En Angleterre

It was rather hectic but I absolutely loved it.

I stayed a few days with my cousin's daughter and family and tried to support them in their latest angst. Then onto Sussex and the most delightful of cottages. I was lucky. It was a beautiful thatched cottage which I highly recommend to rent.  The owners were lovely and apart from a few mosquitoes I had a lovely time.....but then my own home is pestered with mosquitoes! Difference is I have a mosquito net!   I loved Arundel and Chichester.  So pretty, calm and assuringly steeped in history. I also visited Rye on my journey from Ashford to Littlehampton.  What an exquisite village.
Maybe I will tell you more about these villages in a later posting.

Apart from the prep for and clearing up of my son's wedding at which I did not help as much as I would have liked to .... (everyone did their bit)...  and apart of course from attending the lovely ceremony, I walked on a lovely SSI beach in Sussex. Then in Suffolk another SSI beach and how wonderful to be free from litter.

The next two weeks disappeared as quickly as the first two! Suffice it to say there was Englishness :

A day's journey to visit mother and brother
Barbecues and bunting 
Crabbing buckets with bacon
Dunwich 10 miles there and back
English scones and raspberry jam
Fish and chips, flying kites, flag on the sandcastles
Gigs in pubs
Hula hoops
Ice creams
James and Katie
Laughter as we climbed the lighthouse up and down the spiral staircase
Meals in pubs with Ad
Nams

Olympic torch flame carried past the cottage
Picnics in the dunes, paddling in the sea, promenade on the pier,
Questions from little ones and those who are so tall

Running along with wind in our hair
Shared meals
Tired people
Union Jack flags wherever we go
Umbrellas abandoned when rain stopped
Vicky and co aboard a river boat
Walks along beach to harbour, across common and marshes,

X,Y, Zee and Camarderie,

Thank you England and despite the weather I had a whale of a time and laughed for 4 weeks!

It's summer 'cos people are swimming in the river

... and I am working indoors at a friend's house... popping into the sunshine every now and then to top up the tan which has been peeling since the bare-armed walks on the windswept south and east coast UK.

Even the French lawn (grass) seems to tell me it has stopped growing and I don't know what to do about the Asiatique frelons at the bottom of the garden, which are probably minding their own business, but how many bees have they eaten today?

I posted important UK letters this evening: one to the UK tax office (well.. I have had to choose one of the three that are dealing with my situation!!!!) as I am trying to clear up the double tax conundrum. At last, they have agreed that the state pension can be taxed in France whilst my teachers' pension gets taxed in UK. They are to reimburse me! Good news!

Another letter to complain about my cottage rental... too boring to tell but suffice to say not up to my standard. I understand I am to receive a refund (yet more good news) but nevertheless I told the company that they would receive a letter for the proprietor!  Slugs on the kitchen floor and work surface was the end!!!!!!!

I thought the new proprietors of La Presse, that is the post office/shop/bar..... had forgotten all about me but they would like me to play for les anciens (who?... they mean the old boys!!!!!!!)  and so we have agreed on Saturday late morning after coffee for the first one and I told them to tell me to stop if it is not liked or it is too loud!  So now I have to practise. It's very much a summer instrument.  My doors / windows are wide open as it is summer and who knows who hears me because the Fort Knox gates shut out les voyeurs!  What am I going to play?   L'accordeon!

La Tour de France

I could watch LIVE on http://www.francetv.fr/sport/tour-de-france/direct    Merci beaucoup.
Felicitations a l'equipe d'angleterre.  WELL DONE Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish.

Un petit circulation

It's a new expression that was said by a French neighbour yesterday as we met whilst they were a walking in the town. A very contented, calm, polite, elderly couple who have probably lived in this village all their lives.
Today I made a 19km cycle ride, just a small circulation! It was my first ride of the year as now one bicycle has been attended. I am sure though that despite correcting the derailleur gears they won't long and a new set will be required. However I now have strong tyres so perhaps they won't keep requiring a pump up!  I was out for nearly 3 hours but I did stop to have an ice cream and drink as well as consult the map at almost every junction of the chemins on my return journey.
I had a hard day. trying to keep on task with domestic duties... needing to protect my head from too much thinking again, I just had to sleep for 4 hours in the afternoon. I suspect the wonderful UK expedition is still catching up with me and I need to rest!  Late nights don't help!
Now I'm cooking okra which I found in UK but know that the larger French supermarkets have it.

