BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: gnu
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 08:09 PM

Brokering deals on the world stage is not politics? I am remiss.

The Duke? Why are you drifting?

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 08:28 PM

I'm not drifting. I responded to Ian, who typed" Yeah but to be frank, I'd rather give it to them rather than you mate. They behave rather less vulgar...

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,Teribus
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 03:50 AM

"If my house catches fire I pay to get it rebuilt. Given providence, I would be insured, which I also pay for." - SS

And if it is NOT your house??

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 05:31 AM

Are you trying to tell us that Windsor Castle is not, de facto, in every possible practical sense, the Queen's? Oh yes, I forgot: it belongs to "the nation!" Then pray tell me exactly who is allowed to go in there, rustle up some nosh and go for a dump in the lavvy just before getting their head down for a kip. Why, I think I'll invent a quango, sign over the ownership of my house to it and make it responsible for decorating it, maintaining the fabric, doing the garden, restoring the run-down bits, rebuilding it in the event of fire (because I won't be insuring it, of course) and, not least, looking after my artwork (a twenty-quid bust of Beethoven in my case). The setup that looks after the palaces gets a cool fifteen million a year from the taxpayer, even though the badly-run palaces manage to make millions more by opening up occasionally to let us in, at great cost, to see our property. Ah, the advantages of "holding the palaces in trust for the nation!" All of the benefits and none of the responsibility! D'you think my new quango will be awarded a couple of grand for fixing my roof? Why should I pay?

And, in case anyone has been deceived into thinking otherwise, the Queen did not pay for repairs to fire-damaged Windsor Castle out of her own pocket.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Stu
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 06:43 AM

"Edward the Confessor's preferred choice of successor was Duke William."

Only according to The Bastard himself, and the Witan didn't agree, and as they were the rightful law in the country at the time. Being such a stickler for the establishment I'm surprised you view the act of invasion, laying waste of the land and subsequent theft and dividing up of land to his cronies as being so worthy of defence. But then that would require a curious, questioning personality and perhaps you are not made that way (in the same way I simply don't believe everything I'm told and question the truth).

William himself seemed to recognise his own failings, as his deathbed confession suggests:

I tremble my friends/ when I reflect on the grievous sins which burden my conscience, and now, about to be summoned before the awful tribunal of God, I know not what I ought to do. I was bred to arms from my childhood, and am stained from the rivers of blood I have shed... It is out of my power to count all the injuries which I have caused during the sixty-four years of my troubled life. Source

So perhaps his appalling, murderous treatment of the English was niggling his conscience. Let's hope so.

Gnu: "The Duke? Why are you drifting?"

If you need to ask that question, you're not understanding what we're discussing.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,Teribus
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 06:56 AM

1: "Are you trying to tell us that Windsor Castle is not, de facto, in every possible practical sense, the Queen's?"

Yep - Windsor Castle is owned by the The Crown Estate and is an "Official" Residence - it is not the Queen's. The private residences of the Queen are Sandringham and Balmoral both bought not stolen.

2: "I think I'll invent a quango, sign over the ownership of my house to it and make it responsible for decorating it, maintaining the fabric, doing the garden, restoring the run-down bits, rebuilding it in the event of fire (because I won't be insuring it, of course) and, not least, looking after my artwork (a twenty-quid bust of Beethoven in my case)."

Please do, won't do you any good of course as no-one would put any money into it, so you would end up bearing all the costs yourself and on your death, because you have signed it away, the property would revert to???? The Crown Estate.

3: Finally semi-right about something - the Queen did not pay for the repairs and restoration of Windsor Castle after the fire she merely chipped in £2million towards the costs. Opening up Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle to the public and charging an entrance fee paid for the rest.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 10:01 AM

""Opening up Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle to the public and charging an entrance fee paid for the rest.""

So, not taxpayers but tourism which, according to ""Detractors 'r Us"" is a myth put about to hide the robbing of taxpayers.

Teribus, you are really making it very difficult for these guys....Do keep it up!

