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The Brits have many things to be proud of. If it weren’t for them, we would be deprived of cutting-edge technologies like the umbrella hat, the automatic tea maker, and the flying bicycle. Not to mention the napkin suit or the guillotine. From these creations alone, it becomes clear that the people inhabiting the United Kingdom have some truly weird and wacky personas.

Fortunately, the Instagram account British Moments lets us indulge in them even more. The account is full of snapshots from life in the UK sprinkled with British humor that are bound to crack you up. Scroll down to find them, and don’t forget to grab a cuppa before you do!

While you’re at it, be sure to check out a conversation with Sarah Macklin from the UK, creator of budget home interiors blog Dream of Home, who kindly agreed to tell us more about what it’s like to live in Britain.

Right off the bat, we were curious to know what Sarah, creator of Dream of Home, enjoys most about being British.

“I love our history, particularly our literature. I like to think we have some of the most famous writers in the world, from Dickens and Austen to Shakespeare and even JK Rowling. They've truly shaped our history and even had an impact on the literature that's produced in other countries around the world.”

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Jane Jayne Jain Jeign Jein
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or when scrolling to the right year takes three times as long as if they'd just let you type your date of birth. Or worst of all, when it asks you your occupation from a huge drop down list and you have to keep guessing what they think your job should be called.

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Indeed, the British literature tradition had an immense impact on global literature. Genres like the gothic novel, the detective novel, and the romance novel all originated from British authors. The start of the detective novel can be traced back to the writers like Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. While the first romance novel Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded, was written by Samuel Richardson. 

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Say No to Downvoting
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s what really gave me the poos when my kids’ school started awarding points for every kid in “full school uniform” - with the winning class getting iceblocks at the end of the term. So, if I screw up with the laundry, or can’t get to the shops to buy new socks that week or if don’t want to fork out for a new pair of pants in literally the last 2 weeks of school, my kids’ class are disadvantaged? No - not fair. Not fair at all.

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Just like Sarah mentioned, the United Kingdom has one of the best literary traditions, full of works written by some of the most esteemed authors in the world: William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, George Orwell and so many more. In fact, Britain is one of the leading countries in Nobel laureates in literature, with an impressive number of 11 recipients.

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Cee Cee
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Be thankful for what you've got. My dachshunds nick my duvet. I'm left with a small strip some nights.

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However, just like any other culture, nation or country, the UK too can’t seem to avoid the persisting stereotypes that are sometimes far from the truth.

The one misconception that Sarah disagrees with the most is that English food is bad or bland. “I know we don't really have anything we're famous for, besides maybe fish and chips, but we take a lot of inspiration from other European countries and I personally think we have some of the best food!”

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Lost Penny
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wasn't the only one then. Good. I was thinking, 'Why would you just drop your food on the bed like that??'

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Meanwhile, the stereotype that she approves of is the British politeness. “We're polite, even when we don't want to be, and the biggest confrontation we'd have if we disapprove of something or someone is a quiet 'tut'. Plus, we love a queue.”

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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This’ll date me, but I genuinely remember when I first had my licence and being a poor student and putting totals like AUD $1.80 or $2.67 into my tank and using the car for another day.

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Why Brits are so courteous isn’t exactly clear. Perhaps it’s because they are quite reserved and don’t like to say things directly how they’re on their mind. So they resort to various courtesies to be a bit more indirect. Just like saying the tea “Is not bad, actually,” but really meaning “This tea tastes awful, but I’d rather not hurt your feelings.”

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Even though it’s not completely clear where the British politeness comes from, it’s as much of a tradition as tea time and everyone is expected to follow it. Sometimes to a point where they are too courteous for their own good. Just like apologizing when someone steps on their foot or saying “I’m fine” even when they might be on fire.

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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Friends of ours named their dog Steve and I’m like I don’t know how to feel about that. My names Steve.

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The love of the queue can also be linked to wearing their politeness as a badge of honour. They feel proud that they can stand in line in courtesy and decorum without trying to find malicious ways to get out of it. So if you don’t want to make a fool of yourself in the UK, never jump the queue or push in and don’t ask the person near you to hold your place. Learn to respect the queue and you’ll do just fine!

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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look, these are from Britain. During our summers, you are more likely to get trench foot than sunburn. Summer wear is a clear plastic poncho. When a large, white, fiery ball appears in the sky, it has to be announced on the news that it is, in fact, the sun.

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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

oh my god, I read this and then immediately had someone come to my desk. I took one look at them, had to look away to compose myself, and then was able to talk after like 10 awkward seconds.

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Costa
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still do that when my kids leave because my wife won't let me run alongside the car until it's going too fast to keep up.

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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was little, Apple Jacks cereal was more expensive than any of the others. Being very poor, I wasn't allowed to have them. I spent the night at Grandma's once, not long after Mom and I had argued over the cereal. Grandma drove me three miles one way to the grocery store just to buy me a box of Apple Jacks.

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1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We once had a kid named Barry in Prep class which is 1st yr Primary / Elementary school, so aged 5 and I’m like ‘Barry?? No way a 5 yr old is named Barry!’ Minimum 65 years old to be a Barry.

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Neon
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And is also 0 to be nice to people around you.... Especially the waiters! (family does not count- spit at them and be as rude as they are towards you all year round) ;)

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Robert T
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1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They were always so cheerful and actually came up the drive and picked up your bin and carried it to the lorry and put it back exactly where they found it. They were always pleased if there were any extra things that you were throwing out, like old electrical stuff. And they always got a Christmas bonus. Pretty much the opposite of the outsourced lemons we have now.

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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always try to figure out which line it is when there's a picture from the tube. This one is Circle, Hammersmith & City, District, or Metropolitan.

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Note: this post originally had 98 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.