Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/12/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi All, Douglas was nearly right about the Channel Islands, but not quite... The Channel Islands (British to differentiate them from the islands off the Californian coast) are made up of a large number of islands, some not much larger than rocks. The 4 main islands (in order of size and population) are Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark. These islands are self-governing and so are NOT part of the UK, but ARE part of GB (confused yet?) We in the Channel islands have different tax laws from the UK. I am not certain about the other islands, but Jersey's tax status was granted by Charles II in appreciation of the Island's support during the civil war. Going back a little further, Jersey was part of the Duchy of Normandy so when William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy) invaded Britain he made it part of the Duchy of Normandy. So it could be argued that Britain belongs to Jersey!! From a political standpoint, the Channel islands are split into 2 bailiwicks (overseen by a bailiff) - Jersey and Guernsey with Guernsey assuming responsibility for Alderney and Sark. We have our own parliaments (or states as they are called) and make our own laws. However, as we are effectively British, the laws are very much in line with UK law. But we are not members of the EU. Sark was feudal until a few weeks ago - gradually getting into the 18th Century. The Jersey states until last Monday had a governing system based on committees - no prime minister or cabinet as in Britain. We have just moved to a more UK - like system after about 500 years. As a Jersey resident I have a Jersey passport. As I was born in Wales I have rights allowing me to work in the EU. My wife, who is a Jersey girl by birth and of a Jersey family (ie all 4 grandparents born in Jersey) has a stamp in her passport saying that she is not entitled to work in the EU.. Hope this makes everything simple!! David in sunny Jersey At 00:07 13/12/2005, you wrote: >Adam, >Great Britain is an island, the largest of the British Isles. >England, Scotland and Wales are countries on the island of GB, Northern >Ireland is a part of the island of Ireland. The other part of the island of >Ireland is Ireland, or the Republic of Ireland, aka Eire, whereas the >northern bit is sometimes known as Ulster. >Add to these thethe semi-independent Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, we >then have an entity known as the British Isles (purely geographic in >nature). > >Now the political bit: Subtract Eire from the equation and we now have the >United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the political >bit) Usually shortened to the United Kingdom or just plain UK.. > >Subtract Ulster (N.Ireland) the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man and we >get >back to Great Britain, which, although ruled from London, does have regional >capital cities with regional parliaments, Scotland has Edinburgh, Wales has >Cardiff, The Isle of Man is out on a limb with it's Tynwald in the capital >Douglas, a sort of local government related to the Nordic idea of a Ting or >Thing, a meeting of elders to decide the fate of a nation, The IOM is >actually allowed, along with the Channel Islands, to make their own laws and >set the level of their tax levies. To make it even more fun the Channel >Islands are ruled in a form of feudalism with a bloke called a Seigneur at >the top of the political pile. Then there's also a pile of rocks way out >in the Atlantic Ocean called >Rockall, the only use of which is to extend our continental shelf rights >and to act as a training site for Royal Marines to mount amphibian >assaults - nobody lives there. >Douglas > > > >Adam Bridge wrote: > >>I was listening to the news today and I heard a reporter sign off from >>London, England. >> >>Someplace along the line I was bashed pretty hard (not here) about there >>being a United Kingdom but that England wasn't precisely a place. So I've >>always used U.K. >> >>What's "correct" and what's general usage. And does it really matter? >> >>I'm curious and wanted to know. >> >>An aside: Has anyone tried the McCallan Scotch that's aged in oak wine >>barrels? It sure sounds mellow to me. Read about it in the Wall Street >>Journal's article on Scotch that was out this weekend. >> >>Thanks! >> >>Adam >> >>_______________________________________________ >>Leica Users Group. >>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information