Discussion on British culture - our favourite British stuff!

[DeterminedJuliet]

My husband and I are going to Ottawa's comiccon and will be seeing Sir Patrick Stewart! Squeeeeeee!!!

[Sandra Craft]

My husband and I are going to Ottawa's comiccon and will be seeing Sir Patrick Stewart! Squeeeeeee!!!

There will be pictures later, yes?

[Sweetdeath]

My husband and I are going to Ottawa's comiccon and will be seeing Sir Patrick Stewart! Squeeeeeee!!!

You are the luckiest person on the planet ;__;~~!!!

[The Magic Pudding]

My husband and I are going to Ottawa's comiccon and will be seeing Sir Patrick Stewart! Squeeeeeee!!!

Don't let Scissorlegs near him.

Squeeeeeee!!!    is that good? I'm picking up intense enjoyment and the sublimation, ah whatever, just don't mention the hair that isn't there.  The cruel dehumanising Borg possession is safer territory.

[DeterminedJuliet]

My husband and I are going to Ottawa's comiccon and will be seeing Sir Patrick Stewart! Squeeeeeee!!!

There will be pictures later, yes?

I hope so! My husband collects Star Trek cards (yes, we're huge dorks) and he's hoping to get one his Jean Luc Picard cards signed.

Pudding, this may help you:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=squee

[Firebird]

My husband and I are going to Ottawa's comiccon and will be seeing Sir Patrick Stewart! Squeeeeeee!!!

There will be pictures later, yes?

I hope so! My husband collects Star Trek cards (yes, we're huge dorks) and he's hoping to get one his Jean Luc Picard cards signed.

Pudding, this may help you:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=squee

I saw Sir Patrick on stage in New York many years ago. He did "A Christmas Carol" all by himself; no other actors, very few props (a table and chairs) and some simple lighting effects. Just him playing every single character. One of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

[DeterminedJuliet]

That. is. so. cool.

When I posted on Facebook about going, one of my friends posted this scene from "Extras". I saw it ages ago, but it still makes me laugh every time.

[Tank]

Saw Patrick at the Yorkshire Playhouse in Johnson over Jordan he just commanded the stage.

[Tank]

Prince Harry in Brazil: I can't find love, says royal

I'm not a Royalist but I've warmed to Harry over the last few years. When Diana died she willed all her wealth to Harry and none to William as she knew that William would always have an income through his position and what he would inherit through his father. Even though Harry is independently wealthy he's no slouch when getting out and doing what's needed. He did a stint in Afghanistan, which was cut short by a moron reporter, and is now a gunner in an Apache AH64-D so will be doing another tour at some point.

I we're really lucky Charles will die peacefully in his bed from a heart attack before his mum and we'll get William as the next King.

[Crow]

I we're really lucky Charles will die peacefully in his bed from a heart attack before his mum and we'll get William as the next King.

Treason! 

I agree.

[OldGit]

Me,too!

Perhaps he'll disrobe Camilla without turning the light off.  That should provoke a heart attack.

[Ali]

Honest question about the whole Camilla/Charles thing. 

I assume that there was some reason (maybe she wasn't royal enough or something) why Charles didn't just marry Camilla in the first place.  So why, after going through the whole Diana charade, is Camilla allowed to be his companion or whatever she is now?

[Too Few Lions]

Honest question about the whole Camilla/Charles thing. 

I assume that there was some reason (maybe she wasn't royal enough or something) why Charles didn't just marry Camilla in the first place.  So why, after going through the whole Diana charade, is Camilla allowed to be his companion or whatever she is now?

??? because he's allowed to be happy in a relationship with who he wants to be with, just like the rest of us. I must be in the minority of Brits here but I prefer Charles to prince William, but I'm also a republican (in the true sense of the word) so I'd get rid of the lot of them anyway.

Speaking of Patrick Stewart, I watched a film from the late 70s with him in a few months back and he had a really bad Bobby Charlton style combover back then, he looked hilarious.

[Siz]

Honest question about the whole Camilla/Charles thing. 

I assume that there was some reason (maybe she wasn't royal enough or something) why Charles didn't just marry Camilla in the first place.  So why, after going through the whole Diana charade, is Camilla allowed to be his companion or whatever she is now?

??? because he's allowed to be happy in a relationship with who he wants to be with, just like the rest of us. I must be in the minority of Brits here but I prefer Charles to prince William, but I'm also a republican (in the true sense of the word) so I'd get rid of the lot of them anyway.

Camilla and Charles had an early brief 'encounter' before he was encouraged away from Camillla by the establishment - she wasn't a suitable wife-of-a-King. Charles was young and naive, but in love with Camilla. She knew the establishment would never allow her into the circle (and neither did she particularly want to be part of it) so she went off and married Andrew Parker-Bowles - then divorced in 1995.
Meanwhile Charles and Diana - both socially awkward and emotionally repressed - agreed to enter into an establishment-sanctioned marriage. They both needed emotional nurturing which neither could provide. Of course the marriage was a farce.

After Diana died they had to wait a 'respectable' while before it was deemed acceptable for him to remarry - especially to the person he had loved throughout his marriage to Diana. By this time, he'd also developed a thick enough skin (and sufficient backbone) to go against the advice of their PR team.

I think Charles is an awkward, unimaginative, spineless, out-of-touch, emotionally retarded buffoon. (Of course I don't know him personally!). What a travesty to allow him to 'rule' this country. If he knows what's good for the future of the royal family he'll find a way to pass the baton. Otherwise, I suspect they will lose the fragile support they currently enjoy.

William, on the other hand, seems to have a handle on reality - at least he knows how to enjoy himself and talk like he's in touch with the human condition.

I personally hold no support for the royal family beyond their benefit to tourism in this country. They're just people - with issues and duties and money and a pomp above healthy levels. There's a reason they lost respect and power to the 'commons' through the 18th century...

...in case you were interested in my opinionated commentary...

[Ali]

Thanks Scissorlegs.  That helps.

Lions, I wasn't trying to imply that I think that Charles shouldn't have a happy relationship.  I just always thought that the story went something like "Charles fell in love with Camilla but wasn't allowed to marry her, so he married someone else."  That's why I was confused that he is allowed to now; like, did they change the rule or something?  Why now but not then?  Why couldn't he have been with the person he really wanted all along?

Keep in mind that most of my impressions about the rules surrounding royal marriages come from fairy tales and children's movies.  In my mind, it usually goes something like this:

(Prince Humpty-Hump and Serving Wench Doodah run into the throne room holding hands.)
Prince Humpty-Hump:  Mother, Father, Serving Wench Doodah and I are deeply in love and we wish to be married immediately.
King Thingamajig: Humpty-Hump, you're a prince.  It's your royal duty to marry a princess.  This has always been our law.
Prince Humpty-Hump:  But I love her!  I'll give up my throne if I have to, but I will marry Doodah!
King Thingamajig: Now you see here-
Queen Whatsherface: Thingamajig, you're the king.  You can change the law!
King Thingamajig:  I can?  I mean, yes, I can!  I'm the King!  And as the King, by royal decree, I say that the Prince can marry whoever he wants!
(Much cheering and clapping and dancing by anthropormophized mice and pumpkins)