Just seen this post and I'll read it properly tomorrow but I spotted that line and thought 'yes' that sums up exactly how I feel - if nothing else, it's all I've known.
Nicely done. I too have this feeling of resignation but regret. Our current world feels so unanchored and superficial. My view will be coloured by my upbringing in the second half of Philip's lifetime (he was born the same year as my father) surrounded by those who had known the war, but I feel that generation proved themselves capable of things that I doubt any of us could manage today.
It's the reason I wear a poppy, mainly for the people of both world wars who didn't volunteer, but left their lives as bank clerks and bus drivers and milkmen to go and do something terrifying and extraordinary. And for all the exhausted workers on the home-front, bombed out, working full shifts, and still 'manning' anti-aircraft guns, and volunteering for other essential duties. It was a herculean effort.
When I was younger and bombs went off in places we knew, I remember my friends and I saying that we couldn't give in and avoid going about our daily business, we had to be able to look the war generation in the face. It was a commonly held sentiment - I remember someone caught up in a bomb-blast saying exactly that on the telly when asked how it had affected them.
Maybe it's the pandemic, maybe it's something else, but I just have this sense of a world slipping away.
I like a lot of the modern world, but I still feel this subtle sense of loss.
I don't currently have a TV, so I haven't seen the rolling coverage.
It's a recurrent problem with the 24hr news cycle. They do this with every significant event.
It is important, but it's not an evolving event. It's one event. The palace will update, as any family would at such a time, but notifications will be issued in due course. The way news is at the moment, it can't report in a rational fashion on slowly evolving stories.
The old news was better at reporting stories like this. Headlines and updates at set times of day, with interruptions only for breaking news like the initial announcement from the palace.
Rolling news is better suited to things like the Notre Dame fire where events are unfolding before your eyes.
I agree Ann appears to have her head screwed on, but it's not the same as having someone who remembers the day your father died and you became Queen, and supported you through the transition, and all the years afterwards. Who shares your memories of the war, the abdication crisis and the day your father became King, and you suddenly became the next in line to succeed him.
Who looks up when the Battle of Britain flight goes over and remembers when those planes were in the skies fighting for our freedom, who remembers VE day and VJ day, and served in uniform as you did.
Sorry, I didn't realise it was a rhetorical question! Of course she won't be able to replace Philip with anyone, it's just not possible, but at least all the family have great memories of him, through many, many years as adults and not just as children.
Interesting post - more thought provoking than most of the media! I actually remember the death of George VI and not quite understanding my parents' hushed reactions to the wireless announcements. I remember the coronation, and being taken (by school) to see the cinematic celebrations of that and of the first ascent of Everest.
And as a Pros fan Everest also being conquered resonates nicely.
I made a point of finding time to watch the funeral, which was incongruously bathed in sunshine. It still doesn't seem quite real - but then this whole year hasn't seemed quite real. I've no idea what future generations will make of it.
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Just seen this post and I'll read it properly tomorrow but I spotted that line and thought 'yes' that sums up exactly how I feel - if nothing else, it's all I've known.
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Yes, it is.
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It's the reason I wear a poppy, mainly for the people of both world wars who didn't volunteer, but left their lives as bank clerks and bus drivers and milkmen to go and do something terrifying and extraordinary. And for all the exhausted workers on the home-front, bombed out, working full shifts, and still 'manning' anti-aircraft guns, and volunteering for other essential duties. It was a herculean effort.
When I was younger and bombs went off in places we knew, I remember my friends and I saying that we couldn't give in and avoid going about our daily business, we had to be able to look the war generation in the face. It was a commonly held sentiment - I remember someone caught up in a bomb-blast saying exactly that on the telly when asked how it had affected them.
Maybe it's the pandemic, maybe it's something else, but I just have this sense of a world slipping away.
I like a lot of the modern world, but I still feel this subtle sense of loss.
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It's a recurrent problem with the 24hr news cycle. They do this with every significant event.
It is important, but it's not an evolving event. It's one event. The palace will update, as any family would at such a time, but notifications will be issued in due course. The way news is at the moment, it can't report in a rational fashion on slowly evolving stories.
The old news was better at reporting stories like this. Headlines and updates at set times of day, with interruptions only for breaking news like the initial announcement from the palace.
Rolling news is better suited to things like the Notre Dame fire where events are unfolding before your eyes.
ETA: I've just seen that you are not the only person who thinks the TV companies didn't get the balance right: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56703437
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On whom does she lean now?
Interesting question. Perhaps Ann? She seems to have backbone, intelligence *and* is grounded.
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Welcome back :0)
I agree Ann appears to have her head screwed on, but it's not the same as having someone who remembers the day your father died and you became Queen, and supported you through the transition, and all the years afterwards. Who shares your memories of the war, the abdication crisis and the day your father became King, and you suddenly became the next in line to succeed him.
Who looks up when the Battle of Britain flight goes over and remembers when those planes were in the skies fighting for our freedom, who remembers VE day and VJ day, and served in uniform as you did.
It's always about having someone who remembers.
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It's always about having someone who remembers.
So true, you've hit the nail on the head.
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It's only rhetorical if no one answers it! :0)
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Thank you :0)
And as a Pros fan Everest also being conquered resonates nicely.
I made a point of finding time to watch the funeral, which was incongruously bathed in sunshine. It still doesn't seem quite real - but then this whole year hasn't seemed quite real. I've no idea what future generations will make of it.
It's certainly been a time of contemplation.
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