Royalty???

[Christopher]

Apart from the cost of Gary Barlow composing a new National Anthem....."God help us All Duckies", and changing all our postage stamps and banknotes, and Swans having to be adopted by Amensty International ...Voting for a Head of State doesn't seem any better than the Sovereign system . Mr. Assad is happy with the voting ,as are ALL the Dictators ...Voted in as heads of States .Hitler was well voted in and ; Look what's happened to France now . A confidence booster if ever one was needed.

Imagine Boris Johnson , or Ken Livingstone being voted in as King ? Or The Boss of the N.F. or an Islamic Cleric ...it could happen . Better the Devils we know .....God Bless 'em ....cos' I don't .but I prefer them, to Gerry Adams , as my King.

It could happen !!

Thanks for making my point for me. Any more?

[Las-Cobas]

Just think of all the pollution on and in the Thames, who pays for cleaning it up ?
Who will have to pay for the whole sorry saga ? certainly not the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Long live the Republic!

[Brian and Helen]

I'm certainly not attacking you personally, Chris, (in fact I don't see how anyone could draw that conclusion from my carefully-phrased and reasoned posting) but I would argue that the Monarch is constitutionally unable to declare war or order somebody executed; she may well have the power to send someone out for chips, but that's because she pays them to do so (rather as you pay your servants, or "tradesmen" as they are now called.)

It is also quite reasonable to argue that the Crown Estates are family property, built up by her ancestors over 1500 years, and therefore do not belong to the UK people. This is a little simplistic, perhaps, but perfectly valid.

As for pollution on the Thames, if all the Republicans and other sans-culottes refrained from throwing their McNuggets boxes and empty lager cans into the river, cleaning it up wouldn't be necessary.

Brian

[Christopher]

Brian, I respect your right to holdi opinions even though they fly in the face of all available evidence. Personally, I enjoy living in an evidence-based world which seems to work much better for me.
Good luck.

[gurubarry]

I just saved the Nation a fortune ....The New Republica National Anthem ...no copyright, my gift to the Republic of England , sponsored by H.S.B.C. Coca Cola and McDonalds ..."They do what They like with the tin"

To the Tune of "You'll Never Walk Alone"

You'll Never Walk Alone
R. Rogers/O. Hammerstein II
Trad. Arrangement : Gurubarry

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark

At the end of the storm
Is a golden handshake
And the sweet silver song of the lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your Bank Account is Lost

Walk on walk on, with your Visa Card
And you'll never walk alone
With a Big Mac and a coke

When you walk through a storm
With your annuity paid
you wont be afraid of the dark

At the end of the debt
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the nark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on walk on ,with your Party Card
But you'll never walk again,
If you didn't vote for me

You'll never walk
You'll never walk, again!

ITHANKYEW

[Brian and Helen]

I'm sure everyone on this site is avidly watching the Jubilee Pageant on the Beeb . . .

Edit: Actually I said that in jest, my tongue firmly in my cheek, but if you do catch a glimpse of it (as I just did) it is splendidly eccentric and totally bonkers! (Only in Britain . . . )

[peter]

I'm sure everyone on this site is avidly watching the Jubilee Pageant on the Beeb . . .

How did it go ? I was out all day.

[Brian and Helen]

That was my plan too, Peter, but it went awry!

Still you're not too late, you can still tune in to Beeb1 as it approaches the climax.

B

[Las-Cobas]

I'm sure everyone on this site is avidly watching the Jubilee Pageant on the Beeb . . .

Who won Oxford again ?

[Brian and Helen]

I note that in a splendid democratic gesture, the Royal Barge moored alongside HMS PRESIDENT, whence HM will watch the remaining proceedings - so I hope the republicans amongst us are pleased and satisfied by Her thoughtfulness and generosity in acknowledging you.

Brian

[peter]

That was my plan too, Peter, but it went awry!

Still you're not too late, you can still tune in to Beeb1 as it approaches the climax.

B

I've got to go and collect my dog !

