Some good articles in the Guardian today looking at the complex (or, apparently, fairly simple) relationship between patriotism, national pride and the monarchy, like this onehttps://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/30/royalty-british-attitude-patriotismrl
"The scale of the crowds, like the fervour of the broadcasters, was a reminder of just how rare such displays are in Britain. We have no national day, no Fourth of July. World Cup victories are rarer than coronations and, besides, sporting events are complicated: the teams often represent England or Scotland or Wales or Northern Ireland alone rather than Britain.

This, then, is how Britain does patriotism. Republicans in Britain have long made their case in the language of political institutions, explaining why an elected head of state would be a better system. They've couched the argument as if abolishing the monarchy were like a move to AV. It's nothing of the sort. What we saw yesterday is proof that a shift away from royalty would require an entirely new form of British patriotism – for the two are utterly bound together, hand in hand, like a prince and his bride at a gorgeous wedding."

Mrs B. Please stand at the next election and I will voe for you.

Sorry fellas, I'm actually quoting the Guardian article. But flattered you think I'm capable of that sort of eloquence. If you like that, try this other one: www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... ish-people For the avoidance of doubt, I'm not a raving royalist, I don't hang the flag of St George out the window on St George's day and I think Charles is an @rse. But I do get a bit sick of people being snooty about others' enjoyment of a great day of British pageantry and patriotism. I don't get huffy about people celebrating May Day and that gets a Bank Holiday every year.

Sorry fellas, I'm actually quoting the Guardian article. But flattered you think I'm capable of that sort of eloquence. If you like that, try this other one: www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... ish-people For the avoidance of doubt, I'm not a raving royalist, I don't hang the flag of St George out the window on St George's day and I think Charles is an @rse. But I do get a bit sick of people being snooty about others' enjoyment of a great day of British pageantry and patriotism. I don't get huffy about people celebrating May Day and that gets a Bank Holiday every year.

It was.

The sea in mid-channel was near flat-calm. The fishing could have been more productive but I still found it £70 well spent, even though I only came home with a pair of pollacks

LOL - were your pollacks cold ?

Hmm, think he should have known better at 32 than to have married Diana (20) whilst still in a "relationship" with Camilla. However, the story goes that he was coerced by Phil the Greek into doing so. I agree entirely about Phil's subsequent "work" to finish that story. Best not mention this to Mr B. Over the last 10 years we've spent days winding each other up about the conspiracy theory. Or should I say truth.

Todays caption competition?

"For Queen and Country"

Only about the 500th time I've seen that picture this weekend.

Wow.

You must really like it?