Royal Couple

 
　
Royal Couple

 


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What a gorgeous Day!


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From: denman@infoseek.jp
To: diane705@yahoo.ca
cc: barclay1720@aol.com
Date: Wed., May 7, 2014 3:38 PM
Pacific Daylight Saving Time

Hi Diane,

You're enjoying this sunny day, eh?

I've just finished my lunch at a table in the atrium of Vancouver Public Library and now sitting at one of the computers to write this mail.

Last Monday, I read an intersting article in the "24 hours" community papers.

It reads:

Royal visit pegged at $721Gs


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Charles and Camilla can expect some expensive Canadian hospitality when they visit in May.
The couple will tour Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba May 18-22.

The price to taxpayers for their whirlwind Canadian tour is $721,620---minimum,
according to documents released under federal Access to Information laws.
The cost breakdown doesn't include RCMP or other agents tasked with providing security for the royal couple,
which will increase the total cost to taxpayers considerably.

。。。

Gregory Thomas with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation said that while the monarchy is integral to Canada's culture,
Canadians insist on accountability.
"The Canadian heritage department needs to be accountable and justify these costs and explain why they are reasonable," he said.

Mike Storeshaw, spokesman for the heritage department, said Sunday that
"Canada is always proud to host members of the Royal Family,
and pleased that these visits provide us the opportunity to showcase the best of
what Canada has to offer to the world.
We always ensure that tax dollars are used responsibly in the process."

---

SOURCE: May 5, 2014
http://eedition.vancouver.24hrs.ca/

Personally, I don't like Prince Charles because of his character problem---if not personality disorder.
Most of the Canadians will probably welcome the queen.
How come, however, the Canadians pay for the visit of Charles and Camilla?

Canada has its own financial problem---specifically pension problem!
The federal Conservatives understand the looming shortfalls.
But Harper and Flaherty have calculated that they can dodge and defer
because Canadians remain oblivious to the pension problem.
It’s a matter of life before death.
But pensions aren’t sexy or sensational.

Real pensions---you know, so-called “defined benefit” plans that are professionally managed and properly diversified to pay out the cheques they promised---are close to kaput.
So how come Canada has to pay for Charles and Camilla?

Historically, I suppose, the British monarchy is integral to Canada's culture.
However, I believe Canada, as an independent country, should grow up like the United States of America, which has grown up like an adult since the Independence Day.

Here's another interesting story in today's "24 hours" papers.

Why was teen hired?


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B.C. Education Minister Peter Fassbender has ordered a review after $16,000 was given to a teen student for a study critics have said is "useless."

Anjali Vyas was 18 in 2012 when she was awarded the first of two contracts by superintendent of achievement Rick Davis.


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The contracts were to study teacher education in Finland and present the findings.

Yyas told the "Vancouver Sun" last year that she met Davis at a friend's wedding and they "hit it off."

(Jeez! ...sounds unacceptable! Kato says)

Her final report, the culmination of a year's work, was released today following a freedom of information request from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

Fourteen pages, just two interviews and no reference list.

"It contains nothing new about the Finnish system," said CTF spokesman Jordan Bateman.

---

SOURCE: May 7, 2014
http://eedition.vancouver.24hrs.ca/

Well, well, well, ... I'm kinda mad!
What a big waste of taxpayers' money!
Am I too irascible?

Anyway, at least, we have a nice and gorgeous day to breathe some refreshing air.
So, I've just finished my article.
Please click the following link:

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■"Delusive Romance"

I hope you'll enjoy reading this romantic article.

Your smiling Bohemian, Kato
with a lot of love as always


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So, Kato, you aren't happy with the way our governments are spending money, are you?



You're telling me, Diane. 　

I'm so glad to see you taking such an interest in Canadian politics.

Well ... I must...'cause I'm paying taxes, which are apparently spent foolishly.

Do you really think so?

As I said, Canadians might welcome the queen, but I don't really think the Canadians should pay $721,620 for the visit of Charles and Camilla.

Why not?

First of all, Charles isn't the king. 　And Camilla won't be a queen even if Charles becomes a king.

