One thing I like about England...

One thing I like about England (and a major reason for staying) is the overall sense of preservation of culture and heritage that exists. Take thatched-roof cottages for example, very picturesque, very traditional, and nearly impossible to create in the States under building laws.

Unfortunately, in the decade I've been here, that preservation of identity has been slowly disappearing. Take my town for example. Since I've lived there, fully a third of the pubs have either closed, converted to restaurants or are now trendy wine-bar type places. That's 15 places where I can no longer go and relax by the fire on a winter evening with a pint. The first pub I ever went into is now a Thai restaurant. Talking with my father-in-law, who has lived there most of his life, revealed that there used to be about five times as many pubs as there are now.

That's why when I see things like this article, (Shire horses in danger of disappearing) I get upset. People have got to start realizing that if they don't start paying attention to the little things like this, eventually its going to be a wasteland, populated by fast-food places, strip-malls, and superstores. A place with no sense of identity.