Kingeroos and Royal Regimental Goats
Animals and Royalty. My readers, they know me well.
From airconditioning-deprived Floridian HalfEmpty:
DNA India - British army’s regimental goat demoted
William (Billy) Windsor, regimental goat of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, has been demoted for refusing to keep in step at a parade for Queen Elizabeth II’s 80th birthday, officers said on Saturday.
The 1st Battalion lance corporal’s lack of decorum landed him in hot water during the bash at Episkopi British military base outside the southern resort of Limassol in Cyprus.
“He was charged with disobeying a direct order… the commanding officer had no other option but to reduce his rank to fusilier,” Captain Crispin Coates said.
The goat was marched before the CO after being reported for ‘unacceptable behaviour’ by his handler, also known as the goat major. …
Goats are not mascots but very much members of the regiment. They have their own serial numbers, and march at the head of the battalion. The origin of the custom is unknown but is thought to go back centuries. …
Because he acted the goat, Billy’s drop in rank means fusiliers no longer have to stand to attention when he passes by.
And then from winter-bound New South Welsh Brett McS:
SMH - Mary shows off her ‘little kingaroo’
HE’S [Tasmanian-born] Crown Princess Mary’s bouncing baby boy.
With rosy chubby cheeks and cute potbelly, the robust eight-month-old proved a crowd-pleaser when shown off by his proud parents from the decks of the royal yacht.
Rugged up in a sky-blue knitted jumper, Prince Christian seemed to almost swamp svelte Princess Mary when she held him up for the crowd.
It was one of the young heir’s rare public appearances, made after the royal family arrived in the Danish port city of Ronne last week.
(Is that what you call someone from New South Wales?)
June 25th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
New South Welshman, but I can’t remember the last time I heard that mouthfull. Come to think of it, we don’t have any (polite) forms of address. The Queenslanders call us Mexicans, or Cockroaches; we call them Cane Toads.
June 25th, 2006 at 9:37 pm
Mexicans?
June 26th, 2006 at 1:42 am
South of the border.
June 26th, 2006 at 2:01 am
Queensland, in the heavily populated south east at least, is the most American-influenced area of Australia - it was the region developed most recently, after British ideas, which governed the growth of the other states, had already lost much appeal. I think they therefore see us as slightly backward and old fashioned.
What happened to Half’s air conditioning?
June 26th, 2006 at 2:55 am
“Backward and old-fashioned”? Does that mean Sir Joh Bjelke-Peterson was up with the latest?
If the Gold Coast’s modern, stick with the past, that’s my view.
June 26th, 2006 at 5:33 am
One of the characters in the film Muriel’s Wedding, the mayor of Porpoise Spit (played by the inestimable Bill Hunter) captured the essence of Queensland Modernism in his motto and campaign slogan “You can’t stop progress”. The Gold Coast is the result.
June 26th, 2006 at 9:05 am
What’s wrong with the Gold Coast? From what I’ve seen, it ain’t exactly the Jersey Shore, so, uh, yeah.
June 26th, 2006 at 9:46 am
Dang compressor blowed up good Brett. New one to be installed tomorrow. I’m tempted to say the hell with it and continue living like a savage, but my wife will be back in a week or so. I’m starting to enjoy certain minimalist comforts, like Bush brand Pork & Beans with onion. Easy open, no heating necessary. I’ve used 1 spoon in 5 days.
June 26th, 2006 at 11:36 am
I get Bush brand black beans! (It amuses me to do so here in Seattle, though it must be fairly entertaining to do so in Florida, as well)
I’m against air-conditioners.
June 27th, 2006 at 6:14 am
With fans like these, Bush (any relation?) is clearly a brand with a future. All Half needs is a few gallons of Maker’s Mark and he’d be the full Papa Hemingway. I used to be against air conditioners until one August in Washington DC.
June 27th, 2006 at 7:19 am
I grew up (same bat-town, same bat-neighborhood) without AC, went to grade school without AC. By the time I was 12 we got a huge honker of a window unit (with gawd hep us, a geniune teak front) for of all places the back porch. The porch had ’50s style small jalousie windows which leaked like the Senate. It was heaven. The unit was way, way too large for the poorch and given the leaks what would happen is a room at 64 degrees with 100% humdity. I figure it was like Seattle. Ww loved it.
June 27th, 2006 at 9:25 am
Simple way to check its Seattlean qualities.
My sister got AC for her place in Cincinnati which meant last time we were over we all stayed inside and talked to each other. Not a good idea.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:40 am
There you see, a perfect example. They put air conditioners in DC and now people hang around DC all summer. Including politicians!