When they are reduced to relying on Philip's loose tongue, they are really getting desperate.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,petecockermouth
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 10:40 AM

the busiest tourist attraction i ever went to was versailles palace- i queued for hours to get in. it was fascinating and beautiful (in an over the top way) and access all areas. the louvre was just too busy. i don't think post-revolutionary france has any problem with attracting tourists. were the many artworks acquired by the crown put on permanent display in -say, leeds, glasgow or giggleswick -then that would really be a great gift to the nation and a far better tourist attraction than entry to half a dozen functional rooms in buck house for a tenner or whatever.

hi don -it was me with the musical son. i don't mean to say that he is better than william or anyone -i'm sure i could have put that better. we are all worth plenty in different ways (i am better than no-one and no-one is better than me being the obvious cliche) in general terms i'm saying that music is of more value than monarchy or military. i have actually needed rescuing (from a flood) and since have always given money to cockermouth mountain rescue. while you wouldn't want a bunch of musos turning up in a disaster zone - nor would you want to see a load of squaddies (or royals) at a music festival - thankfully we are much more likely to need the music! and you don't get thousands of musicians turning up in other countries and causing widespread death and misery (in the name of the monarch or leader (of any country) of the day)

peace, love and peaceful revolution -pete

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,Teribus
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 10:54 AM

And the "rightful law in the land" when the Saxons invaded was what?

The Witan:
The Witan was the term used to describe the council summoned by AngloSaxon kings. These meetings of aldermen, thanes and bishops discussed royal grants of land, church matters, charters, taxation, customary law, defence and foreign policy. The succession of a new king had to be approved by the Witan.

The composition of the Witan was not set and the size of the assembly depended on what was being discussed and where it was held. For example, meetings were larger during religious festivals and when the king was resident in one of his palaces.

Sounds a bit of a "stacked deck" to me, the constitution of this "rightful law of the land" can be composed to deliver whatever result is required - True??

Harold Godwinson from the same powerful Saxon aristocractic family that had fought and schemed against Edward throughout his reign. As representative and head of the most powerful family in the land it is little wonder that the Witan (which on this occasion consisted of 60) voiced their support for Harold, whose hands were not exactly clean eh Sugarfoot:

"In 1063, Harold led an English army into Wales - an area that had never been overly respectful of English power. Reports from the time indicate that his army killed every adult Welsh male they came across. His campaign of terror left parts of Wales depopulated."

Perhaps the "rightful law of the land" in Wales approved, or perhaps it didn't. I tend to think that "the rightful law of anywhere" in those days depended proportionally on how strong your sword arm was and how many followers rode at your back.

That being the reality of life in the 11th century and according to recorded history on the 15th October 1066 at Hastings, Duke "A promise is a promise" William of Normandy he and his Army proved themselves to be "the rightful law of the land".

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,petecockermouth
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 10:59 AM

i'm sure the law of the land anywhere these days depends on how strong your military is ( or was) and how many followers you have - it was always thus. doesn't make it right or lawful - unless you want to accept some really dodgy political ideas.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Stu
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 11:30 AM

"When they are reduced to relying on Philip's loose tongue, they are really getting desperate."

Fnarr fnarr.

Anyhow, the main problem with replacing the monarchy as head of state is who to replace them with. A fixed-term president is a good idea, but the old monarchists retort of "President Blair" is enough to make even the most ardent republican wince.

Anyhow, Kings, Queens, Presidents, Lord Protectors all come and go. It's the ordinary people that endure, carry the treasury of our cultures, who protect the land and it's heritage. Long after House Windsor is just another name on a royal genealogy, the people will be playing our music, singing our songs and remembering our common causes and coming to terms with our common failures.

William the Bastard tried to get rid of us, but here we still are. Except now we're more diverse and are a glorious collage of cultures, beliefs and languages, and we will prevail. We always have.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Stu
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 11:37 AM

Tezza, I'm pretty sure you see my point. I'm not arguing whether Harold had cleaner hands than anyone else, just that William was a brutal thug who ignored whatever system was in place (which, like it or not was the English way of doing things), put christ knows how many to the sword, starved thousands more to death simply for not accepting occupation by a foreign invader. How many hundreds of years after the invasion was French the language of court?

Anyhow, methinks thou ist playing devil's advocate here. I don't believe anyone in the world is as unquestioning as your good self appears to be. Impossible. Not natural.

Off now to support Ireland in the footy. Fare thee well!

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 11:57 AM

Yep - Windsor Castle is owned by the The Crown Estate

So, pray tell, why didn't the obscenely-wealthy Crown Estate stump up after the fire? actually, you need to check your facts here.

