdv1kLlfyr8WTsuyhA5sebJz96Wlb5wo-zfRfCQK-JlRcbvZOCjeaYVYuLBTrXTIssb13FfkwH7a5omNThkeKQwy3I30rSNP9e3SL14kvIZ3/s1600/image4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BT7a5fbLbG1fZdg47orni4712o4V167Fzdv1kLlfyr8WTsuyhA5sebJz96Wlb5wo-zfRfCQK-JlRcbvZOCjeaYVYuLBTrXTIssb13FfkwH7a5omNThkeKQwy3I30rSNP9e3SL14kvIZ3/s640/image4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NrZO_rWvrM8-NHHV8hea8yGpo3HvdRC1KDlFulIMuwZoIYFPGVxdVQWbM08s9PLgKEhb_6pEt2F1xP39glsBOxd5lf7hKV6Jh3GR6ESHIoQHCbzxCAlfFkZ8iCTRMvjFf3ossFuQpSvO/s1600/image5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NrZO_rWvrM8-NHHV8hea8yGpo3HvdRC1KDlFulIMuwZoIYFPGVxdVQWbM08s9PLgKEhb_6pEt2F1xP39glsBOxd5lf7hKV6Jh3GR6ESHIoQHCbzxCAlfFkZ8iCTRMvjFf3ossFuQpSvO/s640/image5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small;"> I love the tray ceiling - one of my fave design details</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YUjbuimVjG2fUTtSx3iB71vqBPDqVq4SA6tyrFzzryd6zTRJWwpcptK8ws_fFWvGVZTOo7idoTQixLZd9gZIATcp38wcaTRk7WWilxzi1uBlbH6O9NNZzYcYNsliTR6vWU3GTp4I8DhP/s1600/image6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YUjbuimVjG2fUTtSx3iB71vqBPDqVq4SA6tyrFzzryd6zTRJWwpcptK8ws_fFWvGVZTOo7idoTQixLZd9gZIATcp38wcaTRk7WWilxzi1uBlbH6O9NNZzYcYNsliTR6vWU3GTp4I8DhP/s640/image6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSio0mD0aAYSiiFKFvO6RYKCQh2z6rc75Ln2SuOSmuizw86_RsACguu0VRMWxCO1N3WbN8nWZplWITmur7SYWK21mLQs8c8OSRGQBIrPoLh0HiwPBO9yuVSjdRDmCmQHUENct7O8UvSkij/s1600/image7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSio0mD0aAYSiiFKFvO6RYKCQh2z6rc75Ln2SuOSmuizw86_RsACguu0VRMWxCO1N3WbN8nWZplWITmur7SYWK21mLQs8c8OSRGQBIrPoLh0HiwPBO9yuVSjdRDmCmQHUENct7O8UvSkij/s640/image7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CPlRWY0ebcqtZE41E1KPrjt6_CQG35FvTf_qFLqrCoHLTjA0DhO_5fBLIcaxbF3AXWDlRaWF_S4MKQp7MZt3osh95En6tzOtCmeh2vkAZW47pA199l2qOiptcRyq2X-EEqu6JNtJe-1c/s1600/image10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CPlRWY0ebcqtZE41E1KPrjt6_CQG35FvTf_qFLqrCoHLTjA0DhO_5fBLIcaxbF3AXWDlRaWF_S4MKQp7MZt3osh95En6tzOtCmeh2vkAZW47pA199l2qOiptcRyq2X-EEqu6JNtJe-1c/s640/image10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wl5dioVM8s3zrGbwRjy94YxTFUx38ger9lPazKG3rsqANOBbRPQgoRYWJn1UXSpGqKqWxhVEcKNKkYpB9qv4YAZSkGS2vNGiTU3rWypgEHzhwriOT_d6xYMAtgfswNi5qEx-3UGPteGt/s1600/image11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wl5dioVM8s3zrGbwRjy94YxTFUx38ger9lPazKG3rsqANOBbRPQgoRYWJn1UXSpGqKqWxhVEcKNKkYpB9qv4YAZSkGS2vNGiTU3rWypgEHzhwriOT_d6xYMAtgfswNi5qEx-3UGPteGt/s640/image11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9jzI-aaYc8XQUzsFZn-lxaZEGqdXSdg0_xPeehYbdImLSgJ80CVUVvohrzDTDBuRs8o5thPMe6mCuL79hKn6drxWfNjxKjJl6uZxDX_os5yFEbKnoqIb3X7CWicK95xWhjaDciAF9Nx_/s1600/image8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9jzI-aaYc8XQUzsFZn-lxaZEGqdXSdg0_xPeehYbdImLSgJ80CVUVvohrzDTDBuRs8o5thPMe6mCuL79hKn6drxWfNjxKjJl6uZxDX_os5yFEbKnoqIb3X7CWicK95xWhjaDciAF9Nx_/s640/image8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgMHpsePJyhBbm-Jdi7u4EwLDT0aZ8sOkQnCRpn8SJ7giJjHXMR2j3NN4xF4rSmXPJk0AG_TqbPvZRMk8tYB2p8RWH9TwJ6wome24m55IuYrMxiP7L-VvR9OXE9tNIkhkjFQa3Uk07jAA/s1600/image9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgMHpsePJyhBbm-Jdi7u4EwLDT0aZ8sOkQnCRpn8SJ7giJjHXMR2j3NN4xF4rSmXPJk0AG_TqbPvZRMk8tYB2p8RWH9TwJ6wome24m55IuYrMxiP7L-VvR9OXE9tNIkhkjFQa3Uk07jAA/s640/image9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZNC1afxol4rLHOOOavJp3rISvxe1EQH-s9q7gSdqRPVXAhwpq0KMhfCsHbFlnUZ0zoQMeTG7Np8oqa2Q8TJ64rsMPdigmCT1d4qKgqdDIEXzONgv1v469e2e7BYQSAPLDLKvDyV1k5vH/s1600/floorplan1+(1)+large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZNC1afxol4rLHOOOavJp3rISvxe1EQH-s9q7gSdqRPVXAhwpq0KMhfCsHbFlnUZ0zoQMeTG7Np8oqa2Q8TJ64rsMPdigmCT1d4qKgqdDIEXzONgv1v469e2e7BYQSAPLDLKvDyV1k5vH/s640/floorplan1+(1)+large.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can find the link <a href="http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-avalon-111482555" target="_blank">here</a> while it lasts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>

