BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Musket
Date: 24 Nov 14 - 07:14 AM

What the flying fuck do you want someone with a brain for? That WOULD be dangerous...

Mind you Steve, don't fall for the £30million figure. It's a bit like saying that a teacher costs us their classroom's share of lighting, heating, rates, maintenance and councillor expenses for the LEA.

Funnily enough, I'm not a Royalist by any stretch. I'm not even "British" in my outlook for that matter. Nationalism repulses me at every level. But other than a trimming of the herd, (I accept the civil list has shrunk lately, but not enough,) we spend less on our head of state package than most other countries. We possibly get more back too. How many contracts do France get on the back of Hollande? Can anybody name the German President? Who goes to Italy to see where the President lives?

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Nov 14 - 06:14 AM

Dunno, but we'd pay them a lots less than the thirty-odd million quid, plus extras for hangers-on, that this lot get, and, presumably, we'd be able to pick someone who we at least suspected might have a brain.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Musket
Date: 24 Nov 14 - 06:11 AM

Exactly.

Amazing how many science fiction novels show a Utopian society where the head / chairman / President etc of the world / galaxy whatever is chosen at random or by working out who least wants to be there.

I notice that those who speak of her "powers" overlook that whilst many world leaders are the heads of state, it is our Prime Minister, an elected (ish..) bloke who does the business and debates at EU, G20 and Willesdon Primary School.

The cost? Well, since the likes of Buck House have been opened for visitors and some of her other official residences are used for government conferences, I see it as an advertising budget for UK PLC. We may or may not be fascinated by them, but Johnny Foreigner loves them. On a pure business angle, the oil sheiks would be throwing investment in Frankfurt, but they throw it at London. When I was selling industrial equipment made in Italy, a competitor stuck Union flags on the side of their Taiwanese equipment and for a while, wiped their arse with us in Asia and USA.

The Royal visit to the "cousins" will result in trade deals and jobs. Always does.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 24 Nov 14 - 05:01 AM

If we didn't have the royal family, who would we have as head of state? Blair? Brown? Cameron?

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Musket
Date: 24 Nov 14 - 03:59 AM

I doubt she notices one way or another. She crams the next five mins into her head and then has to make way for the next five mins, with someone whispering in her ear.

I doubt I shall lose sleep over the fact that according to the photos, both times I have been presented to her, I was wearing the same suit despite them being four years apart.

Princess Anne shook my hand whilst I was wearing dirty overalls though, when she came to our pit for a look round. I remember at the time, wondering why we have such a weird concept as royalty, but since then, my balls have dropped. I tend to feel sorry for them instead.

I do however fully agree with what became a bit of a consensus in Australia when they last looked at republicanism. "The present system has to be better than someone who actually wants to be head of state."

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 24 Nov 14 - 02:29 AM

would the queen have given you the same respect in a onesie?

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Musket
Date: 24 Nov 14 - 02:09 AM

Wardrobe full of suits for sale.

We can't have decency, respectability and making the effort somehow look respectable now, can we?

I recall a council nearby starting a Friday "dress down" day. The Chief Exec got into a hit of trouble with the unions for suggesting social services take the opportunity to dress up.

Suits suit roles same as overalls do. Suits suit me for that matter. They hide my beer gut.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST,achmelvich
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 02:38 PM

musket - folk in suits just seem to have something to hide or be trying to impress, why do guys in court always wear a suit? - defendants and lawyers. politicians, newsreaders, military etc. people in offices wear suits to be smart and give the impression that they are, i don't know, more efficient, more important, more successful, more stylish than their contemparies - or just to fit in. or to do what the boss tells them to. of course, there isn't a great deal wrong with that but it all seems to me a bit false, unnecessary. when in a situation where a suit may be considered necessary,we are all just folk struggling to get by , trying to not make it too obvious that we don't really know what we are doing. now of course there are many good people who wear suits whose only 'crime' is an excess of the compulsion to conform but isn't it depressing to see all males ('top' women too but mostly it's the blokes) looking identikit -what are they hiding? i'm well aware that i am irrational at times - but i don't mind, will happily submit to that. nobody's perfect

