Happy New Year to everyone around the world. 2010! It seems strange that we're now at this milestone of a year - it seems only yesterday that we were celebrating 2000! Ah well. As usual there seems to be a debate about whether we have started a new decade (which I believe we haven't). In the end though - who cares?! Have a look at one such debate here. This guy makes a very valid point, but I still don't care!
Grumpy Old Man has returned.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
70 years since the start of WWII
I promise to write more interesting things in the near future, but my son has recently got married, and I've been very busy with organising it with him, and his new wife! However, I thought it was important that I mentioned this sad anniversary - 70 years since the start of WWII. My favourite blog has written about it, and so I thought I would let you go and have a look there....
Thursday, 21 May 2009
The Gurkhas win their rights to settle in the UK
I am very pleased with the news that the brave Gurkhas (pre 1997) who fought for our country are to be granted the opportunity to settle here. This started because Gordon Brown LOST a Commons vote on the matter (the first for a long time in Parliament) and has now finally granted them this wonderful justice.
The Government's response was as follows: "For many years, the Brigade of Gurkhas have shown bravery, commitment and dedication in serving this country, and continue to do so on operations today.
This Government has done more for Gurkhas than any other. It was the first Government to grant settlement to Gurkhas and the first to equalise pay and pensions, with over 6,000 former Gurkhas and their families already given the right to live in the UK. In April we took steps to increase the number of Gurkhas eligible to come to this country by 4,000 or, including families, 10,000 people.
The House of Commons has now expressed a clear view that all Gurkhas should be entitled to settle in the United Kingdom if that is what they wish.
This Government respects the will of the House of Commons and recognises the strong feeling and public support for this cause. Consequently, we have announced today that all former Gurkhas who served for longer than four years will be eligible to apply for settlement in the United Kingdom. They will also be entitled to bring their spouses and dependent minor children. There will be no time limit on applications.
This scheme recognises the unique nature of the service given to the UK by the Brigade of Gurkhas and is offered to them on an exceptional basis.
We believe that in announcing the new policy today, we have met their concerns and those of Parliament." See here.
Whether we can believe their statement about doing more for the Gurkhas than any other government or not, we know that common sense has finally prevailed.
The Government's response was as follows: "For many years, the Brigade of Gurkhas have shown bravery, commitment and dedication in serving this country, and continue to do so on operations today.
This Government has done more for Gurkhas than any other. It was the first Government to grant settlement to Gurkhas and the first to equalise pay and pensions, with over 6,000 former Gurkhas and their families already given the right to live in the UK. In April we took steps to increase the number of Gurkhas eligible to come to this country by 4,000 or, including families, 10,000 people.
The House of Commons has now expressed a clear view that all Gurkhas should be entitled to settle in the United Kingdom if that is what they wish.
This Government respects the will of the House of Commons and recognises the strong feeling and public support for this cause. Consequently, we have announced today that all former Gurkhas who served for longer than four years will be eligible to apply for settlement in the United Kingdom. They will also be entitled to bring their spouses and dependent minor children. There will be no time limit on applications.
This scheme recognises the unique nature of the service given to the UK by the Brigade of Gurkhas and is offered to them on an exceptional basis.
We believe that in announcing the new policy today, we have met their concerns and those of Parliament." See here.
Whether we can believe their statement about doing more for the Gurkhas than any other government or not, we know that common sense has finally prevailed.
Sunday, 10 May 2009
...by the way
...Family Grows on Trees who did some excellent genealogical research for me are still writing excellent blogs: http://familygrowsontrees.blogspot.com/
Do have a read of them!
Do have a read of them!
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Duke of Edinburgh
After proudly discussing our wonderful Queen in one of my Blogs, I hadn't realised that her Consort, the Duke of Edinburgh was nearing a record himself.
Prince Philip has become Britain's longest serving royal consort and has overtaken the record of 57 years and 70 days set by Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III.
Although she is a record breaker, poor Charlotte did not have a happy time as Consort, because she had to look after her husband. George suffered from “madness” for a long period of his life, which is now believed to be porphyria. She remained supportive of her husband until her death on 17 November 1818, though she feared him every time she visited. George died, blind, deaf, lame and insane, fourteen months later.
Their lives are certainly not similar, and Prince Philip has worked tirelessly with his wife for the benefit of the UK, and the Commonwealth, since 1947. And, they have clearly been in love for many years, see below.
Philip was made the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich by King George VI shortly before his marriage to Princess Elizabeth in 1947. The Queen made Corfu-born Philip a Prince of the United Kingdom 10 years later.
Even after so many years of service to the country, Prince Philip shows little sign of slowing down. He undertook more than 350 engagements in 2008, and is patron or president of some 800 organisations.
Well done, Philip. Keep up the good work.
How they got together:
Elizabeth—who was Philip's third cousin through Queen Victoria, and second cousin, once removed, through Christian IX of Denmark—fell in love with Philip and they began to exchange letters. Eventually, in the summer of 1946, Philip asked the King for his daughter's hand in marriage. The King granted his request providing any formal engagement was delayed until Elizabeth's twenty-first birthday the following April. The engagement was announced to the public in July 1947.