Avalon beauty

I'm always drawn to the houses of Sydney's Northern Beaches - they have that effortless, laid-back charm I find really appealing. Th...

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About 'Keep Calm And Carry On'

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Today</div><div style="text-align: center;">countless variations of this popular slogan</div><div style="text-align: center;">can be seen throughout the UK and US</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcxei-smWvwmmxQP53g_QI03xNyUgQyIGhG3yefPeai6Ofmu074vogQm_gusI29XK1Iwh5U65vsaHru6EgiaP3v-GTL0-7cRAXjtB2zFeCEQozNb-83pxMt4XmNs7pUbHJleuGH5Jrj7u/s1600/il_570xN.309989207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcxei-smWvwmmxQP53g_QI03xNyUgQyIGhG3yefPeai6Ofmu074vogQm_gusI29XK1Iwh5U65vsaHru6EgiaP3v-GTL0-7cRAXjtB2zFeCEQozNb-83pxMt4XmNs7pUbHJleuGH5Jrj7u/s400/il_570xN.309989207.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SimplyHandmade123">Etsy</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although it is well known to have been a WWII morale-booster poster in the UK,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it actually was not well distributed at the time</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It wasn't until the year 2000</div><div style="text-align: center;">that it was rediscovered in a used bookstore in Northumberland</div><div style="text-align: center;">which started to make reprints for customers</div><div style="text-align: center;">And the rest is history</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsRQm2k18fwuiI_KdS1COCgjt915gn_ucSVgaIbpEECwiI-tDzxnZoZUp5s5PTFZfZEHhiqO689uPXB5rL4bmyq4tbTVFAnsfJ30trOcf1L_W6KCKBiz5HLQ6C88fK53nrFtJ0bmAiig9/s1600/il_570xN.373212071_kxov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsRQm2k18fwuiI_KdS1COCgjt915gn_ucSVgaIbpEECwiI-tDzxnZoZUp5s5PTFZfZEHhiqO689uPXB5rL4bmyq4tbTVFAnsfJ30trOcf1L_W6KCKBiz5HLQ6C88fK53nrFtJ0bmAiig9/s400/il_570xN.373212071_kxov.jpg" width="352" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite version :)<br />via <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/decalhappy">Decal Happy</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But what I find most interesting is that it encapsulates </div><div style="text-align: center;">both the English and American cultures</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>differently</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For the Americans it means</div><div style="text-align: center;">be 'zen'</div><div style="text-align: center;">while persevering</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">While in England it means</div><div style="text-align: center;">keep a stiff upper lip</div><div style="text-align: center;">while trudging on, 'get on with it'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Described by The Economist,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it 'taps directly into the [England's] country's mystic image of itself:</div><div style="text-align: center;">unshowily brave and just a little stiff,</div><div style="text-align: center;">brewing tea as the bombs fall'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How does the expression speak to you?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep_calm_and_carry_on">Wikipedia</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

