I see myself in the second category but the missus sees it differently.

After I've done something she often shouts "Lord all ****** mighty"

I've met people you might stylistically refer to as the Upper-Middles, but not people with a private income or landed gentry in the aristocratic, traditional sense. I've met plenty of 'landed' families in both Australia and the UK. Even gentlemen farmers and Australian families with nice accents: a wealthy Surrey stockbroker is not necessarily a gentlemen. If I had to take a punt, and I will, I would say most migrants are the lower ranking middle and working class.

Plenty of buckshee noblemen around. Reminds me of the time I was sailing with the CO of the Blues and Royals, and former equerry to the Queen, ages ago and the boat was awash with what seemed like at least half the effing Royal Household's staff and such-like thrusting and ernest people. We had a bloke crewing who claimed to be a titled Scot until someone naturally pointed out there were no Scots of that title in the peerage! He got a figurative clip around the ear...

I know a few British multi-millionaires who have decided to stay in Australia - all of whom initially came here with work and on 457 visas.

Not sure about landed gentry (ie aristocrats) from the UK but also know a couple of Australians who live of trust funds set up by the family.

However, none of this is surprising as it takes all types of different people to make a community/country.

If they still have to work they don't count.

I remember dicking about in a row boat on Lady Dixon Park lake with a few other guys, one of whom's uncle ran a pub called the Royal Oak in Westhoughton... so pretty similar.

One earns around $17 mil a year (published accounts) so I would have thought that for him it is not a question of having to work. I would have also guessed that is the same for the others we know.

Does the landed gentry still exist as a class? And if they do, isn't their importance massively diluted by the professional rich?

Probably more landed gentry in Australia than in England, come to think of it...

Was it Tony Robinson who made a programme about the monarchy? It showed that if the royals had followed down the Plantagenet line the true king of England is a sheep farmer in rural NSW! He didn't seem very impressed and didn't want to contest his right to the throne.

Does he count???

He was probably called one because he was forever jolly and happy

Unlike our learned colleague Farkwit

Indeed. They all crap poo and spunk like everyone else.

I am happy and jolly. I am also a pain in the arse and a general pedant

Anyhow Mister Farquar - tell us about your title. Where did you get it - a cornflake packet?

Reminds me - whilst we are on the topic, one of my wife's uncles married a Spanish noblewoman - a Countess. (Errors and omissions apply).

I met her husband and his obvious delight at having scored this was only marred by the fact, as he pointed out glumly (in good English) - that he was still 'waiting for the money'.

The only other remarkable thing about my wife's family is that her grandfather performed the autopsy on Trotsky. "What the ***** was he doing near him" I wondered.

I bought mine from Tony Blair. He said to keep quiet about it though.

Good thing you haven't shared that with anyone then isn't it