But he is a member of the Royal Family. 　Besides, my mother is a devoted Royalist as are many of her friends. 　So I've always humoured her by thinking as kindly as I could of the Royal Family.

Yes, yes, yes ... I kinda expected your mother to be a devoted Royalist, but how about you, Diane?

... me? 　Well ... I'm a fan of Prince Charles.

Really? 　What makes you become his fan?

He is the Prince of Wales, you know, and I'm from Welsh stock.

Since you've just mentioned it, I recall that your ancestors came to Canada from Swansea.

How do you know that?

Well... I wrote an article about it 3 years ago.

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Taliesin is a well-known bard in the literature world.



How come I didn't come to know him? 　My father was　a Welshman from Swansea---a Welsh town.

'Cause you were born and brought up in Canada, I suppose. 　Did your father tell you about Swansea?

No, not really. 　He wasn't much of a talker.

But he was a clergyman, wasn't he?

Yes, he was. 　However, he didn't tell me much about Swansea.

That is usually the case, you know. 　A father doesn't talk much about his birthplace. 　So, I looked it up in the wikipedia.

Swansea


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Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales.
Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan.
Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands.

Swansea had a population of 169,880 in 2001 and is the second most populous city in Wales after Cardiff and the third most populous county in Wales after Cardiff and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

During its 19th century industrial heyday, Swansea was one of the key centres of the world copper industry, earning the nickname 'Copperopolis'.

History


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Archaeological finds are mostly confined to the Gower Peninsula, and include items from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age.
The Romans visited the area, as did the Vikings.

Swansea is thought to have originally developed as a Viking trading post.
Some think that its name is derived from Sveinn's island (Old Norse: Sveinsey) – the reference to an island may refer to a bank at the mouth of the river Tawe, or perhaps an area of raised ground in marshes.

An alternative explanation is that the name derives from the Norse name 'Sweyn' and 'ey', which can mean inlet.
The name is pronounced Swans-y /ˈswɒnzi/), not Swan-sea.
The Welsh name first appears in Welsh poems at the beginning of the 13th century, as "Aber Tawy".

The earliest known form of the modern name is Sweynesse, which was used in the first charter granted sometime between 1158–1184 by William de Newburgh, 3rd Earl of Warwick.
The charter gave Swansea the status of a borough, granting the townsmen, called burgesses certain rights to develop the area.
A second charter was granted in 1215 by King John.
In this charter, the name appears as Sweyneshe.
The town seal which is believed to date from this period names the town as Sweyse.

Following the Norman Conquest, a marcher lordship was created under the title of Gower.
It included land around Swansea Bay as far as the River Tawe, the manor of Kilvey beyond the Tawe, and the peninsula itself.
Swansea was designated chief town of the lordship and received a borough charter some time between 1158 and 1184.

---

SOURCE: Swansea,
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You know what?...My Welsh given name is "Myfanwy."



Really?

Yes, it is. 　As you know, I always jot down "Myfanwy" in my mail. 　so I thought you figured it out.

No, I didn't. 　I thought that "Myfanwy" was your handle name. 　So you're a Welsh-Canadian, aren't you?

Yes, I am. 　By the way, Kato, how come you call Sayuri "Madame Taliesin"?

A good question, Diane...There is a theme park called "Karuizawa Taliesin" in Karuizawa. 　Sayuri loves and visits the park quite often. So I call her "Madame Taliesin."

Karuizawa Taliesin





I see. 　Then how come the theme park is called "Karuizawa Taliesin" in the first place?



In Middle Welsh, "Taliesin" means "shining brow." 　In the Celtic mythology, Taliesin also means a wise man, who is related to a fairy, called "Taliesin", who promoted the art. 　Frank Lloyd Wright, an American architect, called his work place "Taliesin" and produced a lot of creative works. 　Sympathetic to the architect's idea, the creator of the theme park in Karuizawa also called his park "Karuizawa Taliesin" and wanted to make it as a base for new cultural power.

It's a long story, huh?

Yes, it is. 　You know what, Diane? 　You can see the same kind of facility in Swansea.

