Sunday 14 June 2015

A little bit of this and a little bit of that . . .



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Every June over here in the UK, they have what is known as the "Troop the Colour."  It's the official Queen's Birthday Parade, and an occasion filled with lots of pomp and ceremony.    Nobody does pomp and ceremony better than the British!

The custom of Trooping the Colour dates back to the time of Charles II in the 17th. Century when the Colours of a regiment were used as a rallying point in battle and were therefore trooped in front of the soldiers every day to make sure that every man could recognise those of his own regiment. In London, the Foot Guards used to do this as part of their daily Guard Mounting on Horse Guards and the ceremonial of the modern Trooping the Colour parade is along similar lines. The first traceable mention of The Sovereign's Birthday being 'kept' by the Grenadier Guards is in 1748 and again, after George III became King in 1760, it was ordered that parades should mark the King's Birthday. From the accesssion of George IV they became, with a few exceptions and notably the two World Wars, an annual event.


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Over 1000 officers and men are on parade, together with two hundred horses; over two hundred musicians from six bands and corps of drums march and play as one. Some 113 words of command are given by the Officer in Command of the Parade. The parade route extends from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and back again.

Precisely as the clock on the Horse Guards Building strikes eleven, the Royal Procession arrives and The Queen takes the Royal Salute. The parade begins with the Inspection, The Queen driving slowly down the ranks of all six Guards and then past the Household Cavalry. After the event, the Royal Family gathers on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch an RAF flypast.


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We always watch it on the television each year.  We have the best seats in the house.   It's really the only way to watch it.   When you see all the crowds coming down the Mall towards Buckingham Palace afterwards for the RAF Flypast, it's an amazing spectacle as well.   Far too many people for my liking.   Most of them won't see much of anything.   The telly has a much better viewpoint of it all.    I hate crowds.


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Of course little Prince George stole the show yesterday.   He seems such a sweet little boy and you can really tell that his father is very proud of him and that they have a close and loving relationship.   I love this picture.   You get to see the reigning Monarch and three future Monarchs all together in one picture.


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Kate looked fabulous  on her first "Official" occasion after the birth of Princess Charlotte.  But then again, the Duchesse always looks gorgeous to me.   I wasn't all that fond of her hat however, although her suit was gorgeous.  I loved the colour.   Todd looked at that hat and said "I wonder who told suggested she wear a Satellight dish on her head?"   To me it looked a bit like a Chinet Carboard Dinner Plate that they had squashed down onto her head.  I suppose that is the style these days.   I could never wear a hat.  I don't like them.  They make me feel quite conspicuous.

The Queen looked her usual well tailored self.   I think she must have a bazillion outfits and matching hats that are identical in style but in different colours and with the odd variety of embellishments. It was also very nice to see Prince Phillip.   We haven't seen very much of him lately at all.

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Someone looks like she is really enjoying her Honeymoon in Tunisia.   She will be back in the UK along with hubby at the end of this week.  I am looking forward to meeting Jose.  He looks a very nice chap and very swarthily Spanish.  Cute couple.  I think when the time comes they will have beautiful children.

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 I think cleaning the deck must be very serious business . . . deep concentration is required.

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I took this photograph in the garden yesterday of the Sicillian Honey Garlic plant and I managed to catch a Bee just arriving for lunch.   Can you see it?    It's actually just humming with bees most of the time . . .  slipping in and out of those little drooping trumpet shapes.   They love it!

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And I took another photo of the Clematis which is absolutely laden with blooms.    So beautiful.   I also saw two frogs sunning themselves on the rocks in the pond.   A mid sized one along with a smaller one.

Oh, I shall miss all of this should we have to move and I really hope that we do not . . .

I also discovered yesterday that we had actually missed the last episode of "The Outlander,"  having thought that the one we watched was the last one.   We were able to watch it last night . . .  but I say "Watch" loosely as it was really quite brutal and I had my eyes closed for a great deal of it.  So very realistic it was.    It ended well however.   In series 2 they will be in France.   You got to see them sailing there in the last scenes . . .

I know that the brutality was an essential part of the books . .  . and it really gives you a good sense of what life was really like at that time for anyone who wasn't filthy rich and for the Scots under British rule . . .  but it does become a bit much for me.  It's so very realistic . . .  and I am ever cognizant of the fact that you can't ever un-see what you have seen.

