As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Put it on in the background whilst also watching or doing something else.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
The best bits will be recorded, so do like me, wait for them.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Exactly how I feel right now. Dog needs a walk at some point, and I kind of feel I’ve done all the grieving I needed too since she died. (It wasn’t a lot).
Has anyone else been contacted by their energy supplier to inform of their new tariff. Octopus Energy has told me my direct debit payment will be lowered by 43% from October.
• The Government have announced a 2 year Energy Price Guarantee, capping the increase in prices to £2,500 for a typical home • The £400 energy bill support scheme will also go ahead with monthly payments from October to March • This combination of a reduced cap and winter credits means while some unit rates will rise around 30%, typical annual costs will increase less than 10% • These discounts will be applied automatically: you don't need to do anything • Your new unit rates will match the Energy Price Guarantee, but your Octopus standing charges will be 4% lower – so you will be saving compared to Energy Price Guarantee rates from October 1 • We're not adjusting monthly payments yet for the new prices. We'll review your payments in the coming weeks and send you a recommendation should they need adjusting • However from October to March your payments will be reduced by £ XX [ENDATED], as part of the Energy Bill Support Scheme • We're working hard to help those who need it most this winter. Details below
Well done Liz!!
Thank you Mr Kwartang.
Actually I believe that everyone is to receive a personal energy statement on similar lines before the 1st October
I too am with Octopus and quite impressed. They are stopping some forms of advertising and putting the savings into a hardship fund in order to spend standing charges for 6 months for some vulnerable customers.
It is no great thank you to Ms Truss though, we will be paying off the resultant debt in other forms
Again she will get the credit.
She certainly is paying it on credit.
If you don't want that, don't ask for Government expenditure.
One of the key reasons you detested Brown was his propensity to borrow out of trouble. Why is it OK now?
Asking for a friend.
Borrowing countercyclically is not something I've ever criticised Brown for actually.
I detest Brown for his propensity to borrow in the 'good times'. He took our budget surplus we had in 2002 and maxed out the deficit before the recession even hit, that's all I've ever criticised him for. Well that, and ending Bank of England oversight over the Banks.
Increasing borrowing during a recession is inevitable. Increasing borrowing before the recession is where madness lay.
Average structural fiscal deficit as % GDP:
1981-1996 3.6%* 1997-2010 2.9% 2011-2022 3.2%.
* IMF WEO data not available for 1979-80.
I think you’ve cut your data
IIRC the first couple of years of Blair’s government they stuck to Clarke’s plans… they were starting from a very good place which would help the average.
How about looking at 2001-8 or 2001-10?
Same data removing first 3 years of each government plus removing Covid period.
1982-96 3.6% 2000-10 3.5% 2014-19 2.9%
Still better than Thatcher/Major.
Brown's fiscal record was far from perfect but is absolutely in the same ballpark as Tory administrations on either side of him. This idea that he "crashed" the public finances is a fantasy that lives only in the mind of Tory hacks who've swallowed their own propaganda. It enjoys no credence among people who look at these things for a living.
Yes if you include when he had a surplus before he crashed the public finances then the average doesn't look bad. 🤦♂️
The issue is what he did from the surplus in 2002, not that there was a surplus in 2002.
What matters for the debt position is the long run record not the position in any given year. Policy was too restrictive in the early years of the Labour government - no government had run a structural surplus before Labour did in 1999 and 2000 and government debt had fallen to 34% of GDP in 2001 from 44% in 1996. There was certainly space to borrow more to fund public services and by 2006 debt to GDP was still only 40%, well below the level that Labour inherited. Brown's fiscal loosening post brought the structural deficit to levels that pertained for most of the 1980s - presumably you also damn Thatcher for her reckless borrowing?
Thatcher inherited an awful situation and the borrowing followed the economic cycle with her reducing borrowing such that there was a budget surplus in 1989 before the next recession.
Had Brown entered the next recession with a surplus, as Thatcher had, then we wouldn't have had an issue. He didn't, he turned the spending taps on full blast before the recession hit.
Arguing that spending was too restrictive pre-2002 (which I disagree with) isn't an argument for too much spending post it. Two wrongs don't make a right. Yes if you average too little with too much you might get an OK figure, but you've still gone to too much by the end which is what mattered.
