Republican exiles in London

On the Piccadilly Line last night I overhead a very nice English woman take a shine to an American couple (both wearing matching rain proof wear, her holding a plastic bag from Windsor Castle). She started off telling them why the UK tube trains were the laughing stock of the world, something about overcrowding and high ticket prices; then she turned her lament into an examination of the state of the nation, dropping in the phrase “early years of Thatcherism” in her sweeping analysis, for our American travelling guests; but finally made it to asking them why they were on holiday in London. And the female American explained for all to hear: “We’re on holiday because of the election results.” And you could almost hear the tiny cogs turning in the nice English woman’s head. Here to get away because of the election – um, that must mean they’re…Republican!