Forum Topic

Queen on Tour

Just thought I would share what I did yesterday.As I live in Melbourne, Australia I went along with my 18 year old daughter to see the Queen and Phillip who came to town for a quick visit. The weather was pretty warm but standing around in the sun we now have the right side of our faces and arms somewhat redder than the other side.But you really have to admire them for still wanting to do this kind of thing. Thankfully they both seem in good health. I know my parents, who are roughly the same age would not be able to walk very far nor climb aboard a tram without help, as the steps are rather high.Yesterday, as in other places she has been this tour there have been a very long line of children, all with flowers in hand, waiting to present them to the Queen. And God love her she has faithfully gone along and taken these flowers from every child. What a thrill it will be for them to remember this in their older years.I think if I was the Queen I would want to give up after a while and get the lady in waiting and as I saw yesterday a whole bunch of helpers to take them off of the never ending queue of little ones.And although I saw them in 2006 at the Commonwealth Games I had never seem them in the flesh when growing up in London.  By the way, are there any other Brentfordians living here in Melbourne?

Sue Gowty ● 5303d30 Comments

When the clouds fly away sometimes at night the sky here is a picture to behold.

Dawn Hardy ● 5297d

So you would sooner a Republic would you, take a good hard look at Europe,I will keep our Royal Family any day in the week.

Dawn Hardy ● 5297d

England,Wales,Scotland and Northern Ireland are very beautiful, shame about the politicians.

Dawn Hardy ● 5297d

I once went to a music festival outside Trowbridge and could not believe the sheer amount of stars in the sky,shooting ones et al.It was like a massive jewelry box crammed full of sparklies.

Keith Iddon ● 5298d

Thankyou for spoiling my day.

Tony Wood ● 5298d

The Queen seems to agree with you about Scotland Tony. She has only been in Australia 16 times in the last 60 years but I am sure she has been in Scotland hundreds of times.The Aussies had a referendum on having a repuublic once and the republicans nearly won. However a recent opinion poll showed that only 24% of Aussies wanted a  republic. That's a pretty small nunber considering the number of  people of Irish descent and others with no ties to the British monarchy in Australia.

David Giles ● 5298d

Ahem!  I think you may be forgetting Scotland,whilst it is true that at this time of year it's still dark at 11am and again at 14.30 but we don't mind. Pointing the bins towards the Milky Way up here is a sight to behold (on the two days a year that the Queen isn't raining over us). Sure it's 90 miles to the nearest Mac E Dee,but if you make the trip you'll never enjoy one more. Fish and chips? Nae bother a 200 mile round trip to the best F&C shop in the World (Oban F&C Shop),the haddock supper is devine. Nope it's Scotland for me,but if you come bring warm waterproof "from the outside" knickers and some midge repelant.  Toodle ooo tha noo.

Tony Wood ● 5298d

No!No!No! a romantic setting like this is great with your chosen partner.

Dawn Hardy ● 5298d

I understand each to his own,the USA is a great country but much to fast for me.

Dawn Hardy ● 5298d

"At night you feel that if you just raised your arm you could touch the moon,the billions of stars twinkle like beacons..."Dawn,sounds great.Sounds like you went on holiday there with Phil Walsh!;-)

Keith Iddon ● 5298d

Yes - I've been twice now, I have lots of Aussie mates and family out there. However, I wouldn't live there for a lottery win, it's amazing to holiday there but permanently? No thank-you, a completely different culture, that said I'd live in the US tomorrow.

Vanessa Smith ● 5298d

Ah! Vanessa Australia is the most beautiful underpopulated country in the world, if you want to commune with nature you need only travel 100k from any city and you are there. At night you feel that if you just raised your arm you could touch the moon, the billions of stars twinkle like beacons it's just great.

Dawn Hardy ● 5298d

You cannot be serious? I'd take the USA anyday.

Vanessa Smith ● 5298d

Oz is still the best country to either holiday in or move to.

Dawn Hardy ● 5298d

I think Australia will eventually become a republic and given the ties with the U.K. are a lot less than they used to be that's only to be expected. Our future is in Europe, geographically and financially.

Vanessa Smith ● 5300d

What a remarkable woman she is. And what a wonderful man her consort the Duke if Edinburgh is.She has made 16 trips to Australia and she is loved and respected there as she us here.It was great to see how warmly received she was in Australia.It seems incredible that some Australians wanted a republic a few years ago. That would have been a huge mistake.