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Charmion
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 02:21 PM

One of my old boyfriends was in Gagetown for a visit by HRH the Prince of Wales, circa 1974. (That was Chuck during his "Action Man" phase.) HRH toured the training area and joined the troops for supper. Offered the full range of the field kitchen's many and varied delights, the Prince had a peanut butter sandwich with mustard on it.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST,achmelvich
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 02:17 PM

traditionally. don't americans serve up a diet of lead to their enemies throughout the year, disney at holiday time and lead again in school term time?

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Don Firth
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 02:07 PM

Being of Scottish descent, can I get canned haggis at my local Trader Joe's?

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 01:41 PM

They could try a traditional American dish, like muktuk or buffalo hump.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Musket
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 12:22 PM

I'll pipe one in next Wednesday for you.

Or probably forget. The thought is there though. (Parkins butchers, Epworth and Crowle are McSween agents by the way.)

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 12:11 PM

Oh yessssss! McSween's Haggis! The food of the Gods - bring it on! 👍👍👍👍

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 11:50 AM

McSween's is indeed beautiful haggis. People who say they "don't like haggis" remind me of that Guinness ad from years ago which said "I've never tried it and I don't like it".

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 11:35 AM

Years ago I made a joke suggesting the Scottish games would be more fun if they ate the caber & threw the haggis.

Then I discovered the haggis hurling (Google it) is rather common.... (I don't think that caber eating has caught on, however.)

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Musket
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 11:34 AM

Haggis is wonderful. Mincemeat with cereal and allspice, basically.

I like to get a McSween haggis, spilt it open and lay it out in a casserole dish. I then put a layer of finely sliced spring onion and top with a mashed potatoe with mustard. (When I have been watching too many cookery programmes, I pipe the spuds, making nice twirls.). Take out of the oven after 20 mins and sprinkle grated parmesan and put back for five mins.

Possibly the best alternative take on cottage pie you can ever think of.

To be fair to you, I once had what was called haggis on the menu in Boston, when I was over, and that was no haggis. If your experience was that type, no wonder you'd not like it. Good haggis is to die for.

Ask Her Maj. McSweens have a Royal warrant to supply it to her.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 11:11 AM

Oh. My. God.

Someone likes, actually likes haggis.

Do such people actually exist? Or is he pulling our legs? Although, after enough Scotch, I suppose some people might eat anything if they were offered enough free drinks afterwards.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Musket
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 10:18 AM

Ok. A couple of hundred years?

Billy Connolly thought he was Scottish but turns out his ancestors were Indian, and even since the last British monarch was foreign.

Knockabout fun but in reality you can't demonstrate Britishness more than referring to the Royal family. A sizeable percentage of British people can't go back as far as they can. Mind you, I was recently amused by finding my Mum's side came over in 1066 and have a coat of arms etc and a square in Kensington named after one of them that was an MP. My Dad's side appear to be Scottish farm workers going back a couple of hundred years but other than a liking for haggis, I couldn't or wouldn't consider myself Scottish!

👻

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Stu
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 10:13 AM

Not that the fact they're Germans makes a blind bit of difference in all honesty. It's not about nationality (we're all mongrels on these islands), it's about the fact they're part of a thousand year old feudal system that was forced upon the people of this island and is perpetuated by our corrupt and somewhat dim, myopic and greedy politicians.

So let the Americans keep them, send the others away and we'll have finally got shot of some of the biggest thieving benefit scroungers of all time. Yay!

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Stu
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 10:00 AM

"They have been born here since George II I think?"

Does the country you're born in decide your nationality? It's a tad more complicated than that.

My mate was born in Germany. Does that make him German? He wouldn't say so. Spike Milligan was born in India but was not Indian, Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar, Audrey Hepburn in Belgium, Eddie Izzard in Yemen.

