Quoting:
Are you serious?
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Well, it is April Fool's Day, so maybe she's not.  :-/

Quoting:
NullandVoid...

My sincerest apologies if I in any way offended you.  I didn't mean to.  :(
End Quote

It's ok, I can understand how my questions could look slightly moronic. But don't worry I'm not mad or offended.
All is well ;D

Quoting:
When it comes to the UK I get a bit confused, heres a few things I'd like to know:

1. Is Britain a place in London or London a place in Britain?

2. Are England and Britain the same thing or are they two different entities?

3. How do UK'ers distinguish themselves? Do they just say I'm English, British, Londoner or do they Hyphenate themselves like Americans?

4. How many places/Countries make up the UK? What are the names?

5. Does the Queen have power or is she just there for decoration? (no disrespect)

I know I should've paid more attention in school, but Somebody enlighten me please ???
End Quote

I had a good laugh at the first question, Null and Void but the second, eloquently put by Rice Cube is a bit confusing. These names are merely political.

2. England, Scotland and Wales are collectively called Great Britain. Despite losing almost every country in our empire, we still managed to hold on to Northern Ireland (which is supposedly why the IRA are not pleased and we have these peace talks) and Northern Ireland included is called The United Kingdom.

3. Hmm! Quite often we distinguish ourselves depending on which part of the country we come from. Northerners, Midlands and Southerners. Of course, we have our own slang identity as well (Brummies are from Birmingham, Cockneys are from London, Geordies come from Newcastle etc . . .).

4. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all seperate countries with their own government. England is too small an island to have 'countries' or 'states' but we have a smaller equivalent called Counties (e.g Staffordshire, Devon, Hertfordshire . . .)

5. The Queen used to have a lot of power but these days she is just for show and is used quite often as a tourist strategy.

Hope I've helped out, Null and Void.  :)

Quoting:
The main thing to cause confusion, IMO, is that although I am a citizen of the United Kingdom, born in England (well, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne which some might argue doesn't count), but my nationality is "British"

End Quote

I always put English rather than British if I have the option.  My husband always puts that he is Welsh.

P.S.
Didn't know you were a Geordie Philbo.  When I heard you singing I thought you sounded like a friend of mine who comes from Bedford.

Quoting:

2. England, Scotland and Wales are collectively called Great Britain. Despite losing almost every country in our empire, we still managed to hold on to Northern Ireland (which is supposedly why the IRA are not pleased and we have these peace talks) and Northern Ireland included is called The United Kingdom.End Quote

And we can thank some imported Dutch king for all that! (William of Orange, for those who fell asleep in history...!)

Quoting:3. Hmm! Quite often we distinguish ourselves depending on which part of the country we come from. Northerners, Midlands and Southerners. Of course, we have our own slang identity as well (Brummies are from Birmingham, Cockneys are from London, Geordies come from Newcastle etc . . .)End Quote

I certainly wouldn't describe myself as a 'cockernee'...the very idea! It's basically just the 'catch-all' term 'Londoner' which suffices for all of us from the smoke...but to be pedantic, I term myself as a 'South Londoner'...In a national sense, I'm English but cannot call myself this officially - the powers that be always insist on everyone being British...

Quoting:4. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all seperate countries with their own government.End Quote

Sort-of yes and no...the Taffs have the Welsh assembly (which is about as much use as a chocloate kettle!), the Jocks have the Scottish Parliament (which always screams about how badly they're treated by those nasty English, but still keep holding their hands out for nasty English monetary subsidies...!), I'm not altogether sure NI has anything...

Quoting:5. The Queen used to have a lot of power but these days she is just for show and is used quite often as a tourist strategy.
End Quote

Yet to this day, she could still dissolve Parliament if she wanted...presumably that'll go out the window when we dig ourselves further into the abyss called 'Europe'...

Another strange thing...all four countries in the UK have separate football and rugby squads, but on the athletic side of things, we're all lumped in as 'Great Britain'...

Quoting:



Sort-of yes and no...the Taffs have the Welsh assembly (which is about as much use as a chocloate kettle!), the Jocks have the Scottish Parliament (which always screams about how badly they're treated by those nasty English, but still keep holding their hands out for nasty English monetary subsidies...!), I'm not altogether sure NI has anything...


End Quote

Isn't there a Northern Ireland assembly as well?  thought that's what all the hoo-haa was with whether Sinn Fein people could be members.  TBH I generally ignore this part of the news!

