BS: Royal Wedding Announcement

Subject: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 11:32 AM

I've just heard the news and already I feel like throwing up.

---

16 Nov 2010 (NY Times): In a brief statement on Tuesday, Prince Charles announced the engagement of Prince William to Kate Middleton, his longtime girlfriend. After a wedding next year, the couple will live in north Wales, where William works as a helicopter pilot for the Royal Air Force.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: greg stephens
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 11:38 AM

I think she will make a radiant bride.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Maurice Mann
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 11:40 AM

Up the Republic!

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 11:41 AM

I haven't heard a thing (and hopefully never will)

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: olddude
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 11:44 AM

Lizzie got her invite already. I am waiting for mine

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: greg stephens
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 11:45 AM

I'm afraid we are all going to hear a great deal about this in the months to come, like it or not.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: frogprince
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 12:05 PM

The jaded part of me, burned out on media circuses, asks if this will last longer than Charles and Diane. But, as to "already ready to throw up"?

They're a young couple; I hope it works out for them, just as I would hope for the teacher's daughter and the cafe manager's son in the neighborhood; may they have a happy marriage.

I fully expect to be more than fed up with the constant overblown media coverage long before the wedding.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Stu
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 12:09 PM

Who pays?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 12:10 PM

I'm torn between hibernating and emigrating. The last time I had to suffer anything as bad as this was in the late 1970s, when sovereign and consort decided they'd been married long enough for the toiling masses to stand them a bumper celebration.

I was living in Portrush, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland at the time, an area not without its factions of loyalist Catholic hating dyed in the wool Brits. In fact the town fell within the Rev. Ian Paisley's constituency. The Rev. Ian, as I'm sure you will recall, was in those days a trenchant opponent of papism, republicanism, Irish Free Stateism, and anything else he thought might undermine the rights and freedoms of the good people of God fearing loyalist Ulster.

At the back of the house where I was staying, there was a large patch of open ground. For three days solid, a never ending procession of flute bands, pipe bands, concertina bands, loyalists, royalists and dudes in bowler hats and sashes used it to hail forth in stentorian tones about how wonderful it was to be British, and how they were going to banish the evil of popery from the sovereign sacred province of Ulster forever. My ears are still ringing at the memory.

Spending cuts? Who said anything about spending cuts? How much is this little shindig going to cost anyway?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 12:18 PM

I wish her many years of happiness, a great many palace intrigues and countless questions surrounding her untimely death.

English Queens seem to have the worst track record throughout the centuries.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 12:24 PM

'Leader of the Labour party Ed Miliband said "the whole country will be wishing them every happiness"'. BBC News·····

Apart from one curmudgeonly McCormick or McCormack or some such···

Always one, isn't there!

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: mandotim
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 12:39 PM

Anybody been offered the reception gig? They're going to be busy though; book the cathedral, book the palace for the reception, book the courtroom for the divorce...

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MMario
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 12:49 PM

on *THIS* side of the pond we've already been hearing about this for six years.....

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 12:52 PM

Where are MGM, Fred Astaire and Jane Powell when we need them? Well, we do know where Mr. Astaire is, more or less.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 12:53 PM

book the palace for the reception, book the courtroom for the divorce... ===

Oh, teeheehee Tim; aren't you a one!

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Richie Black (misused acct, bad email)
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 12:58 PM

The taxpayer will have to put their hand in their pocket again I see. The Queen heads the most expensive Royal Family in Europe.

The British taxpayers have to pay more for the Royal Family than those in seven other leading constitutional monarchies, even though the Queen's Civil List payment has been frozen for the past 20 years.
Buckingham Palace should take a share of the burden we all face, some public services face budget cuts of up to 25 per cent.

The Royal family cost us £41.5 million last year, that makes them Europe's most expensive.It was followed by the Dutch monarchy on £33.8million, the Norwegian on £23.9million and the Belgian on £11.7million. The British royals ran up a bill to taxpayers four times that of their Danish and Swedish counterparts and almost six times that of the ruling families in Spain and Luxembourg.

The Royal family are NOT a tourist attraction. The vast majority of tourists don't get to see them. Tourists DO come to see our historic buildings and amazing countryside. The Crown Estates do not belong to the royal family, therefore the income from them is not theirs to keep.

We all face severe cutbacks, maybe they can lead by example and refuse public handouts.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 01:12 PM

Hi there

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: G-Force
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 01:13 PM

Well, at least the ring isn't going to cost anybody anything.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Richie Black (misused acct, bad email)
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 01:14 PM

I never heard of her, can't be bothered reading up on her either. I saw her on the television news earlier (sound on mute) they were running footage of her shooting Deer and walking about in black knickers.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 01:21 PM

Ater what Diana and Fergie went through, I think most men would have qualms about their daughter marrying into that family.
This is because, take away the posh accents and the fancy uniforms - you really are left with the sort of stuff that makes material for the Jeremy Kyle Show. People with no real jobs, no committment to either parenting or monogamy.
I note also that the brides mother has been labelled 'impossible' and 'an embarassment' because she uses the term 'the toilet' instead of 'the lavatory'.

The Royal family are obviously on another planet to the rest of us. They celebrate and rejoice in the fact.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 01:24 PM

Out of interest, Al, who is it who has thus 'labelled' her??

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: mandotim
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 01:25 PM

Do I detect a touch of heavy handed sarcasm, MtheGM? I was making a comment based on the current track record of a seriously dysfunctional family!

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 01:29 PM

Nothing 'heavy-handed' in that comment of yours then, Tim? Motes & beams, my dear fellow, motes and beams...

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: mandotim
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 01:32 PM

So I take it you haven't had your invite then M? Only a matter of time, surely? We're going to send them a quote for a reception barn dance I think. Care to quote some odds on this marriage lasting more than 15 years? Or even five years once they've got the breeding out of the way?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Zen
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 02:02 PM

While I'm a staunch republican I wish them every happiness. Will try to avoid the inevitable hoo-ha as much as possible though.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 02:11 PM


They're a young couple; I hope it works out for them, just as I would hope for the teacher's daughter and the cafe manager's son in the neighborhood; may they have a happy marriage.

I fully expect to be more than fed up with the constant overblown media coverage long before the wedding.

Same here.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,crowsister
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 02:21 PM

Hey, what amazing timing! Now this very important news can be a focus for the media, so no-one will worry about all of that really boring political and economic stuff currently happening! Hurrah!

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 02:22 PM

Tim, I do not bet ~~ it is a terrifying addiction that left someone close to me in a terrible situation. I should as soon be an alcoholic or a chain-smoker as a gambler. But I must say I think your view unnecessarily pessimistic, &, if I may say so, peculiarly and unnecessarily ill-natured. He is a more intelligent and stable man than his father, and I they strike me as a young, well-meaning, forward-looking couple, probably with a genuine regard for one another; and I think it rather unmannerly to approach their relationship in so negative a fashion. Of course I don't expect an invitation ~ from them or any other couple with whom I am completely unacquainted. But I have been exceptionally fortunate in two most loving marriages, and would prefer to wish any about-to-marry couple the same. The evil of racism, to which we all vigorously object, is, I would urge, that it is prejudice against someone for the birth they could not help. I am distressed to see so much prejudice against this young man for having had the adventitiousness to be born who he is. He can no more help having been born future king than I can help having been born to Jewish parents; so many ill-natured people would do well to get off his back & give him the chance of a happy marriage. I greatly admire Zen's post just preceding this of mine.