Oh please, every Tory deficit is thanks to Labour, while every Labour surplus is thanks to the Tories? I am talking about the structural deficits of Thatcher's mid 80s pomp, not the early years of her administration - never less than 3% of GDP from 1983-87. Was that also reckless? There was a structural deficit of 3% of GDP in 1989 going into the recession caused by the crash following the Lawson boom. If you want to make a case for poor domestic macro policy causing a recession it is much easier to make the case for the 1990 recession than 2008. Where was the global financial crisis in 1990?
Brown's deficits prior to 2002 were legacy from what he inherited from the Tories, yes. Brown's deficits after the country had entered a surplus, were because he turned on the spending taps.
I never once said that the poor domestic policy caused the recession, I don't think recessions get "caused". Recessions happen, they're a fact of life, trying to prevent them was Brown's hubris in thinking it was possible to end boom and bust.
Trying to abolish recessions is like trying to abolish winter. You don't abolish recessions, you need to prepare for them, just as you prepare for winter.
You don't think that bad macro policy in the late 1980s helped to create an unsustainable housing boom and surging inflation, followed by a massive hike in interest rates to try to curb it, thousands of repossessions, and a fresh spike in unemployment? You think Lawson's approach to fiscal and monetary policy had nothing to do with anything that followed? Aren't you some kind of economist?
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Definitely watch. I think this could well be the last big event for the UK as a post-Imperial nation.
Watching this amazing pageant being televised worldwide to an audience in excess of 4 billion makes one immensely proud of our country, and is an entirely appropriate tribute to 'The Queen' as she will ever be known
I agree with others now is the time to avoid political discourse for the rest of the day and to accept this is a occasion without parallel and history in the making
Your fawning village-boy submissiveness is cringe-makingly embarrassing.
The North Korean regime is good at putting on spectacular shows too.
Watching this amazing pageant being televised worldwide to an audience in excess of 4 billion makes one immensely proud of our country, and is an entirely appropriate tribute to 'The Queen' as she will ever be known
I agree with others now is the time to avoid political discourse for the rest of the day and to accept this is a occasion without parallel and history in the making
I very much doubt even close to that many people will be watching. I'm sure it will be screened such that it is theoretically possible.
It does show the power of ritual that everyone has this down as The Big Day. Whereas by most metrics 8 September was a bit more important. I think we subconsciously think she hasn't really gone till she is under ground, hence talk of her "final night at Buckingham Palace" - she wasn't there. Her corpse was. And hence thinking it makes sense to file past her coffin, when you will be able to get equal proximity to her remains in the King George VI Memorial Chapel whenever you want.
Also the visibility from global leaders, the more extrovert pageantry , and the more collective social event. This is the first day that the world really sees that she's gone.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
You have two options…
Watch it, critically. Try to figure out the values and motivations that lie behind it. If republicanism is ever to be a thing, it will have to serve those human purposes as well.
Watch it, accept it for what it is, drink tea, relax. Be glad you’re not at work.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Watch it - it will not be repeated again
I think it will - tonight, tomorrow, all week......
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Definitely watch. I think this could well be the last big event for the UK as a post-Imperial nation.
I think I know what you mean, but surely we will ALWAYS be a post imperial nation?
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
You should watch it. At some point I'm going to stop bickering with BR (Mr Roberts not the much missed British Rail) and put it on. It's history innit.
Watching this amazing pageant being televised worldwide to an audience in excess of 4 billion makes one immensely proud of our country, and is an entirely appropriate tribute to 'The Queen' as she will ever be known
I agree with others now is the time to avoid political discourse for the rest of the day and to accept this is a occasion without parallel and history in the making
Your fawning village-boy submissiveness is cringe-makingly embarrassing.
The North Korean regime is good at putting on spectacular shows too.
Watching this amazing pageant being televised worldwide to an audience in excess of 4 billion makes one immensely proud of our country, and is an entirely appropriate tribute to 'The Queen' as she will ever be known
I agree with others now is the time to avoid political discourse for the rest of the day and to accept this is a occasion without parallel and history in the making
I very much doubt even close to that many people will be watching. I'm sure it will be screened such that it is theoretically possible.
The best of us don't even have TV sets.
We aren't marching a nuclear weapon along though. Our soldiers are wearing a varied collection of ridiculous hats.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Watch it - it will not be repeated again
I think it will - tonight, tomorrow, all week......
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
I'm same as you and am watching it, with my 8 year old daughter (my 6 year old doesn't want to watch it as its "boring").
