Comments on: The Women in Parliament.

By: Châtelaine

Châtelaine — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:29:26 +0000

Anna, are you the tall one …?

By: Gloria Smudd

Gloria Smudd — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:41:19 +0000

I wonder if Mrs Braddock would get away with wearing such a striking feathered titfer these days. I suspect it would take a ‘Penguin’ with nerves of steel to request that formidable-looking woman to ‘unpin’ her bonnet and surrender it into the care of the Department of Millinery.

By: Anna Raccoon

Anna Raccoon — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:27:25 +0000

Quite right Joe – seems just about anyone other than those the ‘Penguins’ dont’ like – can wear a hat!

By: Joe Public

Joe Public — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:21:42 +0000

“One of our number was cautioned for wearing a hat – only the cleaners, the Police, the Sergeant at Arms, the Queen, (and several women we noted) can wear a hat, if the ex-military – all improbably dressed for a Chav wedding – so decree.”

And the catering staff. Or don’t food-hygiene rules apply in Parliament?

By: ivan

ivan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:31:38 +0000

It’s nice to see you made ‘The Register’ Anna but you didn’t tell us the whole story – a red rose for Brown. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/08/guy_fawkes_demo/

By: Anna Raccoon

Anna Raccoon — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:55:40 +0000

Demetrius – I can make the connection via John Bindon – where are you going?

By: Demetrius

Demetrius — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:46:34 +0000

Lovely picture of Bessie, I have one where she is boxing with Frankie Vaughan, and guess who is winning? There is at least one picture of Princess Margaret where she looks stunning. Oddly enough it is possible to connect them.

By: Gloria Smudd

Gloria Smudd — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:53:31 +0000

Eee! That Bessie’s a proper Bobby-Dazzler, isn’t she? A right belter.

By: Subrosa

Subrosa — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:24:08 +0000

Oops missed a bit out there – senior moment.

I should have said I visited her there several times for lunch or tea and a wander around the most exclusive club in the world. She had lots of gossip to relate and it was then I realised what a tight-knit community the place really is. Back in those days there were three bankrupt MPs ( won’t name names because I can’t remember one of them!) but they had been ‘bailed out’ by others to avoid legal proceedings. Nice having friends in high places.

By: Subrosa

Subrosa — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:20:19 +0000

I remember the wifey with the brasso Anna. Back in the 60s when I worked in London for a year or so, I had a pal who was training as a civil service accountant in the House of Commons (or I think she grandly labelled it the Palace of Westminster if if recall).

Having been brought up to “go to the toilet and don’t forget to wash your hands” before I moved anywhere, I’ve possibly visited more Powder Rooms than most and this one does stick in my memory. It’s a sad reflection that they’ve changed the name too because it really was a powder room with air sometimes smelling of exotic perfumes such as you describe.

I won’t ever visit again because I much prefer my memories to stay intact.

By: Paulo

Paulo — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:43:25 +0000

And I forgot to mention – beautifully written. A pleasure to read. Thank you.

By: Paulo

Paulo — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:39:53 +0000

Does this just not sum up the crude low-life’s now purporting to represent us? Scum!

By: Blink

Blink — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:28:20 +0000

yes, Bessie Braddock – even Mohammed Ali would’ve had a problem with her…….and look what’s happened to Scotland Road, a bloody runway for the tunnel ….bah!

By: Savonarola

Savonarola — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:15:56 +0000

Looking at the photo of Bessie, I can see where W Churchill was coming from when when made his hurtful response to her accusation of drukeness.

By: Jabba the Cat

Jabba the Cat — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:14:33 +0000

After reading about the visitors do’s and don’ts above is it a wonder that we have a problem with troughing MP’s and their attitude of high arrogance towards the people who pay their salaries?

By: john ward

john ward — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:54:01 +0000

Not that anyone needs to vouch for Anna, but having been a witness to this act of inspired kleptomania, I can attest to its verite. And BigYin, we got frisked by a CROSS-DRESSING policeman…much more fun than a nice young man. (It’s the Adam’s Apple that always gives them away)
As for the caution for wearing a f**king hat, the ‘authorities’ made the rules up as they went along. Disgraceful – and why do they call them the authorities? They’re not an authority on anything.
A great day out….and a wonderfully fluent account, Anna.
Yesterday Man x

By: Thoughts on a second walk | Anonymong

Thoughts on a second walk | Anonymong — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:52:09 +0000

[...] again Anna Raccoon recounts how the house has chnaged over the years she’s been [...]

By: TheBigYin

TheBigYin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:04:44 +0000

Sanitary towels? Now there’s a throwback in time. Didn’t you get frisked by a nice young man in uniform?

Well done all.

By: Gloria Smudd

Gloria Smudd — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:52:01 +0000

Oooh. You’d be in trouble with the Department of Facilities (yup, it says that on the sign) if you had nicked it.
Next year I won’t dream of nicking one too.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:27:04 +0000

“Skanky lot”, more like.

I would have liked to be there to but I don’t get to the UK till Monday now

Perhaps next year. It will be interesting to see if anything has changed the next time….