Surprise!

 DZ has not planned on commenting on the death of the Queen. It's hardly a tragedy or a surprise when someone of her age dies. And while DZ had a degree of respect for her as an individual, he sees the monarchy itself as one of three bastions of anachronistic privilege that stands in the way of true progress in the UK, towards egalitarianism and fairness.

There is one aspect however of the timetable for the next week that seems not to have been considered. Our new PM has generously decided that the day of the funeral will be a bank holiday. Now the NHS closes down for bank holidays routinely, when only emergency care is provided. But we know when these dates are well in advance, so disruption is minimal. We don't even know yet, as I write, what the date is, though 19 September seems likely. 

What this means is that, once the date is announced, the NHS will have maybe a week to inform 18,000 patients that their surgical procedure is cancelled. And 360,000 patients that their out patient appointments are cancelled. All so we can bury a deceased old lady. DZ republican tendencies mean that he will not be watching the TV, and if asked, will gladly go to work if normal.