Asian Hornets and the saga of the removal of a nest

I am advised to call in the Exterminator.  How annoying!
The droning surprised me when I was weeding.  I thought "Help! These are the nasty ones that we have been warned about",  but couldn't remember what they were called until my friend confirmed that they are indeed Asian Hornets soemetimes called Asian Waps.  Read what Planete Passion has to say! and Days on The Claise.  They kill bees.  I think I ought to try and eradicate the nest myself as I can't afford 100 euros for the pompiers (firemen).  Nevertheless I will report it to the Maire.  Normally, I would let insects be (hear the pun) but I certainly don't need a danger zone at the bottom of my garden!
I wonder why they are sometimes called Asian wasps when really they are hornets and I wonder if it is because of their Latin/Italian name: Vespa Velutina Nigrithorax
Postscript: A few days later .. I have decided to do it myself, under stealth at night when evidently they will have gone to bed!  I have bought the spray and will get donned up with protective clothing. Hopefully they will not see me!
Another postscript:  I have been wondering if the queen only flies to make new nests in Spring or whether it happens throughout the summer.  I need to research on HOW the queen makes the workers and guards!  I have forgotten my biology / zoology!
Postscript 20 July 2012: They appear to not be there.It's colder and there has been rain. However, I sprayed at 10.00 pm and not a murmur as I sprayed the nest.  It was difficult to spray the jet UP into the nest. Then I whacked the nest with a garden rake and ran like hell!!!!!
Postscript 21 July 2012 10 a.m. : Returning gingerly to the site I can see two frelons (hornets) within a hole in a breezeblock attending to an egg and I can see the honeycomb, signalling that the nest is behind the no more than 6 breezeblocks that define a wall between what has become my rockery and where I used to pile the lawn clippings on top of previous rubble. I knew this pile needed removal!  So now ... I realise that the part of the nest that I have removed was not a small nest but was merely the porch!  I will have to consider what to do and whether the spray that I have is sufficient. Me thinks not and that the spray will not penetrate deep into the nest. It is impossible to determine the size of it as it is concealed.  I got buzzed whilst I was LOOKING. The guard started circulating!  I retreated, deciding not to go near that area of the garden! Pretty scary...when recently a woman in France died from a sting!
Last postcript 26 July 2012:   We smoked them out with a trail of petrol to their nest set alight,  then hosed the nest inside the hole in the breeze block wall.  I will leave it for a day and then start to fork out the debris that is in the old grass cuttings and rubble pile in the corner of the garden... I need to get a wheelbarrow..... All this in scorching heat of the day when the cicadas are singing!!!!!!!

Effusive

A very dear friend describes me as effusive, verbose, and that I have outpourings.
Being wordy necessitates declaring emotions.  I am emotional.  My face/body language are easily read to gauge the level of happiness that I have for myself, others or a situation.  
It's how I am and has taken me a lifetime to accept.
I haven't always been able to verbally express myself  because I lacked vocabulary and was afraid of people's reactions and comments. The brain used to clog up!
Hence it is why, I write down thoughts and feelings to get them OUT of my HEAD, where, if they were to stay, confusion would reign. It's better than allowing them to fester inside my head and heart.
Over time, outpourings onto paper appear to bring sense to life or I then forget about the subject!
I am banned from writing overly much to friends and family who often deal with this by ignoring me, in effect silencing me and not writing back! They have sometimes said that I am mad and of course I am working on that!

I write personal STUFF in a journal.  I try to keep one journal book and date the entries/postings.  In the past there have been two or three on the go at the same time and not always dated so if I were to revisit them the chronology would be muddled.   Any reader including myself would be muddled reading the struggles that I vent!!!!! Ho hum!  


Often people have not described who I am or what I am except with reference to the sometimes zany, crazy, off-the-wall behaviour, when often I allowed their words to hurt me.  I can see that it was not their words that hurt but the way that I thought about what they'd said! I have also had lovely comments and sometimes used to cry because I did not know how to receive compliments! Sad!

To be described as verbose, or effusive is perhaps negative but because it identifies HOW I AM,  I see it as positive, supportive and defining.  My expression of  feelings and opinions in script or verbally helps me understand and feel more confident.  It is how I am.