For me I'm putting republicanism to one side, this is a moment of history. An extremely rare moment that everyone sits down to watch the same thing, a bit like man walking on the moon. You don't get moments like that very often nowadays.
Watching this amazing pageant being televised worldwide to an audience in excess of 4 billion makes one immensely proud of our country, and is an entirely appropriate tribute to 'The Queen' as she will ever be known
I agree with others now is the time to avoid political discourse for the rest of the day and to accept this is a occasion without parallel and history in the making
Your fawning village-boy submissiveness is cringe-makingly embarrassing.
The North Korean regime is good at putting on spectacular shows too.
Watching this amazing pageant being televised worldwide to an audience in excess of 4 billion makes one immensely proud of our country, and is an entirely appropriate tribute to 'The Queen' as she will ever be known
I agree with others now is the time to avoid political discourse for the rest of the day and to accept this is a occasion without parallel and history in the making
I very much doubt even close to that many people will be watching. I'm sure it will be screened such that it is theoretically possible.
The best of us don't even have TV sets.
It must be intensely painful for you and your Kremlin masters
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
I certainly won't be watching as I find the whole thing quite absurd. But I am enjoying my unexpected day off work and will probably take a pleasant stroll in the park while everyone else is inside glued to the telly.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
I'm same as you and am watching it, with my 8 year old daughter (my 6 year old doesn't want to watch it as its "boring").
For me I'm putting republicanism to one side, this is a moment of history. An extremely rare moment that everyone sits down to watch the same thing, a bit like man walking on the moon. You don't get moments like that very often nowadays.
Not since the first Covid press conference announcing lockdown, anyway.
Did I just hear Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, say 'there are hard times for the people ahead, but the most important thing is there was a seamless change in the Head of State'? Where do you find these people, UK?
Bleating ninnies gonna bleat. I am not usually all that pro affirmative action shit, but with all the OEs in government surely a role as inherently meaningless as AoC could have been shared out elsewhere? I mean not to the common people obv but somewhere like Stowe or Rugby could be given a look in?
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
I certainly won't be watching as I find the whole thing quite absurd. But I am enjoying my unexpected day off work and will probably take a pleasant stroll in the park while everyone else is inside glued to the telly.
Not that I'd suggest it, but good day to commit some petty crime with all the coppers bussed down to London.
I'm going to a funeral at 11 this morning. No, not that one. A firefighter taken by the black dog at the prime of his life. He's getting a guard of honour, the full Fire Service send off. The streets will be quiet so it will be both surreal and peaceful. A subtle reminder to us all that life (and death) carries on.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Switch it on, but do the ironing or a jigsaw...
I think there will be lots of people like that. I've not being paying attention at all but agreed to keep someone company who is grieving herself over a recent loss and feels she "should" have it on in the background but doesn't really want to watch - we'll chat about whatever and we can have a glance if we want to.
But if you're like Big G and really into it then of course you'll watch the whole event, and I hope it will be a satisfying memory forever. It's one of those things - like a family funeral - where we absolutely shouldn't tell each other what to do.
The highlights will of course be on the news for those who don't want to watch continuously but would like to get an impression.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
I certainly won't be watching as I find the whole thing quite absurd. But I am enjoying my unexpected day off work and will probably take a pleasant stroll in the park while everyone else is inside glued to the telly.
Hand wash some delicates. Move load of crap from one space to another. Strip suspension arm. Go to pub.
Some unerring 6th sense tell me It's what she would have wanted.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
You're feeling tempted. Don't give in. Go and do something useful. And then be proud of yourself and feel clean afterwards. F*** the royal family and every last thing they stand for.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Definitely watch. I think this could well be the last big event for the UK as a post-Imperial nation.
There will still be big events but of course when Elizabeth came to the throne she still was head of a pretty big Empire, including much of Africa, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Yemen, the Pacific Islands and Caribbean.
Almost all of those nations are now independent. She also was the longest reigning monarch in history. Inevitably therefore Charles and William's funerals will be smaller, however good a job they do, even if as good as their mother's
I found it moving. Elderly widower sits down to watch the funeral on his own and it brings home to him the loss of his wife.
A number of people have said how state mourning triggers memories of beareavement in their own lives.
To be honest, if there is a next world, I would rather have one where I am fit and strong; say in my early 30s as opposed to one where I am as I am now. Or even as I was before my present troubles hit me!
