Lady Margaret Austen celebrates birthday
Lady Margaret Austen, Baroness of Glencrannog today celebrated her 57th birthday. Lady Margaret, 12th in Line to the Throne, was born in 1955 and married the future Emperor Terry I in 1989. She was Empress consort of Austenasia during the reign of Terry I (2008 – 2010) and is mother to Crown Prince Jonathan and Princess Caroline. Her mother Dame Joyce, brother Lord Michael (13th in Line to the Throne) and his wife Dame Rosalind visited Lady Margaret and her two children at the Imperial Residence this morning for coffee and cake, and this evening the Imperial Family ate out at an Italian restuarant in celebration of her birthday.
First winter snowfall in Carshalton
Dawn broke over Wrythe, Zephyria and Orly this morning to reveal snow falling in Carshalton for the first time this winter. The snow lasted from roughly 06:30 to 08:50, with about two inches falling but only a few centimetres settling. There was no noted disruption to British transport systems, with bus routes running and schools open. The snow had mostly become ice and slush by noon, and had melted away by late afternoon. The last time snow fell in Austenasia was at the start of February earlier this year. It is expected that heavier snow will fall over the rest of the winter.
Winter starts in Austenasia as new laws are passed
His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has announced the start of winter in the Austenasian calendar, and given Imperial Consent to two new Acts of Parliament. Austenasia has been battered by heavy winds and large amounts of rain over the past week, although thankfully there have been no floods as in the surrounding United Kingdom. This morning finally saw an end to the rain, although the temperature was several degrees colder than yesterday. This change in weather conditions has been used to mark the turning point from autumn to winter this year. The Emperor has also given Imperial Consent to two Acts of Parliament, passing them into law. The first has revised the law on homicide, defining the required acts and intentions for murder and manslaughter in greater detail and creating a separate offence of second-degree murder for killings in which, while harm was intended, it was not realised death was a possibility. The second act has codified Austenasian law on the subject of how international treaties are to be ratified.
Archaeological dig put on hold due to rain
HIH Crown Prince Jonathan has announced that work on the archaeological dig currently underway in Wrythe Public Park is to be put on hold until the spring due to bad weather. The dig, which started on 16 August earlier this year and is organised by the Imperial Geographical Society, is excavating an area which had been under paving stones since before the Imperial Family moved to what is now the Imperial Residence in January 2004. The trench which has been dug has so far unearthed various pieces of glass and pottery, an at present unidentified animal bone, several metal nails, and a two pence coin which dates the construction of the patio under which the dig is taking place to no earlier than 1992. The trench has also unearthed a large tree stump with an extensive root system, formerly sealed under the patio – two tree stumps were already visible and used as steps down from Wrythe Public Park’s patio to 2 Imperial Road. With the discovery of this third tree stump, it is thought that there was once a row of trees marking the end of the now Imperial Residence’s garden before 2 Imperial Road (the garage) was built. The last digging which took place was in early October – due to rain since then, further excavation has been continually postponed due to the soil in the trench becoming waterlogged. With rainfall yesterday, the Crown Prince (who is leading the dig) has announced that digging is being formally put on hold until drier weather. Fans of Cool Barbie will recognise the area of the dig as being where a Dalek was imprisoned in Prisoners Freed. Thankfully, the diggers have not reported unearthing any hostile aliens yet.