 
 

The journey home from home

My return journey took 17 hours, the longest ever from door to door.  I'd set off from a Suffolk coastal town at 7h15 and after about 30 minutes I really felt as if I could drive no further, I was that exhilaratingly exhausted after 4 weeks of FULL on FUN!  However, the torrential rain abated away from the coast leading to optimism for good weather, but that dwindled as driving conditions became treacherous with more watery stuff falling from the sky.  Apart from that, it was a good journey and I made sufficient progress to pop in to S's supermarket to get items for my English friend in France. She'd made the most amazing store cupboard cakes for me to take and everyone was hungrily pleased to eat them! This made me late for the ferry but I'd worked out that I would still be OK for time the other side of the channel.  However, I had not bargained for technical problems on the ferry and so everyone had to wait two hours before the next boarding.  I slept on the boat! The sun shone as the cars emerged from the hull of the vessel to drive onto terra franca.  How I love to see that wide open sky at Calais! The weather did not hold.  More rain came. When the sun shone yet again it gave a false promise for me to carry on despite the fact that I was tired.  I'd forgotten that at this time of the year it gets suddenly dark. I'd left it too late to find a hotel and anyway I'd also forgotten that I have to get off the autoroute to find one.  I NEED TO PLAN!  So I ploughed on, driving slower, daring not to stop as it would make me later than late. I was resigned for the 2 a.m. arrival when the autoroute 'bouchon' required us to leave and take the Nationale route!  I lost my way, experienced danger on the road. It was my own making. I dare not tell...except to say it is not always a good idea for the brain to be on automatic and make me think I am driving on an English highway!  Fortunately, I had the wherewithal to take avoidance action and so I live to tell a tale!  Sometimes I stop at Ashford, Kent with family but this time it was not possible.   It's not much fun doing that journey all alone and next time I really must get a hotel for the return journey.

Stuff in Life, Stuff of Life

Before travelling I gathered together the very many things for every eventuality knowing that the weather further north would be less warm than here.  However, as it had already been cold and wet on account of the lower than usual jet stream, I felt prepared.  To adapt to the slightly lower temperature I needed a hot water bottle on the first two nights in my beloved home country.  Fortunately, my cousin had a spare HWB as I'd left mine at home in my adopted country. Although it was on the list it did not get packed!  I thrive on lists as my aide-memoire but the list was abandoned several times as I tried to pack and unpack essentials and optionals.

The outcome of yet another unsuccessful attempt at travelling light was that I took too many outdoor clothing options and too many indoor summer clothing options and too much unnecessary, superfluous to requirement THINGS based on the thought that I MIGHT need it!  One needs very little as it happens.

Possibly, the key would be to have one bag and ONE bag only taking time to reduce the pile of options until it goes into the ONE bag!   I tried that. I failed. Time ran out. I bundled what I had or what I thought I needed into the car on the basis that if no more would fit into my small vehicle then that would be the criteria for leaving it behind.

It was imperative to take clothes for a wedding,  plus the champagne flutes I had promised,  plus the fruit salad bowls and bunting.  UK was awash with bunting! Bubbly in bottles and French wines were carried in order to avoid paying UK prices, to be used as a back-up supply should the young couple have under-ordered.  They were awash with alcohol!  Towels were necessary, as required by the cottage rentals, plus extra bed linen in case visitors wanted to stay.  A new small portable barbecue and accoutrements were packed.  I was so glad it was unused as I had not considered the mess of a used one being packed into the car!  Boots as well as sandals for coastal and heathland walks accompanied the wellies should the wedding party field be akin to Glastonbury on a wet, muddy, gloopy day!!!!!   I took clothing to feel glamorous but opportunity for venues I ridiculously dreamed of meant most of my flamboyant dresses and scarves stayed in the suitcase.  Horror descended when I discovered that my silver ear-rings had been left on the options table and so one pair alone was all I could wear! How narcissistic can one be?

Gifts for birthdays and gifts for people were squeezed into spaces as was at least one bag of paperwork tasks that I might do if unoccupied.  That was a pessimistic or optimistic thought because I had no time other than for family and friends. 

I'm trying to highlight the fact that most of us have STUFF IN LIFE, and this is stunningly not simple.  Things in Life tend to become complicated.  I wish to simplify travel packing and unpacking, simplify life, dispose of that which I do NOT need, dispose of the excesses. But then the thought that I would have to go and buy AGAIN if I were to need it arrives and so I think what is the point of getting rid of what I need and have.  Confusion!  I have some lovely things that come into their own on occasions and meet the needs of LIVING a LIFE!  Why is it that some people travel so neatly and with ONE bag?  How did they learn to do that?

