The Statute of Westminster, 1931, is 80 years old this week!*
It marked the formal, legal acknowledgement by Britain of the independence and equal status of the then-Dominions (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Irish Free State, and Newfoundland).
Done without bloodshed, in a nice, legalistic and generally polite way.**
So, how should we celebrate, Commonwealthers? should I send some poutine and Saskatchewan wild rice to Her Majesty? a case of Molson’s Canadian?
Yeah, it passed on December 11, and I’m a few days late. I’ve been busy.
Why on Earth would you inflict Molson’s Canadian on anyone? You are so cruel!
I might just have a nice cup of tea…seems like a good day for it (I love tea, but I don’t drink it regularly). Now the choice: Ceylon, English Breakfast, or one of the Greys?
Well, Mum and Dad just got a nice letter from Lizzie’s rep, the Governor General (have I mentioned that they’re having their golden wedding this Friday? Have I mentioned it today?) so I’ll raise a nice G&T in the direction of London this evening and say it’s nice to share in the wealth, even if we’re the ‘common’ part of it!
Here, 24 May is the traditional date for Victoria Day, aka The Queen’s Birthday, aka May Two-Four. It’s called May Two-Four because it’s the unofficial start of summer cottaging season, when you take multiple two-fours (24-can packages) of beer up to the cottage and go out in the canoe and get drunk and drop hot dogs and marshmallows in the fire and get lost on the way to the outhouse and sing and chase women or men (depending on preference) and generally have a good time).