I think about this occasionally. If there is a Heaven, you surely want to go when you are at your healthiest. But what happens to a poor soul who dies at (say) eight, with the best years of your life ahead of them? Do they go to Heaven as a bewildered child, or do they magically 'grow up', both physically and intellectually?
(and that's leaving out the evil of Limbo.)
Also: my grand-aunt (gladly still with us) lost her first beloved husband at a youngish age. She then remarried a wonderful man. When they are all dead, what happens in Heaven? Does she have to choose which husband she wants to be with most of the time, or is there some weird ménage à trois?
I find this, and all the other questions that the concept of 'Heaven' causes, to be one of the reasons I am agnostic.
I think that Christian take on this is that in heaven you would experience love for all, and not the same as the earthly experience.
Personally, and rather sadly, I reject life after death as probably not going to happen. Might be surprised, in which case, yay! But more likely the long dreamless sleep from which you never wake.
Pretty much. The guy who inspired the book is on the record as giving the One Bride for Seven Brothers question* pretty short shrift.
As for what we're like in Heaven, the standard piety would be something about being what we Really Are, in a way that we approximate to different degrees at different times of our lives. So a heavenly William Hague will be more of the respectable elder statesman and less of the pompous young squit and rock musicians will be more of the youthful success and less of the one more reunion tour to pay the bills.
Seeing Paddington 2 on BBC One tonight (good choice, Auntie Beeb) makes me wonder. Heavenly Hugh Grant- posh fop of Four Weddings et etcetera or interestingly evil of Paddington and the Jeremy Thorpe thing?
(* As opposed to the Mormon version, Seven Brides for One Brother.)
Always think of Joe Biden as old but its strange to think that he's 'young' enough he could be the late Queen's son.
Biden seems too old to seriously be running for President again next year, but he's roughly the same age as King Charles as he starts his duties taking on the throne.
BBC are talking over this far too much. And I couldn't give a toss about the interviews about "what does it mean to you?" at this stage.
They should just let the procession speak for itself.
BBC talk over almost everything far too much. The coverage of the lying in state has been unexpectedly wonderful.
And as for the "what does it mean to you?" type questions - that is another pet hate. Sports coverage nowadays is almost all feelings-based (I have a particular irritation with Sonia McLaughlin on this score, but Clare Balding is almost as bad). I expect they'll move on soon to the "how sad do you feel" or "how good a queen was she?" type questions, the only answer to which is 'very'.
Have we got a final number for how many succeasfully completed The Queue yet?
Watching this amazing pageant being televised worldwide to an audience in excess of 4 billion makes one immensely proud of our country, and is an entirely appropriate tribute to 'The Queen' as she will ever be known
I agree with others now is the time to avoid political discourse for the rest of the day and to accept this is a occasion without parallel and history in the making
Your fawning village-boy submissiveness is cringe-makingly embarrassing.
The North Korean regime is good at putting on spectacular shows too.
Watching this amazing pageant being televised worldwide to an audience in excess of 4 billion makes one immensely proud of our country, and is an entirely appropriate tribute to 'The Queen' as she will ever be known
I agree with others now is the time to avoid political discourse for the rest of the day and to accept this is a occasion without parallel and history in the making
I very much doubt even close to that many people will be watching. I'm sure it will be screened such that it is theoretically possible.
The best of us don't even have TV sets.
A bit of a shit point, surely? Whatever your excellence, I bet you £100 that the device you are reading this on is capable of showing TV coverage of the funeral.
However you slice it, your lords and masters are your lords and masters. As the hymn beautifully puts it
The rich man in his castle, The poor man at his gate, God made them, high or lowly, And ordered their estate.
This is not a threat, but if you don't quit bitching me and some of the lads from Epping Conservatives will be paying you a visit, and it won't be to say howdeedo.
The sense of connection I get in places like Westminster Abbey is profound. The notion that you stand where people have stood for hundreds of years before you and that you are the same as them I find hugely reassuring and humbling. We are a link in a chain in one human race.
I hope that world leaders from countries with less tangible connections with the past get to experience that connection today.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Definitely watch. I think this could well be the last big event for the UK as a post-Imperial nation.
There will still be big events but of course when Elizabeth came to the throne she still was head of a pretty big Empire, including much of Africa, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Yemen, the Pacific Islands and Caribbean.
