Temperature wimps

[Iceglow]

I don't know why you keep referring to the EU. The tradition of Brits referring to themselves as separate from the Continent goes back far longer than a couple of decades.

Which is exactly what I explained....

is⋅land  /ˈaɪlənd/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ahy-luhnd]

–noun

1. a tract of land completely surrounded by water, and not large enough to be called a continent.
2. something resembling an island, esp. in being isolated or having little or no direct communication with others.
3. a raised platform with a counter or other work surface on top situated in the middle area of a room, esp. a kitchen, so as to permit access from all sides.
4. safety island.
5. a low concrete platform for gasoline pumps at an automotive service station.
6. a clump of woodland in a prairie.
7. an isolated hill.
8. Anatomy. an isolated portion of tissue differing in structure from the surrounding tissue.
9. Railroads. a platform or building between sets of tracks.

Again:

isle  /aɪl/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ahyl]

–noun

1. a small island.
2. any island.

Regardless of the Risk board and regardless of the ignorance of the rest of the world the name speaks for itself: we are Brits from the British Isles and Isles are not continents and not part of continents we're surrounded by water, so what if the ocean between Dover and Calais is like 50 miles or less and can be flown over in 20 mins or so. Back 500 years ago that'd be a 3 night voyage minimum.

The issues of today is the EU and that causes us Brits to react with even more stigmata about being part of the continent.

Gods above and below, what the hell do they teach you kids at school today? Japan is a part of the modern Asian society but no, they're not Asia in fact to be perfectly correct they're Oriental. :P Same as Cuba may be a part of South America by terms of sociological links of the modern world however Cuba is not a part of the Americas it is a small island bordering the Americas.