Queen Rations the Prosecco!

"You know that Barot terrorist?" asked the Press Secretary.

Nobody bothered to reply- they seemed engrossed in the papers as usual. PC was playing the cut-out 'Hangman' issued by The Sun, making sure that at least Saddam Hussein would be virtually and repeatedly hanged by millions of readers. Just like the old days when people were allowed to watch hangings. Now with Internet and The Sun, everyone could be a voyeur.

Nevertheless, the Press Secretary continued

"He was arrested while he was having a haircut in Willesden High St !"

"That must have been a close shave" guffawed PC but nobody paid him any attention, which pleased the Press Secretary because that was a typical lousy PC joke.

The Queen stretched out a hand and placed her coffee cup on the side table. "Now, I want to plan the Piazza Navona part of the Rome tour" she said to no one in particular . Communication this morning seemed to be particularly disjointed but the weather was glorious so no one seemed to mind.

The Queen read out from her guide

"William Faulkner, after he had won the Nobel Prize for Lietrature, was in Rome with Lauren Bacall and when Lauren asks him why he drinks, he replies

"When I have one Martini, I feel bigger, wiser, taller. When I have a second, I feel superlative. When I have more, there's no holding me !"

"Time for aperitivi?" laughed the Press Secretary.

"I can't say I like Martini, but I will have just one Prosecco - it might make me feel taller", giggled the Queen.

"I will have two so I feel superlative" laughed the Press Secretary.

"And I will have more so there will be no holding me" threatened PC.

"Just one will be quite enough for you, my gallant Consort" said the Queen sharply.

"As if I wasn't tall enough!" PC muttered.