Almost all of those nations are now independent. She also was the longest reigning monarch in history. Inevitably therefore Charles and William's funerals will be smaller, however good a job they do, even if as good as their mother's
Pedantically, she is the longest reigning monarch in British history; there are one or two elsewhere who reigned for longer.
Did I just hear Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, say 'there are hard times for the people ahead, but the most important thing is there was a seamless change in the Head of State'? Where do you find these people, UK?
Bleating ninnies gonna bleat. I am not usually all that pro affirmative action shit, but with all the OEs in government surely a role as inherently meaningless as AoC could have been shared out elsewhere? I mean not to the common people obv but somewhere like Stowe or Rugby could be given a look in?
George Carey went to a secondary modern, Rowan Williams to a grammar school, Runcie to Merchant Taylors' Crosby not Eton
BBC are talking over this far too much. And I couldn't give a toss about the interviews about "what does it mean to you?" at this stage.
They should just let the procession speak for itself.
BBC talk over almost everything far too much. The coverage of the lying in state has been unexpectedly wonderful.
And as for the "what does it mean to you?" type questions - that is another pet hate. Sports coverage nowadays is almost all feelings-based (I have a particular irritation with Sonia McLaughlin on this score, but Clare Balding is almost as bad). I expect they'll move on soon to the "how sad do you feel" or "how good a queen was she?" type questions, the only answer to which is 'very'.
Have we got a final number for how many succeasfully completed The Queue yet?
The BBC is absolutely terrified of periods of quiet nowadays. The very worst example, and now since common to all channels, is the refusal to let credits roll without talking over them ; to link or advertise the next programme. That is vital thinking space to be able to emotionally and intellectually process what you have just seen. If you don't have it, and you rush off to the next things in people's rushed lives, they'll never get the full benefit of the programme.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Same boat. Issue solved by wife, who is more monarchist than I am republican, and has it on. Am I really a republican? Maybe all these years it's just been irritation with the inanity of the BBC. Let's see how I feel about it...
TimS - I think that is broadly correct. Those who blame Brown's borrowing too much pre 2008 for our predicament don't tend to quantify it. Governments very rarely run an absolute surplus. So borrowing was too high but not fatal. However you could still argue that it is one of those things that government is expected to get right and won't be let off for getting wrong.
The real killer was the eye watering private debt that needed deleveraging and the fact so much tax revenue was coming from the city. However no-one ever levelled with the public about this. One of the reasons I take a dim view of Cameron, Osborne and Clegg. I don't think Ed Miliband's 'turn the page' approach helped much either.
Not just not levelling- if Trussonomics has a plan, it's to get the City to expand again, so that we can all live off the tax revenues. Which is a lovely money-for-nothing idea, until it stops working, which it inevitably will.
It has the same principle, that the dead live on as long as we remember them and talk about them pass on their memories.
So the medieval practice of paying monks to pray for the soul of your loved one for x years makes sense.
I think the medieval Christians thought the dead lived on forever anyway, and what you were praying for was to help them get through purgatory a bit faster ?
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Definitely watch. I think this could well be the last big event for the UK as a post-Imperial nation.
There will still be big events but of course when Elizabeth came to the throne she still was head of a pretty big Empire, including much of Africa, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Yemen, the Pacific Islands and Caribbean.
Almost all of those nations are now independent. She also was the longest reigning monarch in history. Inevitably therefore Charles and William's funerals will be smaller, however good a job they do, even if as good as their mother's
Pedantically, she is the longest reigning monarch in British history; there are one or two elsewhere who reigned for longer.
As well as the longest reigning British monarch the only monarch who reigned longer than the Queen ever was Louis XIVth.
It has the same principle, that the dead live on as long as we remember them and talk about them pass on their memories.
So the medieval practice of paying monks to pray for the soul of your loved one for x years makes sense.
I think the medieval Christians thought the dead lived on forever anyway, and what you were praying for was to help them get through purgatory a bit faster ?
It has the same principle, that the dead live on as long as we remember them and talk about them pass on their memories.
So the medieval practice of paying monks to pray for the soul of your loved one for x years makes sense.
I think the medieval Christians thought the dead lived on forever anyway, and what you were praying for was to help them get through purgatory a bit faster ?
And yet there is no mention of purgatory in the bible. I think Luther had a point!