What is it?

It is called Taliesin Arts Centre.


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Wow!... Taliesin seems prevailing all over the world, doesn't it?



Yes, indeed, it looks like it.

Kato, you're telling me about my ancestors, aren't you?

Yes, I am. 　Your forefather was a bard just like Taliesin, and liked to stroll in the Welsh woods with a lovely fairy.

What makes you think so?

'Cause you wore a fairy costume on the night of Halloween. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ...


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---

SOURCE: "Swansea"
(November 1, 2011)

I almost forgot it.



Now I know that Prince Charles and you have one thing in common---Wales.

In any case, I quite like the eccentric old chap, really ... and I don't think $721,000 for a royal visit is out of line.

I still don't agree on that.

... better him than the Queen actually.

Why is that, Diane?

'Cause she's getting a bit too old to be gallavanting around.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, ... we're getting older, you know. 　It isn't too old for her to enjoy life.

I doubt... Anyway, think about how much we waste money in other areas ... well, let's not go there.

I know what you mean. 　we all know how much waste the senators in Canada are making! 　They are not even elected! 　They're spending a lot on their expense accounts!

Well ... I do agree there was something not right about that a high-school student travelling to Finland to study their system. 　It's probably one of those classic cases of a powerful older man trying to impressive a lovely young woman with just how powerful and influential he is. 　In the back of his mind, there may have been hopes of a payoff somewhere down the line.

That's understandable.

I hope he's at least embarrassed now. 　I bet he'll get a serious lecture from his wife on the subject at the very least.

Diane, you're absolutely right on that.



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【Himiko's Monologue】


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Talking about Prince Charles, I still don't forgive his relationship with Camilla.



As you view the above clip, it is obvious that his relationship with Camilla gave a hard time to Di's marriage and might have led to her tragic death.

In any case, Princess Di got married.

I'm still alone.

How come I'm always a loner?

I wish I could meet a nice gentleman at the library in my town as Diane met Kato at Vancouver Public Library.

Well, they say, there is a way where there is a will.

I hope Kato will write another interesting article.

So please come back to see me.

Have a nice day!
Bye bye ...


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If you've got some time,

Please read one of the following artciles:




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■"Go Bananas"

■"Manwatching"

■"Stanley Boardwalk"

■"With Your Tiger"

■"A Second World"

■"Asexual Thought"


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■"Stanley 125 Years"

■"Sushi @ the Globe"

■"Peace@Syria & Pentagon"

■"Sweet Memory"

■"Unforgettable Movies"

■"Typhoon 26"

■"Great Luck"

■"Diane@World"

■"Diane@Spam"

■"Sabina"

■"Happy New Year"

■"Merange & Sabina"

■"Beauty in Spa"

■"Love @ e-reading"

■"Troublesome Slang"

■"World Family"

■"Mari's Bagels"

■"Love & Loyalty"

■"Another Cinderella"

■"Amazing Two-legged Pooch"

■"Delusive Romance"



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Hi, I'm June Adames.



The above movie is a 2006 British drama that depicts the aftermath of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, on 31 August 1997.

The film was directed by Stephen Frears, written by Peter Morgan, and starring Helen Mirren in the title role of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Royal Family regards Diana's death as a private affair and thus not to be treated as an official Royal death.

This is in contrast with the views of Tony Blair and Diana's ex-husband, Prince Charles, who favour the general public's desire for an official expression of grief.

Matters are further complicated by the media, royal protocol regarding Diana's official status, and wider issues about Republicanism.

The film's release coincided with a revival of favourable public sentiment in respect to the monarchy and a downturn in fortunes for Blair, whose resignation came several months later.

ところで、愛とロマンに満ちた

レンゲさんのお話をまとめて

『レンゲ物語』を作りました。

もし、レンゲさんの記事をまとめて読みたいならば、

次のリンクをクリックしてくださいね。

■『愛とロマンのレンゲ物語』


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■『軽井沢タリアセン夫人 - 小百合物語』

とにかく、今日も一日楽しく愉快に

ネットサーフィンしましょうね。

じゃあね。



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