2206.03 PLATTY JOOBS

It's the Queen's Platinum Jubliee which is a massive deal for the whole of the United Kingdom. The late spring bank holiday has been moved from the last monday in May to 2nd June and combined with an extra holiday on the forth to give most of the country a long weekend off.

I'm not the biggest royalist but I'm no republican either. I enjoy the pomp and ceremony, the tradition and the rituals but I'm not a fan of the wider royal family, I'm also not a fan of the shear vastness of the weath displayed - it seems obscene in this day and age. I serve the crown in a professional capacity and I am very proud of that fact. I guess this means the Queen is my boss.

The glory for me on a personal level is receiving the Platinum Jubilee medal.

To mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a special commemorative medal will be awarded to serving frontline members of the police, fire, emergency services, prison services and the Armed Forces. Acting as a token of the nation’s thanks, the Platinum Jubilee Medal follows a long history of awarding medals to mark Royal Jubilees, with the first one awarded to mark the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s reign in 1887.

- Information from royal.uk 

This medal is the second jubilee medal I've received in my career, I also have the diamond Jubilee medal.

I will enjoy the extended break, many will engage in street parties and celebrations, I prefer to take time in quiet contemplation. I am, however, curious to observe how other countries will be looking in on this occassion. Will they even care? Will they see it as more imperialistic nonsense of a country of 'bad guys' that took from the world? 

So on these days we celebrate our 'Britishness', not the fake 'Dick Van-Dyke' Britishness that so many (especially across the pond) may see but a real pride in our nation, an inclusive pride for a multi-facited, multi-cultural nation of individuals that make up this little collection of islands which has such a rich history (not all to be proud of but all must be remembered) and is greater than the sum of it's parts. 

So happy jubilee to all of the country and the commonwealth, to all the world especially during these difficult times. I know the world is going through dark times, perhaps more than ever we need this?