Author: Janus

Hey! I'm back ...... and front

Primogeniture for girls

One’s favourite royal is concerned. He’s afraid his future first grandchild might be female, marry an RC and thereby convert the monarchy to the Roman way of worship. Which raises a few interesting questions, I’m sure. Like: Wouldn’t it be best for him and his subjects if he himself abjured his Divine Right on accession? He must be one of only a few who a) believe that he is on an equal footing with the Godfather in the Vatican, b) want him (the PoW) as head of the CoE and c) care what a monarch does in the privacy of his/her own chapel. Or is he?

Big Ears also worries about all his fellow dukes and other hereditary peers, if the first-born son should no longer inherit as of right. What is the problem? As far as I can see the silver-spooned girls seem to be perfectly capable of rivalling their brothers in privileged education, conspicuous consumption and proxy child-rearing. Or does Charles suffer from the ‘Enry ‘Iggins Syndrome? ” Why can’t a woman……….be more like me?”

Twelfth Night

I’ve been spending idle minutes trying to reconcile the arithmetic.  Twelve nights after…when? 24th or 25th December? Naeh. Do it with me: (24), 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 1, 2, 3, 4, (5) = 12 nights.  So 6th Jan is a no-no.

What I’m leading up to, is that the Chariot Competitions should be starting today, not tomorrow. Are you there, Mr OZ?

Postal explosion

This elegant affair  used to be attached to our house, next to the front door, until about a year ago when the powers that be ordained that all such receptacles must be at the roadside, so that Postman Pat (subtle English unisex nomenclature, not possible in Danish) could deliver the mail without stepping outside the van. So it was duly relocated and the van now made its daily ruts in the grass verge, forbidden to approach the house, even with parcels. So far, so bad.

Then at around 3 a.m. on 1st January we heard an enormous bang  from the road – long after the annual fireworkfest had ended for most people hereabouts – but thought nothing of it. Just a few stragglers from a party having fun. But next morning we discovered that our fine box had been blown to smithereens – casting its various parts about 20 feet in all directions.

The telly reported later that there had been a spate of such hilarious events. My thanks go to the Post people for making it all possible.

Time and all that

As I sup my cuppa, I’m reflecting on the fact that our cherished hosts down under are already gearing up for the arrival of 2013, while our westernmost colleague has barely finished with yesterday! While, not to be outdone in this race for the future, my internet account is already showing my debits for 2nd January. But hey! that’s another year, another krone!

Continue reading “Time and all that”

Call it science, doh?

Vintage Christmas Elves Gift Giving Card

Let’s look forward to another year of ground-breaking research; never mind Higgs Boson, when you can marvel at this one.

“Performing deliberate acts of kindness makes pre-teen children more popular with their peers, say scientists.” Well! Would you believe it? Funnily enough I don’t have public funding or charitable tax status but I’ve just witnessed, under strictly anecdotal conditions of course, a similar phenomenon when handing presents to grandchildren, and I’m not even a peer (or Peer if it comes to that).

“I was not completely surprised that students increased in happiness, because we have found the same effects in adults,” said the researcher.” Really? You mean, being nice to older people pays off too? Surely that will need further intensive research during a couple of fully funded doctorates?

For those cherished colleagues eager to look further into this amazing contribution to the sum of human knowledge, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20851434