[Closed] Thank you Ma'am

Just to pre-empt JHJ's theory - I bet that those chairs were early prototypes for this one....

[img] [/img]

[i]The rooms they are in look like they might cost a bit to heat to prevent the chairs getting damp and mouldy[/i]

and they'd all be demolished to save money if we had an elected head of state?

and they'd all be demolished to save money if we had an elected head of state?

We could open them up to paying visitors... should do wonders for the tourist trade.

The Hermitage in St Petersburg is a pretty s****y museum...

Edit: Not forgetting the worlds #1 tourist destination, France, has the Louvre and Palace of Versailles...

I'm willing to bet that the Queen knows not to take the piss unlike, say, MPs that have claimed for duck houses or union officials earning a lot but living in council houses.

As it has been said before, I think there are worse alternatives than having the Queen as a head of state. Far worse.

What do they symbolize

Not sure I want to get into a discussion of symbolism with you JHJ.
I'm sure you have your own theories.

Instead here's a picture of a democratically elected head of state sitting down on a not-cheap chair.

[img] [/img]

In a not-cheap room that any mason would be proud of

[img] [/img]

I'm willing to bet that the Queen knows not to take the piss unlike, say, MPs that have claimed for duck houses or union officials earning a lot but living in council houses.

How much are you willing to bet?

I'll happily bet my bike...

What bike is it?
Does it have a seat?

I'm a huge fan.
At her age she should be putting her feet up.
She works incredibly hard and is loved by millions.
I was once asked in America if I'd ever met the queen. The person asking the question was really disappointed and wanted to know everything about her.

Congratulations Mam.

I like Stanhope's take on it

😉

She works incredibly hard

She doesn't. She does do stuff but it's not like she's out tarmaccing is it?

Well, that is to say for 89 she does damn well but she's had a lifetime of ease in preparation

Is Jeremy Vine being ironic or idiotic?

Is Jeremy Vine being ironic or idiotic?

Just in general?

Playing the sex pistols

Bunnyhop - Member
She works incredibly hard

Could you give us a sample of this incredible hard working day? 😆

Imagine wanting to go out on your bike. But no, hang on a minute you have to meet the president of some country, that's been organised possibly a year in advance.
It is hard work standing around for hours at her age, performing duties, not really having your own life.
All imo off course.
I've met someone that works with the queen and they say she's one of the hardest working people she's met.

What bike is it?
Does it have a seat?

A few to choose from~ depends what's being offered in return...

Under the circumstance, the Evil Sovereign seems like a decent initial bid.

Mk1 853/725
Old Style Pikes with upgraded Dual Flow/RCT3 damping
SLX brakes
Mavic EX721 rims with your choice of Alfine or Hope Rear hub

Saddle is a Tioga Spyder knock off... not the comfiest, but when all is said and done, I don't do as much sitting around on my arse as some.

Offer is there if willard is indeed willing to bet, though as I've said, there are other bikes available if that doesn't tickle his fancy.

I'm off to spend the afternoon volunteering in Oxfam, so won't reply until this evening.

Perhaps your mates a right idle get?

Edit: Evil Sovereign - chapeau, sir

Oh, is today the day we celebrate her not dying for longer since her dad died than any of the other ones?

I'm willing to bet that the Queen knows not to take the piss unlike, say, MPs that have claimed for duck houses or union officials earning a lot but living in council houses.

She's got a gold hat with a massive diamond on it!

gonefishin - Member
Over absolute monarchy? you sure?
Well as the topic here referred to the constitutional monarchy that we have in the UK rather than an absolute monarchy I didn't think it necessary to elaborate on that point. I suppose I should have made special allowance for the spectacularly hard of thinking.

Imagine wanting to go out on your bike. But no, hang on a minute you have to meet the president of some country, that's been organised possibly a year in advance.
It is hard work standing around for hours at her age, performing duties, not really having your own life.

That would be my argument for abolition. William clearly wants to live in a cottage on Anglesey and fly helicopters, but he can't.

