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The story goes that when the populace gathered outside Buckingham Palace to celebrate the relief of Mafeking, Queen Victoria asked a footman what the noise was all about. 'It's Mafeking, your majesty,' she was told. 'Well,' replied the bemused boss of the Empire, 'they certainly know how to have a good maffick.' And, somehow, the word entered the better dictionaries: Maffick - to exult riotously. Look it up."

Take care,

Gordon

'Twas in the year of 1900 and on the 18th of May,

That Colonel Baden-Powell beat the Boers without dismay,

And made them fly from Mafeking without delay,

Which will be handed down to posterity for many a day.

An unmistakeable voice, William Topaz McGonagall, poet and tragedian of Dundee. It's the mark of a great poet to be so distinctive. I'm convinced people are wrong when they mock at him.

Dundee, 30th May 1865

I certify that William McGonagall has for some time been known to me. I have heard him speak, he has a strong proclivity for the elocutionary department, a strong voice, and great enthusiasm. He has had a great deal of experience too, having addressed audiences and enacted parts here and elsewhere.

George Gilfillan

From his official website.

Gordon.

An Ode To The Queen

On Her Jubilee Year

Sound drums and trumpets, far and near!

And Let all Queen Victoria's subjects loudly cheer!

And show by their actions that they revere,

Because she's served them faithfully fifty long year!

All hail to the Empress of India and Great Britain's Queen!

Long may she live happy and serene!

And as this is now her Jubilee year,

I hope her subjects will show their loyalty without fear.

Therefore let all her subjects rejoice and sing,

Until they make the welkin ring;

And let young and old on this her Jubilee be glad,

And cry, "Long Live our Queen!" and don't be sad.

She has been a good Queen, which no one dare gainsay,

And I hope God will protect her for many a day;

May He enable her a few more years to reign,

And let all her lieges say - Amen!

Let all hatred towards her be thrown aside

All o'er dominions broad and wide;

And let all her subjects bear in mind,

By God kings and queens are put in trust o'er mankind.

Therefore rejoice and be glad on her Jubilee day,

And try and make the heart of our Queen feel gay;

Oh! try and make her happy in country and town,

And not with Shakespeare say, "uneasy lies the head that wears a crown."

And as this is her first Jubilee year,

And will be her last, I rather fear:

Therefore, sound drums and trumpets cheerfully,

Until the echoes are heard o'er land and sea.

And let the innocent voices of the children at home or abroad

Ascend with cheerful shouts to the throne of God;

And sing aloud, "God Save our Gracious Queen!"

Because a good and charitable Sovereign she has been.

Therefore, ye sons of great Britain, come join with me,

And welcome in our noble Queen's Jubilee;

Because she has been a faithful Queen, ye must confess,

There hasn't been her equal since the days of Queen Bess.

Therefore let all her lieges shout and cheer,

"God Save our Gracious Queen!" for many a year;

let such be the cry in the peasant's cot, the hall,

With stentorian voices, as loud as they can bawl.

And let bonfires be kindled on every hill

And let her subjects dance around them at their freewill;

And try to drive dull care away

By singing and rejoicing on the Queen's Jubilee day.

May God protect her for many a day,

At home or abroad when she's far away;

Long may she be spared o'er her subjects to reign,

And let each and all with one voice say - Amen!

Victoria is a good Queen, which all he subjects know,

And for that may God protect her from every foe;

May He be as a hedge around her, as He's been all along.

And let her live and die in peace - is the end of my song...

.

Gordon.