>>>I remember years ago on a bus in Switzerland a man got on carrying his assault rifle. To me it felt very unusual but the locals all ignored him completely. At the time in the UK you never saw guns unless you went to an army display of some kind. We see more guns now usually at major airports. And gun crime in the UK seems to rising, we've just had a series of teenage shootings in London.
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>>I've never seen a military or police person in Canada with a loaded assault rifle, held at the ready in Canada. Even after 9-11. But every time I've passed through Heathrow since 1991 I've seen multiple police like this. Every time it struck me as unusual.
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>Speaking of England (what a lame segue <g>) I know you are a movie fan and can heartily recommend "The Queen" to you. Helen Mirren has been sweeping all the Best Actress awards and I'm sure she will be taking a little gold guy home with her next Sunday. I saw it with Allie last weekend and commented afterward that what amazed me was within a few minutes I was seeing Queen Elizabeth on the screen, not Helen Mirren. With Helen not having been in any blockbusters or teen movies, Allie didn't understand what I meant. I said in addition to being known as a fine actress Helen is also known for being a bombshell. "No way!" Allie said. Way. It's not every actress (or actor) who would let themselves be shot so frumpily.
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>My other comment to Allie was that Helen wasn't even the star of the movie. That would be Diana. Real footage of her appears throughout the movie. Even 10 years after her death she still has the ability to knock you senseless with just a glance.
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>I thought the Tony Blair role was kind of miswritten but that's just a quibble. Good movie.

Hellen Mirren, man! Still a babe even playing the queen!

I saw a rather obscure film last night with her in: "Green Fingers" (cf. US Green thumb), about a bunch of cons who, in an "open prison", do great things with the govenor's garden, and go on to get a pitch at the prestigious Hampton Court Flower Show. Stars Clive Owen and based on a true story.

Anyways, Mirren played a well-known celebrity horticulturist and Owen, the main con-gardener, falls for her beautiful young daughter. Thing is, when she was in-shot with her daughter I only had eyes for Mirren (as most shots with her in).

BTW still haven't seen The Queen but it got a BAFTA nicht wahr?

BTW only first came across the word "segue" recently in Choir, and since I keep seeing/hearing it regularly.