I thought I would try to explain the Commonwealth. I might get it a bit wrong, because it is a very strange thing:

After the collapse of the Empire, the UK wanted to preserve trade links with former colonies. There was also a small issue of blood ties and national prestige.

The solution was to grant independence, but to invite the newly independent countries to join a club. Some of the supposed benefits were removal of trade and other legal barriers and freedom of movement of capital and labour. In fact, a bit like the EU. Some members still have the Queen as head of state (Australia, New Zealand, etc).

In reality, the UK has abandoned the Commonwealth. There is bugger all freedom of movement. As a Brit, I have the right to go and live in Spain or Austria. But not to other Commonwealth countries. There are also customs barriers and financial ones. In other words, it as an out-dated and dysfunctional body which makes even the EU look good.

Did I get any of that wrong?

Sauron, NZ forces suffered very high casualties, especially in Gallipoli. All for the whim of Churchill 🙁

I don’t think the money is actually necessary, tenthije.

They’ll just call it “deferred consideration”. The EUR 1 will be on BA’s books as a receivable! It will then be written off as being immaterial.

Just off the screen and to the left of the photo, you could see a secret stockpile of nuclear weapons.

Artsie Fartsie is commonly used, usually in the form “Arty Farty”.

Because the targets always seem to be Spanish never French. I didn’t actually know France featured in this issue until I read this post. Is there more autonomy for Basques in France?

Out of interest, as ETA want their Basque state to be carved out of Spain and France, why do they only seem to use violence against Spain and not the French?

This website was down as well.

I couldn’t access it on Saturday. I kept getting a screen saying there was a database problem, and an email had been sent to the administrator.