Yup. It's a sympathy request.

[billyskank]

Think I'm catching the train to work tomorrow. ;)

[Lil Missy]

1. Did you get side swiped today?

[billyskank]

8. Yup. I was doing a U-turn and the car coming up behind didn't stop

preferring to smash into the side of me instead. She was too busy talking on her mobile phone.

[Lil Missy]

24. Oh man. I'm sorry.

BTW, I think about you lately because I know you are in Brit territory. I watched "The Queen" recently and it got me all curious about the history of the Royal Family and past Monarchs. I'm sort of a history buff anyway.

I just watched "Elizabeth I" this weekend and was just facinated. I have a couple other movies to watch now because my curiosity has been piqued.

Anyways, my mother (also a history buff) and I are debating on whether Elizabeth I of the 16th Century was a more popular figure than Queen Victoria of the 1800's. I'd be interested in your take as a Brit.

I actually considered starting a thread about this, but for now I'd be curious to know your opinion.

[billyskank]

27. I would say Elizabeth I was more popular

There grew up quite a mad cult of personality around her. She drove otherwise sane men to say quite strange things, even when they got older and should really have known better. It was connected with how she never married, and supposedly remained the "virgin Queen" until she died. That was certainly not for lack of would-be suitors. She was vain, arrogant, spiteful, bloody-minded, frequently unjust and even more frequently maddeningly indecisive - in other words, an authentic Tudor. But she was also brave, intelligent, startlingly articulate and, on occasions, genuinely wise. She had charisma in spades.

One reason why people loved her so was this sort of thing. In 1588, when England faced the Spanish Armada, Elizabeth was determined to lead her armies in person. At Tilbury Camp she gave this address to the defending forces:

My loving people, We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes for fear of treachery, but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let Tyrants fear; I have always so behaved myself under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and goodwill of my subjects. And therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved in the midst and heat of battle to live and die amongst you all. To lay down for God, my kingdom and for my people, my honour and my blood even in the dust. I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a King and a King of England too and think it foul scorn that Parma or Spain or any Prince of Europe should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which, rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your General, Judge and Rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and we do assure you, on the word of a Prince, they shall be duly paid you.

There are other versions of the speech, less Shakespearean, but preserving the essence of Elizabeth's performance: a sovereign imagined not as a remote and a forbidding presence, but as one of the people in their hour of crisis. Victoria, distant and austere by contrast, presided over the Empire. She was certainly loved, and she reigned so long that people did not know what would become of Britain when she died, but she could not compete with Elizabeth.

[Lil Missy]

31. Thank you, billy

It was my feeling that Elizabeth I was more popular as a leader. My mom thought it was Victoria because her reign was longer.

The movie I watched did include the speech Queen Elizabeth gave at Tilbury Camp. Maybe you've seen the movie.

Thanks for your opinion. Very much appreciated.

[billyskank]

32. If you're interested in British history

this book is both quite informative and also very entertaining.

http://www.amazon.com/History-Britain-World-B-C-1603-D/dp/0786866756/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-6607639-7532032?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178571706&sr=1-1

[tjwmason]

51. Elizabeth I by far.

Which is probably more a manifestation of the times than anything else. During Queen Elizabeth's reign (155?-1603) the large majority of the English really did believe that the sovereign was chosen by God, also as Billy references the whole the Armada thing - in managing to see off the Spanish she managed to combine in herself the public affections which got spread across George VI, the later Queen Mother and Sir Winston Churchill from the Second World War.

By contrast Queen Victoria's reign (1837-1901) was a far more rationalistic age. Her marriage to Prince Albert was very unpopular, and when he died and she withdrew into her widowhood there was a significant expression of growing discontent...there was serious talk of republicanism. The later vision of her was largely a lot of spin put out by Benjamin Disraeli who coaxed back into the public eye and manufactured a number of publicity coups for her (such as the whole Empress of India thing).

[Writer]

2. What kind of car is that?

I'm sorry it's been damaged. :(

[billyskank]

9. My new one. Or it was.

It was an Octavia by Skoda.

[Writer]

23. Well it shouldn't take too much to fix it...

it should be mechanically sound, at least. :)

[billyskank]

25. My brother and I are not sure

This damage to the door sill is quite worrying.



That's part of the car frame, not a panel that can be replaced. I must wait anxiously to hear what the bodyshop place says about that. :(

[Writer]

26. Oh no...

can they beat out the dent? I've never heard of a car part that can't be replaced singularly.

[billyskank]

28. Maybe they can

I don't actually know what is in the realm of the possible and what is not. I do know that that part is not so much a part but rather part of the bit that all the other parts are connected to; if that makes any sense. For that reason we are doubtful whether the insurance company will consider the cost of repair worthwhile. I am sure, though, that the repair bill will run into the thousands at least. The person who hit me did an excellent job.

