The Royal Touch

[steepholm]

So, tomorrow Elizabeth Windsor becomes the longest-reigning British monarch since King Lear. It seems strange to me that I've never dreamed about her, as far as I remember, despite dreaming about her eldest son on several occasions. I believe I've seen them each exactly once, both times in Romsey - for I prefer to let the royals come to me.

From the comfort of a chiropodist's shop window I saw Charles and Diana on their wedding day in 1981, driving from Romsey station to Broadlands for the first part of their honeymoon: they looked happy enough at the time, and were to remain so for at least another fortnight. But the Queen I encountered long before, in Romsey Abbey, where she was attending some service or other at which I happened to be present. I suppose I was about seven, and sitting at the end of a pew when she swept down the aisle with a small entourage. Her fur coat happened to brush my hand - or perhaps it would be more correct to say that I stuck my hand out to feel her coat. Either way, I was impressed by its luxuriant softness.

Now it occurs to me: did my youthful touch have some effect in ensuring that she would carry on breathing in and out for another 45 years? And in exchange, was I spared a bout of scrofula?

People have believed stranger things.

Comments

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

I think about the declarations made at the time of her accession that Britain had entered the New Elizabethan Age. That came out well, didn't it?

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

At least she doesn't go around in a red wig - though things might be more entertaining if she did. Perhaps she will name Nicola Sturgeon as her heir, in a last act of Dadaist mischief?

[karinmollberg.livejournal.com]

This calls for a soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9FPo4eiBCg

[karinmollberg.livejournal.com]

Touch the Fur
a sure cure
for scrofula and ulcers,
AB IMIS UNGUIBUS USQUE AD VERTICEM
if it purrs
sulphur,
canities unguium!

"Spine starts in the head" (Rückgrat fängt im Kopf an.)
How's that for some copyline? The last one is from this guy I detested in the Agency who won a golden pen in Cannes by coining -please excuse inexcusable pun- it for the Financial Times of Mordor that is known to stand up straight smelling fishy even when it rains cats and dogs but I was doing Bayerische Motoren Werke motorsport with the younger shoemaker brother as driver and the motor kept exploding til it started and won but I don't blame anyone in particular for it can't have been that campaign aiming at keeping up the fast spirit in the face of defeat; we had to reverse.

illustrum:

http://fatamorganamoi.livejournal.com/738845.html

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

"Spine starts in the head" (Rückgrat fängt im Kopf an.)

Anatomically correct, but what's he trying to say? Is it a metaphorical spine?

I'm going to send you a box of commas for Christmas!

[karinmollberg.livejournal.com]

I've always been afraid so.

It was once presented me as an example of True Talent for JvM had (think, it got them into trouble, eventually) this text DOES AYONE HERE HAVE ANY TALENT? in HUGE woman-height uppercase letters pasted allover the wall of the graphics room everyone working there had to stare unto all day while scrubbing the bad ideas off the screen as best they could (placeholder link http://blog.helge-weinberg.de/2015/toetet-die-employer-brand-wenn-werber-wie-jung-von-matt-talente-suchen/ just to fill up the empty space reserved for old-fashioned comma fans;) bit like the engine room in Fellini's Et La Nave Va where only on occasion the Olympic Creatures they were transporting would appear to show themselves off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap3BTnvp90k

Allow me to recipocrate with an imploding typo balloon! I got enough to share. Will wrap them up in cellophane for Christmas but when I hand them out I want you to use your Best (leftover) Hand (butt that's Mae West on the extremity of good feet). Mollberg Has Spoken (again).

[nightspore.livejournal.com]

I saw Chuck once, when he was at Harvard's 350th. He was leaving Memorial Hall in a limo, and he got in and waved charmingly to everyone on the curb. We lived down the street, hep cats looking at a possible future king.

And I saw the Queen Mum once, at some tea, maybe at Hampstead? that she put in an appearance at for retired gardeners or something. We were just touring. She beamed, more convincingly even than Chuck.

We ate at Chez Benoit last May (a good prix fixe), as I did two or three times before Di's death. That was where she'd wanted to dine that night, but there was too much press, so she stayed at the Ritz, before the fatal drive.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I spent that night in Colchester - so couldn't possibly have been involved.

The moment is memorably captured in Banksy's Dismaland, I see - where I still haven't been, tickets being very hard to come by.

[splanky.livejournal.com]

I hope your not-so-youthful touch conveys a long life too. I'm sure we have hugged or at least shaken hands! I'll get back to you in 50 years on that point.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I certainly remember a splanky hug or two!

I'll be waiting, notebook in my doddery centenarian hand.