A Course in Photography
I saw this board outside Jessops in Islington
Phptography Course Anyone?
I wonder if anybody does a course for Junkberries.
The French Are Coming
Ever since 1066, the French have always been invading these isles. In some ways the only time they have been successful was in that historic first attempt, which put William the Conqueror on the throne.
But now is this, the first of another wave of invaders? I took these pictures by Chapel Market in Islington.
As after all, London is now the city with the sixth largest population of French nationals in the world.
It’s just that I’ve never found any gluten-free crepes in a trailer like this.
An Historical Snippet From Gyles Brandreth
Gyles Brandreth can always be relied upon to add something of note to a discussion. He has just said that the Duke of Edinburgh‘s mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, was at the Diamond Jubilee Thanksgiving of Queen Victoria.
She stayed in Athens during the Second World War, and this snippet, shows an insight into her character.
During the fighting in Athens, to the dismay of the British, she insisted on walking the streets distributing rations to policemen and children in contravention of the curfew order. When told that she might have been shot by a stray bullet, she replied “they tell me that you don’t hear the shot that kills you and in any case I am deaf. So, why worry about that?”
So did the Duke get his forthright character from his mother?
Why Do The French Like the Queen So Much?
According to this article on the BBC web site, the Diamond Jubilee has gone down well with the French.
So why is this? Could it be that she’s probably the only English-speaking leader, who speaks reasonable French in public?
If You Think the Eurozone is the Only Place with Financial Problems, Look at California
This article on the BBC web site, discusses the problems of California. Theirs may not be as large sums, but because of the way their political system works cutting the state’s $16billion deficit is going to be very difficult, due to American’s complete aversion to the raising of taxes.
I wonder how many other states are in a similar states.
Everyone and Everything Is Leaving Me!
Not really, but it sometimes seems so. I now have no mobile phone and won’t probably until I get my Nokia 6310i in a few days. My wife and son have both left me and all I get is a visit from an occasional friend. The radio is just going on and on about the Diamond Jubilee and today’s episode, is not what I’m interested in. The torch relay has stopped for lunch and there is nothing to do this afternoon. My health seems to be going downhill rapidly and it seems that I get tired walking just a hundred yards or so.
At least Suicide is Painless!
But that is not an option, as it’s not painless for those left behind. My other son, who’s working today, by the way, has suffered enough grief in the last five years, and I would never inflict anymore on him, by my own hands.
They’re having a party in the Square, but do they really want me there, as I’m just rather a miserable killjoy at the moment.
My Junkberry Has Now Packed Up Completely
This morning the Junkberry has now given up completely.
When I went to go shopping, I thought I’d give it a go, but it was as dead as the proverbial dodo.
To make things worse, I just got a nuisance timewasting call from a scammer on my land-line. I gave them an alternative number, who will be really pleased to get the timewasters.
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Olympic Torch Relay or Diamond Jubilee Service
I’m very much a supporter of the Queen and the work she does, but I’m watching the Olympic Torch Relay as it passes through Omagh.
I think when we look back on these days in the years to come, the Olympics of 2012 and the associated relay, may be in our memories more than the Diamond Jubilee. After all we’ve seen a lot of Royal ceremonials, but the Torch Relay could turn out to be an important moment, in the restoration of good relations between the UK and especially England and the whole island of Ireland. We may be divided in many ways, but no pessimist could say we’re not joined in our enjoyment of sport.
The Anonymous Widower 