For Services Rendered

Sitting on my father's mantlepiece back in Blighty is an array of invitations I regularly receive from Our Man in Jakarta. The most recent was floridly inscribed thus:


We didn't go because of the small print: Dress: Batik, Lounge Suit or Uniform

Admittedly, I do have a batik shirt, but 'Er Indoors doesn't have anything in that line. I certainly don't have a 'lounge suit', whatever that is, and as for a uniform ..... well, the only one lying around which I could possibly squeeze into was last worn by a niece of 'Er Indoors who I sponsored through high school.

So I'm afraid that Charles and Enid had to do without the pleasure of our company at this year's Betty Bash.

This could well be why I was not awarded a gong in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours. Surely, I richly deserve the esteemed Commander of the British Empire (CBE).

Ignoring the fact that the British Empire is long gone, and the Commonwealth of Nations Who Used To Speak the King's English which replaced it barely stutters along, there remains the question of why folk should be given a gong for doing what they are paid to do or, in my case, I pay to do.

John David Vine, QPM. Chief Constable, Tayside Police.
For services to the Police.
Dr Jane Wilde. Director, Institute of Public Health in Ireland.
For services to Public Health in Northern Ireland.
Jak Artass S.o.B. Head of Household
For services to 'Er Indoors.

Is there a rhyme or reason to any of this?

However, I do feel that the newly knighted Sir Ian Botham richly deserves his honour if only, like me, he's smoked cannabis and raised money for charity. Unlike him, I really don't like cricket.

Ho hum

Labels: social psychology

 

postID=5289477766278404822

¶ 1:00 pm