Good on ya BELLY !

You've taken me back a few years too. With the ironed 'white shirt' during her first visit here, singing 'God save the King', particularly at the Pictures on Saturday 'arvo'. They were good times, in my memory at least.

I certainly hope we don't become a Republic in my time. The thought of an individual appointed by some, MORALLY CORRUPT politician... well, I couldn't stomach it, I really couldn't.

So let's hope that we don't move towards creating the machinery, to establish a Republic.

Really, the Queen is a great lady. She doesn't interfer with any of the internal wranglings associated with the running of government - Sure, we did have the "...may well we say, God save the Queen, for nothing will save the Governor General..." occurrence, but generally speaking it's not often we even hear from her.

Something I will share with you all, though most of you probably won't believe me...

I've searched both the Queen's and the Duke's bedrooms, after they put the K9 through them both. They do sleep in seperate rooms. Searched her Rolls Royce motor vehicle too. It's one of the M/V's set aside for State visits, I'm led to understand. They (2 x RR's) both form part of the Governor General's personal M/V inventory, amongst other less prestigious M/V's as well.

I'm very sorry folks. 'Boasting' is empirical evidence, of a rather lonely old man who's bereft of company, and who unabashedly lives in his past, I'm afraid. Sorry !

Thanks Belly,
For reminding me of the special occassion of our Queens first visit. In my case it was that mum took us kids in a packed train to Caanberra and we went all over to catch glimpses as the royals drove past. Mum was so proud to say that we saw Elizabeth at four different locations in one day. Then back home by train, and there was much cuck-a-doodle-doing from the train whistles, both coming and going. Our grumpy old school teacher said we should have gone with the rest of the school, but mum paid no heed to that, it was her day and she bought all the Womens Weelkly's, New Idea's and Womans Day,s that were available.

Frankly, I have not yet seen any good reason to become a republic. Our governance is not perfect (especially the current one) but is not too bad compared to other countries. When I think of the money this government has wasted on climate change, I shudder to think what they would spend on getting rid of the monachy, all for no economic gain.

When I saw the considerate and civilized way the crowd walked from the Abby to the Palace, after the recent royal wedding, all controled by a handfull of Bobbies, it gave me a small ray of hope that the UK may just survive. BY the way, at both the wedding and current celebrations I have noticed few pakis or burkas in the crowds. Wonder why as it different from most crowd pics taken in the UK these days.

The crowds are smiling and happy, respectfull of the monach.
Beats abusing and spitting on returned service personel parades.

Good luck to Liz and I hope she is still around when I depart.

o sung wo! be proud of you, and your achievements, we can not all talk of such a past.
Forgive me, if you can, I would in all probability have passed wind ,deliberately,on that search.
Yet too, without doubt, throw my self at any attacker.
I too live alone,but never lonely, you would not believe the crashing and bashing as I removed cupboards and installed new radio shelves last two nights.
Would get my ears boxed by any woman, making my lounge dinning room PC and ham radio too.
Look in the end I am anti Royal, no family should inherit so much.
Yet the Queens mum was an angel, I do not bestow that on Liz.
She had to be dragged out of the palace after Diana's death.
And we would have been a republic if self serving Polly's had not wanted to pick one of their own to be President.
Not pulling your leg, but Dame Edna, yes Barry, would be great.
Or more importantly less humor? Noel Pierson.

Hi again BELLY...

That's the real beauty of this great country of ours, even though you and I can disagree on some minor issues, we're still all aussies, we all share the same dreams and aspirations, just want sufficient money to keep our collective heads above water, enjoy our footy and cricket...League of course, not that 'aerial ping pong' - sorry VIC. SA and WA, I didn't mean to be provocative, sorry. Just a touch of humour :-)

I thoroughly enjoyed my school days, mid 1940's through to 1957. The Queen's first visit was marvellous. Lined up , thousand's of us kids in the summer heat, at Concord Park, in the inner western 'burbs of Sydney. I wish I could've shared that bottle of Shelley's Lemonade with you Belly. Gee it was hot that day !

Take care ol' man, and best of luck with your carpentry pursuits.

For that visit I was lined up in Bathurst showground with thousands of kids from all round the district, for Liz & Phil to whis around in a Land Rover. I don't know what I had been expecting, but she looked just like one of the teachers marshalling us to me.

A mates father managed a property a few miles out of Bathurst, & the railway line ran along it's back boundary for a couple of miles. Liz went to Sydney by train straight after the Bathurst tour, so 3 families all drove out there, where we had horses waiting.

As the line was climbing into the hills there the train [a steam train of course], was traveling fairly slowly. About 15 horses & riders, at a mild gallop, were able to keep up with it for about 1.5 miles. Liz & Phil came out onto the observation area at the rear of the coach to wave to us, & appeared to enjoy the company.

This impressed me much more than the drive by in Bathurst, & made me a bit of a fan for life.

O sung wo my hobby's exactly! NRL the game my team is performing badly, an under statement, I am a dragon, via Saints.
Yes here in print prior to this hung Parliament I told of our great one ness.
Even now on polling day, Liberals manning the polls will play verbal tennis but offer coffee and jokes.
A mate, Conservative to the boot straps, ex union branch secretary,no not mine, will hand out his forms, while his wife hands out hers, mine.
He insists she wear a motor bike helmet! she tells me it will be him who needs it.
I am the product of my life's learning, nothing can turn the Aussie V pommy banter in to war.
I LOVE the Barmy Army.
But can not get a handle on Royalty.
WW1 was a family fight, big mustaches hiding little brains convinced a different people to die for nothing.
Captain Blimps shouting God save the,well we know.
Not joking Barry Humphreys would suit me, he is a conservative but the Dame eating those soggy sangas in Mittagong.
And sending Sir Les doing his impersonation of Sir John C Kerr to the next event?
Australia needs a laugh
Give you a tip o sung wo, my trip from high income is not stopping me enjoy every day.
My past is unchangeable, would not want to.
I live well on my restricted income and health is returning enjoy every new day.
Liz, do those Corgis eat what you give them, Mini Foxy crosses will not.
Then again I do not feed servants to them.