Who would want to be Queen?

Hi,

I am British, and this means that I nominally pledge allegiance to the Queen.

Even though I have been a Republican since I was old enough to think, the actual idea of a politician as the person I pledge allegiance to fills me with the heeby-jeebies.

I mean, the Americans pledge to the flag, and the constitution (although some right wing types have a problem understanding that), and the Irish elect a really nice looking lady between 35-50, which I am all in favour of, but we would get President Thatcher!!.

So we have the Queen, and her job is to embody Britain, hence the slightly constipated look, the silly hats and the kids you would want to give a good slap to.

All you need is the youngest to be caught drunk and disorderly insulting a waiter... oh yeah.

They really are British.

Anyway, earlier last week Sir Edmond Hilliary died. He is the fella who climbed Everest, and was a really good fella apparently, never knew him, never will now.

Over in NZ he is an icon, and would more than likely have been President if such a post was open (now it would be Colin Meads or Buck Shellford, but I digress).

His funeral is on Tuesday, and the Queen will not be coming. This has caused a row over here as "her next official engagement isn't until Thursday" and therefore "she should be here"

Well, let me see, its a 2 day flight to NZ, and 2 days back. Do these people think that such a journey is easy? I have done it, and it wrecks you for a week afterwards. I was 36 when I travelled, and the Queen is considerably older than I, and a round trip to NZ might wreck the old girl.

What did he do anyway? No ones life was saved, no one got richer, the world wasn't treated to a new and amazing scientific discovery. A couple of guys climber higher than anyone else. Well Done, but "?"

This is also indicative of the funny attitude NZ has to the world. It may shock everyone, but no one cares about NZ, which is why I am here. It is not on the Radar of British consciousness. The last time there was a news story shown in the UK about NZ that wasn't connected to Rugby was when they found a really woolly sheep, and that was a really slow news day.

NZ is a backwater, which is the highest recommendation I can give it. This place is a paradise, and no one else cares about it.

Lovely.

But because a lady in a nice hat wont make a 12000 mile round trip in 4 days to see a bloke who liked climbing to places where no one will ever build a bar, they want to lynch her, and become a Republic!

Carry on, I say, But don't come crying to me when we get President Clark!

Why Dictators Go Mad

Hi,
THis last year has been one of the most satisfying in my career. For those who don't know, I am a Radiographer, we are the guys and girls that make the pretty pictures so the nice people in blue pajamas can fix you, and stop you dying. Scans, x-rays and stuff.
Well, this last year has seen me go from shop floor to acting up in charge.This has been nice, and a long time coming, and I am not complaining, oh no.
But there have been some things I haven't got my head around yet..
Like, why do people think it is acceptable to give me advice, well meaning no doubt, but quite forcefully in the middle of the staffroom, where I can't reply without being unprofessional? .
And why do people ask me a question whilst I am eating? Am I not allowed to eat?
I also can't get used to being observed, every time I do something, all eyes are on me, watching for the signs that I am either a megalomaniac in waiting or am unable to make to jump to charge.
Oh and that's one of the great little pearls of wisdom I have been told, (whilst drinking my tea and trying to have a break from the job) You have to grow into the role of manager, but don't change...
How??? What do they want from me!!!
It's enough to make me scream, honestly! I didn't ask for this, I was asked!
It seems my fellow workers have overnight adopted the get-your-retaliation-in-first attitude, and that they expect me to become this distant dictator figure, someone they can all hate, the enemy.
That hurts, honestly I have always gone out of my way to help anyone I can, and I rarely ask for a favour in return. I though that people might remember who I was, but some haven't it appears.
So now I have experienced this side of them, I don't really know if I would feel comfortable rejoining them as a co worker. Which is really sad, as I like my job.
So if I don't get the permanent charge job, then I will have to think about what I want from my career, and from my working life.
I have learned a lot in the 3 weeks I have been doing this, and once you learn something, you can't really un learn it, can you?
Ah Well...
Be Good, and have a happy New Year