Frankly, using Windsor Castle as your private home in every possible sense, including housing 500 of your staff there, holding state banquets there, using it as her weekend retreat, frequently entertaining foreign big-knobs in it, allowing the state to pay for its upkeep, yet wringing your hands when it get damaged and letting other people pay for it, is a bit like keeping most of your fortune offshore. All of the benefit, none of the responsibility!


Opening up Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle to the public and charging an entrance fee paid for the rest.

Tight-fisted gits! Yet they won't open them all the year round, which would raise even more revenue. Odd that The White House manages to do it.


So, not taxpayers but tourism which, according to ""Detractors 'r Us"" is a myth put about to hide the robbing of taxpayers.

If that's supposed to mean me, I didn't say that tourism was a myth, simply that it has never been demonstrated that tourism is increased by the existence of the royals. Windsor Castle is the only royal connection in the top 20 tourist attractions, coming in at a miserable 17th place, and France, which has no monarchy, gets almost three times as many tourists as we do.

To quote www.republic.org.uk, which see, There is a great deal of confusion in the media, and in public perceptions, about what property belongs to the Queen and what belongs to the taxpayer. The royal rule of thumb is simple: it's theirs when they want to use it, it's ours when someone has to pay for it.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,petecockermouth
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 11:59 AM

also going to watch the footy- c'mon the republic!!

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 12:00 PM

I know about capital letters too.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,petecockermouth
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 12:06 PM

me too, it's just a lazy affectation. or maybe i am subconsciously refusing to accept that one letter is better than another -they are all equal. or maybe it's because i'm an anti-capitalist

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 12:12 PM

Heheh!

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,petecockermouth
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 03:09 AM

president wouldn't have to be bliar or any other politician - we could have a comedian like the mayor in london - how about billy connolly jo brand, bill bailey -or even better -president keith richards

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Musket
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 08:28 AM

We don't need an ironic comedian. They don't hold a candle to The Duke of Edinburgh...

We capitalists have to hold on to what we have you know! Gawd Bless her!

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 08:56 AM

You capitalists haven't got anything. We taxpayers had to bloody bale you all out when you failed, remember?


"Capitalist: thief with short memory..."

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 09:39 AM

I'm looking forward to the Gloucestershire Festival of Polo tomorrow, it will give my new Raynox Telephoto Lens Converter a good test! Unfortunately Luke Tomlinson is not playing in the England team, his brother Mark is of course.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,Teribus
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 09:47 AM

Those taxpayers were people who had paid their taxes to the Exchequer and believers in the capitalist system who knew damn well that everybody would lose everything if the banks had been allowed to fail.

Besides I do not believe that the money put in was a gift - Now tell who will get it back when it is repaid - individual taxpayers or the Exchequer.

We are right back at the beginning of your nonsense about the Royal Family costing the taxpayers of the UK millions they don't, just in the same way the taxpayers of the UK did not lend a brass razzou to the banks, the Government did after you had all paid your taxess to the Government - you have no say whatsoever in what they spend it on - they decide that for themselves. Possibly one day that will sink in.

Mind you had you been a believer in that "communist" lunacy we would have all gone bust, having endured a life of poverty, about twenty years ago. Ask the Chinese how "Capitalism" is working for them - the answer you will get back will be, "Very nicely thank you".

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: meself
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 11:01 AM

Well - that's the answer you'll get from those Chinese for whom Capitalism IS working very nicely ....

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 11:09 AM

Well, I don't know where you imagine governments get their money from if not from taxpayers. And, last time I checked, paying tax was not optional, whether you were a "believer" in capitalism or not. As for getting our money back, well we certainly won't be getting two billion of our money back, neither taxpayer nor exchequer, from the Northern Rock bailout, and that's just for starters.

I'm a fan of "bail" in this context, not "bale", despite my earlier post.

Ask the Chinese in a year's time how their capitalism is doing. They are already feeling the chill. By the way, don't forget to ask the ordinary Chinese in towns and villages.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Stu
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 11:19 AM

"Those taxpayers were people who had paid their taxes to the Exchequer and believers in the capitalist system . . ."

Er, do you have a choice whether you pay your taxes (unless you're Vodaphone etc)?

So this statement is wrong; you don't have to be a taxpayer to be a believer in the current version of the capitalist system.