♥♫❤Michael❤♫♥

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 02:23 PM

Well, I will be watching it on TV:)

I think it is wonderful that she has Diana's ring. It did cross my mind though ~ what would happen to that ring if they ever split up? Would she be allowed to keep it?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 02:25 PM

I'm not sure MGM - my wife told me. Apparently she has been sent on a load of shooting weekends to ease her transition from normal middle class person into person hanging about the royals without embarassing them.

I get the Times everyday because my wife does the crossword, but I never read it. I suppose it must have been one of the royal watchers in there.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 02:26 PM

Love your post Michael; it wasn't there when I posted mine.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 02:44 PM

If messrs Windsor and Middleton wish to marry, I have absolutely no desire to stop them. I just wish that they'd do it in private as ordinary private citizens. What I object to, apart from the existence of the monarchy itself, is the pomp and ceremony and mass media coverage and cost to the taxpayer which this event will attract; to say nothing of the way in which it will be used to divert public attention from the real issues of the day, such as mass redundancies, spending cuts, and the destruction and diminution of every single public service which Cameron and Co. can get their hands on.

Friedrich Engels invented a very good term for the way the masses are duped by this kind of nonsense. He called it false consciousness.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 02:44 PM

Hey, what amazing timing! Now this very important news can be a focus for the media, so no-one will worry about all of that really boring political and economic stuff currently happening! Hurrah!

Just picked this up from Facebook friend it is off the Guardian

The UK at the beginning of the 1980s 'Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, and the country was buckling under the strain of mass unemployment and an intense class war. Mrs Thatcher and her Chancellor Geoffrey Howe confronted the recession in a very brutal way rather than increase Government spending, they slashed it - in the 1980 Budget, the Chancellor also announced that benefits paid out to the families of people who went on strike would be cut by £12 a week and made subject to tax. The Budget sparked fury among economists, 364 of whom penned a letter to The Times demanding that a different course be taken, along the lines of a Keynesian style approach where spending would be increased to boost the economy.'

and facebook friend said

"AND THEN WE HAD - A RIGHT ROYAL WEDDING! - who says history doesn't repeat itself?"

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Van
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 02:56 PM

Just a thought; but if this hadn't filled the news bulletins all day what else would we have heard about?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 03:05 PM

I wonder how many of our families could stand up to the sort of scrutiny the royals get?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 03:11 PM

One can however help saying "toilet" and one can learn to speak properly and which knives to use.

This one hopes that Middleton is not a spoiled undisciplined manipulative drama queen like Diana the Martyr.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: I don't know
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 03:18 PM

May they be happy together especially as we will have to pay the bill & for any children they have. If not we will be paying for the divorce. Either way the "common" person losses out.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Will Fly
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 03:28 PM

I confess: I'd never heard of Kate Middleton until today. And now I've heard as much as I want to hear.

They're getting married. Good luck to them and let's hear no more about it. As is my wont, I shall avoid any news of them, or any other Royal, in the media as much as I can.

Not easy but one does one's best.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 07:54 PM

Is it true that they're going to exhume Diana Spencer just for the wedding?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 02:12 AM

DAILY MAIL HEADLINE.

Lower Class Woman marries into a Family on Welfare. shock.
It's only day one, and I haven't found a Radio or TV programme that hasn't mentioned this event. Dear God, and to think we've got six months of this crap.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: mandotim
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 02:56 AM

MGM; I'm not sure I've wished them any ill-will, I carry no personal animus for either of them; after all, I don't know them, neither do you,and nor are we ever likely to. I do wish them well as human beings; it's what they stand for and the assumption that iI will be in some way interested and uplifted by the news they are getting married that rankles. Nothing the Royals do has any significant impact on my life, and I object to their everyday lives being rammed down my throat by every media outlet. Trying to listen to the radio this morning on the drive into work was just awful; there is so much serious news to report, and yet every station was full of this drivel.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 03:11 AM

Well, I do see what you mean, Tim. But I thought you were being just a little too positive about the inevitability of divorce, and am glad to learn that that was not what you actually meant.

One of my minor talents is the ability to let what I don't particularly want to hear just wash over me without my paying it very much attention ~ I do not, for example, hear a lot of the commentary when watching tv football. I suggest this is an ability which many of you with negative attitudes to this forthcoming event might do well to try and cultivate, by the sound of it.

As for me ~~~

❄❄❤ Good luck & happiness, Kate & Will ❤☖☖

♥♫❤Michael❤♫♥

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: theleveller
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 03:19 AM

Here we go again - another onanistic orgy of ananchronistic sycophancy to delight the lickspittle Sun readers as this tawdry and divisive institution spends an obscene amount of our money on its own glorification.

At least the wedding will provide a good platform for protests against the unfairness of the government's cuts. What better demonstration of our divided society?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: akenaton
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 03:27 AM

I enjoyed Charlies comment when asked for his feeling on the marriage.

"About time...they've been practicing long enough!

Chip off the old bloke?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 03:38 AM

Here we go again, perhaps Wills has taken some advice from his Grandmother for him to find a wife before he is on his way to getting a bus pass unlike his father.

But really I couldn't care less. Who knows though the nation might get a bit of paid hols from this.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 03:54 AM

Will we get a day off work?
I missed out on the Charles and Diana do as I was experiencing my second bout of redundancy at the time (see some of the comments above)

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 04:41 AM

I spent most of yesterday in a nursing home, accompanying some inspectors. Spent a lot of time talking to many of the residents. Amazing how many were excited about the wedding, and looking forward to watching it on the telly.

I remember my Gran and her sister glued to the telly when Princess Anne got married. My Gran baked a cake with an iced union flag on it.

So whilst many people are either uninterested, wondering where the money is coming from or for some reason hostile to young people getting married, it is worth remembering that whilst I personally won't bother watching it, it is a small something that will bring a day of joy to a hell of a lot of people. And for that, it is cheaper and more worthwhile than an episode of Strictly Come Dancing, which is all the poor old buggers have to look forward to at present.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: mandotim
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 04:53 AM

Perhaps we shouldn't spend anything on the Royal wedding, and put any money saved towards re-instituting the mobility allowance for those same old people? Just a thought...

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 05:13 AM

Perhaps her Maj could pay for the wedding? She's got loads of dosh! All she'd have to do is sell off a palace. I hope she realises that 'we're all in this together'.

Whoops! Where am I? Just dozed off and had an odd dream about the Royal Family paying for their own nuptials!

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Stu
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 05:26 AM

The Queen's worth £290m - if she can't stump up for all the costs (including security and local authority expenses) then that will say plenty about how she views the hardships suffered by her 'subjects'.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: theleveller
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 05:27 AM

"And for that, it is cheaper and more worthwhile than an episode of Strictly Come Dancing, which is all the poor old buggers have to look forward to at present."

What a sad indictment of our care homes that they provide so little stimulation for elderly people. This is one of the reasons that my mother, who lived to be almost 90, and my gradnfather, who died aged 94, refused to go into a care home, preferring instead to remain independent despite the difficulties. Mrsleveller, in her role as an Organiser for the WEA, is currently loking into putting on programmes of activities for people in care homes, if the funding carn be found, in the absence of initiatives from local authorities.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 05:34 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: theleveller - PM
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 03:19 AM

Here we go again - another onanistic orgy of ananchronistic sycophancy to delight the lickspittle Sun readers as this tawdry and divisive institution spends an obscene amount of our money on its own glorification.