The great thing about personal identity is that you can't pin it down to simply where a person was born. The Royals are Germans.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 07:57 AM

Phil The Greek was born in Corfu, but I suppose he's only guilty of Royalty by association.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Musket
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 07:41 AM

Funny? They have been born here since George II I think?

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Stu
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 06:52 AM

"Royalty does not use foreign words such as diapers."

Our royalty are foreign. I passed Coburg a couple of weeks ago.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Musket
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 04:36 AM

Royalty does not use foreign words such as diapers.

Your claim to the throne is null and void, peasant.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Rapparee
Date: 22 Nov 14 - 09:07 PM

My folks came from Hanover in Germany, as did their folks. I'm in line for The Throne, if a bunch of others would kindly move away from it. If they do I promise to let anyone sit on it who isn't wearing dirty diapers or picking their nose. Or I just might sell the thing. I've got enough chairs at my house now.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 22 Nov 14 - 07:17 PM

...or the north pole, preferably naked. I mean, why bother real people with them?

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Rapparee
Date: 22 Nov 14 - 06:57 PM

I think they ought to visit the Sioux...or Apache...or Shoshone...or Yupik...or....

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 14 - 11:10 AM

Please feel free to keep them. For a thousand years them and their kin have been sponging off the state and the labours of the working men and women of these islands and beyond.

After you've had them for a while we'll send the rest across, including that science-hating, interfering old throwback Charles who can come and undermine the democratic principles of someone else's country by writing secret letters to your corrupt politicians.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Musket
Date: 22 Nov 14 - 10:25 AM

I dunno Achmelvich. I wear a suit when I am working (was.. I have been trying this retiring lark this summer and getting bored with it) and always have since leaving the tools. I find the ones I distrust are .. Err.. Distrustful people. Most of us like to think we are beyond stereotyping and discriminating on such weird assumptions.

That's twice in two days you have put irrational thoughts on screen. Did you know you hit the submit button?

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: frogprince
Date: 22 Nov 14 - 10:23 AM

"Smart attire for men includes the wearing of a jacket and tie, and for women a trouser or skirt suit. Those wearing jeans or trainers will not be admitted..."

That's clear enough; the men are expected to wear clothing above the waist, and the women are expected to wear clothing below the waist.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 22 Nov 14 - 10:05 AM

Last time I had a hospital check-up they gave me two of those gowns, one for the front and one for the back. Nothing stuck out that shouldn't. If you were only given one you were short-changed.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST,achmelvich
Date: 22 Nov 14 - 09:53 AM

i generally think people who are wearing suits are untrustworthy and probably lying. maybe royals are keen to avoid hearing any comments about ouremperors' new dress sense

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 22 Nov 14 - 09:40 AM

Hope no-one was wearing one of those incomprehensible back-fastening hospital gowns that are always too small and leave your arse sticking out behind....

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Charmion
Date: 22 Nov 14 - 08:03 AM

The only royal visit I ever endured close up was in Halifax in 1976, at the crappy old fleet hospital where I received my trade training. HRH the Duke of Edinburgh was in naval uniform as were his equerry and aide; his body guard wore a nice suit and (presumably) an even nicer gun; the hospital administration officer wore the only uniform he possessed that wasn't shiny in the seat; and us skivvies wore what we always wore: hospital workdress and varying degrees of attitude. The patients, as usual, swanned about in Canadian Forces-issue dressing gowns (blue corduroy, rather nice).

System firing all right ...

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Musket
Date: 22 Nov 14 - 03:43 AM

You know who will be squirming most at this protocol shit? The Royal couple.

When Her Maj came to our local hospital, we had an equerry and various security officers turn up and tell us what we were going to do, say etc. As the figurehead bloke back then, I got it both barrels. However, our medical director said anybody visiting the wards who goes near more than one bed is either bare below the elbows or doesn't go near beds, treatment rooms, sluice rooms etc. (She might not want to go in such places but her protection squad might.).

