World Cup mania hits Redland

If you live in Redland, or pretty much anywhere in England at the moment, you cannot have failed to notice the sheer amount of St George crosses flapping in the wind.

They are everywhere - hanging from windows, stuck in car doors and painted on people's faces - and I for one cannot stand them.

I realise that this post will undoubtedly make me very unpopular but I need to get it off my chest.

The worst case I've seen so far is at the top of St Michael's Hill where every cafe, pub and flat appears to have invested in a red and white cross.

I'm sure there are other roads in Redland where this is even more noticable, perhaps you cannot move in your street for the distinctive red crosses?

And I understand (and hope) that it is only temporary. As soon as England get knocked out (within a few games I imagine) then the flags will no doubt come down.

But I mean come on! What is the world coming to when it takes a sports tournament to make get people enthused about their country?

I'm not just outright opposed to flags, of course it was wonderful to see them in footage of the VE celebrations and I'm in the minority who don't really mind seeing them at festivals. But this is just ridiculous.

Cheap Del Boy characters are cashing in on the sheepish nature of the population who see some on the Ford Mondeo in front and decide that would be a good idea.

And then there's red top newspapers like the Sun who encourage it by printing a full page St George's Cross to stick up in the window. I mean, how tacky is that?!

What do you think? I'm sure most people disagree wholeheartedly with me. Do you have flags up at the moment? And if so, I'd be interested to hear why? Do you think there should be more of it? Come on I'm inviting you to slap me down...

Yours, Victor Meldrew!