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vRemind me. Did he write that
before or after he did those ads for butter?
ftfy they absolute walloper can barely string a sentence together.
I live in leafy Kent, right opposite a village green with a beacon. There wasn't many people out to celebrate, even here there's a cost of living crisis going on and it's a bit crass to sing songs in praise of the hereditary rich.
We've got an actual castle just up the road. It used to be owned by a prominent UKIP donor, before he died. It's now owned by a Chinese investment business. Speaking of just up the road, we've a turd-strewn Brexit lorrypark that extends all the way to Maidstone. Every morning you'll see a lorry on it's side, caught out by the narrow lanes. A tank of diesel for my mid-2000s sub two litre saloon car is north of £100.
Local farm/farm shop/cafe down the road held a Jubilee event tonight - BBQ, bands, bar. We wandered down for the lighting of the beacon* and met a couple of friends we've not seen for ages, nice way to spend an hour. Probably a couple of hundred people there, mainly families.Not a single flag was shagged.
*it was advertised as a beacon, but Andrew the farmer had basically just piled up everything around the farm that needed getting rid off and had a huge bonfire under the pretext of Jubilee celebrations
Just back from the beacon lighting, Kent coast, somewhere with a very strong sense of community I.e. not commuter-ville lol. Despite nothing at all actually happening bar the lighting, big crowd (few hundred I’d say), pleasant atmosphere. Tried to be an STW-approved miseryguts about it but failed, sorry 😀
Meh, my missus and MIL are well into the propaganda, it's fine, I've had to staple some bunting and a union flag up out front and we have some disposable, patriotic tableware.
I get two extra days off, and an elderly lady born into disgusting wealth and privilege gets a big ol' party. It doesn't really do me any harm in the grand scheme of things...
TBH I liked the ‘77 street party one I went to(Brizzle,Redfield).
But tbh there were only probably 4 cars in the street then,dunno if there would be the space to pop the pasting tables down the middle and over the years the camber got mad.
@51.458021,-2.55758,-21.08h,5p,1.18z,Z5a7AG_y9CO7349PHwU6tQ">Road
Just walked the dog in South Manchester, some bunting out at a few houses. Nothing crazy. We've not got anything ourselves.
I get two extra days off, and an elderly lady born into disgusting wealth and privilege gets a big ol’ party. It doesn’t really do me any harm in the grand scheme of things…
Think that's my view. Lots of people have wealth and privilege, but obviously it's the Royal family who are responsible for the state of the nation, definitely not the governments of the last 70 years.
Focus people. The Queen/jubilee are a dead cat corgi.
My MiL, west country near Taunton. She lives next to a right curmudgeon, in a row of old Bath stone cottages back from the road. This old lady (everyone in the area calls her Prickly Joan) is always finding something to complain about and as a result most people avoid her when they can.
So my MiL was out yesterday putting some bunting up along her front fence, nothing too extravagant but joining in, when Joan comes out. 'Oh gawd' thinks MiL, about to get another bollocking for something - but Joan's almost pleasant..... isn't the Queen marvellous, did you see her with her great grandson, wasn't it lovely, etc. They chatted for longer than they've done for years, and maybe she's not so bad after all.
Joan went off on her trip to wherever, MiL carried on, and finding that the bunting was long enough stretched it along Joan's fence a bit as well, seeing as she clearly likes the Queen.
She came home last night to find Joan's removed the bunting from her fence. Not only that, she's cut the excess into smaller pieces and shoved it into the MiL's bin, without a word. Near Taunton, the jubilee is cancelled, now **** off.
Whose Mum is Joan?
Looking at all this from the outside, I had a bit of a think about what is wrong with this entire celebration and came to the following conclusion.
Most countries have national days and go out and wave flags and it doesn't feel weird. In England (being brutally honest, this is an English thing since the Union Jack means something very different in Scotland and NI) it looks and feels very very weird.
I couldn't figure out why and then I realised that most countries sense of self and the flag and the monarchy/head of state are all in service of the entire community. The national days are genuinely days of everyone saying, 'Aren't we all great!'
In England, the flag, the monarchy, the military (WW2 seems to always get brought up at these things), and The Empire all somehow get rolled into one and are brutally fetishised rather than simply celebrated. People are exercising their over-enthusiasm for an extremely questionable institution in public and it's weird. It's kind of like watching Furries going at it in the middle of the high street.
but obviously it’s the Royal family who are responsible for the state of the nation, definitely not the governments of the last 70 years.
The heir to the post has form for interfering in local affairs in his neck of the woods in an undemocratic manner and is expected to go national when he sits in the big chair.
I have some sympathy for those that will have to work polishing their boots and making sure their dress uniform is just so. Standing around in that in this weather will not be a barrel of laughs.
In England, the flag, the monarchy, the military, and The Empire all somehow get rolled into one and are brutally fetishised rather than simply celebrated.
