Diamond Jubilee Celebration Weekend!

Can you believe that it's the first of June already?! This time last year, we were getting very excited about the forthcoming wedding of daughter number 2, which was held on the 11th June.  We were rushing around making sure that everything in the garden would be looking lovely on the big day, and sending up lots of prayers for a dry day! Here in England, we don't have too many aspirations about the weather in the summertime.  If there is a big event coming up, we just pray for it to at least be DRY - if the sun shines, then that is a bonus.  (Oh, and the sun DID shine on the wedding day, so we were blessed indeed).

Talking about 'big events', I guess it doesn't get much bigger than the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations that are due to take place in London this coming weekend.  Typically, we have had absolutely glorious weather in England over the past couple of weeks but, guess what, yes, rain is forecast, which will be such a shame, because so many people have street parties arranged throughout the country, and lots of Fetes and Fairs will be held, all in the open air of course.

It will be a particular shame if it rains on Sunday afternoon, when the Thames Jubilee Pageant will be held on the River Thames.  

Over 1,000 boats are preparing to muster for what should be an amazing spectacle.  

It will be one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the river. Rowing  boats and working boats and pleasure vessels of all shapes and sizes will be beautifully dressed with streamers and Union Flags, their crews and passengers turned out in their finest rigs. The armed forces, fire, police, rescue and other services will be afloat and there will be an exuberance of historic boats, wooden launches, steam vessels and other boats of note.


The flotilla will be bolstered with passenger boats carrying flag-waving members of the public placed centre stage (or rather mid-river) in this floating celebration of Her Majesty's 60 year reign. The spectacle will be further enhanced with music barges and boats spouting geysers. Moreover, there will be specially constructed elements such as a floating belfry, its chiming bells answered by those from riverbank churches.


The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant will celebrate Her Majesty's 60 years of service by magnificently bringing the Thames to life; making it joyously full with boats, resounding with clanging bells, tooting horns and sounding whistles; recalling both its royal heritage and its heyday as a working, bustling river.


Another event that will be held on the Monday, is the the star-studded Diamond Jubilee Concert, which will be set against the spectacular backdrop of Buckingham Palace and will feature stars from the last sixty years of music.  


So let's hope that the weather forecast is wrong, and that the sun will shine on our country for these very special occasions.  I am sure that whilst watching the events on the television, it will make me feel very proud to be British!

Congratulations Ma'am!

Sunday Snaps!

Well my little bloggies, don't faint, but it is I, your old friend 'thisisme' from over the sea! Okay, I know that I'm not over the sea to some of you, but I think most of my friends are across the water in some way or another.  Although, a big hallo to all those of you in the United Kingdom as well, of course!


I really thought I had better make an effort to post some photos today, otherwise all my Followers will be leaving me in droves and that will never do, as you all mean so much to me.  Truth be told, I know the ones that would stick with me through thick and thin, and you know just who you are, you little rascals!


Actually, I have been so grateful for all your love, prayers and support over the past couple of weeks.  It really does mean such a difference to know that someone is out there thinking of you and wishing you well.  I was hoping to tell you today just how much better I was feeling, but, unfortunately, I still feel as weak as a kitten, and I am still just flopping around all over the place - NOT a pretty sight! Hee Hee!  Anyway, onwards and upwards as they say, so here we go with the Sunday Snaps for this week.


I'm afraid that I'm resorting to the garden again, and I'm wondering if you can tell which are my favourite colours in the garden.  It shouldn't be too hard for you to work that one out! Yes, I just love pinks, purples and lavenders, with the occasional pale yellow thrown in for good measure.  I know lots of people like the 'hot' look in their gardens, with all the vivid colours, but I prefer a more pastel palette myself.  (Gosh, I'm getting quite poetic there - did you notice?!!).

I just love to have lots of old, terracotta pots in the garden.  I like to think that it gives it an Italian feel.

As part of my birthday presents this year, daughter number two gave me a new rucksack for when I'm out walking, along with a matching flask and a book on some new walks in the area.  So here I am with my new rucksack and enjoying my first cup of hot chocolate on the beach.  This was when the family were here from France and, as you can see, it was still pretty chilly then, although I'm delighted to say that since I was 'released' (!) from hospital, the weather has been absolutely glorious over here in England.

Finally, I am going to finish off with a photo of little Ruby Violet.  I know that my facebook friends have already seen this one, but I think it is such a delightful photo that I wanted to share it here as well, for those who haven't seen it.