Quoting:

Isn't there a Northern Ireland assembly as well?  thought that's what all the hoo-haa was with whether Sinn Fein people could be members.  TBH I generally ignore this part of the news!
End Quote

There is, karen - thanks for reminding me...It probably didn't register in my nut as this is the sort of news I tend to ignore as well...!

Quoting:
Doesn't all England's "territories"-such as Canada, Australia, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda and many others-can be concidered part of the UK?




Cat
End Quote

No. Speaking for Canada (and fellow Canadians can correct me if I'm wrong), we're a commonwealth country. Around 300 years ago, we were governed by the British (I think), but were eventually allowed our own freedom. We have a Governor-General (Adrienne Clarkson) who represents the Queen, but I don't think that either the Queen or the Governor-General have any important purpose. No bills need to be approved by them anyway. The Queen is on every single piece of currency we have, and when I was in school,  both "God Save The Queen" and "O Canada" were played before classes began. I don't know if kids have to do it now. (I once joked, when I was in school, about wanting to switch the "God Save The Queen" tape with that of the Sex Pistols song of the same name. Unfortunately, I was all talk and no action.) :)

Anyway...again, if I've got my Canadian history completely wrong, any of you other Canadians can correct me. History was never one of my best subjects. :)

Absolutely Vile

Quoting:


No. Speaking for Canada (and fellow Canadians can correct me if I'm wrong), we're a commonwealth country. Around 300 years ago, we were governed by the British (I think), but were eventually allowed our own freedom. We have a Governor-General (Adrienne Clarkson) who represents the Queen, but I don't think that either the Queen or the Governor-General have any important purpose. No bills need to be approved by them anyway. The Queen is on every single piece of currency we have, and when I was in school,  both "God Save The Queen" and "O Canada" were played before classes began. I don't know if kids have to do it now. (I once joked, when I was in school, about wanting to switch the "God Save The Queen" tape with that of the Sex Pistols song of the same name. Unfortunately, I was all talk and no action.) :)

Anyway...again, if I've got my Canadian history completely wrong, any of you other Canadians can correct me. History was never one of my best subjects. :)

Absolutely Vile
End Quote

I do understand that both Canada and Australia have their own Parliment and make their laws and such, but why do they still have Elizabeth's portrait on all the currency? That is why I wondering if you fell under the United Kingdom-even though you are a sovergn country.



Cat

Quoting:
I certainly wouldn't describe myself as a 'cockernee'...the very idea! It's basically just the 'catch-all' term 'Londoner' which suffices for all of us from the smoke...but to be pedantic, I term myself as a 'South Londoner'...In a national sense, I'm English but cannot call myself this officially - the powers that be always insist on everyone being British...
End Quote

I did a little research, Paul and a Cockney is a special Londoner who is in ear-reach of the Bells of St Mary Le Bow. There can't be that many 'true' Cockneys about then, Paul - Unless the Bells have a bloody big ring.  :D

Quoting:

I do understand that both Canada and Australia have their own Parliment and make their laws and such, but why do they still have Elizabeth's portrait on all the currency? That is why I wondering if you fell under the United Kingdom-even though you are a sovergn country.

Cat
End Quote

I have given up pondering such questions, Cat !

Like Canada, Australia has a Governor-General, who is the Queen's representative here.  The G-G ultimately has the power (as happened in 1975) to dissolve the Government (Gore or anyone else reading this may choose to correct my interpretation, I won't object).

If the above does ever happen again though, i think there will be a civil uprising, because the 1975 issue still makes a lot of people's blood boil in the way it was handled.....

In terms of currency. who can say ?  Tradition seems the most appropriate answer.....

As you know, like Canada, we are still part of the Commonwealth.  I suspect we have stayed because every 4 years (offset from the Olympic Schedule) we get to beat the crap out of Great Britain at sport.

And with great respect to BMG's views on sport in Australia (which I don't necessarily disagree with) the national Australian passtime is delighting beating Britain at sport, any sport  ;D

Last year we beat them at Football (read : Soccer) for the first time.  I am surprised they didn't all jump into the sea like lemmings in disgrace  :P :P :P :P :P

So in answer to your question.....DUNNO  :D

Quoting:


I have given up pondering such questions, Cat !

Like Canada, Australia has a Governor-General, who is the Queen's representative here.  The G-G ultimately has the power (as happened in 1975) to dissolve the Government (Gore or anyone else reading this may choose to correct my interpretation, I won't object).

