Canadian: Why don't poor people in Britain eat the swans?
Me: You can't, only the Queen can eat swans.
Canadian: What?
In conclusion, if you would like to make a colonial laugh until they spit, make them search on the online for "Can I eat a swan?", and see what comes up.
In your search, you may find things like this, which contains references to choristers in scarlet, Swan Upping, livery companies, Elizabethans, torture chambers etc (none of which you get in the new country, and all of which sounds like it is made up when you have lived away from England for a year). Do read it all, if only for Jack Hill's contribution. Mr Lev of Yellowknife, Canada, will I am sure stand corrected!
For those who are interested, here is a picture of the Queen's Royal Swan Marker, David Barker:
Now there's a royal insight I'm sure you enjoyed!
5 comments:
I don't like to break this news to your Canadian friend, but what the poor people of this tiny island may hunt and eat is the Canada Goose.
Sadly, they taste vile, tough and greasy, however you try and cook them and monkeygrandad tried, several times. It was almost as bad as when monkeygranny tried to turn bits of old cow into steak pie.
monkeymother - it doesn't matter what they taste like; you're doing a public service by cooking them in the first place. That'll learn 'em. One of the sad moments of disillusion was actually meeting some of the buggers up close and realizing they're loud, aggressive monsters who spend their entire day walking around and producing thousands of slimy green poos.
Re the Swan Marker - he is keeping a remarkably brave face given that his jacket is such a trying shade of red. He even seems resigned to his cap making him look like one of those sad men who dress in yachting gear to race their toy boats across the pond in the park. On the other hand, there is a slight edge to his expression that implies that any crack about his feather and he'll totally take you down.
Honk!
What do swans taste like? Oh..
This misunderstanding of Swans by The Canadian 'friend' maybe extent to the larger Metropolitan area of North America (an area slightly larger in diameter than the Bluewater Shopping Centre).
For when I shared this wonderful Peter Kay-ism to my good lady wife, also of a North American persuasion it was met with 'What is it with you Brits & swans?'
Peter Kay - "Despite repeated reminders, you've never actually met anyone who's arm has been broken by a swan"
Very true, Mr Kay.
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