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Definitely watch. I think this could well be the last big event for the UK as a post-Imperial nation.
There will still be big events but of course when Elizabeth came to the throne she still was head of a pretty big Empire, including much of Africa, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Yemen, the Pacific Islands and Caribbean.
Almost all of those nations are now independent. She also was the longest reigning monarch in history. Inevitably therefore Charles and William's funerals will be smaller, however good a job they do, even if as good as their mother's
Pedantically, she is the longest reigning monarch in British history; there are one or two elsewhere who reigned for longer.
As well as the longest reigning British monarch the only monarch who reigned longer than the Queen ever was Louis XIVth.
BBC are talking over this far too much. And I couldn't give a toss about the interviews about "what does it mean to you?" at this stage.
They should just let the procession speak for itself.
BBC talk over almost everything far too much. The coverage of the lying in state has been unexpectedly wonderful.
And as for the "what does it mean to you?" type questions - that is another pet hate. Sports coverage nowadays is almost all feelings-based (I have a particular irritation with Sonia McLaughlin on this score, but Clare Balding is almost as bad). I expect they'll move on soon to the "how sad do you feel" or "how good a queen was she?" type questions, the only answer to which is 'very'.
Have we got a final number for how many succeasfully completed The Queue yet?
The BBC is absolutely terrified of periods of quiet today. The very worst example, and now since common to all channels, is the refusal to let credits roll without talking over them ; to link or advertise the next programme. That is vital thinking space to be able to emotionally and intellectually process what you have just seen. If you don't have it, and you rush off to the next things in people's rushed lives, they'll never get the full benefit of the programme.
Many programs put a lot of thought into what music (or silence) is played during the credits and talking over them changes it. 24 was a good example of that where the ticking clock almost always played during the credits but total silence punctuated the credits for certain episodes (typically after the death of a major character). The silence make an impact when its used.
Did I just hear Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, say 'there are hard times for the people ahead, but the most important thing is there was a seamless change in the Head of State'? Where do you find these people, UK?
Bleating ninnies gonna bleat. I am not usually all that pro affirmative action shit, but with all the OEs in government surely a role as inherently meaningless as AoC could have been shared out elsewhere? I mean not to the common people obv but somewhere like Stowe or Rugby could be given a look in?
George Carey went to a secondary modern, Rowan Williams to a grammar school, Runcie to Merchant Taylors' Crosby not Eton
Or indeed the Archbishop of York, who also went to a secondary modern.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Definitely watch. I think this could well be the last big event for the UK as a post-Imperial nation.
There will still be big events but of course when Elizabeth came to the throne she still was head of a pretty big Empire, including much of Africa, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Yemen, the Pacific Islands and Caribbean.
Almost all of those nations are now independent. She also was the longest reigning monarch in history. Inevitably therefore Charles and William's funerals will be smaller, however good a job they do, even if as good as their mother's
Pedantically, she is the longest reigning monarch in British history; there are one or two elsewhere who reigned for longer.
As well as the longest reigning British monarch the only monarch who reigned longer than the Queen ever was Louis XIVth.
Did I just hear Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, say 'there are hard times for the people ahead, but the most important thing is there was a seamless change in the Head of State'? Where do you find these people, UK?
Bleating ninnies gonna bleat. I am not usually all that pro affirmative action shit, but with all the OEs in government surely a role as inherently meaningless as AoC could have been shared out elsewhere? I mean not to the common people obv but somewhere like Stowe or Rugby could be given a look in?
I think the AoC is meant to be a bleating ninny. It's part of the job spec. I don't ever remember one whose pointy hat I haven't wanted to ram firmly up his arse.
How do I watch (because I think you need to have it on, live), do my ironing (because watching it can't be all you do), and read/post on PB at the same time.
As a mild republican, for whom abolishing the monarchy is not in my top 1,000 priorities, I find myself in a quandary this morning.
I suspect if I sit in front of the TV and watch all the proceedings I may well regret it. However, there's a bit of me that thinks if I don't watch it, I may regret that too. What to do?
Definitely watch. I think this could well be the last big event for the UK as a post-Imperial nation.
There will still be big events but of course when Elizabeth came to the throne she still was head of a pretty big Empire, including much of Africa, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Yemen, the Pacific Islands and Caribbean.