Back home, I've been unpacking the packed vehicle of STUFF I took and STUFF I have accumulated, even though I off-loaded STUFF to others.  Wandering around the house to put things into their respective places I THINK  I have too much STUFF and wish to free myself of CLUTTER ... yet it all is very useful, even though there are useful things that I do not have.

I wonder how many people have these thoughts.

I met friends who were decluttering, who were reluctant to let me step foot in their house on account of the great "sort-out" of collected model vehicles!  Every room was piled high with model sports cars, remote controlled vehicles of all sizes, some in their original boxes. They were being sorted into those for charity shops and those to be sold as collectible items.  I asked about why and how they were collected.  I knew he (and she?) had a passion but never did I realise how much they'd stored in the attic space!  It was an interesting to hear their story.

Vous avez une barricade

Now, I can't help it if my gates are like a barricade.  I inherited them.  I affectionately refer to them as Fort Knox. 
I am at a loss to know how to replace them with gates that are more friendly to those outside and those within!  They are 2.90m wide when most gates are at least 3.00m in width. They open immediately onto the road.  My courtyard is within.  It's nice sometimes to keep the world OUT and have privacy and yet sometimes I want to open up so that I can see the real world go by and they can see in!
When a passing lady referred to them as 'une barricade' it made me smile as well as feel slightly numb!  I was indeed paying attention to security, locking my gate against the hoards of visitors whilst I attended the village event.  I stopped the delightful French lady in her tracks, re-opened the gates to show her my house and explained that doors were windows and windows were doors and so, if I do not lock the gates and leave my windows which are doors open, then all manner of people could intrude.  She understood, saying 'c'est normale' in the way that only the French can use this descriptive phrasal clause.     Ho hum!!!!!!!!

The gates face the western sun. At this time of year to leave them open until 10pm or later when the sun has warmed the stone walls so that the courtyard has an ambient warmth is a wonderful thing to do.

Art Gallery Exhibition

Sir Peter Blake and Pop Music


Unfortunately the juke box was awaiting repair...there were some great 45rpm titles...to listen to those and look at the art work would have been amazing.  A dream is to organise motivation and start creating art when I have never ever done any outside of a primary classroom.

The pirate and the princess

 

This is not a brilliant photo but the best I have so far of the happy couple on board.

  

This is better. I stole it from my son and daughter-in-law's blog!

Read about the wedding adventure of the two aboard the Wendy Ann 2 

Here WAS the wonderful cake!

 

Moth

What was hitting the window last night whilst I read in bed?  It was a huge moth about as large as my handspan which is relatively small. Probably a Hawk moth but I'm sure I've not seen one that large.

Delight

A French lady whom I had not met for 18m interrupted me as I looked at refrigerators. She was radiant and as I like to get people to talk about themselves, she talked about her husband and his project and she was in raptures.  I loved listening to her.  Then she asked about my house and my friends and so it went on...all the time I kept hearing her use the word 'ravi'.  She was delighted to see me and I could see she meant it.  I was also delighted to see her.  I hope that we can meet up again for I am very fond of her.  She's cultured and funny but serious and correct. 
Nobody in my lifetime, to my knowledge has ever told me, they have been delighted to see me!!! Nobody has ever come rushing up to me so pleased to see me quite in the way that she did!!! Wow..... I like living in France!  I know this report sounds rather arrogant but the incident made me feel full of self-esteem.

Date and Almond Buns or Slices

• Rub 110g butter into 225g flour sieved with 1 teaspoon of baking powder and the same of salt. 
• Add 110g or just less of brown sugar 
• plus 85g chopped dates (in France buy a paste of dates) 
• plus 85g almond slivers (substitute walnuts)
• Mix all with one egg and a slosh of milk to get the required consistency to form sticky balls.
• Place on a greaseproof sheeted tray or spread into a circular Victoria sandwich tin.

It's all very simple... bake in a hot oven for about 15 minutes....smelling to assess if it is ready!!!!!!!
YUM... Photos were not taken!!!!!!! Next time j'ajouterais.........

Days like these

It's such a surprise when 'Unexpected' opens a door. 

The late start of the morning was kicked into action when an acquaintance phoned to say she could come that afternoon.  Debris of two days required a whirlwind of major domestic duties with the decision to bake a cake!  Springsteen's energy helped amazingly.

Nervousness to entertain in my own house became a surprise when she arrived.  It seemed illogical for I am proud of the work that my friend has achieved in difficult circumstances over the last two years.  Oh how I wish things were different.  To digress: Many were the times when I was required to speak ad lib to more than 100 parents, or lead an assembly for 120 children plus adults with 5 or fewer minutes to prepare or present a class assembly or concert for parents and never ever felt nervous.  Nor did I ever become nervous when playing hymns for daily assemblies but to perform as a musician in a concert used to de-salivate my mouth for it was something that I could never achieve.

