Nyctophiliac
Flashlight Enthusiast
As I was cycling down the Thames Path in London, UK last night - several things were illuminated by my Jetbeam St Cycler and Fenix HP11. Several large green things. Green as frogs, large as paddling pools. Wet as the incessant rain could make them. I was fairly sure that these green things were not there the night before. They had landed in the last twenty four hours!!!
Basically they were umbrellas of the kind fishermen use to get away from their families. And underneath them were people, not just any kind of people, but patriotic people. For today is the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and a special boat Pageant is planned this afternoon, rain and all. Many many boats of all sizes will chug their way downriver from Hammersmith to the Tower Bridge. The Royal Barge at the front, the Queen waving and smiling at the front. With throngs of loyal subjects and curious tourists. All the state leaders and leaderenes will be in their finest and will raise a smile, a glass, a hand in toast to Elizabeth the second.
So I wondered if the people under umbrellas in the rain with their thermoses and sandwiches and radios were the extreme end of British Pride, or whether the rest of us are just a bit jaded and distracted by other things. For I confess, the Jubilee has snuck upon me unnoticed until last night.
To all CPFers - Brits and Commonwealth and out there in the real world - are we in Britain living an anachronism? Are we merely paying dues to an outmoded sense of fealty and serfdom? Or should we revel in our modern take on an old and traditional theme?
So, is it "Cheers Maam, and a Happy Diamond Jubilee to you, Your Royal Highness." - Or is it "Ruddy posh layabouts, you'll be the first against the wall when the Revolution comes!" - or somewhere in between?
Or is mention of the Royal Family a thread killer in and of itself?
Basically they were umbrellas of the kind fishermen use to get away from their families. And underneath them were people, not just any kind of people, but patriotic people. For today is the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and a special boat Pageant is planned this afternoon, rain and all. Many many boats of all sizes will chug their way downriver from Hammersmith to the Tower Bridge. The Royal Barge at the front, the Queen waving and smiling at the front. With throngs of loyal subjects and curious tourists. All the state leaders and leaderenes will be in their finest and will raise a smile, a glass, a hand in toast to Elizabeth the second.
So I wondered if the people under umbrellas in the rain with their thermoses and sandwiches and radios were the extreme end of British Pride, or whether the rest of us are just a bit jaded and distracted by other things. For I confess, the Jubilee has snuck upon me unnoticed until last night.
To all CPFers - Brits and Commonwealth and out there in the real world - are we in Britain living an anachronism? Are we merely paying dues to an outmoded sense of fealty and serfdom? Or should we revel in our modern take on an old and traditional theme?
So, is it "Cheers Maam, and a Happy Diamond Jubilee to you, Your Royal Highness." - Or is it "Ruddy posh layabouts, you'll be the first against the wall when the Revolution comes!" - or somewhere in between?
Or is mention of the Royal Family a thread killer in and of itself?
