The Queen.

[HerlockSholmes]

Her Majesty had a mention in another thread so I thought that I’d just list a few examples of the strange world of the Queen.

.......

The house where the Queen was born is now an upmarket Cantonese restaurant.

She became a house owner at the age of 6 when the people of Wales gave her a house in the grounds of Royal Windsor Lodge.

She is the only person in the U.K. who is not required to own a driver’s  license.

She is not allowed to enter the House Of Commons (where Parliament sits)

She’d had 14 Prime Ministers during her reign. From Churchill to Johnson. And 13 US Presidents.

For the first 10 years of her life she was a fairly minor Royal (similar to Princess Beatrice) until her Grandfather died.

Her family nickname ‘Lilibet’ was given to her by her sister Margaret.

The Queen and Prince Phillip shared the same great great Grandparents (Victoria and Albert) and so were 3rd cousins.

Her ‘official’ surname is Windsor-Mountbatten.

She doesn't need a passport to travel.

All whales, dolphins and swans around the UK belong to her.

She has an apartment in New York.

It’s said that she uses her bag as a signal to her staff. If she puts it on a table it means she wants to leave within 5 minutes. If she puts it on the floor it means that she wants to be ‘rescued’ from the conversation.

She’s sat for 129 portraits during her reign.

She’s woken every morning by a Bagpiper who has the title ‘Bagpiper To The Sovereign.’

Its always been a rule that no one but a fellow Royal is allowed to touch the Monarch though it’s pretty much ignored these days.

If you are dining with the Queen and she stops eating then everyone else stops too.

The Crown Estates are worth around £14,000,000,000. 

80% of people alive in the U.K. weren’t born when she became Queen (myself included)

Her personal wealth is around £340,000,000 but she doesn’t make the top 300 wealthiest in the U.K.

She can trace her family tree back 1400 years.

 

[besleybean]

"Queen and country, how quaint."

[Carol the Dabbler]

16 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

The house where the Queen was born is now an upmarket Cantonese restaurant.

Last time I was in Stratford, Shakespeare's daughter's house was a Wimpy's hamburger joint.

16 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

She is the only person in the U.K. who is not required to own a driver’s  license.

I guess this reflects rather literally the term "king's [or queen's] highway."  If you own the road, you don't need permission to use it!

Aside: Do you mean "in order to drive legally" -- or are all Brits required to have a license, whether they drive or not?

16 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

For the first 10 years of her life she was a fairly minor Royal (similar to Princess Beatrice) until her Grandfather died.

... and then her uncle abdicated.

16 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

She doesn't need a passport to travel.

I'm gonna guess she has her own airplane, and therefore doesn't need to clear airport security?

16 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

She’s woken every morning by a Bagpiper who has the title ‘Bagpiper To The Sovereign.’

Any idea what tune(s) s/he plays?

16 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

Its always been a rule that no one but a fellow Royal is allowed to touch the Monarch though it’s pretty much ignored these days.

So it would appear [click to enlarge]:

16 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

If you are dining with the Queen and she stops eating then everyone else stops too.

Remind me to eat *before* I go to the Palace for dinner.  I'm such a slow eater that I'd starve otherwise!

 

[HerlockSholmes]

3 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

I guess this reflects rather literally the term "king's [or queen's] highway."  If you own the road, you don't need permission to use it!

Aside: Do you mean "in order to drive legally" -- or are all Brits required to have a license, whether they drive or not?

No Carol, we only need a license to drive.

3 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

I'm gonna guess she has her own airplane, and therefore doesn't need to clear airport security?

It’s something to do with the fact that all passports are issued ‘in the name of Her Majesty’ so she doesn’t need one. Every other Royal has one though.

[HerlockSholmes]

Quote

4 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

Any idea what tune(s) s/he plays?

 

Maybe a bit of Led Zeppelin😃

Apparently The Queen doesn't like hearing the same tune over and over (she must tire of hearing the National Anthem🙂) so he plays a variation of tunes.