Having explored my property we descended stone steps to the river, strolled where artists with easels were creating beautiful artwork, stood on the bridge to marvel at the perfect view and climbed to the hub of the village.  Warm tea was served with date and almond buns.  The cold wind seemed to sap my energy despite the sun trying to warm the world.

Fatigue set in before 6pm but I decided to visit the village shop for raw vegetables.  Not more than 20 metres along the lane I stopped to let the large white van pass.... Cuckoo... it's my pottery teacher. "Was I going to the concert?" "Was I going to the vernissage?  I became invited. The latter I did not know about and the former I thought I would skip on account of being tired and cold.  
Amused by surprise events I nipped back to change into something more glamorous.
I realised it must be the formal opening of the clothing exhibition where the creatrice using natural material dyed with plants had worked at threadwork called "Les Jours" which my village is famous for.  Quite stunning clothes influenced by Spanish flamenco were expensive but if one counted the hours that her needle and thread had counted then the price seemed justified.  The general message from villagers at the exhibition was of HOPE, that this was the first time in many years when new life blood was being poured into "Les Jours d'Angles". Those who practise the technique are becoming older and there is the fear that the craft will die completely. One could say it has been hanging on a thread! I felt proud to be there. Her work was exquisite and even pants and bras were available at maxicost.

The two ladies who invited me to share a picnic salad al fresco set off for the next village in DM's new Jumper van in which she has installed a bed and storage space so she can travel to exhibitions and sell her pottery.  It was great fun to eat with them and accompany them to the concert in a church.  Moi, l'anglaise et eux.  It was an excellent professional performance of piano and violincello works by Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy and Chostakovitch. In England we write Shostakovitch.

 I love days like these when LIFE seems worth living and I feel young again!
The payback was followed by a less active day!

Time to enjoy!

Apart from a bath screen and a few minor but important details the bathroom has arrived!
As always, nothing is ever finished and sometimes one learns to live with it as it is.
I ran out of paint of one colour. A little more silicone is required. I am sure that the extractor fan is not powerful enough. I WOULD rather have a stronger fan than one that has to be on 24/7!

It's going to feel very strange to have my very own toilet where it is not necessary to sit eye to eye with spidery creatures or fiddle with a water cistern mechanism to prevent water continually gushing into the pan or use the modern equivalent of a potty, i.e. a bucket, when it is wet, cold or dark outside, or use the natural environment of my garden. However, the latter I intend to continue because it will save water in the closet!  I have urinated in the garden for the last 7 years of living in France.  I lived in a fairly remote area and there were always places to hide!  We also wished to conserve clean water as well as preserve the delicate workings of a fosse septique.  I see nothing wrong with Mother Nature.  Urine when diluted makes an excellent fertiliser and when not diluted makes an excellent weedkiller in the right quantity.  Mine also used to deter moles at one time but we won't go into my health history!

So here she is LA SALLE DE BAIN waiting to be used.  I am immensely proud. Indeed I am more than extremely grateful for the motivation, dedication, commitment, hard work and patience given by my friend in creating the style and ambiance that I hoped for.  It looks like a piece of cake but behind the scenes of this and any worthwhile project, the knowledge, skills, talents, techniques of what we have learned and what we need to learn become apparent.  They are there along with frustrations, mishaps, mistakes, nightmares, laughter, and heavenly moments which are all too soon forgotten!

 THANK YOU TO MY FRIEND FOR KEEPING ME ON TRACK

Time to enjoy when looking back

It's early in the morning

Arriving at the computer to research some early morning thoughts I eventually am led to the news.
The diamond igniting of the beacons was very theatrical and oh it must be marvellous to be part of such a world event. I can feel how wonderful it is to be British.  I am proud of being English,  I admire Charles' strong speech.  He has changed for the better, becoming emotionally literate and not so restricted in his speech and mannerisms, becoming more relaxed, personable, likeable, showing humanity, having his glory for he knows not the future.
I can see that the 4 day party has provided a wealth of reason for people to have fun and enjoyment in times where there are many other concerns.  I feel the events may give hope and promise when austerity, far from Britain's elite, is present for many people who face financial struggles. In 2012 it seems to be a  time for wonderment. There is struggle in Britain and elsewhere. Let us hope that tables turn for those who experience poverty of emotion as well as financial support and for those who experience struggle in adversity.  The world is changing.