Well in my part of England, there's a lot more simple celebration than brutal fetishism going on this weekend as far as I can see. A few barbecues, a bit of bunting, kids enjoying themselves, neighbours getting to know each other a bit better. A bit of community bonding even. Awful I know... I'm ambivalent at best about the monarchy, but FFS it's just an extended bank holiday with a bit of an excuse for some partying. I suspect a great many of those enjoying themselves aren't die hard royalists either, just ordinary people daring to have a bit fun despite the joyless, sneering contempt of their would be intellectual betters.
In England, the flag, the monarchy, the military (WW2 seems to always get brought up at these things), and The Empire all somehow get rolled into one and are brutally fetishised rather than simply celebrated. People are exercising their over-enthusiasm for an extremely questionable institution in public and it’s weird.
This is pretty much what I despair at, like if you're not conspicuously out banging a pan on Thursdays for the NHS or festooning every flat surface with poppies from the middle of August you're somehow Not Patriotic. But you can't even try to talk these people round, because if you try then you're NOt PAatr!OTiC!1!111!!! **** the ****ing lot of the ****ers, ****s.
Bunting? Change the B for a C.
nah, you’re over thinking it. It [i]is[/i] a cultural thing though - a lot of British people still think it’s their god-given duty to be miserable ****s and hate everything. Fortunately a lot of us have also moved on from that and can have a bit of fun 😀 🇬🇧I couldn’t figure out why and then I realised that most countries sense of self and the flag and the monarchy/head of state are all in service of the entire community. The national days are genuinely days of everyone saying, ‘Aren’t we all great!’
to be miserable **** and hate everything
Not everything, but the celebration of inequality and accidents of birth can get in the ****ing sea.
In England, the flag, the monarchy, the military (WW2 seems to always get brought up at these things), and The Empire all somehow get rolled into one and are brutally fetishised rather than simply celebrated
By a mentally disturbed minority, and pandered too by the Government and the Press to act as a distraction from the bigger underlying issues.
. I suspect a great many of those enjoying themselves aren’t die hard royalists either, just ordinary people daring to have a bit fun despite the joyless sneering contempt of their intellectual betters.
And this. Anyone who thinks that the monarchy reinforces some sort of forelock tugging subservience needs to have a look at their own insecurities before taking the high moral ground with their inverse snobbery.
Plenty of Chinese made UK flags here in the red wall celebrating patriotism.
In England, the flag, the monarchy, the military (WW2 seems to always get brought up at these things), and The Empire all somehow get rolled into one and are brutally fetishised rather than simply celebrated. People are exercising their over-enthusiasm for an extremely questionable institution in public and it’s weird. It’s kind of like watching Furries going at it in the middle of the high street.
As above, a lot of are making the most of a sunny two free days off work to have some fun, fettle or ride bikes have a pub lunch with the family etc.
However more to your point you need to remember that because of the misgivings of the past also carried forth by some groups today and explained during the cultural environment of current times that in many places it’s pretty much branded racist for an ordinary Englishman to wave a flag and celebrate thier country at any other time.
My cup de sac is having a big party and there is bunting between the houses going across the street. Fair play it looks good. I will be on holiday for the party, thank goodness!
I always amazed at how many people look at me like I'm crazy for wanting rid.
If there was a referendum the royals would stay imo.
my 2 penneth.
if it was not for our royalty, and our royal history we would be completely funked.
who would anyone come to visit and spend in this shit hole of a country ?
no yanks, chinese, japanese, even russian money.
and our towns and cities void of anything royal. funked.
and anyone north of the border would still be running around in skirts with their faces painted blue.
running around in skirts
wot like this ?
though blue face paint probably predates the kilt by about 1300 years
I find patriotism a bit odd really. Doesn’t make me angry or a miserable fun sponge though. If there’s free cake and/or booze I’ll go along with pretty much anything.
I think we would be better off without a royal family. Most of the tabloids would go bust which is great. We could also have a less miserable looking face on our money.
and anyone north of the border would still be running around in skirts with their faces painted blue.
I think you'll find they still are.
and anyone north of the border would still be running around in skirts with their faces painted blue.
You know we ran out of monarchs for a while and had to import them from Scotland, don't you?
Most countries have national days and go out and wave flags and it doesn’t feel weird
I think what makes it feel awkward is the imperial aspect of it. Similar to the US. In the UK the flag waving is linked to the Empire, the idea of which has superiority built into it. That has two problems: One is the real history of that Empire and all the horrors and injustice built into it, which don't bear celebrating; the other is how the idea of superiority clash with the history and the current shit state of the country. And wilfully ignoring the latter whilst celebrating the former.
If you take say Finnish independence day, it's about liberation from oppression and a perfectly justifiable cause for remembrance and celebration. But US independence day is more loaded, again because of the contrast between sentiment and history.
and anyone north of the border would still be running around in skirts with their faces painted blue.
You know the first kind of Scotland and England was already the king of scotland right? He was also pretty instrumental in the concept of reading by sponsoring the translation of the bible into english.