 I originally thought that the Piper was only at Balmoral but he apparently goes wherever she is except for Sandringham (as there’s no accommodation) It only has a paltry 775 rooms after all (including 188 staff bedrooms) 

The current incumbent is Pipe Major David Rodgers of the Irish Guard. He basically plays whenever she asks him to. He plays under her window at 9.00am for 15 minutes every day. He also pipes guests in and out at State Functions. The Queen has had a Piper since 1843 when Queen Victoria found out that the Marquess Of Breadalbane had her own. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

14 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

Apparently The Queen doesn't like hearing the same tune over and over (she must tire of hearing the National Anthem🙂) so he plays a variation of tunes.

I can imagine she'd prefer that.

Funny thing, I had assumed that pretty much the only things played on bagpipes were Scottish type tunes.  But the last time we were in Chester, there was a piper playing -- apparently for the tourists -- mostly traditional American songs.  Wish I'd made a list so I could give you some examples.  It was kinda surrealistic.  And probably not typical!

 

 

[HerlockSholmes]

10 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

I can imagine she'd prefer that.

Funny thing, I had assumed that pretty much the only things played on bagpipes were Scottish type tunes.  But the last time we were in Chester, there was a piper playing -- apparently for the tourists -- mostly traditional American songs.  Wish I'd made a list so I could give you some examples.  It was kinda surrealistic.  And probably not typical!

 

 

I now have a vision of the Queen waking to up the sounds of a bagpiper playing Love In An Elevator by Aerosmith or Detroit Rock City by Kiss.😃

[HerlockSholmes]

Two questions for Mods. I see that Arcadia is logged in.

How long have I been a Consulting Detective?

What does the +1.007 mean?

[Arcadia]

Hi Herlock! I believe the 1,007 has something to do with the number of likes you've received, and I'll have to look up the other one. Just wanted you to know I'm not ignoring you. Back soon.

ETA: Okay, the 1,007 is the number of responses you've received overall, not just "likes". (1010, now. :smile:)

Alas, I cannot find the answer to your second question. I'm pretty sure it has to do with the number of posts you've made, but I can't find anything that says "when" your rank changed. If I had to guess, I'd guess it's when you made your 1500th post. I suspect The Dabbler will know for sure.

[HerlockSholmes]

3 hours ago, Arcadia said:

Hi Herlock! I believe the 1,007 has something to do with the number of likes you've received, and I'll have to look up the other one. Just wanted you to know I'm not ignoring you. Back soon.

ETA: Okay, the 1,007 is the number of responses you've received overall, not just "likes". (1010, now. :smile:)

Alas, I cannot find the answer to your second question. I'm pretty sure it has to do with the number of posts you've made, but I can't find anything that says "when" your rank changed. If I had to guess, I'd guess it's when you made your 1500th post. I suspect The Dabbler will know for sure.

Thanks Arcadia. I think that you’re right that a promotion is due after 1500 posts I just can’t remember what I was before Consulting Detwctive. It’s not important though, I was just curious.👍

[Carol the Dabbler]

OK, there's a whole list around here somewhere.  *goes to look for it*

Here's what Tim (AKA Undead Medic, one of our Admins) posted a while back:

On 1/3/2013 at 5:55 AM, Undead Medic said:

The ranks as they currently stand are:

• Trainee Detective Constable 0
• Detective Constable 10
• Detective Sergeant 30
• Detective Inspector 50
• Detective Chief Inspector 100
• Detective Superintendent 200
• Detective Chief Superintendent 500
• Consulting Detective 1500

There is now also an option to choose one's own "rank," which kicks in at 5,000 posts.  It's accessed via editing your profile (once you've reached 5,000).

 

[HerlockSholmes]

1 hour ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

OK, there's a whole list around here somewhere.  *goes to look for it*

Here's what Tim (AKA Undead Medic, one of our Admins) posted a while back:

There is now also an option to choose one's own "rank," which kicks in at 5,000 posts.  It's accessed via editing your profile (once you've reached 5,000).

 

Thanks Carol. When I get to 5000 posts I might become Grand Emperor Of The Known Universe 😄

[Arcadia]

3 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

Thanks Carol. When I get to 5000 posts I might become Grand Emperor Of The Known Universe 😄

In which case I shall beseech you to restore my memory to pre-Covid levels. I knew I'd seen that information somewhere, but had no memory of where to look for it!

[Carol the Dabbler]

I simply used the forum's Advanced Search to look for posts by Tim that included the phrase "Consulting Detective."  There were only three, and that was the most recent one.