[Writer]

38. Oooh. That's rather draconian...

...of the engineers, at least. Well, I hope that it's not as bad as it looks.

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. Pants!

Sorry, dude. I know exACTly how that feels. :pals:

[billyskank]

11. Yup.

:(

[supernova]

4. Oh no! Did that happen

on your way home from lunch w/ Cal Peggy and her hubby?

That's not fun. :-(

[billyskank]

10. Even worse

It happened while they were with me, poor things.

[Bunny]

5. Let me guess. You pissed off California Peggy, so she bashed in the side of your car?

You do NOT want to piss off CA Peggy! :silly:

[billyskank]

12. Nope. 'Twas not her.

[taterguy]

6. Did that happen when you were on the way to buy bread?

Enquiring minds want to know

[billyskank]

13. No. Going to lunch.

[KitchenWitch]

7. Your new car!

That sux! x(


:hug:

[billyskank]

15. That *was* my new car.

My brother and I are not sure if the bodywork damage will be salvageable. :(

[KitchenWitch]

36. Gosh, I am sorry that happened to you!

:hug:

[Shell Beau]

14. Awww!

:hug:

[billyskank]

16. Thanks.

:(

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. My dear billyskank!

And you should have your own sympathy thread, sweetie.....

The train will certainly work!

:hug:

[billyskank]

20. Thanks Peggy

I'm sorry that happened while you were with me. That really fucking sucks. :(

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

21. I'm glad we were with you....

If only for moral support.....

It isn't fun, when you have to face trouble all by yourself, you know...

I felt bad for you.....

But I was happy to help in any way that I could...:hug:

[billyskank]

22. I felt bad for you

It was supposed to be a nice trip out for lunch. :(

:hug:

[Debi]

18. You have my sympathies

and a :hug:

Hope nobody got hurt.

[billyskank]

19. Nobody did get hurt.

I was going quite slowly when the other car rammed me.

[RetroLounge]

29. Damn foreign cars...

:rofl:

Bummer, Billy, sorry about your car. Glad you're okay...

RL

[billyskank]

30. It was a Mercedes that hit me

If it had been a Prius it would probably have been okay. ;)

[terrya]

33. OMG

God, that's shitty. That's the fucking worst..you have a beautiful new car and...the first accident. I've been through that...even with a freaking scratch, you feel like crap. That high of having that new car is suddenly gone.

I'm sorry, billyskank.

:hug:

[billyskank]

34. Thanks terrya

That was certainly the shitty part of my day. :hug:

[HEyHEY]

35. It was bound to happen with all you guys driving on the wrong side of the road

[billyskank]

45. Yeah, we should fix that.

[wildhorses]

37. oh my...your new car

sorry, sweetie:hug:

[billyskank]

46. Not any more

;)

:hug:

[hippywife]

39. I only have three things to say!

[billyskank]

47. Thank you!

:hug:

[Critters2]

40. That's what you get, driving on the wrong side of the street. nt

[undeterred]

43. My thoughts exactly.

Serves him right. :hide:

[greatauntoftriplets]

41. Ouch!! That REALLY hurts when it is such a new car.

At least you, Peggy and her husband are in one piece. I hope they can repair the car as good as new.

A friend was in a serious auto accident a year and a bit ago -- from which she was lucky to walk away. It took weeks for the insurance company to decide whether to total it or fix it. Finally, they gave her the choice and she had it fixed (didn't want to come up with a new downpayment one year after buying the car). It took weeks more to fix, but today is as good as new.

So there is hope for you.

[billyskank]

48. Thank you!

[Skittles]

42. you want I should kick some ass, billyskank?

say the word my sweet

[billyskank]

44. Well, there's a private banker somewhere in a fashionable part of London

who drives a Mercedes with a mobile phone glued to her ear who could do with a bit of an ass kicking... ;)

- billyskank, about to catch a train.

[UrbScotty]

49. It's Clinton's fault!

I don't know how... It just is.

[krispos42]

50. You can just buff that right out....

<whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr>

There, see? All fixed, and shiny, too!

:-)




One of the advantages of driving a beater is that you never, ever, ever lose in a collision. I think my car is worth $500. No matter who or what hits me, I win!

Like, say, a Hummer smashes me. My car's wrecked, I'm out $500. He's got scratched bumper, he's out $1,000. Game, set, match! Woot!

Hope they can pull that dent out of the door, although it looks pretty bad, so they might have to re-skin it, or maybe just get you a whole new door. That bottom part, hmmm... maybe hammer the bottom back up and rework the whole thing with Bondo.

[tjwmason]

52. That's not good - not good at all.

Hope that the insurance folk manage to do the decent thing...but based on recent experiences here they will only do so if you shout at them lots. Sometimes I'm glad I don't drive.