If the above does ever happen again though, i think there will be a civil uprising, because the 1975 issue still makes a lot of people's blood boil in the way it was handled.....

In terms of currency. who can say ?  Tradition seems the most appropriate answer.....

As you know, like Canada, we are still part of the Commonwealth.  I suspect we have stayed because every 4 years (offset from the Olympic Schedule) we get to beat the crap out of Great Britain at sport.

And with great respect to BMG's views on sport in Australia (which I don't necessarily disagree with) the national Australian passtime is delighting beating Britain at sport, any sport  ;D

Last year we beat them at Football (read : Soccer) for the first time.  I am surprised they didn't all jump into the sea like lemmings in disgrace  :P :P :P :P :P

So in answer to your question.....DUNNO  :D
End Quote

Thanks for clearing that up for me.  :-/ ???  




Cat

Quoting:

Thanks for clearing that up for me.  :-/ ???  

Cat
End Quote

Welcome  :)

Lemme put it another way.  Even though there are many 'links' between Aus and the UK, effectively they are all ceremonial/traditional.

In reality, if they tried to assert any old style colonial powers or rule over us, we would tell them to get stuffed  :D

No offence at all is intended for my UK friends.  I am merely talking in governmental terms  :)

Quoting:
Lemme put it another way.  Even though there are many 'links' between Aus and the UK, effectively they are all ceremonial/traditional.

In reality, if they tried to assert any old style colonial powers or rule over us, we would tell them to get stuffed  :D

No offence at all is intended for my UK friends.  I am merely talking in governmental terms  :)
End Quote

No worries, Fuss. The Queen has little importance in Australia.

I wonder why a lot of people still like to keep the Royals in riches. I'm not irrationally anti-monarchist but there is a part of me that says 'Why should a certain family have special privelledges and wealth over anybody else in Britain for no good reason?'

Quoting:
Like Canada, Australia has a Governor-General, who is the Queen's representative here.  The G-G ultimately has the power (as happened in 1975) to dissolve the Government (Gore or anyone else reading this may choose to correct my interpretation, I won't object).

If the above does ever happen again though, i think there will be a civil uprising, because the 1975 issue still makes a lot of people's blood boil in the way it was handled.....End Quote

The Gough Whitlam affair, right? Didn't know too much about it at the time (I was fairly young y'see...), but with hindsight it does strike me as fairly odd that 'we' could still stick our oar in like that...(and theoretically, still could! Although we would quite rightly be told to 'get stuffed'...!)
The outcome of the last referendum in Aus (Republic or no) was mighty close, and I should think the old bat and her ilk will be told in no uncertain terms where to get off next time (it's getting that way over here) but having the 'establishment' set-up like we've got, this dam' country will always try and keep clinging to the past...hence The Commonwealth...

Quoting:I suspect we have stayed because every 4 years (offset from the Olympic Schedule) we get to beat the crap out of Great Britain at sport.

And with great respect to BMG's views on sport in Australia (which I don't necessarily disagree with) the national Australian passtime is delighting beating Britain at sport, any sport  ;DEnd Quote

Our national pastime is actually enjoying getting beaten and then moaning about how useless we are...!

Quoting:Last year we beat them at Football (read : Soccer) for the first time.  I am surprised they didn't all jump into the sea like lemmings in disgrace  :P :P :P :P :P
End Quote

Dam' right! May have been only a 'friendly', but I could see that defeat coming a mile off...woeful! (Not really much has improved - that recent performance against Sweden wasn't much to write home about either!)

Quoting:

The Gough Whitlam affair, right? Didn't know too much about it at the time (I was fairly young y'see...), but with hindsight it does strike me as fairly odd that 'we' could still stick our oar in like that...(and theoretically, still could! Although we would quite rightly be told to 'get stuffed'...!)

End Quote

"Well may we say God save the Queen ... because nothing will save the Governor-General"

A disgraceful day in Australia's history!  I was only 15 at the time (sitting in a Citizenship Education class!) and still remember feeling outraged.

Quoting:


(What did you think of that last Sir Humphrey Appleby style sentence ?  Hee hee !)


End Quote

Very impressive ! ;D ;)



Re - Gough Whitlam and 'The Dismissal' as it is now known.

Remembrance Day 1975.

The only connection that Gough Whitlams dismissal had with England is purely that the Governor General is the Queens representative.  I’m sure she and her advisers had little or no clue as to what was really going on behind the scenes in the lead up to this, IMO.