Almost all of those nations are now independent. She also was the longest reigning monarch in history. Inevitably therefore Charles and William's funerals will be smaller, however good a job they do, even if as good as their mother's
Pedantically, she is the longest reigning monarch in British history; there are one or two elsewhere who reigned for longer.
As well as the longest reigning British monarch the only monarch who reigned longer than the Queen ever was Louis XIVth.
Yes, the page was edited a while back to be more specific to monarchs of 'sovereign states', which cut out a few others, though the 'verifiable dates' exclusion seems reasonable . Felt like a way of pruning the list.
Comments
Dimbleby at Windsor later should be good
The North Korean regime is good at putting on spectacular shows too. The best of us don't even have TV sets.
Watch it, critically. Try to figure out the values and motivations that lie behind it. If republicanism is ever to be a thing, it will have to serve those human purposes as well.
Watch it, accept it for what it is, drink tea, relax. Be glad you’re not at work.
For me I'm putting republicanism to one side, this is a moment of history. An extremely rare moment that everyone sits down to watch the same thing, a bit like man walking on the moon. You don't get moments like that very often nowadays.
Where do you find these people, UK?
https://twitter.com/ImmigrSchorschi/status/1571586961097502721
Bleating ninnies gonna bleat. I am not usually all that pro affirmative action shit, but with all the OEs in government surely a role as inherently meaningless as AoC could have been shared out elsewhere? I mean not to the common people obv but somewhere like Stowe or Rugby could be given a look in?
It's small and very cluttered. I was quite taken by it.
A firefighter taken by the black dog at the prime of his life. He's getting a guard of honour, the full Fire Service send off. The streets will be quiet so it will be both surreal and peaceful. A subtle reminder to us all that life (and death) carries on.
(ht TUD)
But if you're like Big G and really into it then of course you'll watch the whole event, and I hope it will be a satisfying memory forever. It's one of those things - like a family funeral - where we absolutely shouldn't tell each other what to do.
The highlights will of course be on the news for those who don't want to watch continuously but would like to get an impression.
Move load of crap from one space to another.
Strip suspension arm.
Go to pub.
Some unerring 6th sense tell me It's what she would have wanted.
Almost all of those nations are now independent. She also was the longest reigning monarch in history. Inevitably therefore Charles and William's funerals will be smaller, however good a job they do, even if as good as their mother's
As for what we're like in Heaven, the standard piety would be something about being what we Really Are, in a way that we approximate to different degrees at different times of our lives. So a heavenly William Hague will be more of the respectable elder statesman and less of the pompous young squit and rock musicians will be more of the youthful success and less of the one more reunion tour to pay the bills.
Seeing Paddington 2 on BBC One tonight (good choice, Auntie Beeb) makes me wonder. Heavenly Hugh Grant- posh fop of Four Weddings et etcetera or interestingly evil of Paddington and the Jeremy Thorpe thing?
(* As opposed to the Mormon version, Seven Brides for One Brother.)
Biden seems too old to seriously be running for President again next year, but he's roughly the same age as King Charles as he starts his duties taking on the throne.
Puts things into a bit of perspective.
And as for the "what does it mean to you?" type questions - that is another pet hate. Sports coverage nowadays is almost all feelings-based (I have a particular irritation with Sonia McLaughlin on this score, but Clare Balding is almost as bad). I expect they'll move on soon to the "how sad do you feel" or "how good a queen was she?" type questions, the only answer to which is 'very'.
Have we got a final number for how many succeasfully completed The Queue yet?
However you slice it, your lords and masters are your lords and masters. As the hymn beautifully puts it
The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.
This is not a threat, but if you don't quit bitching me and some of the lads from Epping Conservatives will be paying you a visit, and it won't be to say howdeedo.
He's not important here. Certainly not next to the holders of the Victoria Cross and George Cross.
I hope that world leaders from countries with less tangible connections with the past get to experience that connection today.
Am I really a republican? Maybe all these years it's just been irritation with the inanity of the BBC. Let's see how I feel about it...
https://twitter.com/SebastianEPayne/status/1571791822367723525
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longest-reigning_monarchs
ITV coverage doing more “in the Abbey” than cutting to talking heads like the BBC Trudeau and Arden there.
How do I watch (because I think you need to have it on, live), do my ironing (because watching it can't be all you do), and read/post on PB at the same time.
Which is a good thing, because it implies that even if Truss crashes and burns, Operation Return After The Wilderness Years is a no-go.