Now maybe someone can tell me how to get into edit mode with my profile.  Seems to me there used to be a button on my profile page?

 

[HerlockSholmes]

9 hours ago, Arcadia said:

In which case I shall beseech you to restore my memory to pre-Covid levels. I knew I'd seen that information somewhere, but had no memory of where to look for it!

I certainly will Arcadia. I think that it will be a popular request.👍

[Hikari]

I have not seen this posted yet but here seems to be the appropriate place.

All best wishes and prayers to Her Majesty, the Royal family, the UK and the Commonwealth on the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.  This week just past has been a pretty mournful one for me ever since I heard of his passing on 9 April.  Elizabeth and her consort have been, like the stars, two fixed points for all of us who do not know a world where she hasn't been the Queen, with him two steps behind.  With the passing of 'The Iron Duke', reminders of our own mortality are inevitable.   I watched the supremely moving funeral on Saturday, and it lost no power despite having to be stripped down due to Covid.  The Queen looked very tiny and frail as she sat alone in the quire.  The seat beside her, normally filled by her husband was poignantly empty.  The Queen is a very strong lady, and I fully expect her to be here next year for her Diamond Jubilee (?) and her 100th birthday, but it cannot be too much longer now before London Bridge follows the Bridge of Forth and goes down.

If you missed the service, the whole thing is available on YouTube.  I recommend the BBC coverage.  

There are any number of documentaries also available about Philip and his extraordinary life.  Like  his predecessor, Prince Albert, he truly was a Renaissance man.  It is easy to see why the Queen fell for him at the age of 13 and never looked at anyone else.

[Hikari]

On 4/18/2021 at 6:19 AM, HerlockSholmes said:

Two questions for Mods. I see that Arcadia is logged in.

How long have I been a Consulting Detective?

What does the +1.007 mean?

Look at you!  Congratulations!  I have 125 posts to go, evidently.  At my current rate, that is going to take me 5 years.  You seem to have been super busy while I've been absent.

The other night, I dug out my Sherlock 2 set and went 'round the dance floor again with A Scandal in Belgravia.  We are approaching 5 years since the last episode aired.  I think back to this time 10 years ago, when we here Stateside had just discovered 'the best thing on television' .  The following summer, 2012, was probably the height of my Sherlock addiction.  I consumed fan vids on YouTube like a madwoman and ventured into the . . .stimulating . . world of fan fiction.  That was the high water mark.  Having watched all the episodes many, many times, and able to quote blocks of the script verbatim, I find that all these years on,  I may have overdosed on Sherlock to the point where it's become rote rather than enjoyable.  I truly envy everyone who is just discovering this show, or who are still delighted by repeat viewings.  I will hang onto my DVDs and perhaps share them with a newbie in the future--that would be the portal to rediscovering what was so captivating about this show in the first place.  Right now, I am not feeling it any more.  I need a new drug.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I think your dates are slightly off, but I certainly understand your feelings at this point!

Near as I recall, the episodes to date aired in the following months:

Series 1:  UK July 2010, US October 2010

Series 2:  UK Jan. 2012, US May 2012

Series 3:  UK Jan 2014, US Feb 2014

Abominable Bride:  UK and US Jan 2016

Series4:  UK and US Jan 2017

If/when there's a fifth series, I'll watch, obviously!  But I'll be a bit leery of Episode 3.

 

[HerlockSholmes]

16 hours ago, Hikari said:

Look at you!  Congratulations!  I have 125 posts to go, evidently.  At my current rate, that is going to take me 5 years.  You seem to have been super busy while I've been absent.

The other night, I dug out my Sherlock 2 set and went 'round the dance floor again with A Scandal in Belgravia.  We are approaching 5 years since the last episode aired.  I think back to this time 10 years ago, when we here Stateside had just discovered 'the best thing on television' .  The following summer, 2012, was probably the height of my Sherlock addiction.  I consumed fan vids on YouTube like a madwoman and ventured into the . . .stimulating . . world of fan fiction.  That was the high water mark.  Having watched all the episodes many, many times, and able to quote blocks of the script verbatim, I find that all these years on,  I may have overdosed on Sherlock to the point where it's become rote rather than enjoyable.  I truly envy everyone who is just discovering this show, or who are still delighted by repeat viewings.  I will hang onto my DVDs and perhaps share them with a newbie in the future--that would be the portal to rediscovering what was so captivating about this show in the first place.  Right now, I am not feeling it any more.  I need a new drug.

