Tuesday 4 August 2015

I love England


Sometimes, I seem to travel the same road many times in the same couple of weeks for different reasons. This time it's the road through Cirencester from Bath and last time it was for Colin. This time it is for a block of carved marble weighing about 4 tons. It's a good job I like that road.

It takes me past a lot of interesting things, one of which is the back lodge to Badminton House - a typically mystical set of pyramids designed by Vanbrugh in the early 18th century. I wouldn't mind living in it.

A few miles of neat dry-stone walling later and you go past Westonbirt Arboretum, best seen in the Autumn, as a load of old people will tell you.

A few miles after that and - as you approach Tetbury - there is the unassuming front gate of the residence of the Prince of Wales, blocked by about 8, filthy, plastic, police bollards. I am always shocked that nobody ever cleans them. They are an eyesore which I cannot believe Charles approves of, but then again he never sees them - a policeman clears them to one side when he arrives or leaves. I think he should be told.

Of late, I have taken to looking in the opposite direction when I go past Highgrove. There is a stunningly beautiful, 17th century, Cotswold farmhouse set back on the other side of the road which hardly anyone ever sees because they are too busy trying to catch a glimpse of the future king.

This house is 100 times better than Highgrove, but has the disadvantage of being quite visible from the road, making it unsuitable for a royal residence.

Charles is constantly plagued by the paparazzi who make use of a public footpath which runs just above his garden, and who regularly congregate there with telephoto lenses.

Every now and then, he snaps and comes storming out of the house to shout and swear at them, rather like his father. The paparazzi enjoy this. As he shouts, "This is a fucking footpath! It is meant for walking on! Get walking!", they smile, make snide comments and - above all - take lots of photos which they will, possibly, one day be permitted to publish.

That is what I absolutely love about England. Even the future king cannot get a footpath moved by applying to the local council.

16 comments:

  1. I believe that Wedgy-Benn did. There was a footpath running between his house and the sea, and he considered the Oiks an eyesore. I believe he won, and they had to make a detour.

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    1. It was the oiks what made him what he was, but I am sure it has been done by more lefties than righties.

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  2. I LOVE England too Tom and couldn't live anywhere else …….. I really hate it when people slag it off !!
    I used to work in Mayfair ….. { NO … not Shepherd's Market ! } and the couple that I worked for lived in Knightsbridge and retired to Didmarton { that's right next to Badminton, isn't it ? } I didn't keep in touch with them but, I think that I ought to visit them in their farmhouse ! Such beautiful properties in and around Bath and The Cotswolds. Our friend's have a cottage just outside Chipping Camden and my cousin lives in Bradford-on-Avon. Don't know why I'm telling you that but it seemed relevant !! I don't know Prince Charles but, his Godmother, Lady Delamere was a patient of ours. That's my Royal claim to fame !! Also, but don't tell anyone, Patrick Litchfield was having an affair with the women in the flat upstairs in Mayfair !!!! I used to see him leaving sometimes, early in the morning !! I should have told the News of the World and made a few bob !! XXXX

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    1. That's WOMAN not WOMEN …… there was only one !! XXXX

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    2. Ok, my lips are sealed - unlike hers.

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  3. Replies
    1. I sort of thought that. I really do love England, btw.

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  4. I love England because there's all people like us who live there.

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  5. I think of my sister-in-law who says "I am not a royalist, and don't bother about therm." I doubt she would give a moment's thought to Charles' dilemma. But she thinks the royal grandbabies are as cute as her own, and that is what I love about England.

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    1. Yes, us English can hate children like the best, but not many can afford nannies, let alone public (private) schools.

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    2. I hope this isn't a reference to Wedgy-Benn having been educated at Westminster (and Oxford). He tried to hush this up, and I think his wishes should be respected.

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    3. To be fair, he would not have been so stupid as to try and hush it up. He just turned his back on it - along with the title. He never pretended to be working class, but he always adhered to the traditional notion that the ruling classes knew what was best for them, though.

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  6. Replies
    1. So do I, but I was specifically talking about England with this.

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    2. Remind John Gray while you're about it, please.

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