It was reported today that a family in Somerset, stranded by the floods, were able to escape by floating to safety on an upturned Red Cross boat.
They were unable to give any information on the whereabouts of the crew.
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It was reported today that a family in Somerset, stranded by the floods, were able to escape by floating to safety on an upturned Red Cross boat.
They were unable to give any information on the whereabouts of the crew.
There is a serious point to make here, however, namely the assignment of priorities when resources are limited. It is a constant balancing act between the urgent and the important.
If you mean using financial resources for UK residents in crisis situations such as the flooding, instead of to foreign aid, I think the whole country would be in agreement.
Of course what is "urgent" and what is "important" depends on what side of the street you happen to be standing when the situation arises. Here in the states, public welfare support for individuals is constantly debated by conservatives and progressives. Many of those who think that those "lazy people should get off their *sses and get a job" are up in arms over any reduction in farm subsidies or corporate tax breaks. Many who complain that we should be much more considerate of when to use public money to help those affected by hurricanes complain about the time taken to consider how much should be given to them when they're affected by tornadoes or floods.
Well we actually got more than two inches the other day and today it's 50 degrees and the flooding will begin..hey west i'll be the one floating down the thames with a keg o hooch,a drunk parrot and a wooden keg...yo ho ho.
£21.2 billion has been allocated to HS2, a transport system affecting 8 out of the 10 largest cities in the UK. The main benefits will be a transport hub for the Midlands and a reduction of the journey time between London and Birmingham by a mere half-hour. This could be considered necessary, but it's not particularly urgent. Costs are bound to spiral out of control. The money would be much better spent on urgent projects such as repairing flood damage, dredging and improving flood defences.
.....and, no matter what it costs, the Thames must be protected and defended against the threat of arr&bee floating down it,, like something out of 'Treasure Island'.
London would have to be evacuated!
Um excuse this dumb yank but,can't ol queen whatshername just ya know go into petty cash and help ya'll out?
"Hoochbeard the Pirate"... Coming soon to theatres everywhere.
And the rest goes on racehorses.
........and her Corghis
Yes, those dogs are a real indulgence of HM!
I wonder if royal mutts ask each other "excuse me, but do you have any Grey Poop?"
"No....mine is Brown like the rest of us." LOL
Those corgis [[and there was at least one 'dorgi', at some point) don't always remember their house training.......
And that must be where the record rainfall comes into the picture... One seriously royal flush to give the butlers a break...
In terms of longevity, it has certainly been a record reign.:)
Of that there is no dispute!!;)
Her grip on the throne is more like a royal Pit Bull than a Corgi...
Ha! Well, I'd say perhaps more like a dutiful, faithful retriever.
The Queen continues her life's work on behalf of 'The Firm' with great dedication, maintaining a steady pace, often accompanied by Prince Philip. I expect she will do so, as and when the time comes when she will be without him.
Next year, she is set to surpass Queen Victoria's record as longest reigning British monarch.
Long overseas tours will probably be curtailed, but Charles is more often attending in her place.
Your first sentence made me laugh just as a co-worker walked up and picked something from my desk... I sometimes wonder if she feels she's better suited to sit on the throne than Prince Charles and wants to make sure his rule is as short as possible. Perhaps if she had a more-worthy heir, she would have retired long ago.
I say this with zero knowledge of his worthiness or her thought process. Just speculation on my part...
Well, the real truth is something akin to the following :
The Royal Family lives a life quite unlike the rest of us.
The Queen and her family appear to live with real privileges - which is true, compared to the vast majority of the people.
They are often quoted as having great wealth and, again, they certainly do, when compared to everybody else. That is the life, either into which they were born [[for example, The Queen) or into which they marry.
In many ways, they are custodians, and are responsible for carrying out their duties, the same as the rest of us - except they are responsible to the nation. They can't be anonymous, if and when it suits them, as can the rest of us.
It is often discussed that The Queen should abdicate in favour of her eldest son Charles - in a similar process as happened recently the Netherlands.
It isn't going to happen in the UK. The Queen gave a solemn promise to do her best for her people, and that's what she's done, and will continue to do, for as long as she lives. Only death, or an Act of Parliament [[because she wishes to abdicate), would release her from her duties, and it's not in her character to do that.
The Queen's official duties will be increasingly shared until she passes away, then Charles will become King, as is his right.
