Thatcher's Champagne Send-off from the Window of Singapore

Interesting to note, in the paper here not the slightest reference to the champagne popping in various places in England at the news of the passing of Thatcher. One cannot read the guff through word for word, but it does seem "champagne" and "celebration" are entirely missing in any of the columns. Not on page 1 understandably perhaps. But then neither buried in a passing mention in the main long article within, nor the shorter at the foot of that page head-lined: "Friends and foes pay tribute to "extraordinary leader" ". Eighty seven years old the grand old Baroness. Here the former long-serving PM is two years older. There is a late 80's photo of LKY and Thatcher shaking hands at the Istana (palace in Malay; the former British Governor’s Residence). Many months now there has been subdued anticipation here, health scares and hospital admissions, even false reports circulating from those wanting to be first out of the blocks with the announcement. In the north in Malaysia PM Najib has finally, nervously, called the long-awaited election in that country. Every prospect of him being turfed out of office after a half century of single party domination, like here in Singapore. In SG in the most recent by-election a few months ago the ruling PAP lost another seat. Clearly change is in the wind in this region. Almost certainly there will be no public champers in the street on the island here when the time comes. (Indoors in one or two places it may be a different matter.) Best not to give the populace ideas for all that; not least by the highly responsible and dutiful Straits Times. It would be interesting to check the local Malay and Indian language papers on the Thatcher reportage, were it not for the fact that they too were owned by SPH—Singapore Press Holdings. Perhaps printing deadlines are to blame for the incomplete coverage from England.

Acknowledgement.   In today's paper - Wed 10 April - the other side to opinion on Thatcher was duly recorded in the S.T.: apostrophised "the witch", champagne in the celebrations mentioned twice, cider once; and indeed what had not been noted on Australian and other international news web-sites, party hats and streamers detailed enlivening the farewells.