At least the wedding will provide a good platform for protests against the unfairness of the government's cuts. What better demonstration of our divided society?······

Ho-hum, "leveller"; I see why you chose that nickname. Ho-hum again, & I hope it keeps fine for you...

All best regards just the same~

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: theleveller
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 05:58 AM

Thanks MtheGM - I'm proud to be continuing a long and illustrious tradition of republicanism and dissent in this country. Sure as hell beats apathy.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 06:32 AM

Should be a big boost for the tourist industry, will anyone be investing in commemorative plate makers?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,c.g.
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 06:38 AM

However, "If *Messrs* Windsor and Middleton wish to marry" it really would put the cat among the pigeons. Of course it would have to be a civil partnership.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: banjoman
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 06:52 AM

I echo all the sentiments above - but I just begin to wonder if MI5 or 6 are taking note of these comments to find a few radical thinkers among the populous who may become a nuisance to the state.
Royalty is outdated and expensive. The sooner we get rid of them all the better. (I'll probably be one of the first to be noted.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: theleveller
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 07:01 AM

Oh no! Don't lock me up in the Tower with a banjo player! (Only joking!)

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: G-Force
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 07:08 AM

" Nothing the Royals do has any significant impact on my life "

That's a stupid comment. For example, the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and the Prince's Trust have both affected lots of young people. True, they could both have happened without the royals, but not so well: the royals provide a real inspiration for them to work.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,PeterC
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 07:21 AM

will anyone be investing in commemorative plate makers?
No doubt they will be made in China, just like the "British" olympic souveniers.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Arnie
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 07:54 AM

I've turned off the radio today and am listening to my iPod instead - there's some pretty good folk and other music stored in there. I just am fed up with every radio channel already droning on about the royal wedding - and it's still early doors. Only TalkSport ignored the subject but they were concentrating on Scotland beating the mighty Faroe Isles in a friendly footie match last night. Before turning off the radio, I learned that The Daily Telegraph has devoted 13 pages to the subject. The Daily Mirror or some other red-top already has a pull-out section entirely devoted to the royal wedding. So in protest I haven't bothered to buy a newspaper today and probably will not tomorrow either. I've got nothing against the happy couple but I just do not want the royal wedding dominating my tv,radio and newspaper for the next 12 months!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 08:10 AM

"Here we go again - another onanistic orgy of ananchronistic sycophancy to delight the lickspittle Sun readers as this tawdry and divisive institution spends an obscene amount of our money on its own glorification.

At least the wedding will provide a good platform for protests against the unfairness of the government's cuts. What better demonstration of our divided society? "

No, it will teach a great deal of people like yourself to know your place!!

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 08:40 AM

I believe Royal Doulton are making the commemorative plates. It is really unfortunate that the combined monogram of the happy couple reads "WC"

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,cs
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 08:44 AM

'the combined monogram of the happy couple reads "WC"'

Is that more posher than toilet?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: theleveller
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 08:52 AM

"No, it will teach a great deal of people like yourself to know your place!! "

You should know your place by now Bozo which is, as usual, in the wrong! :0

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: bubblyrat
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 09:36 AM

With all due respect,Banjoman,I think you mean "populace" ; the meaning of "populous" is rather different !
            Anyway,what do I think of all this media frenzy about yet another Royal event ?? Well, I try not to let it intrude into my daily life ; when Charles and Diana wed, I went out for the day,like Jock Stuart, with my gun & my dog (albeit not on Speyside !).Sadly, I shall be denied that relief on the next occasion,as a former partner (an SGI "Buddhist" ) persuaded me to give up my Gunmark "Kestrel" 12g (the things we do for sex !!), and we're not allowed to have dogs where I live now. I suppose I could always go and watch boats going through Marsh or Hambledon locks ; anything but having to sit through another TV wedding marathon !
            Incidentally,whilst Miss Middleton looks and sounds like a thoroughly nice youg woman,she doesn't exactly come across as the sort of person who would be able to endure the strain of being a "Royal" ; at least Fergie had (and still has ! ) , balls !!

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,PeterC
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 09:52 AM

I believe Royal Doulton are making the commemorative plates.
Only a token on-shore manufacturing presence since 2005 so may be made in The Potteries but more likely in Indonesia.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: mandotim
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 09:55 AM

" Nothing the Royals do has any significant impact on my life "
G-Force; do you know me? I think not. The operative word in the above point is 'my'. Duke of Edinburgh awards and the Princes Trust etc. do not apply and have never applied to me or any member of my family, and therefore my comment, far from being 'stupid' is in fact entirely accurate. An apology for your rudeness would be nice. Thinking more widely, the impact of the initiatives you describe (both of which are run by professionals with Royals as occasional figureheads) applies to a small minority of the population at large; hardly a justification for a monarchy on the scale of ours.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 10:54 AM

Bubblyrat: Even if you stayed home, who would make you 'sit thru another wedding marathon'? & how?   Are you so tv-dependent that you can't think of anything to do at home except watch the telly? Has your set only one channel? I don't mean to be in any way offensive, but that really does come over as rather a sad post of yours, you know...

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 11:15 AM

If they discovered a cure for cancer tomorrow, the next post on the BS section would read "Coronary heart disease, biggest UK killer."

Miserable buggers.

I'm not a Royalist by any means, (though being the happy hypocrite I am, I accepted my gong..) but I suppose I agree with one of the common arguments given when Australia last turned down the opportunity to become a republic;

"Rather her than some sod who wants to be the head of state."

There's a lot to be said for that, you know....   

So, whilst I won't be watching it, I know that thousands will, thousands will feel good about it (and themselves by proxy) and the doom mongerers will have to shut up 'cos no bugger will be listening. We have an ageing population, and guess what? they love a Royal wedding... Oh, and we have lots of young people. Guess what? Hello magazine and daytime telly will ensure they are interested.

The royal family is our leading soap opera, so of course ratings will be high, of course advert breaks will cost the advertisers a hell of a lot because ratings will be as high as you can get.

So, when people say, why bother? A lot (and I mean a lot) of people will and do bother. I don't and neither do many on this thread, but to decry it misses the mood of the country. Nobody is interested in someone gripping the arms of their chair in anger about social injustice, they are more interested in how she is wearing Diana's ring.

Wake up! Nobody is listening to the miserable squad!

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: G-Force
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 11:23 AM

I am the other half of G-Force. When we heard the announcement yesterday the first thing we said was "Well this'll bring out all the old miseries on Mudcat who can't resist an oportunity to moan, and boy, were we right!

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 11:27 AM

I think if you go to Russia Today you can avoid wall to wall coverage,

But I must admit that Chuckie Windsor does some rather nice organic food.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 11:47 AM

My daughter is well excited about the wedding. I asked her why. She said, "I have never seen a royal wedding since I was born"

So there you have it, us old fogies can be miserable and grumpy about it, but don't forget the generation who have never experienced a Royal Wedding. They are damn well looking forward to it.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: mandotim
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 11:52 AM

Hey SW, lay off the miserable! As a northern bloke of a certain age I am genetically and socially predisposed to being a miserable, cynical bastard! I'm a product of me environment Guv! Meanwhile, do stop bragging about your high powered jobs, wealth and appearance in Honours lists; it's getting a bit tedious for us poor plebs.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: theleveller
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 12:04 PM

Hey Mandotim, that makes two of us. LOL! As part of the ageing population, I can't stand the bloody monarchy and neither can most of my frieds. My late mother, father and grandfather weren't too keen, either. Now, let me tell you how important I am.......