If it wasn't for scotland you would be riding a hobby horse made of solid iron on solid tyres on rough roads all the while dying of consumption and or diabetes. And you'd be keeping your money in a pouch because you'd not have the bank of England.
So while we may have been runnign around in skirts and blue faces bear in mind while we were doing that we were also being invaded and raped by a bunch of mad ****s from south of the border.
So go **** yourself ya dick. 😀
no yanks, chinese, japanese, even russian money.
IT's funny, I grew up surrounded by american and japanese tourists like thousands of them... golf and whisky and the victorian invention of "tartan scotland" seem to do pretty bloody well!
so basically your entire post was a pile of ignorant bullshit
To the OP I'm not sure the Queen has had her Golden Jubilee yet if you live in Bristol 😉
if it was not for our royalty, and our royal history we would be completely funked.
who would anyone come to visit and spend in this shit hole of a country ?
France got rid of their monarchy a long time ago but remain the most visited country on earth. People still want to visit Versailles.
Well thought out.
I find patriotism a bit odd really.
Depends really doesn't it? You can express that you really like the country you're from and you're happy that it's a great place to live, that's cool, but if you think the above and you also think that above all other nations your country is exceptional...then that might cause issues.
The Queen is of her time, and I'd expect it'll catch up when a younger generation take over. The Monarchy reinvents itself endlessly (like most long lived institutions) After all It wasn't that long ago that the Queen was being criticised for just televising the Christmas speech.
France does ok for tourism. I think the tourism thing is BS tbf.
So go **** yourself ya dick. 😀
Heaven's sake, put your shirt back on 😯
over-enthusiasm for an extremely questionable institution in public and it’s weird. It’s kind of like watching Furries going at it in the middle of the high street.
Sorry, where's this happening? And is Nicholas Witchell providing a respectful commentary?
So go **** yourself ya dick. 😀
nice one man...cheers.
as for france, i think it is a bit nice place than the UK.
why would you choose to come to this shit hole ? moreso scotland.
places like edinburgh and stirling would be nothing without the royal connection. and places like balmoral and braemare would still be cattle rearing farmsteads.
the uk is built on royal history..... nothing more.
hey Ton - how do you define a yorkshireman? A scotsman without the generosity 🙂
lol...that didnt take long Teej. ;o)
moreso scotland.
places like edinburgh and stirling would be nothing without the royal connection. and places like balmoral and braemare would still be cattle rearing farmsteads
Aye, nothing else here. It's a waste land. Only crowds of tourists keen to see Queenie and a few crumbling royal palaces in a couple of cities.
[trolling for beginners response #3 😁]
uk is built on royal history.... nothing more
Eh? This country had a reasonably developed navy, and had military tech a bit ahead of Asian countries and a long way ahead of the Americas and Africa, so got footholds round the world. It then because of the lucky proximity of coal and iron was one of the first places to an industrial revolution, burning through energy in dozens of years that took thousand for plants to store and be fossilised, becoming for a time a global superpower. None of which had anything to do with royalty, but had a massive impact on us normal folks, here and around the world.
The history you were taught in school is basically family history of a few parasitic warlords and their descendants.
EH ???
was Henry the 8th king of england when he started the royal navy.
I’m ambivalent at best about the monarchy, but FFS it’s just an extended bank holiday with a bit of an excuse for some partying
This is the attitude that really grates with me. I mean if you think a Monarchy is a good idea go celebrate and be happy, I couldn't care less, but why celebrate the existence of something you are "at best ambivalent" about. Oh it's because they gave you a day off to do their propaganda for them...how stupid do you need to be?
how stupid do you need to be?
Depends, are there free baked goods?
Heaven’s sake, put your shirt back on 😯
Ahahahah. i thought the smiley face would indicate i was firmly tongue in cheeking it.
This is the attitude that really grates with me. I mean if you think a Monarchy is a good idea go celebrate and be happy, I couldn’t care less, but why celebrate the existence of something you are “at best ambivalent” about. Oh it’s because they gave you a day off to do their propaganda for them…how stupid do you need to be?
Because I'm not celebrating the monarchy! I am using the welcome excuse the jubliee has provided to join in with some community based frivolity. It doesn't happen often enough and it would be great if we could find other reasons (perhaps more acceptable to the political commissars) to do more of it. It's a bit of fun. There really is nothing more to it than that. Is it really such a hard concept to understand? No imperialistic agenda, no forelock tugging, no flag shagging. Just friends and neighbours sharing a few beers, catching up, having a barbecue. What a weird concept eh? If people having the temerity to enjoy themselves really grates so much, you must find life in general very difficult.
how stupid do you need to be?
Well done. What a class act 👏
You know we ran out of monarchs for a while and had to import them from Scotland, don’t you?
They did turn out to be a bit rubbish though and so had to be binned off.
Just friends and neighbours sharing a few beers, catching up, having a barbecue.
You say that but before you know it someone will raise a glass to the queen.
You should be ashamed of yourself.