So there you have it, that's my Sunday Snaps done and dusted for another week.  I really am hoping that I will have a little more energy during this coming week so that I can pop over and see you all.  Until then, be good and take good care of yourselves.

Big hugs to you all!

WHY?!

Why, whenever I go out, do I worry if I'm going to get a parking space?



Why do I think that the garden should look perfect all the tim e?

Why do I want to please everyone all of the time?

Why can't I say "no"?

Why do I always think that everyone else is better than me?

Why do I always think that I'm not very clever?

Why do I feel guilty if I sit down during the day to just read a book?

Why can't I have lovely, straight hair?

Why can't I be more patient? 


Why can't I think of something more exciting to post about?!


Answers please, on a postcard, to .... (Hee Hee!)  

Thank You My Friends!

Following a lovely dry, sunny weekend, hubby completed the new greenhouse, with the help at the end by son-in-law number two, when they were putting all the glass in.  I can now put my tomato plants in there, plus some peppers and it also means that I can make up my tubs and hanging baskets with the young plants that I have been bringing on, and keep them protected until I am able to put them out at the end of this month.

What can I say about all the wonderful comments I received from you following my last post.  They were all full of such warmth, love, affection and support, that I really was terribly touched. I am sure that I am being buoyed along at the moment by your prayers and positive healing thoughts, because I have certainly been feeling a little easier over the past couple of days.  I really do thank you all for your concern, especially as I know that there are quite a few of you out there who have your own worries and concerns at the moment.

Sunday Snaps

Happy Sunday dear little Bloggies everywhere!  To be honest, I didn't think that I would be posting today, and I was going to make the title of this post "Normal Service Will Be Resumed......"

Many of my friends who are also friends of mine on facebook (and if you are not there already, head on over to find me! Diane Croad is the name), will know that I have been suffering the most awful pain for the past couple of weeks and, this past week in particular, I have been out of action for a lot of the things that I normally do.  My Doctor has referred me to a Gastroenterologist, so I now have to sit tight and wait for an appointment.  So, please forgive me dear friends, as I haven't really switched on my laptop for days, so I know I have not been visiting you, even though I am with you in spirit!

At least the sun is shining today, so I think I will just try to sit in the garden for a while and admire the view.  Here are a few snaps of my May garden - enjoy!

This last one is of my gorgeous boy (!) helping Papa with the contruction of the greenhouse, which is now complete and all the glass is in - and not a single accident.  Phew!  

I will try to visit you if I possibly can, but I know you will forgive me if you don't see me around!

"Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, and faithfulnes the best relationship" - Buddha.

"It is health that is real wealth, and not pieces of gold or silver" - Mahatma Ghandi.

"Good health and good sense are two of life's greatest blessings" - Unknown.

Wordless Wednesday (Practising with my Camera!)

Changes All Over The Place!

Those of us who use the internet have had some changes thrust upon us recently, that perhaps we didn't want, as we were quite happy, thank you very much, bumbling along in our own sweet ways!

First there was Timeline on facebook, and then there was the new Blogger interface. Oh, I despaired.  I didn't want these changes - BUT, I have to say that I am now loving the new Timeline on facebook, and the photos come out so much better than before.  I resisted and resisted on going over to the new interface on Blogger and then, one day, I woke up, and there it was.  It had been changed for me!  Guess what, after a few days of touring round the site, I now love it! It is so much cleaner than the old one, and I can still update my header photo very quickly, which is what I was really worried about!  

I see now that you can actually revert back to the old Blogger, but, you know what, I'm going to stay with the new one!  I admit that I was having problems with it originally, but when my son-in-law (I should call him" son-in-love" as a couple of my other bloggy friends call their daughter or son in laws, for he certainly is that, and we couldn't wish for anyone  better to have come into our family all those years ago.) was here a couple of weeks ago, he set it up so that I now get to my blog using Google Chrome, and it is so much easier, and I think it's quicker as well.

What does all this tell us?  Perhaps that we should embrace all these changes that come our way, and not get stuck into a rut.  I love keeping up with all that is happening with new technology, and my theory is that it's got to be keeping my brain active by learning all these new things.  (Mind you, my family might disagree with me on that one! Hee Hee!).

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” by George Bernard Shaw. “He who moves not forward, goes backward” by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German Playwright). ‘Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes.’ by Johann as above. What do you think my friends?  Do you kick against change, or are you quite happy to go along with the new? The keener eyed amongst you might notice that I have slightly changed the layout of my Blog, in that I only have one sidebar now.  I don't know whether that's less distracting for you when reading my posts, or whether it doesn't really make any difference!