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: theleveller
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 12:05 PM

.....er, not very!

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Maurice Mann
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 12:27 PM

The Romans had bread and circuses, we have royal weddings. They serve the same purpose, keep the plebs minds off the pile of shit the so called upper classes have dumped us in.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,cs
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 12:31 PM

"your high powered jobs, wealth and appearance in Honours lists;"

You're missing out the personal Tax Bill of £xxx (can't remember the figure exactly but it was considerably richer than you) and the portfolio of 42 rented properties. I do hope Willie lives in a nice shiny new mansion with faux 'classical' pillars. Got to have somewhere fitting to park the hostess trolley..

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 01:23 PM

Given that the couple lived together for a while, will she still have to vetted for virginity?
I wish them well but doubt that anyone can be happy when their every movement is hounded by the press.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 01:47 PM

I remember HM wanted us all to pay for the restoration of fire-damaged Windsor Castle, and was quite surprised when we all declined to do any such thing. I agree that the Queen and Prince Charles between them should fork out for the nuptials. They're both quite stupendously rich, and we are NOT!

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 02:18 PM

On the whole I find the prospect of a Royal Wedding less dispiriting than the hyped-up and overblown 2012 London Olympics...

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 03:26 PM

Kate Middleton the first person to squeeze into Dianas ring since Dodi Al Fayed!

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 03:54 PM

Traditionally, it is the bride's father who foots the bill. He is, one gathers, a self-made millionaire, so I am sure he will wish to pay at least a good proportion of the costs of dressing bridesmaids, catering, & so forth, as the father of the bride does. Is that what is contemplated, I wonder?

However, it will be the kind of event that has to be policed, &c ~~ it is surely fitting that such aspects should be met from the same sort of source as, say, for the security if visiting heads of state.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 04:21 PM

Blimey, I hope my daughter doesn't marry into royalty. It would be a pie and a pint down at the local.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 05:30 PM

That's an idea - Have the Royal Wedding as the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics, then I only need to avoid one extravaganza.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 02:12 AM

Guest PeterC >>>>>>I believe Royal Doulton are making the commemorative plates.
Only a token on-shore manufacturing presence since 2005 so may be made in The Potteries but more likely in Indonesia.<<<<<<< Royal Doulton items mainly bear the words 'Made in China' on the boxes if not on the items..... so I guess you were pretty close to the truth.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 03:40 AM

At the end of the day they are going to do it whether we like it or not and there will be those who will love all the hype and what goes with it and people like me with a 'bah humbug attitude to it.

Wills was going to do it at some point or other and it would have been the same for any prospective Royal In-Law I guess.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 03:59 AM

Ok, so..

this is supposed to be about the Royal wedding, not misconception of WIllie. Every bit of telling about myself was either in answer to a jibe or to show that the right to complain is not, as some believe, inversely proportional to wealth.

I mentioned I was an ex miner in context. I mentioned I pay all the tax I owe, in context. And when I say in context, I `m mentioning the idiots who say I should be paying more. i pointed out that I do. that wasn't good enough, so to put it in context, I said the amount I paid last year. It got the reaction I expected.

In this thread, as many here know the real me behind the absurd Willie, I wasn't going to admit I am not a Royalist and have someone point out I accepted my MBE. I said I was a happy hypocrite before anybody else does.

Funny how you can say how hard done by you are in order to make your point but when your point is the opposite, you can't mention that some of us got up off our arses and got on.

Listen to yourselves. You have had the opportunity to be educated, literate, in a land of opportunity with a welfare safety net at the beginning of the 21st Century.

And isn't it all wrong. Boo hoo.

Me? I'd see a doctor about my depression if I were you.

As for me, the real me keeps quiet about his success. Willie on the other hand can't be doing with doom mongering whinging crap from people who are clever enough to have grasped opportunity when it presented itself, or even worse, are comfortable (Dick the Poo springs to mind) yet love patronising others with talk of bringing down a government because they can't stand the thought that the vast majority want a government to sort out the untenable situation we have at present.

A Royal wedding may be fodder for the masses, but with religion having been exposed for being the same, people need something they believe in. Guess what? A fairy tale romance of a Prince getting his future Queen fits the bill perfectly. I'll be in the pub of course, but I am sure I will raise a glass to them.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: mandotim
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 04:32 AM

Willie; you're assuming that your interlocutors have not 'got on' as you put it. How do you know? From what I know of some of the contributors to this thread, many of them are highly successful individuals in a variety of fields of endeavour. Your patronising attitude towards them and your general 'I'm alright Jack' tone is intensly irritating, and wrongly directed. It is perfectly possible to be successful and still understand the reasons why others may not be so, and it is also possible to understand that it is often the structures and systems of society that prevent people from fulfilling their potential. Very few of the people in this thread are 'whinging' (as you call it) on their own behalf; they are taking the wider view of the current situation as it applies to those less fortunate than them. Many of them are actively doing something about it; not just protesting on internet discussion forums.
You did get off your arse, and you did get on; good for you, I'm happy for you. You must have worked very hard, but I'd be willing to wager you got lucky somewhere along the line as well. Most of us do at some point in our lives, and some take advantage of the opportunity, some don't, and some are unable to recognise it.
An example of what I mean; the cleverest and hardest working man I know (bar none)was forced to leave school at 13 and be apprenticed to his father as a bricklayer. His parents wouldn't allow him to take the 11-plus because his elder brother had failed it the year before, and they thought that education therefore wasn't for the likes of them. He was extremely musical, but his friends bullied him when he expressed a wish to play a musical instrument. His life choices and chances were restricted from that point on; he ended up moderately successful, having been encouraged by his wife (a miner's daughter who won a scholarship and eventually went to Cambridge)and eventually gained some qualifications in engineering late in his career. He took up the 'cello at the age of 70, and plays beautifully now at the age of 86. Given different structures and systems of society and some different breaks, it is not far-fetched to see his potential career as an eminent scientist or a professional musician. Had he been born into a wealthy upper middle class family, that progression would have been more or less automatic. He certainly has the intellectual ability, and plenty of drive, even now. What was missing was opportunity; that has improved over the years, and I think many of the posters here are worried about a return to that situation based on the thrust of the coalition's policy agenda. That's the real objection Willie; the sense that the ladder is being removed, the ladder you used so successfully. I've known the subject of my example all my life; he's my father.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 04:57 AM

I don't know who you are, Willie. But good on you. Enjoy your success and the recognition it has received. There are enough sour people on this thread, who make a great song & dance of the fact that they are going to ignore all the celebrations & so on, as if their holier-than-thou attitudes are of all-consuming interest to all the rest of us. Who cares whether they switch on their tellies or go and spend the day at the top of Ben Nevis. Why they should be so grudging of anyone elses's pleasures and interests and satisfactions, is what I really can't see. I mean, for instance ~ Dave Mackenzie, it's easy to 'avoid extravaganzas' that one isn't interested in: just switch the tv off and read a book, or go for a walk, or buy a crossword-book. But why make such a priggish, self-righteous, self-satisfied virtue of it, FFS?