David Giles ● 5300d

Keith, Perhaps Santa is reading this and will bring you  an 'orifice' hair trimmer, only if you're good mind.

Vanessa Smith ● 5301d

When this thread started it was next to the Michael Jackson one.I thought for a minute this was turning into a defunct pop act tribute forum...

Keith Iddon ● 5301d

I know Vanessa,humour is sometimes hard to express in writing without making it bleedin'obvious with a smiley.My reply to was a tongue in cheek job.Believe me,I am in no position to bandy round the accusation'elderly'at anyone,what with creeping orifice (I mean ear and nose!)hair and my joints cracking that much it sounds like a round of applause when I get up in a morning.I'm not as touchy as some people think!

Keith Iddon ● 5301d

Keith darling, I wasn't having a go - honest! I thought you had a sense of humour. I hate to break this to you but I ain't no spring chicken, although would do serious damage to someone who referred to me as 'elderly', you have been warned. I have to say Charlie has really gone up in my estimation with his work of the Prince's Trust - the government could well look at what he's doing and take note!

Vanessa Smith ● 5301d

We love the Queen, she does a fine job, we do tend to forget how very old she is, many a youngster could not keep up with her. A chat with her would last a lifetime.

Dawn Hardy ● 5301d

And a consolation Jim,they look great in my living room,and how can you 'stand aside'when you're second in a queue?;-)You're right Vanessa,though about as subtle as an air raid,but I just get a bit racked off with the useless royals and all that goes with them.There seems to be no meritocracy at work,only privilege.They need to earn respect,not be born to it.I have time for the Queen,Charlie boy to a point and have a grudging respect for Zorba(!)as he speaks his mind,doesn't give a stuff for the harrumphing of the press and has a sense of humour,however bizarre.He could,thinking about it,be the grandfather of punk!

Keith Iddon ● 5302d

"Blimey Keith - what a miserable sod you are" Can't disagree with Vanessa ...on this particular thread anyway! ;0)Remember, only last week Keith....I stood aside when we were both chasing that buck-shee shelving on the Chiswick Forum... and now you clobber Her Majesty and the Duke..both of whom I have great respect..(and Charlie boy for that matter).Sue enquired about Brentfordians living in Melbourne. Wasn't Vic Mullins living in Melbourne..from where he used to regularly post some years back?  Neil is in Sydney and there used to be a Mike Giddings who posted from Oz too.God save the Queen.

Jim Lawes ● 5302d

Bit tough on Dawn,but go for it.

Tony Wood ● 5302d

What a cavalier thing to say!

Keith Iddon ● 5302d

Anti Royalist should be tried for treason and shot at dawn

Paul Allen ● 5302d

Vanessa,I know the royal family are not the real bogey men,after all it wasn't them that stuffed our country up,but I wonder where the endorsement of their birth right to privilege sits with your'socialist'credentials,such as they appear to be.Are you a fan of William Blake?"Some are born to sweet delight and some are born to endless night"

Keith Iddon ● 5302d

Thanks for your kind endorsement Vanessa.I'll do the same for you on one of your threads.You should try talking to a few older people on a regular basis,as I do , about going into hospital and what an unpleasant experience it is for them.

Keith Iddon ● 5302d

Blimey Keith - what a miserable sod you are, our NHS really isn't what you are painting. It is for the most part excellent, that's not to say there are parts that would stand some dramatic improvement. Although given the current coalition that's not likely, quite the reverse. You obviously are not a fan of our Royal family, but how many people given their ages could undertake these tours? The flight alone is a killer, even royals get jet lag.

Vanessa Smith ● 5302d

"You really have to admire them for still doing this kind of thing.Thankfully they both seem in good health"Well,Sue.Don't you think it's the absolute least they could do,seeing as how they have had the best of everything all of their lives,provided for them by the British people.?Half of them are useless articles.Prince Edward for one would struggle to tie his shoelaces on his own in the real world imo.The least they could do is to visit the 'colonies'and shake a few hands.If they had to travel economy class I wonder how often they would bother.As for the good health,if they had to endure the NHS as older people,I wonder if they would receive the basics of enough food and water and not have to spend all night on a trolley waiting for a bed, and whether they would be in such good health.They expect us to be humble before them,it should be t'other way round.

Keith Iddon ● 5303d