Louis Mountbatten urged Philip to renounce his Greek and Danish royal titles, as well as his allegiance to the Greek crown, convert from Greek Orthodoxy to the Church of England, and become a naturalised British subject, all of which was done by 18 March 1947. Philip adopted the surname Mountbatten from his mother's family. The day preceding his wedding, King George VI bestowed the style His Royal Highness on Philip, and on the morning of the wedding, 20 November 1947, he was made the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich of Greenwich in the County of London.
How complicated, but I suppose he did it for love (and safety!).
Prince Philip has become Britain's longest serving royal consort and has overtaken the record of 57 years and 70 days set by Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III.
Although she is a record breaker, poor Charlotte did not have a happy time as Consort, because she had to look after her husband. George suffered from “madness” for a long period of his life, which is now believed to be porphyria. She remained supportive of her husband until her death on 17 November 1818, though she feared him every time she visited. George died, blind, deaf, lame and insane, fourteen months later.
Their lives are certainly not similar, and Prince Philip has worked tirelessly with his wife for the benefit of the UK, and the Commonwealth, since 1947. And, they have clearly been in love for many years, see below.
Philip was made the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich by King George VI shortly before his marriage to Princess Elizabeth in 1947. The Queen made Corfu-born Philip a Prince of the United Kingdom 10 years later.
Even after so many years of service to the country, Prince Philip shows little sign of slowing down. He undertook more than 350 engagements in 2008, and is patron or president of some 800 organisations.
Well done, Philip. Keep up the good work.
How they got together:
Elizabeth—who was Philip's third cousin through Queen Victoria, and second cousin, once removed, through Christian IX of Denmark—fell in love with Philip and they began to exchange letters. Eventually, in the summer of 1946, Philip asked the King for his daughter's hand in marriage. The King granted his request providing any formal engagement was delayed until Elizabeth's twenty-first birthday the following April. The engagement was announced to the public in July 1947.
Louis Mountbatten urged Philip to renounce his Greek and Danish royal titles, as well as his allegiance to the Greek crown, convert from Greek Orthodoxy to the Church of England, and become a naturalised British subject, all of which was done by 18 March 1947. Philip adopted the surname Mountbatten from his mother's family. The day preceding his wedding, King George VI bestowed the style His Royal Highness on Philip, and on the morning of the wedding, 20 November 1947, he was made the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich of Greenwich in the County of London.
How complicated, but I suppose he did it for love (and safety!).
Monday, 6 April 2009
Petition
Clubs and other are establishments are literally watching their money go down the drain as water companies start to bring through surface area-based charging. The Water Industry Act 1991 classes only two categories of customer – domestic and non-domestic. From 2010, all non-domestic customers will be charged according to the surface area of the site rather than through the rateable value of the property; this means that many of our clubs and other voluntary organisations will end up paying more than ten times their original rate.
CCPR has launched a petition to urge the Prime Minister to instruct utilities companies to charge community clubs affordable rates for services. Please support this by signing up on link below.
Sign Petition
CCPR has launched a petition to urge the Prime Minister to instruct utilities companies to charge community clubs affordable rates for services. Please support this by signing up on link below.
Sign Petition
Friday, 3 April 2009
The Queen of England
I was watching repeats of "Monarchy" last week on the new channel, Blighty. Over the years, the Monarchy has had to change what it does and how it does it, to such an extent that it has survived. And isn't it wonderful! Not only that, this programme has served to remind me that our Monarchy, and our great Queen really does have a wonderfully important purpose. She is a unique and special ambassador to our country and works every day for the good of the UK and commonwealth. Also, there is no doubt in my mind that she loves her countries very much.
Yes, it's true - I am a Royalist and proud of it.
Did you know that our Queen has been on the throne for so long, that her reign surpassed those of her four immediate predecessors combined (Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, and George VI), after which she became the third longest reigning British or English monarch, the second-longest-serving current monarch of a sovereign state (after King Bhumibol of Thailand), and the oldest reigning British monarch.
So that she breaks records and becomes the longest-living British head of state, Elizabeth would have to live until 29 January 2012 when she would overtake Richard Cromwell.
To overtake Queen Victoria and become the longest reigning monarch in British history, Elizabeth would have to live to 10 September 2015, when she would be 89. To surpass the reign of King Louis XIV of France, and become the longest reigning monarch in European history, Elizabeth would have to live until 26 May 2024, when she would be 98.
It's very possible too, after all, the Queen Mother lived to 102.
God Bless, the Queen. Thank you, Ma'am for everything you do for us.
You see, I don't need to be grumpy all the time. :O)
Yes, it's true - I am a Royalist and proud of it.
Did you know that our Queen has been on the throne for so long, that her reign surpassed those of her four immediate predecessors combined (Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, and George VI), after which she became the third longest reigning British or English monarch, the second-longest-serving current monarch of a sovereign state (after King Bhumibol of Thailand), and the oldest reigning British monarch.
So that she breaks records and becomes the longest-living British head of state, Elizabeth would have to live until 29 January 2012 when she would overtake Richard Cromwell.
To overtake Queen Victoria and become the longest reigning monarch in British history, Elizabeth would have to live to 10 September 2015, when she would be 89. To surpass the reign of King Louis XIV of France, and become the longest reigning monarch in European history, Elizabeth would have to live until 26 May 2024, when she would be 98.
It's very possible too, after all, the Queen Mother lived to 102.
God Bless, the Queen. Thank you, Ma'am for everything you do for us.
You see, I don't need to be grumpy all the time. :O)
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