Recently, my family and I have been looking into our family history. We have so far gone back to the late 1800's and it is fair to say, I am English through and through. And I have to say, I am somewhat proud of my heritage. I'm not some overly patriotic nut, I just enjoy England and unlike many people in this country, like being English.

The countryside is beautiful. The food is delicious. The TV is amazing (expect a blog post praising this soon. I know, I know, you're excited. I'm such a tease). We have Stephen Fry. Harry Potter. And lets not forget, tea. Enough said.

But there are plenty of misconceptions about us Brits. It is interesting to see how other countries regard us, but it's not all true, promise!

Here are a few of them that particularly amuse/confuse me:

British people have bad teeth.

Where did this even come from? I watch a lot of TV, particularly a lot of American TV, and a joke always poked at the british is our bad dental care. I honestly don't think, as a whole, that our teeth are any worse than any other country! Sure, there are a few people who don't care for looking after their teeth, but I'm pretty sure there are some like that in every country... right?! Us Brits really don't want bad teeth and we take decent enough care of them to ensure that they are sparkly white, just like most other nationalities.  Anyone know where this misconception came from, let me know, I'm genuinely intrigued!

All British people speak like the Queen (aka we're all posh)

Well, no. This is very, very untrue. There are so many different accents in this country, barely any of them resembling the very proper accent and speech of the queen. Even we consider anyone who does speak in that manner to be posh. But again, it's really only a small number of people who do. We also don't get to go and have tea and scones with old queeny, which upsets me.

It always rains

We do get quite a bit of rain, it's true. But not excessively. We have our good days as well. Although actually, it probably rains more than it doesn't. It always amuses me in England, as soon as there is the slightest hint of sun, everyone is outside in their shorts and sunnies. Our bad weather isn't totally a bad thing... it means we really know how to appreciate the good stuff! Whack out that factor 50 people, here comes the sun! I joke.

The British are arrogant and 'cold'

Hey, just because we refer to ourselves (and make everyone else refer to us) as Great Britain, that doesn't make us arrogant... it's just a fact? I joke, I joke. But again, I don't think it is something that people can apply to just us and to the majority. Sure, just like anywhere else, we have our fair share of arrogant people, but its not the majority.

We are also thought of as a nation of people who don't speak their thoughts, keep all emotions bottled up and don't like to show affection. This can't really be generalised to everyone as a whole, some of us are pretty good at all of that... some of us are too good...

British people like to queue

Actually, this one is true. Kind of. It's not that we like to queue, it's just good manners! But don't you go and push in, 'cause that is a sure fire way to make a Brit mad. Take a place in the line, you can tut and complain if you want, that's generally the way we deal with it, but wait your turn or you will piss a few people off!

One thing that does annoy me though, is english people using some american words. Not all of it and not because I hate americans or anything. Quite the opposite! I use my fair share of americanisms. It's when a Brit uses an american word that means something different here in the UK that irritates me.

For example, the other day I was watching a soap (yes Hollyoaks, I'm looking at you) and one of the characters said the line, "you're going to the interview like that? Your pants are creased."

In england, pants means underwear. Underpants. But she was in fact referring to his trousers. If he was going to an interview with his 'pants' on show, I think them being creased would be the least of his worries! Why not just say trousers? When I hear pants, I think underwear, the same as most people in england I would assume.. as that's what it means here. It's just confusing! And I don't like being confused. Please stop confusing me you lovely people.