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 05:00 AM

Mandotim ~ A coincidence: my first wife was a miner's daughter who won a scholarship and went to Cambridge as a mature student. One thing we have in common, anyhow.

Best

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: mandotim
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 05:38 AM

MtheGM; please do not conflate 'disagreement' with sourness. I view the fact of two people who care for each other getting married as a good thing, it just has nothing to do with me. I don't know them, and their privileged existence is entirely separate from mine. Given the many serious matters happening in our world just now, what I object to is this utterly trivial matter dominating media outlets and forcing far more important matters off the agenda. Yes, I could switch off the radio, the TV or the internet, but why should I have to? By the same token, you could ignore this thread...

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 05:51 AM

"Me? I'd see a doctor about my depression if I were you."

Tsk Willie, I'm afraid you're mistaking "depression" with "pointing and laughing" (as you put it). Thanks for brightening these threads up!

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 05:57 AM

Yeh, well you can confuse it with sourness in my case.

Whatever our educational attainments or acomplishments, most of us are piss poor. The telly is our main point of contact with the greater outside world.

Its bad enough Simon Cowell et al. giving themselves airs and graces without having the day punctuated with bulletins on every royal sneeze and fart up the couple setting off on honeymoon.

Did any of you know that Martin Simpson ad writeen some music for radio 3 called the Man with the bLue guitar, based on poems by Wallace Stevens and paintings by Picasso? No of course we didn't. the insertion in the radio times was miniscule.

Meanwhile we are inundated with shit and garbage. sometimes royal shit and garbage.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 05:58 AM

Well, I could, Tim; but it is not quite an analogy, you know. If we all ignored threads, there would be none. But whether you take any interest in the forthcoming nuptials or not, they will still happen ~~ and will moreover remain 'News' whether you like it or not. But it is entirely hyperbolical to say that they are driving all other matters of any importance 'off the agenda' ~~ there is a lot in my Times this morning about them; but a lot about all the other things that are happening as well, all of which some will find more important and interesting than others. I haven't, for instance, turned to the sports pages yet; but I am sure that when I do I shall find a full report of last night's humiliation at football of England by France, which won't even mention inter-alia that Wills is going to marry Kate. So that. when you say you could 'switch off the radio, the tv, the internet', you are talking nonsense ~ all you need do is change channels. Didn't you think of that?

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 06:26 AM

It's not so easy as that to avoid. Many years ago, one of my staff went on a day trip to France to avoid Chucky and Di's wedding along with thousands of others. She told me when she came back that she and her husband were about the only Brits in Boulogne not crowded round TV shops watching the ceremony in the window. We'll no doubt get saturation coverage in all the media, and tv transmission schedules will be disrupted for several months. I've got a backlog on Freeview+, a backlog of dvds to watch, not to mention large piles of unread books and magazines so I'm not too worried. I'm not a monarchist, though so long as they just get on with their lives and leave me to get on with mine I'm not too bothered, and I do have respect for Charles and Anne. As for the happy couple, I wish them all the best, after all, "there's nothing so royal as procreation".

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: ragdall
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 06:26 AM

I wish the young couple all the best and hope that the media will give them some peace. (Which would also help all who would prefer to hear as little as possible about them.)

As a colonial, I've always enjoyed the pomp and ceremony of the monarchy and look forward to this wedding and all future news of this royal couple.

Over here it's customary for the bride's family to foot the bill for the wedding. Since the Middletons are millionaires and in the party business, it should be a piece of cake for them to do so.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 06:35 AM

Ragdall ~~ I made the point about the bride's family paying for the wedding ~ it's the custom here too ~ 15 posts back. But also the point that they don't usually have to pay for security to the extent that will be necessary here.

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Zen
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 06:44 AM

It's not so easy as that to avoid. Many years ago, one of my staff went on a day trip to France to avoid Chucky and Di's wedding along with thousands of others. She told me when she came back that she and her husband were about the only Brits in Boulogne not crowded round TV shops watching the ceremony in the window.

No so! I, my partner and two friends were also in Boulogne that day and scrupulously avoided television shops.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: acegardener
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 06:54 AM

At last the British have got a peoples Princess








Audley Harrison

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: mandotim
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 07:46 AM

With respect, MtheGM, I submit that you are guilty of a logical error; I said that YOU could ignore THIS thread; to fulfil the conditions you describe, everyone would have to ignore all threads, which begs the classic existential question; if everyone ignores a thread, does it still exist?. One thread on a relatively obscure internet forum does not amount to blanket coverage on all media outlets, and therefore it is far easier to ignore this thread than it is to ignore this unimportant wedding. Changing channels makes no difference; whichever news bulletin you watch or listen to, there is overblown coverage, mostly consisting of tittle tattle and speculation. 'Experts' and 'Royal Watchers' are paraded to give the benefit of their (non) wisdom, and politicians who should have better things to do exhort the nation to rejoice and be happy. Between now and the wedding this is going to get worse, and I'm sure more and more people will come round to the 'couldn't care less' point of view; even those who read the Times and other Murdoch comics.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 07:56 AM

I can't say I find your logic overwhelming either, Tim. I mean, why should I ignore the thread, when I quote enjoy reading it? You can ignore the wedding, tho, if you are fed up with it ~~ who said you have to get your news from TV? Why not just click on 'latest headlines' on Firefox, & just click on the stories that interest you? But all you lot of moaners seem to regard yourselves as some sort of captive audience, which you have not the least need to be if you'd rather not.

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: mandotim
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 09:07 AM

MtheGM; ever heard of peripheral perception? Propagandists use it a lot. Again, your logic is not good; I said you could ignore the thread, not that you should. Far be it from me to tell you what to do. Please don't resort to insults, let's try to keep this a grown-up and civilised discussion; I'm not a moaner (if you were including me in your catch-all classification), I have a point of view on a current event; you don't share that view, but I don't impute anything about your character or personality from that; please don't make assumptions about me either.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 09:36 AM

My point, as ever, is that many on recent threads are not in the position they moan about, which I find rather patronising for those who are. So yes, Mandotim, I am taking that into account. I also am not looking for people to do a Brucie on me and say "Didn't he do well!" Rather, I think it is about time many others said "Didn't I do well!" instead of pretending to be hard done by and blaming society / government / Royal family / Spanish inquisition whatever.

By sending myself up, I rather hoped the irony of their indignation would give them something to think about. Silly me, too subtle.

Anyway, I was talking about this in the pub last night and was reminded that at Charles / Di wedding, the afters shift at the pit I worked at couldn't turn coal (produce) because of the high level of absenteeism, and I was one of many sent home on pay. (Can't remember, but my mate Snowy can...)

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Stu
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 10:30 AM

" doom mongering whinging crap from people who are clever enough to have grasped opportunity when it presented itself"

Here's a shocking fact: not everyone gets presented with opportunities like that. It might be difficult to believe but some people are genuinely disadvantaged due to the demographic they belong too.

Congratulations on being a success, as a small businessman I understand the hard work you have to put into working for yourself. However, if it robs you of your humility and compassion then perhaps success is too great a price to pay.


"But also the point that they don't usually have to pay for security to the extent that will be necessary here."

So we should pay for it? It's OK for us to pay for the weddings of multi-millionaires? The Queen is worth £290,000,000, and she doesn't have the grace in these difficult times to stump up the cost of her grandson's wedding security?

