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

I've turned on BBC5live twice today; each time they were in the middle of a lot of stuff about the latest on Prince Phillip's health.

Some semi invasive technique has been employed by Papworth NHS hospital apparently, to set free one of his coronary arteries for free flow.

He won't be set free today apparently. More Royals are to be helicoptered in later today for a visit.

The Boxing Day shoot at Sandringham may or may not still go ahead... Kate Middleton was due to star at the the shoot..

Not at all worried really.

I've never met him. I don't know him. He doesn't know me.

I am just as worried about him as I am about Mrs Agnes Quont of 29 The Mews, Penge.

PP

Well. He's on my deathlist. But I'm on a diamond jubilee organising committee. So I'm rather hoping he hangs on for a while longer. He's in the best hands.

I did find the coverage a bit much yesterday morning, so I switched to Russia Today, and discovered that Britain is about to invade Somalia

Mol

>> Britain is about to invade Somalia <<

Well that would explain his chest pains.
I'm feeling a little queezy myself.
No doubt others more directly involved
are choking on their turkey,

~jwf~

Oh dear lord. Call-Me-Dave has described Somalia as a "failed state" and a "direct threat" to Britian.

Anyway, back on topic... not that worried about Prince Philip. More concerned about any foreign doctors and nurses he may encounter.

The Duke of Edinburgh will have the very best of the best...whatever nationality is to treat his coronary problems.

And we are all still agog to know whether the Boxing Day shoot at Sandringham can still go ahead without him.

I think it will. But it won't be the same

The thought of Prince Philip in hospital reminds me of those old Carry On films. I can just imagine him insulting the junior doctors, and making politically incorrect comments at all the non-white nurses.

Not at all worried: he doesn't make any decisions or play a substantive role in British democracy. He's an old man, old men get sick and die. I wish him well, but he's 90 - he doesn't have many more years left - and he's had a decent life.

I am honestly amazed anyone gives a monkey's.

About none at all. He's not anyone of any extraordinary significance, done nothing really admiration worthy, and has probably lived far longer than most average folks would (special considerations for being a consort, I suppose)

If and when his time runs out, that's just life.

Oh come on, he's shagged a Queen. How many men can say that!

HonestIago and everyone he knows?

Oh... you mean with an uppercase Q?

I suppose that few who have will publicly admit it ...

Incidentally, when he said he would miss the Sandringham Hunt, I think they mis-heard.

>>HonestIago and everyone he knows<<

The worrying thing is most of my friends are straight and I'm considered the butch one amongst us. Make of that what you will...

I guess that's why I was called a Queersling at Pride in August.

I'm presuming the Boxing day shoot still went ahead.

(I'd have a lot of time for him actually if I just read the papers. It can't have been easy being consort to the Queen all these years...a bit like Denis Thatcher's role...now there's a guy I really do have time for...but some of the stuff told to me by a woman living near the Elephant and Castle changed my opinion of him.

God knows how some people keep stuff out of the papers for decades, nay centuries nearly, but others get the slightest pecadillo splashed.

The British Establishment is truly a wonder.

I'm not in the least worried about him. I can't think of a single reason why I should be, to be honest.

>>It can't have been easy being consort to the Queen all these years<<

Yeah, must be so hard for him being married to one of the richest women in the world, living in palaces and castles, being waiting on hand and foot by servants, experiencing the finest food and drink available, the finest healthcare money can buy, extensive international travel all without ever having to work for it.

Bless him for making such sacrifices.

I'm not opposed to the monarchy per se, but anyone claiming they have a hard life needs to get some perspective.

I was being slightly ironic.

But I was talking about ego issues.

You can have all the wealth and power imaginable but if that's a problem it makes life hard. Everything is relative.

Surely HI, you realised the context I was arguing from within? I didn't think it needed spelling out.

>>Surely HI, you realised the context I was arguing from within?<<

No. The context is that you started a thread where you tried to imbue the sickness of an incredibly wealthy and privileged old man with some importance. Everyone disagreed with you then you tried the sympathy line and were called on it. Then you say you're being ironic. That's not irony

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/irony

It's never clear with you because the second someone makes a claim you don't like you say they've misunderstood, or they're wrong or stupid for not understanding your complex and nuanced dialectic. You've failed to make yourself clear - that's your failing, not ours for "misunderstanding" you.

Compare with this post - my point is actually clear and I doubt anyone reading it will miss it. Try it sometime.