[Brian and Helen]

I trust it's a corgi, Peter!

B

[Brian and Helen]

I must say, it has been a vintage afternoon for BBC ex tempore howlers!

I won't even begin to list the appalling commentary errors we have heard this afternoon, but I think some particularly stupid pundit just topped them all with:

" XXX have been hatmakers for over 200 years and supplied the hat that Nelson wore at the Battle of Waterloo"

(that's one in the eye for Emma Hamilton- she died just 5 months before his greatest triumph)

You can't get the staff y'know . . .

Brian

[Las-Cobas]

I note that in a splendid democratic gesture, the Royal Barge moored alongside HMS PRESIDENT, whence HM will watch the remaining proceedings Brian

Urr Brian she was renamed HMS President in 1922, before that she HMS Saxifrage commissioned in 1918, now owned by MLS Group Plc. since 2006. Maybe it should be MV President!

[Brian and Helen]

Quite right about MLS, LasC, but she is still officially a shore establishment of the RNVR, therefore "HMS".

Brian

[gurubarry]

Just watched AND recorded the Queens' Diamond Jubilee River Pageant , amazing spectacle , best for 350 Years ...allegedly . Wonderful to see the population turn out in force and enjoy themselves . Watched the French evening news.... Royal Spectacle ...lead story , smiles and bon humour. The rest of the "News", Montreal murderer at large in France, with gruesome details, children drowned in the Aube ,lovely film of the police recovering bodies, Syrian Dictator says "T'wern't me Mate" to generous applause from his Parliament ,lovely film of dead Syrians, burning homes and bodies, weather is merde and the euro is sinking.
Give me a "Circus" any day .

[Las-Cobas]

Just watched AND recorded the Queens' Diamond Jubilee River Pageant , amazing spectacle , best for 350 Years

Do not be surprised if the men in the White coats, collect you tomorrow.

PS I have tickets 80% off, for the next jubilee, in 2362. Cash only no CC or Cheques!

[Genghis Cohen]

Four comments

- It was shewn on FR2HD. In some ways better coverage than the Beeb.
- Bread and Circuses to pacify the proletariat. Worked in Ancient Rome, still effective today.
- You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time. But you can't fool all the people all the time.
- Interesting reactions in the on-line version of Le Fig.

Genghis Cohen

[catalanglais]

- Interesting reactions in the on-line version of Le Fig.

Which one, GC? I didn't see anything particularly interesting. They were all pretty much as expected.

I thought the flotilla was great, I thought her Maj was incredible standing for that length of time in such cold weather and I was pleased to see the quantity of people who realised that they were witnessing something rare in our nation's history and braved the horrible weather to participate.

Looking forward to the the festivities over the next two days, now. Fortunately, I am on holiday, having taken some time off in order to be able to watch the TV coverage.

[gurubarry]

I refer to my Tagline..... "Don't Take Life Too Seriously; You'll Never Get Out Alive" ....

and claim Diabolical Immunity .

[Brian and Helen]

I see Phil the Greek has had himself carted off to hospital with a suspected bladder infection - the lengths some people will go to to avoid that dire concert that's planned for this evening outside Buck House. (I hope Her Maj has got some ear-plugs.)

Smart guy!

Brian

[catalanglais]

[Las-Cobas]

I see Phil the Greek has had himself carted off to hospital with a suspected bladder infection - the lengths some people will go to to avoid that dire concert that's planned for this evening outside Buck House. (I hope Her Maj has got some ear-plugs.)

Smart guy!

Brian

But a great concert, and that's from me a Republican !

[catalanglais]

I should like to know why the Welsh age better than the English!

Birley Shassey and Tom Jones v Cliff and Paul McCartney!

No contest.

And why does Macca get wheeled out all of the time????? He is bloody dreadful nowadays!!!

Entertaining evening though and pleased to see Her Maj look a little choked during Charles's speech.

[Las-Cobas]

I should like to know why the Welsh age better than the English!

Its the coal dust and leek pie !