As is often mooted, the throne will not pass to William until Charles passes away, if only because it cannot. It would take a huge amount of legal and constitutional upheaval [[Acts of Parliament etc).
The Queen does not have the option of retirement in the sense which we understand the word. Retirement is a word used by ordinary people like us - but, as I said, their's is an extraordinary life, and not one I would wish to lead.
It's interesting that you say 'if she had a more worthy heir', which does sound less than positive. I think I could guess one good reason, but am curious as to what may have influenced your thoughts on that...:)
There is a sense over here that she could step down but simply chooses not to. [[What does the rabble know of higher things?) That leads to thoughts that perhaps she doesn't because he wouldn't be a better king than she is a queen. Of course, I have no knowledge of the propriety of a royal abdicating her title.
With that being said, I'd prefer her as my queen to him as king. She seems stuffy, but I think that she appears to appreciate her subjects more than Charles does even if she cannot relate to them. I hate to make character judgments, but I'd prefer to have an audience with her than him... She's kind of cool to me.
HM The Queen is of a different generation from us, and I think that makes a real difference. She comes from a different time, with a different set of values. And she, simply by birth, has been put into an extraordinary position.
She is a conservative woman, with an eye towards tradition. Being royal, that has to be formal. I know exactly what you mean by 'stuffy', as she's a stickler for protocol - but maybe you've not yet seen her really laugh, or excited.
Charles is just a little older than me. If I had the chance to walk around his garden and farm, and listen to him, I am certain he would be fascinating company. In that way, he is more approachable, and reflects his own generation.
It's not for me to say how you feel, but the image you may have received of Charles via the media is very likely to be a direct result of the extremely unfortunate, sad situation which arose from his first marriage to Diana and, more particularly, the tragic outcome.
We should rename this thread "let it reign! let it reign! let it reign!" :)
AHHH ROYALTY,I REMEMBER WHEN I INHERITED THIS WONDERFUL ELIXUR FROM HE WHO PASSED OUT BEFORE ME...[hey he passed out and times being what they were I excepted the job]AND LUCKILY TO THIS DAY HE WHO PASSED OUT BEFORE ME HASN'T WOKE UP YET,YES HEAVY IS THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE HANGOVER...AND SOMEDAY HE WHO IS WAITING FOR ME TO PASS OUT WILL STAGGER IN AND RULE.
Beware poisoned chalices!
There are over 2000 members of Soulful Detroit.
Arr&bee, on present showing, I'm certain you will pass out before every one of us........that leaves only one thing.
Mob Rule.:)
I suddenly imagine King Arthur looking for arr&bee's Holy Moley Grail! [[exclamation point intended), which is the only cup strong enough to withstand the bubbling tempest tempest that he's perfected.
The king is somewhat peeved that the knights believe he sampled it before the royal festivities. "Well, you majesty," Sir Lancelot begins, "perhaps the fact that there is smoke billowing from your ears would be our first clue..."
"We're looking, Sire, for The Sword In The Stone".
Too late, for it has dissolved.
And the Round Table was once square, before the hooch was used to test its efficacy as furniture polish.
You two might land a gig as court jesters yet.
And may we consider you the Clown Prince, my lord?
Yeah you jesters will need someone to look down to.
Not if we've ALL fallen on the floor, we won't...:)
Best to be the last to land if we're all falling down... I prefer falling on my peers rather than be on the bottom when the peeing starts...
Ha! There will be no peeing on MY bottom - by order of the Court!
Drinker #1, as he wakes up naked in the penguin cage at the zoo, smeared with animal excrement and his own vomit, with unknown names tattooed inked on his backside: "What happened last night? I can't remember a thing."
Drinker #2, similarly dissheveled: "It beats me, man. After we started drinking, I think we passed out."
The look at each other amazed before coming to the same conclusion and shouting [[in unison): "BEST NIGHT EVER!!!!!"
Sounds like an average Saturday night out in many towns and cities!
I'd rather stay in, and start earlier on the Sunday morning......
I am sure that scenario plays out every weekend at the Ohio State University [[and a few others).
Saturday night,who waits that long,as that great poet wilbur shookpear once said...to hooch or not to hooch that's not the question is it better in the minds of men that they partake or be partooken be bold my forbidden ones for we are the dead already of a frozen thaw...what a poet.