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Britain
Happy Christmas! And welcome, to Brown's Blunderland
2008-12-05
Back in 2001, I published a novel, To Hell In A Handcart, in which part of the action took place at a tacky theme park called Goblin's, somewhere in southern England. Disneyland, it wasn't. The surly, tattooed staff were forced to dress as elves, the rip-off food was poisonous, visitors were wheel-clamped as they drew up at reception, the whole place was run entirely for the convenience of the management and nothing worked properly.

Guests included a party of juvenile delinquents, taken on holiday at taxpayers' expense by their social worker to teach them the error of their ways.

Brown's Blunderland: Imagine Gordon, dressed up in his Santa suit, with chief pixie Peter Mandelson at his knee, rubbing his hands at the thought of raking in all that lovely money on a false prospectus
They spent their time fighting, swearing, drinking, taking drugs, abusing employees and fellow campers alike, burgling the chalets and stealing from cars.

Goblin's wasn't meant to be a metaphor for modern Britain, but I can understand why some people thought it might be.

It all came flooding back this week when I read about the Lapland New Forest experience, otherwise known as Winter Blunderland, a new 'tourist attraction' on the Hampshire/ Dorset border. The staff even dressed like elves.
Posted by:Fred

#2  Then the future is stinky, and sticks to the bottom of your shoe. And you have to get a stick and clean out the treads lest you track it onto the carpet.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2008-12-05 10:53  

#1  Thatcher was to Reagan as Brown is to Obama.
Welcome to a view of our future.
Posted by: AlanC   2008-12-05 10:24  

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