Lucas

Almost. He’s already King.

After an hour watching the news and it being a tribute I have had enough. Was watching BBC News earlier and they had a interviewer outside Bucks Palace at 3am. She asked one lad why he had come and he said “Well I was out with work when I heard and put on the news, and I saw YOU.” At that point I just had to laugh and switch off.

Even the BBC Sport pages are full of tribute. There is no escape from the news.

Death will do that. Buried my uncle 8 years ago, my nan tomorrow. I don't find it funny or disrespectful if people are playful around it, so long as they are not rejoicing in that person's death. People all have their ways in dealing with grief or paying tribute, and I can respect that as well.

After seeing that Funko Pop, feeling sad my Queen Elizabeth II caganer was beheaded a couple of years ago after a fall from my desk. Was probably the only bit of memorabilia (if you can call it that), that I had.

That is just bizarre.

Chances are the news was known this morning, and everything else has been managed to a degree given she is such a public figure. But I'm not sure it matters who knew what when.

Mentioned before but it's my Nan's funeral tomorrow. She died at 86. So death seems a bit of a theme for me lately. It's sad in its way if you felt some connection to The Queen (royalist or not), and at the very least it is surreal. Her face on our coins and notes, for most of us knowing no different than Liz as the Queen. That all changes now. Reigns will be much much shorter. It's a fascinating time, and a sad one for the family. I have been wondering if we might look back on her years in History as the Elizabethan years. I'm fascinated by it all and I'm a republican. I love that she hung on enough to see Boris go, and my thoughts go out to her family. It's not nice losing someone, even when it's expected to a degree.

Yep for the funeral last I read.

Can take a few months. He is still King in the interim, there just isn't all the pomp and circumstance of the big event. Wills to be Prince of Wales too but that might take a bit longer.

Sounds like a bit more than the North Koreans got - they had a week or something.

For the funeral, there's a national day of mourning, but discretion will be with employers. If its on a weekend or existing bank holiday then no. I'm surprised the plans only have one day of mourning.

There comes a point where with the greatest respect, you want someone to go in relative comfort and at peace while they have their faculties etc. I don't think that's the same as wishing someone dead, but hoping for recovery when someone is on EOL gets a bit delusional. People in that position can be hanging on just existing, not living. And that's not especially pleasant.

Just noticed that.

Afraid not.

You can download the official EIHL 2015-16 database from Steam Workshop as I mentioned above to play in that league with rosters, logo and facepacks for that season.

Some of the failed countries with 0 bids, really makes you wonder what could have been.

Maybe Morocco will finally get one after 30+ years of asking. They've been bidding for about as long as we have and failing to win the host bid. I didn't realise we bid for the 98 World Cup.

Can't wait. Crazy that the World Cup going on during my birthday.

She won't it would be too damaging for the monarchy and not good for Charles because there would be a push to try and pass it on to William from some newspapers even though thats not how it works.

Tradition and the respect for a figure like Liz that she commands will always be huge news. It's the peak of the celeb gossip press culture (which really ought to stop completely). I am not convinced it will change much even with Charles or Wills, and the stuff I've seen on Prince Louis "stealing the show", plus the ridiculous tidbits on the children I just find absolutely horrifying. No way is any of that fair on any child.

I don't really understand how "Old woman who overdid it needs rest" is really news. I can just imagine its probably extremely mentally and physically draining for her to do even one of these event days, and absolutely makes sense to delegate. But really we should be having a conversation as a country whether the monarchy is right for the 21st century. We can't take various human and social issues seriously enough if we are also going to protect the institution of a hereditary monarchy.