Several other good things came out of this too, I received invitations from Yahoo! UK Media Relations and CNN iReport to upload my photos to their album and website respectively. They're both open forums, and anyone can post, still it was jolly nice to get a personal message from their representatives. I'd also had interest from a news agency (the kind that sells photos and stories to newspapers, not the kind that sells newpapers and convenience food) about the possibility of working on a longer term project, so it's been an exciting and busy time for me.
But I've wondered recently if it's generally uncool to admit that you're excited about the royal wedding, 'cos the only people I could find to watch it with were an old-school Briton and Canadian who liked a good ol' reminisce about Royal Britannia, which helps to kindle your excitement a bit.
Someone I know just said 'Who gives a s**t about the royal wedding!' Yup, it's a '!', no '?' The bomb drops and obliterates all conversation. Recent history has taught us never to interfere with extremists and their views on anything, no matter how well-founded the roots of those views might be, and how well-intentioned the interference. Right? That's until a brave soul tries to pick up the pieces and practically whispers...so, uh, anyone up for nipping down the pub later? Ah yes, when in doubt, let's turn to a good old-fashioned pint! It numbs the blow, and prevents you having to grasp at straws when the barman throws a lemon in your gin & tonic.
Here's a little thought on the side: Isn't it an awfully strange coincidence the news that Osama has bin laden to rest comes immediately after the Dude and Duchess of Cambridge request privacy, having helicoptered off to their lives as normal people yadda yadda, and media interest dies down? I just hope that the rest of us will also enjoy peace after this.
One of the things I cherish most about living in Britain is that it's taught me the value of agreeing to disagree. I welcome all perspectives and hope I've been successful in keeping an open mind generally. Therefore, it irked me to be told that no one (myself included, presumably) gives a s**t about national events that happen once every few decades. Cynics are entitled to their view, of course, but I sometimes can't help but feel that the Malvolios out there claim a certain moral and intellectual high ground by objecting to all this. We're not so easily manipulated, stop spending all our money on this nonsense, you can't make us forget job cuts by throwing one feel-good party...what do you take us for, idiots? seem to resonate amongst RW protesters.
Personally, if what I've seen on evenings out at the weekends is anything to go by, folks have little trouble spending their own money anyway. Plenty of funds are spent on security at public events *ahem football matches*, emergency services for accidents *drunks cough cough* and healthcare for everyone (yes, whether you smoke like a chimney, drink like a fish or are a careerwoman who's discovered, aged 40, that you can't conceive naturally).
I was heartened to discover afterwards that many people I know had been curled up in front of the telly on the 29th, even if they chose to reserve comment on it. See, cynics, how you have driven the rest of us to obscurity? Actually I thought the RW was a splendid occasion, and rather excellent value, considering we just had to pick up the tab for public safety. It's all about personal choice, at the end of the day...which is what my adopted country is all about. So I'm really glad I decided to reject all the cynicism and enjoy the royal wedding.
What can I say?
I like G&T, I always ask for lemon in it, I also like girls in dresses, men in uniform AND I'd rather feel good than be left out of the party.
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| Some things just have to be done. |
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| Will & Kate too, preferred to watch the wedding in private. |
Congratulations Will & Kate, thanks for letting us in on your wedding and I wish you a happy life together!