"Very nicely thank you".

Because our workers are not paid too much, have no rights, and very little control over their own lives. Paradise for the rich capitalist, hell for the worker.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,Teribus
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 12:39 PM

Ah but Sugarfoot old son Chinese workers have never had any of those things, they grew up and still live in a Communist State that is making money through the adoption of capitalist principles. Slowly but slowly the lot of the average Chinese citizen is improving.

Feeling the chill eh Steve?? Chinese growth down to what just under 9% what are the growth rates predicted for the West and the rest of the developed world Steve? They are measured in points of a percent the best performer around 2.5% I'd take China's chill any day - If the UK report a growth rate of 9% it would hailed as a bonanza.

Yes Steve, Governments get their money from Taxpayers and once the Government have got their hands on it it no longer belongs to the Taxpayer, and the Taxpayer has got absolutely no bloody say regarding what the money is spent on.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 02:17 PM

Well, we do have elections I suppose.


China is on the road to boom and bust. Their overseas markets, which their boom crucially depends on, are in severe decline, and China is trying to build an economy that relies on them less. The "success" of China's economy, I hate to remind you, is predicated on the large, state-owned companies, but as times get hard this is going to be a millstone, as capitalism always intends it to be. The Chinese are slashing interest rates as demand falls. Where have you heard that before? As I say, ask the question again in a year's time. I'm hoping to be still here.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,Teribus
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 06:25 PM

"Well, we do have elections I suppose."

You mean those things where the "dyed in the wool" Labour voter votes Labour and the "dyed in the wool" Tory voter votes Tory, etc. Where each Party promioses to buck up and not make the same fuck-ups they made last time, but really because they are all professional politicians none of them actually give a toss about what any member of the public thinks?

Tell me who has a vested interest in keeping people down-trodden and trapped on benefits?? The answer is the Labour party.

Look at their track record since they won the election in 1945 - anyone reviewing their performance who still votes for Labour has just got to be "Brain Dead".

We've no gold reserves - Brown sold them off to buy votes
Our pensions are stuffed - Because Brown raided them to buy votes

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 08:29 PM

Er, I think it was Maggie who shut down British industry in the 1980s and threw millions on to incapacity benefit in a cynical move to keep the unemployment figures looking acceptable. While she was at it, she wrecked hundreds of communities in working-class areas and threw working people, families, towns and villages on to the no-hope scrapheap. Just after that she deregulated the City and allowed the Big Bang (thousands of yuppies making overnight fortunes without having to do a scrap of work), which led to the Big Bust of the early 90s (exit from the ERM and hundreds of thousands of home owners, Maggie's flagship policy representatives, being pitched into the misery of negative equity).

You appear to be the archetypal right-wing revisionist. Well, it's nice to know the true colours of those you debate with. At least us lefties are proud of it.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 08:37 PM

The Prince of Wales has been awarded the highest rank in all three military services by the Queen.

Prince Charles becomes a Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet and Marshal of the Royal Air Force.

Well there you go. Anyone here like to tell us how he "earned" all this? Heheh!

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,Teribus
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 01:25 AM

British industry was dead long before Maggie Thatcher became Prime Minister, all she did was put it out of its misery (British steel and coal was ridiculously expensive - I think we were mining coal at £250 per ton when we could get it delivered from Australia for £8 per ton - The Coal Industry was costing £750million a day to subsidise it - that just could not go on - Scargill & Co thought that it could and should by right). What is not mentioned in your little left-wing rant is the foreign investment that she brought into the country.

The country she handed over at the end of her tenure was financially sound, other European countries followed her example, then in 1997 TB & Co came onto the scene - Now after 13 years of Labour Government how would you describe the state of the country. The totally incompetent performance of Blair and Brown has destroyed our country, the "Coalition Government" that has followed them is doing no better, but giving them their due taking over from Gordon of Cartoon they have been passed a poisoned chalice.

Every Labour Government that has been elected since the end of the second world war has diminished the country and left the country in a total mess, that the subsequent Tory Government has had to pull us out of.

As for the "Honourary" Ranks awarded to Prince Charles?? I think that might have something to do with the fact that they are required to be held so that Prince Charles can take on some of the Royal Duties that presently can only be carried out by the Queen herself (86) or by the Duke of Edinburgh (90).

Talking about "earning" things some instances for you to look into.

