Two days in Denmark was interesting. Initially I was disappointed on a number of levels. The weather was cold, and the terrain was such that there was no shelter from the cold wind. I had no idea what to expect, having made no preparations at all for the short trip. The country seemed as flat as Holland, although I thought the people rather self-contained, functional, and at worst they seemed to me rather robotic in their existence. I was convinced that there was some sort of mistake regarding the information relayed to me by a friend, that the Danes are 'the happiest people in Europe'. I gained the opposite view, that they were in fact not outgoing or friendly, and were insular.
On the way back, I reflected on the various aspects of the trip, the people and the country. I concluded that the Danes are actually well balanced, and the approach they have as a nation is most probably more sensible than any other. Yes, there are surprising things, such as the high cost of living, to contend with. Seeing that a box of Kelloggs Frosties costs £6.40 is alarming. In fact, I struggled for a while to understand how anyone afforded anything and the answer can only be that they are paid more. In turn, this raises questions about what the country does to bring in money. Surely there's a limit to how much can be earned from Lego, Carlsberg and bacon? Does Danish Blue cheese count for anything? I then decided that the Danes probably manage quite well, and concentrate on looking after themselves. The country does not march around the world picking fights with people, directing traffic, providing troops and rockets. It does not try to hold centre stage for every single topic of international interest. I have no facts to hand, but I am quite convinced it does not waste billions of pounds on socialist aspirations; no, I suspect that even the Danish equivalent of the Labour Party could not have fucked up the country to the extent that our mob has over here! Are billions spent on nuclear deterrents? No.
The people are active; there are cycle lanes everywhere. Cyclists, joggers and roller-bladers all move around quite easily. I suspect there are few accidents on the road, as speed limits are low and the roads are good - and every car has its headlights on all the time. There is a feeling of good living, of quality in all things, and a clear feeling that the Danes have pride in their nation. I am pleased for them; to have pride in one's nation must be a nice feeling - something that's not possible in the UK.
Are they the happiest people in Europe? Possibly, although you wouldn't know it to look at them. I suspect that "the most contented" would be a better term. It's a small country that knows it's small, and acts accordingly. It carefully provides for its people, and everything is in order. In contrast, the UK is a small country that thinks it's big and acts accordingly. Nothing is in order, in fact everything is falling apart or on the verge of doing so. The UK is a lost cause.
The Danes have the last laugh. Over here, Carlsberg is 3.8% abv. In Denmark, Carlsberg is 4.6% abv. Most sensibly of all, Denmark has not joined the EU. That single fact demonstrates above all else that the Danes know a thing or two.
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