The UK media has been gripped by Diamond Jubilee fever and blanket coverage has been the order of the past week. Not really surprising as sixty years of anything is a magnificent achievement, and I wish Queen Elizabeth and her close family well. The extended hangers on have less of my good wishes, although their hats always raise a laugh!
We’ve enjoyed our celebrations here in France starting on Sunday with a Jubilee Dinner with friends at Champagne. We toasted the Queen with more of the same! Fine company, fine food and fine wine, all worthy of such an auspicious occasion!
On Monday I spent the morning making and decorating some Jubilee cakes and a ‘jewelled’ rice salad as we had been invited to a BBQ Jubilee celebration at La Gavaudière.
Chris and Julia certainly know how to throw a party! They had rigged up a large screen so that music was provided by the Jubilee concert outside Buckingham Palace and the Mall. The food was fantastic and we caught up with our good friends John, Maureen and Poppy - suitably garlanded for the occasion!
They told us that the English tea party they’d organised for their French neighbours had been a roaring success, with over thirty enjoying a selection of sandwiches, cakes and pork pie. I'm looking forward to seeing the photographs on thier blog.
At 10pm Chris’s magnificent beacon was lit by their friend Michel, the Maire of Chatillion.
That Chris and Julia have integrated into the local community was apparent from the mix of guests.
They were presented with a special platter from the local Chasse who use their land, but who also manned the BBQ, and dispensed their brand of 'fire water' which they called punch!!.
Ann and Claire demonstrating that the standard of patriotic dress was a sight to behold!
Finally on Tuesday as the service of Thanksgiving was taking place we entertained some friends for a light lunch of Jubilee Salad, my special Union Jack chocolate cake and more bubbles. The weather was kind to us and we were able to eat outside, with Lorna and Audrey dashing in at regular intervals to check out the processions on the TV.
Later we’d just settled to watch the ‘fly past’ when Ken arrived to inspect our terrace, to be greeted by Gaynor still wearing her pearls and tiara …
Hello Gaynor:
ReplyDeleteWell, Gaynor you certainly seem to have celebrated the Jubilee in style!! It is good to know that you have kept the Union Jack flag flying high over France for the occasion.
And, as for the 'tiara', well, Beatrice and Eugenie would be proud!!!
Merci beaucoup, although I'm not sure it is a compliment!!
DeleteWhat a fantastic few days of partying you have had! It all looks wonderful - lots of effort from all involved. I'd like a beacon in my garden. Great! Axxx
ReplyDeleteWell done with the cake - it looks magnificent !!
ReplyDeleteIt tasted good but notice no close up of the bodged top. A multitude of sins can be hidden with enough strawberries, blueberries and silver balls!
DeleteOh, Gaynor, well done! I just adore your tiara. What a brillian celebration and I'm very impressed with your beacon! We celebrated by drinking and staying glued to the TV while staying under cover from prolific rain. My The Queen is stoic! And the concert was fab!
ReplyDeleteThe beacon was the work of our friend Chris. He used to be a fire officer and taught his men that in order to put a fire out you need to know how to light one!!
DeleteIt looks as if you have had a fabulous time. I really love the beacon....it has made me think I've been a bit of a misery in not "celebrating" in any way. I was pleased to be out of the country while it was all going on....but you seem to have done it just right. Congratulations on a fabulous series of "dos".
ReplyDeleteHi Janice,
DeleteWe probably celebrated more here than we would have done at home thanks to some kind invitations!
What a splendid gateau! I tend to appraise a good cream cake for its ballistic potential. The tiara looks good too.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed a few more British-registered cars than normal over the past weekend and it does look like the less than 100% patriotic have taken advanage of the extra bank holiday via the ferries and the tunnel.
You could be right about the extra getaways!
DeleteThe small cakes are definitely ones to be eaten fresh otherwise they would be useful for a 60 gun salute!!
I love the royal fairy cake and the picture of you in the tiara is priceless.
ReplyDeleteThanks, perhaps I should try to sell it then...
DeleteHi - what a lovely post. We're in Pas-de-Calais - the neighbours watched it on TV but were a little more subdued in their festivities so we had to double up on ours! On the whole, I find the French seem to really enjoy our Royal Family, especially the older ones. I shall pop back to read more soon, kind regards, Janine at www.thegoodlifefrance.com
ReplyDeleteHi Janine,
ReplyDeleteThanks. I've dipped into your website and it's really interesting. I'll be back ...
Regards
Gaynor
How fun to see how you celebrated the Jubilee in France. I bet that cake didn't last long!
ReplyDeleteIt didn't, but I probably ate more than my fair share!
Deletelooks like you had much fun :)
ReplyDeleteThat's the way to celebrate!!!! I missed the whole thing for the most part...Are we Americans too complacent??? But I will say that the Queen has hekld up pretty good for her age...pretty skin:) Haave a good weekend. Laurel
ReplyDeleteOver here, I at least watched the Jubilee concert. It was quite good. You know how to celebrate.
ReplyDelete