Bunnyhop - Member
Imagine wanting to go out on your bike. But no, hang on a minute you have to meet the president of some country, that's been organised possibly a year in advance.
It is hard work standing around for hours at her age, performing duties, not really having your own life.
All imo off course.
I've met someone that works with the queen and they say she's one of the hardest working people she's met.

They could abdicate.

That would be my argument for abolition. William clearly wants to live in a cottage on Anglesey and fly helicopters, but he can't.

I'd quite like to live in a cottage on Anglesey and fly helicopters. If we abolish the monarchy can I go too?

that's been organised possibly a year in advance.

Also, in the above circumstances, she should've gone out her bike yesterday.

I don't get the "it's better than an elected head of state" argument.

What you're saying is that someone randomly chosen by accident of birth is always going to be better at the job than someone who's got there by merit, elected presumably because people think they'd be a good choice.

Is this another way of saying that the electorate is stupid, so can't be trusted to choose the head of state?

JHJ, sadly I don't gamble (my earlier post was a figure of speech), but the possibility of going from a Malt2 to a Sovereign is tempting. Alas, I suspect we will never be able to find out the true cost of parliament's piss taking (proven) against HRH's (alleged on your behalf, denied on mine).

Well done your for volunteering though.

Imagine wanting to go out on your bike. But no, hang on a minute you have to meet the president of some country, that's been organised possibly a year in advance.
It is hard work standing around for hours at her age, performing duties, not really having your own life.
All imo off course.
I've met someone that works with the queen and they say she's one of the hardest working people she's met.

Imagine, I want to go out on my bike. But no, hang on a minute the CEO is coming up for a meeting at which I have to present a report.

The argument about not being able to "have her own life" is a pure nonsense. Do you really think that she doesn't have adequate relaxation / downtime scheduled in? when has she ever had to juggle late / early meetings with school runs / partners job? She's never had a single day's worry in her life. One of the hardest working people she's met? Nice work if you can get it.

Abolish the monarchy. Sooner the better.

The new Glasgow hospital thing is annoying too. A hospital paid for by Scottish taxpayers which was, without consultation or even any formal meetings, renamed after the queen at a cost of £100,000.

I'm sure she didn't ask for the honour - point is, no-one else was asked either, it was just assumed that it should be done.

I don't get the "it's better than an elected head of state" argument.

What you're saying is that someone randomly chosen by accident of birth is always going to be better at the job than someone who's got there by merit, elected presumably because people think they'd be a good choice.

Is this another way of saying that the electorate is stupid, so can't be trusted to choose the head of state?

Ben - you are obviously right, but....

[img] [/img]

I'm purposefully assuming all you loonball monarchists would accept rule under an absolute monarchy if the operchancity arose.

Of course not.

Would all you loonball "real" democratic republicans accept an Absolute Democracy where no one was in charge, we just sent random punters off the street to represent us on the international stage, and every single decision that the country makes was put to a mass public vote?

What you're saying is that someone randomly chosen by accident of birth is always going to be better at the job than someone who's got there by merit, elected presumably because people think they'd be a good choice.

Pretty much.

Someone who has been trained from birth for a lifetime in public office and serving her country.

Versus someone who got to the top because they really really wanted the power and might only have four short years to make as much money and "social change" as possible before they can disappear and blame it all on their successor.

Could you give us a sample of this incredible hard working day?

http://www.royal.gov.uk/HMTheQueen/DayInTheLife/Queensworkingday.aspx

[i]The Queen has many different duties to perform every day.

Some are public duties, such as ceremonies, receptions and visits within the United Kingdom or abroad.

Other duties are carried out away from the cameras, but they are no less important. These include reading letters from the public, official papers and briefing notes; audiences with political ministers or ambassadors; and meetings with her Private Secretaries to discuss daily business and her future diary plans.

