As we hurtle towards hell in a handcart, allow yourself a few moments to regroup and think of some things you can still cling on to as proof that it is possible to keep your chin up and celebrate a sense of Britishness in these uncertain times.
I shall set the ball rolling with some personal favourites.
Two words every Brit loves: “Plucky” and “underdog”. Which is why we all came over all unnecessary when the player ranked 772 in the world walked out on to the grass at Wimbers to play Roger Federer.
Frankly, we would have loved Marcus Willis whatever the outcome but let’s face it, we loved him more for his inevitable defeat and his subsequent air of “Well, this is all a bit weird,eh?”
Although I’m trying desperately to steer away from the “R” word in this list, there was one aspect of the recent voting that was particularly baffling yet hilarious and I think could only happen in Britain.
That was the number of members of the voting public who were quite happy to go in front of microphones and announce: “Well, I voted to leave but I never thought we would.” What? Just leave now. All of you.
Every year we get to the stage when we remember what miseries the British summer can throw at us – weather/midges/airport queues etc – and this year, we may also be bemoaning our political fate as well.
But take heart – it is also the time of year when we remember the Great British Bake Off must be on soon to save us all.
After extensive and thorough research (a quick Google), I’m not sure when the next series starts but it’s always in the summer isn’t it – just when what we need is to watch people in a tent, concentrating hard on the business of cakes, with Mel and Sue cracking out the innuendos.
There are also many summer options of eating outdoors in the rain to look forward to, with a stiff upper lip and a “show must go on” attitude. So buck up and if we are on the road to hell, let’s try and enjoy the journey.