A year ago today

It was a year ago today I moved house completely and after all was done and I was ensconced in my very own French property I sat on the kitchen sill in the sunshine with a cup of tea in my hand, thinking that I would like to knit!!!!!! Actually, I prefer crochet.
Postscript: Miss Monkey was finished in July 2012 after 4 years in the making! She only needed stuffing and her features added! I think Grace liked her!

Pomp and Pageantry

I love  P & P & Circumstance. Even though I disapprove of the public cost of Royalty,  I believe that in a modernist world they probably do help charities. However, there are so many people who could have benefited from the cost of those seats on the barge that the Queen would not sit on!
The public fund in UK has been slaughtered and yet who knows how much the 4 days of celebrations for the Queen have truly cost.  This could have helped pensioners, those with disabilities, children and what do we hear??? Oh yes cut the taxes on Granny flats!!!!! It's only those who are more rich who have Granny Annexes!   So the flagrant use of public funding does make me boil!

Since Diana's death magnified an emotional outpouring of the Nation, giving a public outlet for bereavement and loss, I confess, I became fascinated by some members of the Royal Family.  I believe that because we have a Land of Hope and Glory (thank you, Sir Edward Elgar) it is better to keep a Monarchy than to have a Presidency.   Rule Britannia  is what I say!  And all the music that has been generated for Royal events.  We've been lucky with the type of Monarchy that has been created and established over the last 60 years.  In my opinion, England / UK has been fortunate since 1952 and after WWII.  I am grateful that the Monarchy / Government / World  produced freedom and peace in Europe and that I have been lucky to have experienced the kindnesses of humanity.  I love my country. I like the fact that I am British and that the United Kingdom is the home for so many international peoples. Yet I love France and Europe too. I love the diversity of people, culture, places and systems of celebration.
 
However, I wonder as to where all the clothing goes once worn.  I wonder about the cost to the private person like me and what the minor royals do to justify their existence.  Perhaps the Jubilee has given people an opportunity to communicate with each other and be friends and develop community.  However, a previous neighbour who promoted such street parties and bon homie became very bitter, rude and spiteful after breaking through a Georgian stud wall into my property.  Therefore, I am left to wonder about the "street party bash" and the degree that it can help to transform neighbourliness.

Without a television, it was a pleasant surprise and pleasure that I could watch the flotilla live on my Apple Mac whilst living in France. Thank you BBC and those who dreamt up the idea and organised it! But again wouldn't the funding have been better utilised?

I really don't like the coinage of the term "New Elizabethans" and I nearly vomited when I heard CAM oron, woops spelling mistake M. Cameron sycophanting about her Majesty! If perhaps it was Neo-Elizabethans I could cope!!!!!

A cucumber sandwich made with my home-made poppyseed and mint bread was enjoyed with Saumur demi-sec bubbly! Very nice and as equal to a Cremant de Loire or Cremant d'Alsace which I prefer to champagne, unless it's an expensive one, of which I rarely have imbibed!

NOSTALGIA
Tomorrow I might make a "Victoria sandwich" for nostalgia, you understand!!!!!!! I rarely make one preferring to make other types of cake. It was my version and with pineapple!!

I remember being 3 and sitting at long tables at the Coronation party in what was eventually my High School,

I remember the Queen's Silver Jubilee when my son won first prize in the village fancy dress competition. We still have the Jubilee sovereign. A tea-towel, wrapping paper to make a hat, a windmill, a flag, his blue school jumper and trousers! It was one of the only fancy dress events my children have ever participated in!

ADDENDUM June 4th
It's not surprising that Philip is ill... We saw the Queen go downstairs... but he did not, me thinks. Conditions were perishing and even I would have required several toilet breaks, hot tea and a hot water bottle.  They did not wear suitable warm woolly blankets to keep out the rain and chill and at their age more consideration should have been given to that than Pomp and Pageantry. The lady would not sit down and so neither could anyone else. 

I promised some bathroom photos

 Sink area is complete apart from light above and mirror. I daren't clean my teeth over this glass bowl!

 It's all so pretty!

The bathroom now has 3 spots but the wrong extractor fan unit!!!!!! My fault! The bath screen will arrive late summer! The suspended wc cannot be seen here. Doors and doorways are finished and final coats of paint on all surfaces are required. Luxury after all chaos can well be appreciated!