Even when she is away from London, in residence at Balmoral or Sandringham, she receives official papers nearly every day of every year and remains fully briefed on matters affecting her realms.

In front of the camera or away from it, The Queen's duties go on, and no two days in her life are ever the same.[/i]

Continued:

http://www.royal.gov.uk/HMTheQueen/DayInTheLife/TheQueensworkingday/Morning.aspx
http://www.royal.gov.uk/HMTheQueen/DayInTheLife/TheQueensworkingday/Afternoon.aspx
http://www.royal.gov.uk/HMTheQueen/DayInTheLife/TheQueensworkingday/Evening.aspx

Don't forget she has to reign 24/7 as well.

I expect that takes it out of you after 60+ years.

Christ! Listening to the nauseatingly sycophantic toadying from the House of Commons really is vomit-inducing

[url= http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-sick015.gi f" target="_blank">http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-sick015.gi f"/> [/img][/url]

From the current crop of politicians who have the look/charisma of being the first British president? 😯

Do you really think that she doesn't have adequate relaxation / downtime scheduled in? when has she ever had to juggle late / early meetings with school runs / partners job? She's never had a single day's worry in her life. One of the hardest working people she's met? Nice work if you can get it.

I wouldn't want to do her job thanks.

I am proud to be British and today, proud to have her as queen.

Versus someone who got to the top because they really really wanted the power and might only have four short years to make as much money and "social change" as possible before they can disappear and blame it all on their successor.

Which is what we've got at the moment with the PM and political parties. This is just about replacing a hereditary monarch who we're all supposed to bow down before with an elected head of state to open hospitals and meet foreign dignitaries and the like.

That list of the queen's duties is a big part of what I object to, by the way:

Some are public duties, such as ceremonies, receptions and visits within the United Kingdom or abroad.

Fine, great, a bit of pomp and circumstance when opening a shopping centre is fine.

official papers and briefing notes; audiences with political ministers or ambassadors

This is where I have the problem - no-one elected her to do this stuff. She shouldn't be getting anywhere near the running of the country. Figurehead, fine. Ruler, definitely not fine.

she receives official papers nearly every day of every year and remains fully briefed on matters affecting her realms.

[u]Her[/u] realms? Bollocks to that.

I wouldn't want to do her job thanks.

Maybe she doesn't want to either.

I'd quite like to live in a cottage on Anglesey and fly helicopters. If we abolish the monarchy can I go too?

Yes: learn to fly, then apply for the job. Selection by ability.

If you want to be the monarch, however, tough.

Get rid of the lot of them, no need for a President above the Prime Minister. Cameron can lead the country until Corbs takes over in 2020

[quote=binners said]Christ! Listening to the nauseatingly sycophantic toadying from the House of Commons really is vomit-inducing

I suggest you don't then.

HTH.

I really enjoy undoing my trousers after a big dinner.
The Queen can't do that.
Ps .I know she doesn't wear trousers.

Get rid of the lot of them, no need for a President above the Prime Minister. Cameron can lead the country until Corbs takes over in 2020

Do you think Cameron would have been available to open the new Borders-to-Edinburgh railway today? Because [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-34177585 ]that's what the Queen was doing[/url].

I'd rather our elected leaders focused on running the country and left the ceremonies and pomp to someone much better suited to it.

Do you think Cameron would have been available to open the new Borders-to-Edinburgh railway today? Because that's what the Queen was doing.

And if she'd not been there, would everyone have sat around just looking at each other?

I'd rather our elected leaders focused on running the country and left the ceremonies and pomp to someone much better suited to it.

Better suited to cutting a ribbon? So, almost anyone with opposable thumbs?

GrahamS - Member
Get rid of the lot of them, no need for a President above the Prime Minister. Cameron can lead the country until Corbs takes over in 2020
Do you think Cameron would have been available to open the new Borders-to-Edinburgh railway today? Because that's what the Queen was doing.

I'd rather our elected leaders focused on running the country and left the ceremonies and pomp to someone much better suited to it.