About 'Keep Calm And Carry On'

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK Today countless variations of this popular slogan can be seen throughout the UK and US Available on Etsy Althou...

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Identity Through Sports

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijk8MR6S7NH5zvDiUGHj-Ii1vWG80HnmLY8d1WInEV7DboDlLKLe2keinf_9KF_0e4NVWgJqZFAUvGJCetbhyphenhyphenmhxEB3EFJefDC3j7Bgihong8v86gRSpStZ1XeXsLGIUQTGlt_5uqXhUI/s1600/IMG_0469-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijk8MR6S7NH5zvDiUGHj-Ii1vWG80HnmLY8d1WInEV7DboDlLKLe2keinf_9KF_0e4NVWgJqZFAUvGJCetbhyphenhyphenmhxEB3EFJefDC3j7Bgihong8v86gRSpStZ1XeXsLGIUQTGlt_5uqXhUI/s640/IMG_0469-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Displayed during the Summer Olympics</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">A local taxi driver recently mentioned</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">the county of Middlesex disappeared in 1965</div><div style="text-align: center;">when divided among <span style="background-color: white;">counties Surrey, Hertfordshire, and Greater London</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And then he said, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I guess it would be like one of your American states</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>becoming part of another one</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">That idea blew my mind</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Two US states combining as one?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Never</i></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><i></i></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxkS5y7nTfHwcznVuV4R7-pWYRLWJirQnvk3j5o309Jxb_UFlhc5nKNHJaqz3I7cZ6r7xKob7Xpzemdf2m7aL-wo5v9zjdJs5oCLwYxh7i8fLzsilmJHC7XYDwG8bLJX89BRJ9fzX3wg/s1600/US-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxkS5y7nTfHwcznVuV4R7-pWYRLWJirQnvk3j5o309Jxb_UFlhc5nKNHJaqz3I7cZ6r7xKob7Xpzemdf2m7aL-wo5v9zjdJs5oCLwYxh7i8fLzsilmJHC7XYDwG8bLJX89BRJ9fzX3wg/s640/US-002.jpg" width="532" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chalkboard Map for sale via <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/dirtsastudio?ref=seller_info">Etsy</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Each US state has its own laws and even driver's license tests,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">their own flag, motto, and state flower</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">I love all the different state licence plates seen on the highways</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">In most schools, months are dedicated</span><span style="background-color: white;"> to study the history of their state</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Even stronger still</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">each state has its own 'patriotism', if you will</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Now I'm not a huge sports fan,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">but really, sports is a huge community unifier</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">whether you rally behind </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">the </span><span style="background-color: white;">state's </span><span style="background-color: white;">university</span><span style="background-color: white;"> or professional team</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">The most popular spectator sports in the US</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">are American football, basketball, and baseball</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KcDArt0LWnwDYl9DYOKd8RRuHpO97f0tPE-oWpavE_o5fHqN3YE0RrMHwl6dO6CxxnvQt2NQ6HZ-XVDVy74v8ZyEv89caUOj1aSqnB830nYteIg4Qu34UGs-wo5u09QKtGl-otY4TNQ/s1600/baseball-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KcDArt0LWnwDYl9DYOKd8RRuHpO97f0tPE-oWpavE_o5fHqN3YE0RrMHwl6dO6CxxnvQt2NQ6HZ-XVDVy74v8ZyEv89caUOj1aSqnB830nYteIg4Qu34UGs-wo5u09QKtGl-otY4TNQ/s640/baseball-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Customized print by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/shawnstpeter?ref=seller_info">Shawn St Peter</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">And in a way, America is on a bit of a sports island as</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">we rarely play other countries in these sports</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">for few share our </span><span style="background-color: white;">enthusiasm</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">So we compete against each other within our American