Shame on her and her family if they duck their responsibility. I feel so sorry for people who want to have British citizenship having to swear an oath of loyalty to her; I certainly wouldn't.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 10:35 AM

Sorry, Tim. Not always easy to gauge the precise level of vehemence appropriate to these contentiously-toned threads. I appear to have misjudged and come over to you as offensive and over-truculent ~~ by no means my intention.

Pax!

~Michael~

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 10:39 AM

There seems to be a very odd definition of "middle class" if this young lady and her family are included. They may not be aristocrats - but then nor is the post-Stuart British Royal Family really.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: mandotim
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 11:34 AM

Pax indeed Michael!
Best wishes
Tim

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 11:54 AM

So that makes 4 Brits in Boulogne. As I said......

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Zen
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 12:13 PM

So that makes 4 Brits in Boulogne. As I said.....

No... a massive undercounting! 5 Brits and an Irishman! (;>)

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: theleveller
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 12:21 PM

"I think it is about time many others said "Didn't I do well!" instead of pretending to be hard done by "

'Doing well' in life doesn't have to mean earning a lot of money. My grandfather left school at 12 but 'did well' in becoming one of the best-read and most knowledgeable people I have ever met. He worked his whole life as a farm labourer and railway clerk and never lived in a house with a bathroom or inside toilet until he moved into an alms house in his late 80s. But he 'did well' by serving in two world wars and then being a magistrate, chairman of the council, churchwarden, sitting on innumerable committees and spending every spare hour working for the community, largely unpaid. When my grandmother said to him that if he'd been paid for everything he did, they'd be rich, his answer was, "That's not why I do it".

But he did it bloody well! I admire him more than any self-made millionaire.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 12:42 PM

Sounds like he had more brains than the entire royal family together. Thereby lies the bone of my contention. Why should one individual spend their entire life being featherbedded because of an accident of birth, while somebody else pours their whole life into helping other people, and ends his days living in an alms house?

Leveller, I've known a lot of selfless people like your grandfather. They are infinitely more admirable than the entire titled aristocracy put together.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 12:52 PM

yes, leveller, there isn't a single thing in that I disagree with.

Why does everybody equate doing well with financial things when applied to some but not others? Seriously, you assume I meant financially doing well, but then tell us about your Granddad.

I didn't mean financially, not in any way. I have been at each end of the spectrum and to be honest, I feel better about the community involvement I do for nowt than the personal situation which affects me and my close family only.

You did well for starters. I enjoy watching you perform, you bring pleasure to people and for that alone, didn't you do well... You have a social conscience, not that I agree with all you say, but I admire that you care. You are articulate enough to put your point across too. So again, didn't you do well.

I did well too. I get more of a buzz out of entertaining than sitting in my tower counting my fivers or whatever some pillock said on another thread. I also get a buzz out of working unpaid for a government body to ensure my retirement isn't too boring, (I stopped "working" at a young age, and am still younger than many here. I suppose I am guilty of bragging about being young too.......) My involvement with local community groups is taking more time up than ruddy working, but so what.

BUT by pointing out that not everybody wants revolution, not everybody who has a few bob is out to exploit the rest, I am naturally decried.

You know, by pointing out my situation, I know I am goading some and boring others. To those being bored, I apologise. To those I seem to be goading, good. Serves you right.

But leveller, don't wait till your '80s before sampling the delights of an inside toilet. It's not only too long but in these relatively affluent times, its totally unnecessary too.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Richie Black (misused acct, bad email)
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 01:02 PM

I see the Queen and The Prince of Wales are reportedly willing to pay their share of what could be a £50 million bill for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. One estimate to the cost of the Royal wedding claimed the final figure could even be as high as £80 million due to the levels of security required.

It has been arranged that Miss Middleton is bringing her family to meet members of the Royal Family this weekend, what's the betting Prince Philip either insults them or takes a handful of Miss Middletons ass.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 03:49 AM

Luckily, Prince Philip is too old now to be taken too seriously by anyone. At least Kate is lucky to come into the family at a time when Prince Philip can do the least damage.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 03:55 AM

So, does that mean that all 'old' people are not to be taken seriously?

Kinda insulting, don't you think?

Let alone ageist?

In fact, it's kinda the sort of thing that Prince Phil himself may well have said.....

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 03:59 AM

Middleton, daughter of an Air Hostess (originally before they became well off) from labouring and mining stock, is to be Queen. Wondering when the last time was that blue-bloods married outside of their class?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Allan Con
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 04:13 AM

"So there you have it, us old fogies can be miserable and grumpy about it, but don't forget the generation who have never experienced a Royal Wedding. They are damn well looking forward to it."

Your offspring may very well be excited about it but to be fair I don't imagine she really speaks for her whole generation

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 04:45 AM

'I don't imagine she really speaks for her whole generation'

I bet she does - whole celeb obsessed lot of them.

Really its a pity he's not marrying Katie Price. She would have flogged the whole thing to Hello and Murdoch Enterprises and Syndications and made a profit on the deal, instead of whingeing around for handouts from the state.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: theleveller
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 04:52 AM

"yes, leveller, there isn't a single thing in that I disagree with."

Thanks, Wille, my comments weren't aimed at you personally - just a general observation. Oh, and following Bob Flowerdew's suggestion to put urine to your compost heap, I grow great vegetables!

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 07:07 AM

Exactly Lizzie that is why I said it.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 03:10 PM

Thanks goodness we don't have to listen to Richard Dimbleby or Tom Fleming with their nauseating unctuous commentaries on royal occasions any more. Where's that sycophantic StJohn Stevas these days; will he be wheeled out to lecture us all on how wonderful the royals are and what a good job they do.
I'm off either to France or the garden shed; probably the latter having paid my share of the cost.
Can someone tell me when it will be safe to turn on the radio or buy a newspaper again.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 03:17 PM

Prince Philip is too old now to be taken too seriously by anyone.

That kind of ageism is as acceptable as its racist equivalent.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 20 Nov 10 - 11:43 AM

Just compare some of Mr McCormick's later, quite rationally-worded posts, with his OP.

Now why, as he doesn't appear quite so much of a vulgarian as he did initially, did he think it either wise, or seemly, or in any way necessary, to kick off this thread with the assertion that the announcement of the forthcoming Occasion made him immediately "feel like throwing up"?!?

I mean, charming, wot!

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 20 Nov 10 - 01:07 PM

Because the announcement did make me feel like throwing up and it still does.

I am opposed to the monarchy for several reasons.

1. It is an outdated archaic quasi-feudal institution, which has nothing to do with the rational needs of our present society, and has no place in any modern democracy.

2. It is horrendously expensive, and an unneccesary drain on this country's resources. This is true 24/7/365, but it is even more so when we are continually being told that "we are all in this together". Would that be royal wee?

3. It is a major part of the culture of inequality, which pervades this country, and which prevents realisation of the potential capabilities of the vast majority of lower class people. (I realise that anyone born with a silver spoon in their mouth, and a public school education behind them, may not understand this point, but I do. Believe me, there were no silver spoons where I grew up, and there was no social equality to speak of either.)

