I am so glad I'm English. I grew up with a strong English accent in Australia from the age of three, and took so much stick about it that I decided 'Damn you lot, I'll be a 'bloody Poom' then!' I'm so glad I did. The more I travel, the more I realise how tolerant, humorous, reliable and down to earth my countrymen are.

As for the Empire thing - just about everyone, from other European powers to African tribal chiefs wanted one back then, in the 'bad old days'. We were just better at it, that's all.