As Fussy said, the way in which it was handled, and the reasons behind it….basically sacking the Government because of a deadlock which developed between the two Houses of Parliament (the Senate and the House of Representatives) and the Government and the Opposition……left the majority of the country shocked and outraged.  

The behind the scenes lead up to this event is very interesting, and a whole other thread......somewhere ! ;D

Quoting:

The outcome of the last referendum in Aus (Republic or no) was mighty close,
End Quote

Can I just correct ya there :)  I am the least politically minded person alive and dont care a fig whether we are a republic or a monarchy...  

BUT

the reason I and many others voted no in that referendum was because it was not a "Do you want a republic YES / NO" thing.

First a bunch of dubious types (some wealthies, some famous faces, couple of retired politicians etc) - headed by a quiz show sports commentator celebrity hated by (at least) half the country due to his self grandiosing attitude - got together and discussed the various types of republics and THEY voted on the model they liked best.

We were then told to vote on "do you want THIS TYPE OF REPUBLIC or do you want a monarchy to remain in place".  

Naturally the public got a bit huffy.  I cant even remember what the actual model was now cos I was that disinterested !!  Fuss or Manda will know !

Basically the water cooler discussions revolved around the fact that surely we as the public should have FIRST been given the chance to vote on "Do you want a republic - yes / no".  

Then you would have got a more truer result.

THEN - we could have been provided with examples of the various models and made our decisions for another referendum.

Regardless of what my thoughts were the year the discussions were happening - I was not prepared to vote for something put together by a bunch of twits who were more interested in getting thier famous little faces on tv than making a major governmental change to the country.

Quoting:



Naturally the public got a bit huffy.  I cant even remember what the actual model was now cos I was that disinterested !!  Fuss or Manda will know !


End Quote

That's right, BMG. That was back in 1999.

The model proposed, was that our President would be chosen by Federal Parliament and NOT voted in by the public.

Sure, we could nominate who we wanted, but the final decision on the appointment, would be decided by a two-thirds Parliamentary majority !

Quoting:
BMG and Manda - you are both quite right - I was gonna mention that but I got carried away with Gough.

The question was specifically worded to cloud the issue and ensure a NO vote as I recall.

Going back some way to Cat's question about our currency, whaddaya think ?

Skippy ?  Paul Hogan ?  Rolf Harris ?  Dame Edna ?    ;D
End Quote

Dame Edna would get my vote.  ;) ;D



Cat

Quoting:


Skippy ?  Paul Hogan ?  Rolf Harris ?  Dame Edna ?    ;D
End Quote

Wha ?   No Steve Irwin  ???

 
        ;D

Quoting:

Going back some way to Cat's question about our currency, whaddaya think ?

Skippy ?  Paul Hogan ?  Rolf Harris ?  Dame Edna ?    ;D
End Quote

I swear if they put Plastic Surgery Hogan on my ten dollar note I will leave the country and pledge allegiance to New Zealand !

But the Dame .......... well she IS royalty !!!!

Quoting:


I swear if they put Plastic Surgery Hogan on my ten dollar note I will leave the country and pledge allegiance to New Zealand !

But the Dame .......... well she IS royalty !!!!
End Quote

I'm with you on this BMG!

Quoting:
When it comes to the UK I get a bit confused, heres a few things I'd like to know:

1. Is Britain a place in London or London a place in Britain? I get stuck.

2. Are England and Britain the same thing or are they two different entities?

3. How do UK'ers distinguish themselves? Do they just say I'm English, British, Londoner or do they Hyphenate themselves like Americans?

4. How many places/Countries make up the UK? What are the names?

5. Does the Queen have power or is she just there for decoration? (no disrespect)

I know I should've paid more attention in school, but Somebody enlighten me please ???
End Quote

1. London is in britain.

2. Britain contains england, they aren't the same thing i dont think

3. People do their different things, So you cant tell. I say "Im from the UK, im english"

4. I only know 4 that make up the UK. I think of it as the word 'WISE'. Wales, ireland, Scotland, England

5. Do Not Know At All!

Quoting:


I swear if they put Plastic Surgery Hogan on my ten dollar note I will leave the country and pledge allegiance to New Zealand !
End Quote

Seems only fair, we have most of their population  ;D

Quoting:


Wha ?   No Steve Irwin  ???
 
        ;D
End Quote

His would be the coin I would happy to lose down the drain  ;D