A thought to carry with you through today  . . .


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"To get the full value of joy,
you must have someone to divide it with."
~Mark Twain
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Baking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Spiced Catuccini with Almonds.   So tasty!


May your Sunday be truly blessed.  The sun is shining here again today.   Lovely jubbly.

Don't forget  . . .

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And I do too!

9 comments:

  1. Good Morning Marie, getting brighter by the minute down here, when I got up it looked as if we were in for another dull day..Thankfully I am slowly changing me mind. I love the thought that you have frogs in teh garden, I do like that Garlic plant I have never heard of it..is it actually garlic bulbs ? or is t just that it ha steh smell of garlic. I would certainly like to have it especially if the bees like it. It is so important now to have things for the bees to like..
    I'm like you in that I don't like watching brutal sceens on TV..so I usually avoid watching them !! In fact I find myself watching less and leas Tv these day's well especially teh evenings when I am on my own...unfortunatle during the day Mary loves the TV on so on it stay's !! mind you I hav eto agre ethat sometime steh day programmes epecailly teh early morning one sar enot to bad, we enjoy watching people buy houses and do them up to sell or let..it is ama zing where people find the ideas to change places.. Well I am away now to get my days started. Mary will be over soon, and I have church then out for Sunday lunch meeting Beth adn Max for lunch so that will be good, Then Beth is comming back with me to hopefully TRY to get me really into the new apple Ipad mini 3 !! you know me and technology...we really don't mix. I put everything down to getting old !!!! at 70 I am sure my brain is not good at retaining info....well taht'smy excuse !! Have a lovely day hope the sun shines for you xx

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  2. It's not really a garlic plant Sybil, but a flower. The bees really love it. I bought mine as bulbs at a garden centre. You can find out more about them here: http://www.bakker.co.uk/product/sicilian-honey-garlic/

    They grow really easily!

    I like those auction shows and the like as well. Don't get to see them very often. Songs of Praise and Country File are also favourites! I hope you have a lovely time at church and then lunch out. When you get your ipad working, we will have to face time! xoxo

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  3. Ladies I love Songs of Praise. I don't get to see it often though. I seem to only watch a few shows as I dislike the violence immensely. My day has felt long. Dad was a bittersweet joy today. He loved his piece of cake and thought it was first cake he ever had.

    God bless your Sunday.

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  4. I read the entire Outlander series and it was brutal and beautiful as well. But I did not like what Jamie had to endure in that last show at all.

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  5. I love that the traditions of long ago are still held. People need some one to look up to for role models. Hope you have a lovely Sunday. On the gloomy side here but not raining for the present anyway. Hope it holds off till after church.

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  6. I will have to watch for Outlander..I feel that way about Game of Thrones..so VIOLENT.

    Watched The Judge this week..and If I Stay..we really liked both..what an actor Robert Duval.And RDowney too.

    Silly hat I agree.

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  7. You are right Suzan, there are a lot of shows out there that are so violent, as well lots of nudity and sex and when did it become okay to use the "f" word??? I don't watch a lot these days either. It is becoming more difficult with time to find something nice. Shows like Downton and Call the Midwife are few and far between! We have recently been enjoying Home Fires which is nice! It's a WW2 drama about the WI. xoxo

    You are right Dee, that last show was very brutal, but I did like a happy ending. I could not watch a lot of it as it was a bit too much for me. Won't stop me from watching next season however! I love the story of Claire and Jamie too much! xoxo

    I am a traditionalist at heart Pam. I love traditions and the people who keep them! Happy Sunday, hope your rain held off! xoxo

    I watched Outlander on Amazon Prime Monique. GOT is very Violent. But also compelling. I do have to say though that I am not enjoying this latest series of it as much as the others. It's far too dark and I can't see what's happening most of the time! xoxo


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  8. Thanks for sharing some of your colorful English history. I loved reading it all. I do love all the pictures of the events too. We do love following all of the fun things about the British royalty.
    I loved the pictures and that is a sweet couple. I think it awesome that you will be able to continue to see them.
    You do have a lovely garden; I enjoyed the pictures.
    sending love and hugs your way!

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  9. I have always been a Royalist LeAnn! And my mother before me. Todd is also a Royalist. We think they work very hard for this nation. Love you! xoxo

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