General Discussions => General discussions => Topic started by: Pica Pica on June 03, 2012, 06:31:38 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Long to Rain Over Us - Jubilee Pageantry.
Post by: Pica Pica on June 03, 2012, 06:31:38 PM
Post by: Pica Pica on June 03, 2012, 06:31:38 PM
Today, I went to the flotilla on the Thames to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. I am no ardent monarchist, but I do like the historical continuation of parades on the Thames.
We were promised a thousand boats, choirs, bells and grand stuff, looking like this.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2Fi%2Fpix%2F2012%2F01%2F18%2Farticle-2088304-0F83769A00000578-470_964x893.jpg&hash=56aef32c3635ee98bd62e4ac749942f4a7cebfa2)
Unfortunately, it was wet, crowded and rather boring. I was fondled for three hours on the bottom by an old lady trying to push into my spot, I got very humpy with her. The drizzle didn't really stop, but became torrential rain, and the fact is, that a procession of white pleasure boats is rather dull. Never again - thank goodness.
The highlights, the Royal Barge was dead cool.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thejc.com%2Ffiles%2Fimagecache%2Fbody_landscape%2Fbarge%2Bsmall.JPG&hash=d1fcc8fdcaee5b83184aae55c08e3a2bfce98081)
As was the larger one the Queen actually rode in.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.telegraph.co.uk%2Fmultimedia%2Farchive%2F02080%2Fb2_2080945b.jpg&hash=4ff3817818c9f7d23dc6503e5968a6a3bd79cf4a)
The rowing bit at the beginning was wonderful.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.images.itv.com%2Fimage%2Ffile%2F39696%2Fimage_update_0a3f315b81e642a5_1338741361_9j-4aaqsk.jpeg&hash=2b7a84a435f96fd3f8f7cb1fefad499b8b7c065a)
And the first boat, one with a working carillon of bells on it, was one of the coolest things I have ever seen.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.dailyexpress.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fdynamic%2Fgalleries%2F517x%2F29211.jpg&hash=d9b50ad34678d4f0a7c01c352f74ff79ce9bdc32)
There were plenty of moments that made me go wow (though yesterday I went to the 'Making of Harry Potter' Exhibition and wowed even more - the animatronics, astonishing).
Here is a video of the good bits, including the bell-boat in close up and all the Royals.
Thames Boat Pageant 2012 Highlights Queen's Diamond Jubilee London (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PhtUmfZ3xI&feature=related#)
However, My little cousin summed up the occasion best with the following picture, which she said is her, waving her flag and smiling while peering through dense rain.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-yuwMke4ldDU%2FT8vy1fjSD7I%2FAAAAAAAAALE%2FuCebnD6vF3w%2Fs400%2Fimg018.jpg&hash=9afdf550606cda8366d178bf76347c49ec2f7f19)
If you look carefully, however, you will see that she is smiling, and I think part of that is pure 'keep your pecker up' spirit, partly the English resilience against drizzle and mostly the fact that she was there with a pretty decent family - as was I.
Tomorrow is a picnic in Hyde Park - Brollies packed.
We were promised a thousand boats, choirs, bells and grand stuff, looking like this.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2Fi%2Fpix%2F2012%2F01%2F18%2Farticle-2088304-0F83769A00000578-470_964x893.jpg&hash=56aef32c3635ee98bd62e4ac749942f4a7cebfa2)
Unfortunately, it was wet, crowded and rather boring. I was fondled for three hours on the bottom by an old lady trying to push into my spot, I got very humpy with her. The drizzle didn't really stop, but became torrential rain, and the fact is, that a procession of white pleasure boats is rather dull. Never again - thank goodness.
The highlights, the Royal Barge was dead cool.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thejc.com%2Ffiles%2Fimagecache%2Fbody_landscape%2Fbarge%2Bsmall.JPG&hash=d1fcc8fdcaee5b83184aae55c08e3a2bfce98081)
As was the larger one the Queen actually rode in.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.telegraph.co.uk%2Fmultimedia%2Farchive%2F02080%2Fb2_2080945b.jpg&hash=4ff3817818c9f7d23dc6503e5968a6a3bd79cf4a)
The rowing bit at the beginning was wonderful.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.images.itv.com%2Fimage%2Ffile%2F39696%2Fimage_update_0a3f315b81e642a5_1338741361_9j-4aaqsk.jpeg&hash=2b7a84a435f96fd3f8f7cb1fefad499b8b7c065a)
And the first boat, one with a working carillon of bells on it, was one of the coolest things I have ever seen.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.dailyexpress.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fdynamic%2Fgalleries%2F517x%2F29211.jpg&hash=d9b50ad34678d4f0a7c01c352f74ff79ce9bdc32)
There were plenty of moments that made me go wow (though yesterday I went to the 'Making of Harry Potter' Exhibition and wowed even more - the animatronics, astonishing).
Here is a video of the good bits, including the bell-boat in close up and all the Royals.
Thames Boat Pageant 2012 Highlights Queen's Diamond Jubilee London (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PhtUmfZ3xI&feature=related#)
However, My little cousin summed up the occasion best with the following picture, which she said is her, waving her flag and smiling while peering through dense rain.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-yuwMke4ldDU%2FT8vy1fjSD7I%2FAAAAAAAAALE%2FuCebnD6vF3w%2Fs400%2Fimg018.jpg&hash=9afdf550606cda8366d178bf76347c49ec2f7f19)
If you look carefully, however, you will see that she is smiling, and I think part of that is pure 'keep your pecker up' spirit, partly the English resilience against drizzle and mostly the fact that she was there with a pretty decent family - as was I.
Tomorrow is a picnic in Hyde Park - Brollies packed.