Diamond Jubilee Four-Day Party

The Diamond Jubilee was four days of parties for us and for the country. However, we got an additional five days for the Jubilee since it was also half term for Abby and Sammy. The Diamond Jubilee was celebrating 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II being on the throne. We started off the weekend (Saturday) at the Hertfordshire Jubilee County show. The above picture shows the sheep competition. It was very fun to watch because it reminded me of the movie "Babe." 

There were lots of farm animals to see and lots of very good food to eat. 

We saw the all-human circus while at the county show too. 

Alex loved her light-up twirly toy the most

We also got to watch some amazing equestrian horse jumping. Very impressive and entertaining! I could have sat there and watched that all day.

We also saw the Devil's horsemen (show horses) and various horse relay races. Here is Sammy at the Jubilee Arena cheering for the Hertfordshire horse and pony team.

On Sunday, I contemplated taking the girls to the Flotilla event on the Thames where 1000 boats went up the Thames River in London and the Queen watched it all from a beautiful golden barge. However, we also had a neighborhood party planned on the same day. So I decided against going to the Flotilla event and going to our neighborhood party so we could meet some more of our neighbors. I am sure glad I did. If you watched it on television, you know that Sunday's flotilla had awful rainy weather. It was down pouring on all the royals. We went to our party just around the corner. They had a hog roast and roasted a whole pig on a spit. They had a bouncy castle, games, stalls selling various items and a whole lot of food. However, the rain came down on us too. Our food was soaking wet, the tents were leaking because of all the rain and we were all drenched. Alex was crying because she wanted to go on the bouncy castle but she didn't want to go on it because it was slippery, but she did want to go on it... Needless to say, we left the party early, met no new neighbors and went home. We built a blanket fort in the front room and watched the flotilla on t.v. 

On Monday, the village just next to ours had fireworks, bon fires, games, food and more. We watched the concert at Buckingham palace on t.v. Tuesday, we went to yet ANOTHER party. This one was with some friends of ours and for me, it was the highlight of all the jubilee celebrations. All the food was English from cucumber sandwiches, to tarts, cupcakes, sausage rolls, pickled onions, trifles, strawberries n' cream etc etc. The cupcakes were decorated with the Union Jack, Big Ben, the London Eye and as flower pots - all homemade!

The decorations would have made anyone feel patriotic!

We watched the Queen on t.v. in the royal procession to St. Paul's while we nibbled on our English delicacies!

The tables were so festive.

These cute little thrones holding cupcakes were the centerpiece for the tables. One has the Union Jack  and the other has Big Ben on it if you look closely. Adorable!

The kids played pin the tail on the corgi. A corgi is the kind of dog the Queen has. We also played "pass the parcel" a favorite English game. There was an adult version and children version. I had to sing a solo of the national anthem in the adult version of the game. I was able to do it since I have heard "God Save the Queen" about a hundred times this weekend. 

Each child got a mask of one of the royal family. The adults tried on the masks too and did their best impressions of the various personalities.

Abby put on the Queen's mask and did not take it off the rest of the night. She didn't speak to anyone just wandered in and out of the room listening to the clacking of her heels on the wood floor and perfecting her Queenly walk and wave. It became kind of eery to see the Queen wandering around. Charles feared that he would wake up in the middle of the night with the "Queen" standing over him. Even a week later, Abby is still wearing the mask whenever she gets a chance....It was certainly a weekend to remember. Who knows what will be next? How long with the Queen live? Will they celebrate her 64th Jubilee when she actually becomes the longest reigning monarch surpassing Victoria's 63 years or will they wait until her 70th year to do it all again? Will she make it that long or will we be here to witness the first coronation in 60+ years? It all remains to be seen...I am glad we have been able to witness both her 50th Golden Jubilee and now her 60th Diamond Jubilee. Long live the Queen! (More to come on our activities and travels the rest of the week.)