Wonderful, Mystical

 Arguments in favour of the hereditary principle:

1. It's been around a long time.

2. In pre-democratic societies it saved argument if power passed from father to son. Only it never really did (save arguments I mean) and the history of monarchy is all about pretenders and rival claims and rebellions and assassinations and civil wars.

3. A special virtue passes down the bloodline. It is a wonderful, mystical thing. I mean, just look at Prince Charles and see how wondrously mystical he is.

So the Queen stands up in front of the Commonwealth heads of state and says she trusts they'll give the job of fronting the organisation to her elderly eldest son (the aforementioned Prince Charles) once she's in the cold, cold ground- and- while I don't suppose it matters terribly much- I hope they turn round and say, "You ain't boss of us any more and actually we have minds of our own...."

Scorchio

They said the April heat-wave would last two days- and it's lasted three already. All the things that might be expected to break into leaf and flower at this time of the year are in the process of doing so. My mother and I sat out on the patio yesterday afternoon and it was uncomfortably hot so today we sat at the front of the house where there is shade. According to the weather watchers yesterday was the hottest April day since 1949.