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# Not Too Good
- URL: https://www.longspoon.uk/not-too-good/
- Published: 2026-10-12T08:32:30.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-12T08:32:30.000Z
- Author: Lapérouse

A former diplomat in the Middle East commenting on how bad relations between the UK and Israel were just now said: “Things can be ever so bad, but it does not mean they can’t get worse”.

Is this the national character? Is this more than averagely pessimistic? Or is this simply a means of avoiding any extreme expression because we would not want to commit to hoping for a better outlook to avoid later disappointment?

I have a mug which boldly announces “Relentless Optimism” this from a niche local pottery shop in a rundown part of the city. The shop has been there for decades. Looking around there is no reason to be optimistic in any way at all. There are derelict buildings just a mug’s throw away. The people inside the shop are very jolly – it’s clear from the legends on most of the mugs that they have their irony button stuck down. Long may it continue.

Then there’s our music “If it wasn’t for bad luck I wouldn’t have no luck at all”, a Cream favourite. But is the appeal that the listener is in a better place than that? Aren’t we all?

American blues is the origin of that lyric but it does strike a chord with us as does “I am a man of constant sorrow I’ve seen trouble all my days” - Bluegrass from the film “Oh Brother Where Art Thou”. Again I think I’m in a better place than that. After all haven’t we all enjoyed “Reasons to be cheerful, part 3”.

Even the Beatles merry little song "Getting Better All the Time" contains the line “can’t get no worse”. And the Labour campaign to get Tony Blair elected the first time used “Things can only get better” blasting out from the battle bus.

But surely the main indicator of the national psyche occurs when idly confronted with: “How’s things?” - the requisite British response is: “Not too bad”.