Harold Wilson - the man who would not let you buy your own home - came into office owning one home, left office owning five.

Neil Kinnock - the man the British would not trust with running the country - compare his "lifestyle change" between him joining Parliament and today (Where did he get his millions)

The Blairs - Both lawyers now multi-millionaires (How??)

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 02:27 AM

Before advancement to high rank for ceremonial reasons, both Lt Philip Mountbatten's, and his son the Prince of Wales's naval careers followed a normal career path. His next son is a successful, and obviously militarily gifted, career officer whose promotions are in accordance with his service seniority. Likewise his son-in-law. His other son turned out to be unfitted for a military career, and was clearly advised of this by his superiors and persuaded to resign his commission ~ chucked out, in other words, with no concessions to his family relationships. His two grandsons have likewise advanced to their present ranks of Flight-Lieutenant and Captain by normal due process of promotion, and are normally employed in the duties concordant with their ranks and arms of the service with no concessions. All of these have initially completed the full appropriate training in the appropriate officer-cadet institution, Dartford or Sandhurst or Cranwell.

There has been none of the joining with the rank of Staff Colonel which could have happened in certain royalties at certain periods. Every commission, every promotion, has been worked for and earned; with the sole exception of the one who failed to keep up, and had to quit.

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 02:29 AM

Dartford!!

Dartmouth, buggerit!

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 03:06 AM

To get back to the subject, it was a wonderful Jubilee in spite of all the usual whinges posted here!!

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 04:59 AM

Trooping The Colour today.
Reminds me of a previous one at height of Irish troubles.
Although a prime target for assassination, and close relatives having already been brutally murdered, no bullet proof limo.

Riding side saddle through the crowded streets, a shot was fired so close it spooked her horse.
Most of us would have dived for cover on the ground, or hunched down and spurred the horse to a gallop.

She just steadied her horse, and had it walk on.
Every nerve must have been anticipating the second shot and the bullet tearing through flesh.
But, no outward sign.
That was her duty.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 05:59 AM

Before advancement to high rank for ceremonial reasons, both Lt Philip Mountbatten's, and his son the Prince of Wales's naval careers followed a normal career path. His next son is a successful, and obviously militarily gifted, career officer whose promotions are in accordance with his service seniority. Likewise his son-in-law. His other son turned out to be unfitted for a military career, and was clearly advised of this by his superiors and persuaded to resign his commission ~ chucked out, in other words, with no concessions to his family relationships. His two grandsons have likewise advanced to their present ranks of Flight-Lieutenant and Captain by normal due process of promotion, and are normally employed in the duties concordant with their ranks and arms of the service with no concessions. All of these have initially completed the full appropriate training in the appropriate officer-cadet institution, Dartford or Sandhurst or Cranwell.

There has been none of the joining with the rank of Staff Colonel which could have happened in certain royalties at certain periods. Every commission, every promotion, has been worked for and earned; with the sole exception of the one who failed to keep up, and had to quit.

Yeah, yeah, we believe ya - thousands wouldn't... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 06:36 AM

Name just one thousand!

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Stu
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 06:41 AM

"Slowly but slowly the lot of the average Chinese citizen is improving."

Not really, but it will improve if they can get democracy established. Whatever it is, China is not a communist state; it's more a sort of Capitalist Oligarchy, where there is a rich political elite, creaming off the top of a rich capitalist elite, a tiny weeny urban middle class and a vast reserve of what is essentially captive labour. The perfect conditions for capitalism to thrive, as the workers must not be paid the value of what they produce with their time and labour.

It's a right old mess over there, and my brother, who visits several times a year and travels well off the beaten track tells of how the state is spending vast amounts on large housing schemes, factories and shopping malls with no-one to occupy them as the cost is way out of the reach of ordinary citizens. There are huge cities we've never heard of over there, and these are expanding at an incredible rate.

Of course like unregulated capitalist societies anywhere, the scum rises to the top (see Levenson Enquiry, bankers etc). China has a chance to avoid this and sweep the board clean if it can avoid too much Anglo-Saxon influence. I welcome this, as I truly believe the Chinese, if allowed freedom of expression and speech as well as the rights we all enjoy here could be the most wonderful nation. So much potential that hasn't been pissed away for a quick buck by the likes of those whom run our societies (see Levenson Enquiry, bankers etc).