borders</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">and have friendly rivalries with other states</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">On the sports page,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">this makes us look inwardly</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">not globally</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESAq9lSlgETSxdKmyoiVpuLgg-4pjHD4XDQWc1v98_TKYXGxgiHX3BNstLIKFLwvPldW0DIrJkwT2cAeOQNyLA6XTRZDo2O2eTlhmWHM9bV-n3ihxqLZcLtzyVLadtdeLaPGJrizv7yc/s1600/opera+glasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESAq9lSlgETSxdKmyoiVpuLgg-4pjHD4XDQWc1v98_TKYXGxgiHX3BNstLIKFLwvPldW0DIrJkwT2cAeOQNyLA6XTRZDo2O2eTlhmWHM9bV-n3ihxqLZcLtzyVLadtdeLaPGJrizv7yc/s400/opera+glasses.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sold by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageShoppingSpree?ref=seller_info">Vintage Shopping Spree</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">In contrast, </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">by sharing an interest in more globally popular sports</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">England's sports page has more of an international scope</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">increasing their worldwide connection</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">A UK reporter recently said they feel a kinship (and rivalry) with Australia</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">because they share enthusiasm for similar sports,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">including rugby and cricket</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIRCqt1JPIGZ392A90mvdzW_zdigSsi9Ca0-HU8xLli_wmUnnNkXPFN3jfxxQoKvNOjeG3lP5PAofYkpkFZ8AJYXYWiumjNEc-Eb4PvmYmEeP7sdls9TAmq66NjTEarqlD_ykwRNa-Yg/s1600/DSC_0020-11.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIRCqt1JPIGZ392A90mvdzW_zdigSsi9Ca0-HU8xLli_wmUnnNkXPFN3jfxxQoKvNOjeG3lP5PAofYkpkFZ8AJYXYWiumjNEc-Eb4PvmYmEeP7sdls9TAmq66NjTEarqlD_ykwRNa-Yg/s640/DSC_0020-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Furthermore, most countries have a bond </div><div style="text-align: center;">over the love of soccer/football and play against each other</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">English (or British) patriotism peeks its head<br />during the Olympics, FIFA World Cup,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rugby World Cup, <span style="background-color: white;">and The Ashes</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">to name a few</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">To my knowledge,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">English counties don't have their own sport teams (except for cricket)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">so they cheer their favorite football team (often not local)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">and their national teams</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">As a result, you never hear a 'Rah, Rah Surrey!' as you would in the US</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">partly due to not having a county team to get behind</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So could Oklahoma become a part of Texas one day?</div><div style="text-align: center;">(with their huge college football rivalry)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">or better yet,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Texas become a part of Oklahoma?!</div><div style="text-align: center;">( now I'm being cheeky )</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">No, that just wouldn't fly :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIkreZ6kuAiMo-LIPVbnwgbUNACj4Srz_4rea2rnEciTcj26-P96Ovlob-X0JYhnoyKsuLNvV42dFHN4UqhXHHURzv8pmORq6AIsI0EmzfXhaqCHdFaAsebMubuvqW5Kjl3MkUPwu40Y/s1600/DSC01555-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIkreZ6kuAiMo-LIPVbnwgbUNACj4Srz_4rea2rnEciTcj26-P96Ovlob-X0JYhnoyKsuLNvV42dFHN4UqhXHHURzv8pmORq6AIsI0EmzfXhaqCHdFaAsebMubuvqW5Kjl3MkUPwu40Y/s640/DSC01555-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women's Olympic Road Race</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I must say</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Olympics is one of the few times most Americans </div><div style="text-align: center;">watch athletes from other countries compete</div><div style="text-align: center;">And they love it!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Identity Through Sports

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK Displayed during the Summer Olympics A local taxi driver recently mentioned the county of Middlesex disappeared...

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