The compromise was that she waltzed through a couple of wards and we found a few more mobile patients to meet her in a day room. The protection squad had the infection control induction and all was well. She was more than happy and knew more about infection prevention than I thought, as she told us our requests were sensible. (Obviously her people had mentioned it to her.). She made a point of gelling her hands entering and leaving the two wards, and so did her people.

Mind you, the point of mentioning this was the dress code we were given. I wore a suit when I was there anyway, so did my senior team day to day. No change there. However, despite what you see in films, doctors do not wear white coats, but either normal clothes or scrubs. I noticed a few junior doctors in jeans that day where they don't normally. "Smash the system!" I thought....

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 22 Nov 14 - 02:05 AM

LOL BillD! It's time we sent a gunboat up the Nile - that'd make these damn colonials get into line and do as their superiors tell them!

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 22 Nov 14 - 12:16 AM

Specifics aside, I'm not sure why ANY member of staff working at a formal affair of ANY kind would assume it was appropriate to dress casually?

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 10:28 PM

"Smart attire for men includes the wearing of a jacket and tie, and for women a trouser or skirt suit."

Is it because I'm human,or is it because I'm American that I'm plotting how to obey these rules and flout them at the same time. How about a red and green suit jacket with a blue and yellow striped skirt? Or perhaps a grass skirt from Hawaii...

For men, how about a jacket, tie, moccasins and Plains war bonnet?

I'm so glad I'm retired and don't have to act like a grown-up anymore.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Bill D
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 09:54 PM

What is to be done? Take LOTS of pictures... for blackmail. ;>)

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Charmion
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 05:48 PM

What is to be done when the royals are wearing jeans?

This enquiring mind wants to know.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Bill D
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 05:43 PM

" Could you also practice speaking English properly and spelling correctly before the visit please."

*grin* Even Southern members of Congress? That's asking a lot.

We really don't speak 'English', anyway... we call it that for convenience, but it's obviously a blend of 15 to 40 different sources, with a general structure based on English. (If I notice correctly, many IN England, Scotland and Wales don't sound...or spell... very much like their Royal Majesties.... how would we poor fuzzies & redneck hoards even know where to start? ☺

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST,Rapparee
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 05:27 PM

I think that all visitors to my country should dress correctly in their native costumes. As these folks are coming from Perfidious Albion I would expect them to either dye themselves woad blue and/or wear red coats. Alternately, they may dress in their alternate native attire.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Musket
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 03:16 PM

Oh, and we'd be grateful if y'all drove on the correct side of the road during the visit. If you could ask Bubba and Wilba to lose some weight so the photo opportunities shaking hands with peasants could be used in respectable publications, that would be nice too.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Jack Campin
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 03:02 PM

Why can't the visitors be required to dress like any other unemployed new immigrants to the US? McDonalds have uniforms to fit anybody. Probably even baseball caps to fit heads that big.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 02:35 PM

I am at times the scruffy photographer because the subject I need to photograph is in a zone that is messy. But when I photograph special events I dress accordingly. This isn't rocket science.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw Mr Casual
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 02:33 PM

I don't give a flying fart how anyone dresses as long as I don't catch sight of their hairy bollocks or saggy tits (delete as appropriate). Even then... And it isn't up to any self-appointed powers-that-be to decide what dress is "appropriate". Keep your blunt instruments of control to yourself!

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: MMario
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 02:07 PM

I would hope that the press would extend the courtesy of dressing appropriately WHENEVER they are intending to do a formal interview, no matter whom they are interviewing.

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 12:25 PM

Yet the Queen wears ridiculous hats everywhere she goes, and has, on occasion, been sighted wearing a ludicrous metallic headpiece encrusted with jewels.



OK, so I'm no royalist...

Subject: RE: BS: Royalty is coming! No jeans!
From: GUEST,gnu... sans cookie ???
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 12:22 PM

"... should comply with the dress code on formal occasions..."

The cheeky BASTARDS!