h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

d'E I had this horrible vision that you aimed that last comment at me. I think that I would die before wearing bikini bottoms to a state dinner of any sort. I cannot do that to the other poor attendees of the dinner you know?

Watching the Queen getting off her plane in Adelaide, Australia, just now, I was quite taken with her excellent taste in colour-matching her frocks, jackets and hats with the decor of the country she is visiting. While in NZ she (mainly) wore various shades of green and now in sun-burned Australia she is looking resplendent in gold.

Amazing how large a wardrobe can be. I wonder if she has specific styles/colors of clothing for every region in the world....she could probably afford it.

Well, Queen Victoria used to wear only UK made items. She would wear them once, and then give them away while on various tours, in order to promote her country's textiles. People in the weirdest places have stockings that once belonged to her, with the crest and all, with little notes that say "Queen Victoria's (insert item here) given (insert year)". They pop up all the time on Antiques Roadshow.

Could you see Elizabeth doing that? Here, have my French Haute Couture jacket, my made in china stockings, etc. Somehow, it would just seem icky. Or really a bit wacky.

Irvine may just be the place for me.....
I say this because it was colder that a witch's you-know-what today, and still snowing. I am so sick of winter!!!!!

This is the first time in nearly two decades that the seasons really matter to me! One neighbour told me it was 10 degrees F out at his ranch at dawn this morning. One wouldn't mind if it hadn't been for those three days of summer we just had at the top of the week.

Speaking of one, one can't imagine Queen Victoria giving her stockings away, seeing as one was not suppose to admit knowing that she, or any other female of the times, was bifurcated below the waist. Even pianos had to cover their legs back then.

I don't suppose the queen wears Dolce and Gabbana... but I don't want to mock the good lady. Unlike all the others in her set, many of whom are wealthier than she by a long shot, she has a very demanding job. She runs the family business.

Just as an addendum to the colour coding. One of the last things the Queen and Prince Phillip did in NZ was go for a cruise on the Waitemata (Auckland) harbour. This was after they inspected our Americas' Cup winning (and defending) yachts. The Queen was wearing a deep blue frock and white hat while the Prince looked splendid in reefer jacket and white boater.

The queen has been much better dressed of late. She used to look terrible, and bizzarly as though she were weearing very cheap nylon. Mind you, thgis could have been the 80s where everybody looked terrible and as though they were wearing very cheap nylon.

I assumed she got herself a new wardrobe mistress.

I am particularly partial to her hats.

Totally irrelevent royal factoid: When the queen travels sometimes she has to use the little girls room. After she has used one (presumably set aside and well scrubbed), no one else can use it until it has been cleaned.

Mind, you I'm not sure if that is legend, or fact.

*starts jumping up and down, windmilling arms and waving a bit of paper around*

I got my results...

... and I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not only that, but I got a distinction on my written exam. Which is imfreakingpossible. Either they have made a mistake, or everyone else doing exam did even worse than me.

But I don't care, cos I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*produces bottle od champagne, uncorks it, and sprays sticky alcohol all over the thread*

Ooops. Sorry

*does the snoopy dance*

HM and her advisers go to great lengths to make sure that her clothing reflects the countries she is visiting. Jewellery or fabric patterns will often feature a national flower, religious requirements are observed (ie covered arms, legs etc where appropiate).

Gifts that have been given to her over the years are worn, eg the Maori cloak of feathers was a Coronation present, or used.

A huge amount of preperation goes on months beforehand by both sides so that the trip goes off as smoothly as possible and as Lil says, etiquette and good manners are little to expect in return. This should apply to any visitors, however whether its to your home or country.

But we are in the 21stC, I think that women wearing trousers should no longer raise eyebrows, I hate skirts and bl**dy tights!

Well done Sol!



*joins in Snoopy dance*

Congrats Sol!

If you have a clear sky tonight... *looks out at even grey layer and sighs*

...you might notice the looking very bright - it seems it will be very close to today and appear 9% wider and shine 20% brighter than normal...

...obviously because the orbit is elliptic, and the difference in distance can be as much as 50,000 km (31,000 miles)!

You can go here to plan your moon gazing:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/astronomy/index.shtml

[op]

[Munchkin]
Well done Sol.
On the Queen, I'm wondering whither to look up some of the Jubilee events in June. Not that I'm that much of a fan, but I doubt I'll get to see another one (certainly not for a long time) and it will be nice to see people being happy to be British for a change.

Sol!

Thanks guys!

I want a mug. I demand a suveneir jubalee mug. No I can't spell either of those two words. And now I have my bit of paper (no I won't stop talking about it for a good while yet) I don't see why I should.

The queen as an (elderly) person demands respect and politeness. The trouble is she is also an institution, and sometimes it is difficult to seperate the two.

Spike Milligan, the last of the Goons, just died http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/tv_and_radio/newsid_1843000/1843963.stm

*changes into a camouflage cassock to await PWM's call to arms*

*does snoopy dance with Sol*

oops, that post was delayed and the timing looks insensitive, sorry.

*bows head for Spike*

Spike Milligan was always my favourite Goon. I would like to think of him in a wonderful place, free of the manic depression that haunted his life, enjoying happy times and laughing and joking with his fellow Goons.