Queenies official birthday today. They have official birthday because in ye olden days if a monarch was born in wintertime the weather would often be bad, spoiling the day for the poor dears apparently. Anyhow, it's cold and slashing down today so best of luck. At least she got to hand out some medals making people members of an empire that (thankfully) has ceased to exist.

The anachronisms continue to pile up!

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,petecockermouth
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 06:58 AM

(again) surely it is obvious that those born into the royal families around the world are no better or worse than anyone else -we all just make the best of what we are born with and what the world throws our way.
however, they do seem to have a very limited imagination when it comes to career choices -the guys play at soldiers when not visiting places, while the women like horses when not opening things. not saying it's bad -just a bit predictable. i'm grateful to mark steel for telling us that the queen mother was an expert on the trombone, but other than that - not much apparent creative talent.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 07:07 AM

When I was in Beijing in 1988, a year before the Tiananmen protests, there was probably not enough inequality - i.e., if a doctor, wanting me to help him emigrate, told me the truth about his earnings compared with others; now they seem to have the same revolting inequality as the West...careful what you wish for..?

And re "Trooping the Colour" - how would you like to be directed about by someone tugging on either side of your mouth?; my poem "Horses for Courses?" - http://walkaboutsverse.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/walkaboutsverse-146-of-230.html

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 10:52 AM

""Prince Charles becomes a Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet and Marshal of the Royal Air Force.

Well there you go. Anyone here like to tell us how he "earned" all this? Heheh!""

Those are purely honorary and ceremonial titles. He'd get short shrift if he tried to issue orders. Militarily he holds only such reserve rank as he may have earned in service.

The level of ignorance in some of these responses is abysmal.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,petecockermouth
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 11:10 AM

i do try to ignore the more obvious eejits on here -yes i know i am turning green and overweight while sheltering under the bridge over the cocker- however.....terribus et al-what planet are you on? ever heard of the term 99%/1%?, ever considered the life of chinese factory slaves? or families down your street? no matter what political system the 1% of the chinese are claiming to use - or here or greece or anywhere- it is the same old story. a few rich and powerful white men are running the whole show for their own benefit, while screwing the rest of the world and its people, as they always have. it isn't hard to understand. trying to justify the excesses,cruelties and luxuries of these thieves (from the time of william the conq. for f***sake!!) to the global capitalists of today is ridiculous. our brave and cheated armed forces fight wars in the name of the queen to secure cheap oil for the americans - she too, is being used. oops - just thought -you are being ironic aren't you?

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,petecockermouth
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 11:25 AM

it's nothing to do with ignorance to not know this stuff-life is way, way too short. the titles that lot award themselves have nothing to do with my life. or yours. i imagine they have occasional evenings around the fire looking at the big book of fatuous ceremonial protocol (i'm reminded of gormenghast)
'mummy.....shouldn't i get a new badge...i think i may be overseer of the confederation of highland ironmongers'
'would you like a new badge, dear? '
'weeeellll...i would really...and maybe a sash, too?'
(telegraph rustles, duke mutters) 'bloody idiot boy....'

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 01:17 PM

It was a pretty good show, except for the concert by those puffed-up 'celebrities'. Not so wonderful. I turned off the TV and put on a good old lp of music from the 50s.
How tastes in music have deteriorated!

(Any way to eliminate the posts that have no bearing on the thread title?)

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,petecockermouth
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 02:21 PM

stick strictly to the point? why? you must be a riot down the pub-do you go out with an agenda and never deviate?

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 02:42 PM

It gave me much pleasure to watch polo at the Beaufort Club which stands next to Highgrove - excellent lunch!!

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 02:44 PM

I don't include discussion of the noises heard in the bushes and back seats of the cars parked around the watering hole (pub- what's that?).

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 02:58 PM

Bonzo, I haven't watched polo since I was in University. I wish it was more popular.

Polocrosse is the closest we get here in the foothlls of the Rockies.
http://polocrossecanada.com/about/members/millarville

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 03:02 PM

There is a Calgary Polo Club, in Okotoks (also Calgary area. Didn't mean to slight them.

Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Jubilee celebrations
From: GUEST,petecockermouth
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 03:23 PM

if you like something-go for it, why just watch others do it? unless of course what you enjoy is watching sweaty, rich boys on confused horses!