Day Off

Today is a Public Holiday in the United Kingdom. A special extra day in order to celebrate His Majesty's coronation this past weekend.

Republicans and other Anti-monarchists are invited to go to work as usual.

Fly Over

From the official Royal Family Insta account, a marvellous image from yesterday. 

The King and Queen appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to greet thousands of well wishers (who had braved the rain) and to see the Red Arrows pay tribute as only they can.

Coronation

 God save the King and Queen.

Papers Please!

We'll leave the necessity to carry ID papers, at all times, to certain European countries...

Today England (except London) has gone to the Polls. Elections are being held for our local councils and for the first time, proof of identity is required. Until now voters could simply use their Polling card. Now photo ID is also necessary, such as driving licence or passport. 

This is apparently to combat fraudulent voting, although at the last General Election there were only six known instances of such activity. Naturally there's been quite a push back against this move, with claims many without suitable ID will be denied their democratic right. Suitable proofs have been available from local councils, free of charge, for months and have been well advertised.

If you need proof of ID in order to rent property, open a bank account or to do many other activities, why is it unreasonable to ask the same when voting for those who will be responsible for spending our taxed income?

Oh, and happy Star Wars Day LOL!

Royal Gloves

Technically not royal but definitely Union Flag oven gloves. How could I resist LOL?

Coronation Coin

The Royal Mint have released a small range of coins to mark the coronation of King Charles III. I chose to treat myself to an un-circulated £5 coin, incidentally about the most affordable* item. Here it is in all it's glory, delivered just a week before the big day. Enjoy.

*cheapest LOL.

World Penguin Day

Penguin's are cool LOL.

Be Alert

 ...because Britain needs Lerts LOL.

Seriously, this afternoon the government trialed the new national alert system, rather like the systems other countries have used for a number of years to warn of serious risk to life etc.

This was designed to simultaneously go to every 4G and 5G mobile (cell) phone in the country at 3PM. Meant being the appropriate word. Some received the message early, others late, whilst some not at all. Whoops! One of our major network operators has already announced an investigation will be launched.

Time will tell if the government are content with the outcome today. Hopefully it will not be necessary to use this system for anything other than a test.

Saint George

England's patron saint: a foreigner who never set foot in the country. Next we'll be told he didn't actually kill a dragon! Well what exactly did he do LOL?

Whoever he was, and whatever he did, we can still as a nation be proud. Happy St George's Day!

Good Friday Belatedly

I'm celebrating Good Friday and Easter in general, today, having spent the official day in the smallest room of the house. The rest of last weekend I sure wasn't interested in food. So I have hot cross buns and if I really want to, the supermarkets have stacks of chocolate eggs they are now selling at a considerable discount LOL.

In Space...

 ... noone can hear you chomp on those choccy eggs LOL. Not that I feel up to eating any.

Keo

With overnight Spring temperatures dropping well below -3 degrees Celsius, what could be better than a taste of Cypriot sunshine..?