I have, over the years, managed to curb my desire to incinerate the whole rotten edifice, and would now much rather see the royal family pensioned off and replaced by a democratically elected consitutional presidency. But pardon me if the words royal and wedding combined in the one sentence still make we want to throw up.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 20 Nov 10 - 02:47 PM

Yes, yes, yes Fred! We need parliament to bring in a bill to abolish the whole silly system - monarchy and house of lords but in order to do this we need a proud colonel and a gray peer to stand at the doors of the houses and eject all those who wouldn't support it. I'm emigrating to a republic as soon as I can

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 20 Nov 10 - 02:52 PM

Thank you for your response, Mr McCormick. Much appreciated.

In fact, it makes me want to throw up...

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 20 Nov 10 - 03:11 PM

Glad to hear that M. If I'd said something you agreed with I'd wonder what I'd done wrong.

By the way, isn't it about time you put forward a cogent argument for the retention of the monarchy?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 20 Nov 10 - 05:40 PM

No

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Nov 10 - 07:15 PM

Poster is Alan Whittle
a cogent argument for the retention of the monarchy

1) Some of us have sordid erotic fantasies about members of the royal family - where would that leave us?

er....that's it.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Nov 10 - 08:30 PM

Hmmmm. I suppose Kate could be the stuff of erotic fantasies. Diana certainly was....

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 21 Nov 10 - 03:37 AM

"Diana certainly was.... "

Necrophilia?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 21 Nov 10 - 06:23 AM

Sorry MG eht M. If you can't come up with a serious argument for the retention of the monarchy, then your views aren't worth listening to.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 21 Nov 10 - 06:37 AM

I am devestated that a man of such exquisite taste and unanswerably fine logic should not respect my views, Mr McCormick.

Oh the shame and disgrace. Oh woe alas and alack the day. Eheu fugaces. Weeping·&·wailing·&·gnashing·of·teeth. O bohoohoo. O I am stricken to the ♥. Oh my soul is afire.

I must off down the garden to eat wo·o·o·o·rms.

~leahciM~

Oh, by the way ~ almost forgot to say ~ piss·off u pompous big booby xxxxx

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 21 Nov 10 - 07:33 AM

No, but seriously Fred, having taken counsel with myself, I bethink me that your question does probably deserve a reasoned response: so here you are.

I have no particular brief for Royalty or hereditary principles. My only reason for defending them is that they are what we happen to have; & a long life has taught me the virtues of two postulates: viz

i If it ain't broke, don't fix it ~~ & it ain't: you might find it distasteful ideologically, but it works OK, & a hell of a lot better than the systems in operation in many regimes which have made the change you desire,

because they didn't take into account the 2nd postulate ~~

ii There is, too, a firm Law Of Unforeseen Consequences, against which you will inevitably stub your toe if you monkey about with our arguably ideologically questionable but pragmatically functioning present arrangements.

You will think this is pusillanimous, I expect. OK, go ahead and louse it all up, if you [as an undoubted democrat] can get enough support from enough people ~~ an eventuality I suspect you will find as easy as flying in the air: just you try & achieve this aim of yours democratically & see where it gets you!

And then, having achieved your ❤'s desire, see you keep firm hold of nurse, for fear of finding something worse.

& I hope it keeps fine for you.

♥♫❤Michael❤♫♥

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 22 Nov 10 - 02:10 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 22 Nov 10 - 03:13 AM

Soooo, for and againsts aside are we ready with the bunting etc. Will there be a street party as with the Jubilee celebrations? It's going to be a chilly one in March or will there be some pub promotion specials? Or will there be a special brew of beer to mark the occasion?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 22 Nov 10 - 04:24 AM

I should imagine that most of the brewers will do something, even if it's just repackaging an existing brew.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: mandotim
Date: 22 Nov 10 - 04:44 AM

Just a small point, MtheGM; there is no Firm Law of Unforeseen Consequences; if it was a law, unforeseen consequences would become expected consequences. I think what you are referring to is the discipline of non-linear complex adaptive systems (sometimes erroneously called 'chaos theory), one of my research interests. If such a 'firm law' existed, then it could be used as a means of preventing change in any field, by the expedient of saying 'we can't change because there may be unexpected consequences'. By your logic, we would still have slavery, public executions, bear-baiting, no votes for women...need I go on? All of these were 'arguably ideologically questionable but pragmatically functioning present arrangements' in their time.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 22 Nov 10 - 05:00 AM

Well, actually Tim, we should be back well before the abuses you rubricate, to cave-dwelling in animal furs... I do take your point.

Nevertheless, it must be admitted that people do like to monkey about with systems, often thus introducing detrimental side-FX which they haven't foreseen. I think messing about with our present system, which is if course not perfect ~ but which system is? ~ would be most likely to have such an effect.

Non-linear complex adaptive systems, chaos theory, law of unforseen[or unintended] consequences ~~ call it what you like: but take it into account before plunging into change just because you are envious of someone's privileges ~~ I repeat, in the wise words of Hilaire Belloc [was it? Yes, I have googled & it was] "for fear of finding something worse".

Regards ~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 22 Nov 10 - 05:16 AM

April would be better for entertainers and musos. March is usually okay with St Paddys. then you'd be in a new tax year.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 22 Nov 10 - 05:49 AM

Sorry M,

I'd already decided that anyone who can write piss·off u pompous big booby must be too far gone to be worth arguing with. Your opinions are of absolutely no consequence to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 22 Nov 10 - 06:08 AM

Pompous or wot! Nothing like going tru-2-form...

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: mandotim
Date: 22 Nov 10 - 08:02 AM

If you are going to mess about with systems, the real key is to have a clear and wide ranging understanding of the system before you do so. This is my main beef with politicians of any stripe; they don't seem to look behind the narrow, headline grabbing 'initiative' that produces an immediate and obvious result; not realising the systemic action that then produces long-term damage. Some of the recent policy announcements are classic examples of this. No-one can be infallible in this respect, but there is good research and a lot of tools and techniques that help to understand wider, non-linear systems; I've never heard a politician express the slightest interest in any of it.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 03:32 PM

The night before William's Mum and Dad were married, I was mourning the loss of my beautiful cat, Sophie. She'd been knocked down by a car, having been allowed out in the evening for the first time ever in her short life...

It was a hot, sultry summer night. July 28th...the day before the Royal Wedding....and everywhere there was a feeling of happiness in the air, a sense of history about to be made, a feeling of a whole country 'coming together' in celebration...There were street parties planned, fun things, happy things, and all the while, throughout July 29th British History and Tradition would be on show...

But for me, that unhappy night, everything else paled into insignificance as I held my dear little cat close to me, for the last time, never to feel her gentle paw wake me up in the morning, nor see her squashy little English Blue face purring down at me, her whole body running in happiness towards me...

I'd found her in the backstreets of Baker Street, in a pet shop. She'd been there for 2 whole weeks, staring miserably out of the window at the world. I was still living at home then, where there were already 4 cats and 2 dogs, so 'taking another cat home' was really pushing my luck. I held off, telling myself I couldn't...wouldln't...but one day I went for an interview, and I had to pass the shop again...I couldn't believe she was still there. And so I promised myself that if I got the job, I'd get the kitten.

I got the job.

I went into the shop on the way home, and asked to see her. She was so tiny, the runt of the litter, apparently...She climbed straight up me and purred in my ear, then she simply went to sleep on my shoulder...

That was it. Sophie was mine and I was hers! :0)

I took her home on the Metropolitan Line, in a cardboard box, her tiny grey paw sticking out now and then, as she tried to get out to the world.....