Hi Hikari,

Ive been a member here for around 4 months less than I’ve been a member of Casebook (the JTR site) and I’m approaching 9000 posts on there. This is because on Casebook various topics and arguments/debates can drag on forever whereas this Forum is more chilled and lacking in confrontation. This is a comfortable sitting room for discussion as opposed to a bear pit.🙂

Its been a while since I’ve watched anything Holmes or Sherlock apart from my rewatch of A Study In Pink to see how many references to The Canon that I could spot. I do intend to have a look at episode 2 over the next few days. That said, my ‘drug’ has been House over the last few weeks but I’ve now watched it all so I don’t know what comes next? A new series of Sherlock doesn’t even appear to be approaching the horizon and I don’t have Netflix to watch The Irregulars (which I must say that I don’t like the look of.) There’s also Enola Holmes which I also haven’t seen. I stumbled on a short Russian Holmes story on Amazon Prime but it was one of the worst things that I’ve ever seen. Holmes and Watson were both stocky bearded men with ponytails and the acting was so wooden that the script must have been written by a carpenter. I got the impression though that the actors were reading and speaking a language (English) that they didn’t understand which might at least account for how wooden the performance was. I was hoping that I’d discovered a hidden gem......no.

Reading is my only Holmes link. Recently I read one of David Marcum’s volumes plus Alex Prior’s excellent collection plus I now have Lindsay Faye’s The Whole Art Of Detection. I’ve read the first 2 stories which are very good (as expected after Dust And Shadows.) Ive also read the latest Rathbone biography, a brilliant illustrated book on Brett’s career and a new book on Doyle and the Edalji case which I can highly recommend. 

The Holmes/Sherlock absence looks likely to persist for some time but I have no suggestion on a new ‘drug’ I’m afraid. My brother recommended a series called Stranger Things but I haven’t checked it out yet. Has anyone seen it? It’s apparently a fantasy. He recommended it after I told him that I’d been watching the excellent Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.

[HerlockSholmes]

On 4/18/2021 at 7:41 PM, Carol the Dabbler said:

OK, there's a whole list around here somewhere.  *goes to look for it*

Here's what Tim (AKA Undead Medic, one of our Admins) posted a while back:

There is now also an option to choose one's own "rank," which kicks in at 5,000 posts.  It's accessed via editing your profile (once you've reached 5,000).

 

To get my next promotion Carol could...

[HerlockSholmes]

I...

[HerlockSholmes]

do....

[HerlockSholmes]

this? 😃

[Arcadia]

Since that was addressed specifically to Carol, I shall be a big hairy chicken and leave it to her to deal with.

 

On 4/19/2021 at 11:34 AM, Hikari said:

The other night, I dug out my Sherlock 2 set and went 'round the dance floor again with A Scandal in Belgravia.  We are approaching 5 years since the last episode aired.  I think back to this time 10 years ago, when we here Stateside had just discovered 'the best thing on television' .  The following summer, 2012, was probably the height of my Sherlock addiction.  I consumed fan vids on YouTube like a madwoman and ventured into the . . .stimulating . . world of fan fiction.  That was the high water mark.  Having watched all the episodes many, many times, and able to quote blocks of the script verbatim, I find that all these years on,  I may have overdosed on Sherlock to the point where it's become rote rather than enjoyable.  

 

8 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

Its been a while since I’ve watched anything Holmes or Sherlock apart from my rewatch of A Study In Pink to see how many references to The Canon that I could spot. I do intend to have a look at episode 2 over the next few days. That said, my ‘drug’ has been House over the last few weeks but I’ve now watched it all so I don’t know what comes next?

You two have made me glad I never really "binge watched" Sherlock ... not that I didn't intend to a couple of times, I just never could put enough days in a row  to pull it off. But now you've made me more curious than ever to discover how I would react to this show all these years later. Lessee ... first I have to finish that, and that, and get ready for that, and do that over there, and follow up on that.... okay, I'll get back to you with my response in about 5-10 years...............  

[HerlockSholmes]

Never enough hours in the day Arcadia🙂