As part of Tree's Stag weekend, we decided that we no longer swore allegiance to our own particular flags. That we'd have a new one. Possibly one with holes, and mysterious stains.

And so the new country of L-Bonia was borne. Roughly based on the excellent Scott Adams Elbonia, but with several twists:

• Chief exports are mud (similarly to Elbonia) and Nose Snorkels
• L-Bonia is a migratory country
• Currently, its located beneath the right angle on the letter "L" on "Luxembourg.
• We plan to take over Luxembourg on a summer Sunday, when everyone is out. When they get back to their houses, we'll say "We voted. You were out"...
• The ambassador, is, of course, Tree
• For some reason, I'm in charge of diplomacy.

We've had a national congress - in Amsterdam - where the Ambassador tested the new L-Bonian glasses. Completely dark, and therefore had to be led from bar to bar. They have a few teething problems - for instance, complete loss of sight. However this had a secondary benefit of clearing tables in Bars, thus facilitating optimum beer drinking.

The next one was in May 2003, in Den Haag. There we intended to:

• Register the country with the UN, and get our own country code. This will allow us to get our own country letters - LBO. Hell, if the Falkland Islands can have their own, so should we!
• Open the embassy. This may be located in the phone box in Bazzarstrat (a more appropriate street couldn't be found)
• Join NATO.
• Gain diplomatic immunity.

Unfortunately, we singularly failed to do any of that. The attractions of the Schrevening beach was far too good to miss..

So the next event was had in Brussels, where we intended to strike at the heart of the European Government, and ensure L-Bonias birth. Unfortunately, the rugby was on, so that failed to achieve its goal...




The next one is being held in September 2005, in Lusanne, Switzerland, on "International Talk like a Pirate" day. Yarrrr!. We've given up trying to pursuade the governments of the world to accept us - so we're going to attack the soft underbelly of the Swiss banking market. And of course, since most Bond Villians operate out of Swiss alp-top fortresses, we can mingle and exchange plans...

We have talked in some detail as to how our migratory country will operate:

• L-Bonia will have its own tax system, based on the groat. Taxes will be paid directly to the breweries, thus reducing administration.
• The governance model will take the "best practice" model employed by most countries. Ministries will be up for sale to all comers, highest wins. For instance, Microsoft may wish to bid for the lucrative L-Bonian Government IT initiative, where the ambassador is trying to get his step-daughter a job. Simple, transparent, and entirely up to date.
• Given its migratory status, actually having a postal address within L-Bonia is problematic. This leads to the complete e-Governance model, where L-Mail is used. L-mail is similar to the more old-fashioned eMail, but excludes vowels.

L-Bonia

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