On the way home I called in to the vet to get her checked out. He took one look at her then sighed, sadly. He told me she was riddled with fleas, had many skin conditions, all contagious, and her little belly was so round and filled with worms that she couldn't even lie down properly. "You can't take her home with all your other animals." he advised.."If they catch what she has it'll cost you a small fortune to cure. Besides, it would be kinder to put her down, she's so many things wrong with her."

Then, she looked up at him, her little green eyes screwed up into a kind of smile, in her squashy little face...and she purred, patted him with her paw. I stared at him through tear filled eyes...already knowing my decision...He sighed again, picked her up then said "On the other hand, you could isolate her for 6 weeks, and try your best!"

I was already there. :0)

And so, Sophie came home, and she was cured of all her ills and alls. She blossomed into a small grey beauty, beloved by everyone, especially my father, who simply adored her, (after he'd read me the riot act for yet another animal turning up) ;0) His temper, rarely seen, only lasted half an evening, because Sophie curled up on his shoulder too...and kissed his ear...

He didn't stand a chance... :0)

Well, Dad had just retired before Sophie died...and he was so looking forward to being at home with her all day....and then, the night of the Royal Wedding came round and his dream ended...

His grief was heartbreaking to see....




Many years later I watched an even deeper grief taking place. The grief of two young boys who'd lost their Mother, a mum they loved with all their hearts....

She was hated by some within the Media and The Intelligensia, who carped on and on how this woman had no examinations, so was apparently, 'thick as a brick'....Oh my how they criticised her, ridiculed her...

But a whole NATION turned out to see her to her final resting place, whilst an entire WORLD looked on in grief-stricked silence...

Behind her coffin walked her beloved sons, heads bowed, faces staring at the floor, minds trying to think of anything but what was all around them..

God they coped well!   

This kind, loving, sensitive woman had brought them up so well. She'd poured love into them, almost as if she knew she'd not be in their lives for long. She hugged them and kissed them and held them close. She fought for them, taught them how privileged they were to lead the lives they did. She took them to meet ordinary folks, in ordinary places...and left her mark on them in so many positive ways.

Next April Diana's first-born son will marry the woman he loves.

Yet again British History will be being made, whilst the whole world watches.

One person will be missing from the wedding, the very person who'd have loved, more than anyone else, to be there. I'm sure she'll be there in Spirit..and many of the people who turn out to cheer William and Kate on their way will the very same people who turned out to cheer Charles and Diana, and who were there for Diana at the end..

I hope they all have the most Beautiful Day of Days, especially William and Kate.

I hope the entire nation comes together again, for Diana's son. I hope that new friendships are formed, new relationships started, new communities are formed as people have their street parties and celebrations again.

There is way too much Grief in this unhappy world these days. Joy is something to be treasured.

William has known way too much grief for a young man, so I'm glad that Kate will be there for him now...and that he found it perfectly 'normal' to fall in love with a woman he loved, rather than someone from the correct Royal Circle.

Diana taught him well...and she'd be so very proud of him.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 03:51 PM

Lizzie, what an exquisite post: thank you. I would add that Diana of Wales did not, much as she loved them, over-indulge her beloved sons. She once overheard William, about 4 at the time, being provocatively rude to one of the policemen on duty who he knew could not answer back. She was furious; tore him off a great strip in front of the constable, and made him apologise.

Best regards

~Michael~

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 06:03 PM

I wasn't born when William's grandparents married, but there's one thing I'll never forgive them for - the tradition of singing the twentythird Psalm to "Crimond" was kick-started due to it's inclusion in their wedding service. Come back "Wiltshire" or "Martyrdom" (as specified in the 1929 Psalter) or maybe "Bethesda", written by Calum Martin.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 05:11 PM

That they seem a good couple does not alter the fact that monarchies are greedy blasphemies - http://walkaboutsverse.webs.com/#225

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: s&r
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 06:41 PM

Fact or Opinion?

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 05:13 AM

It seems that we aren't all going to get the extra 'free' public days holiday that some of us thought. There are certain agencies that make their workforce book bank holidays including Easter and things like that out of their entitlement so in effect they will be paying for the 'freebie' not William's fault I know.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Richie Black (misused acct, bad email)
Date: 01 Jan 11 - 06:54 PM

I see a friend of Kate Middleton was interviewed under caution by police after posting an online message saying she planned to shoot illegal immigrants.

Full story here.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1343017/Kate-Middletons-friend-cautioned-police-joke-shooting-illegal-immigrants.html

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Richie Black (misused acct, bad email)
Date: 17 Mar 11 - 07:11 AM

I just spotted this, a company in China has made a souvenir mug of the upcoming Royal wedding.

Please go to this link, they have cocked it up

http://www.guandongenterprisesltd.com/

The mug shows Prince Harry instead of William !

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 17 Mar 11 - 09:31 AM

Unlike family you can choose friends but it looks like on this occasion Kate hasn't chosen too wisely.

Regarding the mug (Doh!) how could they get that so wrong? But there could be a market some people might be happy to buy one, for a joke.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Richie Black (misused acct, bad email)
Date: 17 Mar 11 - 09:41 AM

Worth buying one, these mugs will become collectors items.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Wesley S
Date: 17 Mar 11 - 10:04 AM

I understand from the paper this morning that - instead of wedding gifts - the couple has put together a list of a couple dozen charities and requested that people make donations.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: GUEST,VaTam in Once upon a time
Date: 17 Mar 11 - 11:18 AM

Knit your own Royal Wedding

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Richie Black (misused acct, bad email)
Date: 21 Apr 11 - 07:13 PM

Thank God, an application to protest outside Westminster Abbey on the day of the Royal wedding has been rejected today. A group called "Muslims Against Crusades" who were responsible for burning poppies on Remembrance Day, threatened to turn the Royal Wedding into a nightmare.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Apr 11 - 09:48 PM

Seems to me that Kate and William are pretty normal folks - unlike many who post here!

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: bobad
Date: 21 Apr 11 - 10:04 PM

For a preview of the wedding you can watch a video of the rehearsal here

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: bobad
Date: 21 Apr 11 - 10:26 PM

It's really a lively affair -- quite the break from tradition.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: bobad
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 10:06 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Richie Black (misused acct, bad email)
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 06:53 AM

They said they want to "remember the life of Diana" on their special day. Possibly that's why he asked young Hewitt to be best man.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 07:24 AM

Richie. Presumably you had no objections when the English Defence League announced that they would be placing a ring of steel around the tube station exits, to stop anyone they think may be a Muslim and may be about to demonstrate?

Ok. Here's the irony. Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, the EDL leader who announced this bizarre approach to law and order, runs a tanning studio in Luton. That's right, you go in there as white as a Ku Klux Klan sheet and you come out looking, well, as brown as a Muslim. What happens if he can't tell some of his own customers from the protesters?

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: Richie Black (misused acct, bad email)
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 08:51 AM

Fred, Not only do I have an objection to the plans you speak of concerning the English Defence League for the wedding, I have an objection to these bastards receiving airtime on tv and radio and their membership having a pulse. They are racist hate mongers. I hope that is clear enough for you.

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 09:23 AM

That they seem a good couple does not alter the fact that monarchies are greedy blasphemies - http://walkaboutsverse.webs.com/#225

Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From: J-boy
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 01:05 AM

America has more than it's share of problems but thanks to a (as yet unfinished) revolution a monarchy isn't one of them.