The best of the Brits

It was a build-up of events.  We had been reading about it for months and weeks on the Metro newspapers.  Street parties were being organised.  Decoration of houses, streets and shops were at their best. And now that this long weekend has sadly come to an end, I might as well close the chapter by posting a blog on her Majesty’s Jubilee.

We left our home at about 10.30am and had planned to go to the end of the flottilla’s procession i.e. Tower Bridge.  I was almost completely sure the river banks would be too crowded by the time we arrive there since we had listened to BBC news where people who had camped outside during Saturday night were interviewed.  On the way to Bank, while on the Central Line, we changed our minds and stopped at St. Paul’s.  We were very early and yet there were too many people for a Sunday morning.  Almost immediately we entered the mood on hearing the Cathedral’s bells ringing busily.

We managed to find this really good spot, sheltered from the rain.  Because, needless to say, there was no collaboration from the London weather!  And while waiting for 3.45pm, I almost felt I knew these people next to me in the crowd.  The two families who killed the time by eating (– can you imagine eating for so long?); the couple from Cambridge who came after us but managed to squeeze their way to the very front; the Indian girl who talked all the time to her patient boyfriend (?); Jack’s lady friend who was giving us BBC new from her iphone; and these oldies…

A word must be spared to the old ladies in the crowd.  They were so adorable with their Red, white and blue wigs, flags, glasses, hats, and all the gadgets with the Union Jack!  They came all the way from the North and were perhaps older than the Queen herself yet they made it and endured a long wait of more than 4hrs just to see Her!  They were also successful to have their photo on the newspaper while partying the other day!!!  Well done ladies!!!

And finally, the flotilla was simply very well organised and spectacular!  More than 1000 boats mustered the river Thames.  The sound of the bells ringing on the first boat, trumpets being blown, people cheering and singing, the waving of flags, beautiful…  And we were there!  We were among the crowd cheering the Queen!  The Queen’s boat came after all the rowing boats and the Commonwealth flags.  The Queen was in white; Kate in red; Camilla in beige; and me, I was in my black jacket because it was getting chilly! 

And that is why I say in such events you see the best of the Brits.  Very punctual, very calm, very organised… and very British!  I never thought I'd ever be waving the Union Jack.  But who cares!!!  And while we are at it, LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!

My Box

I really do not remember how it popped into my mind.  But now that I remembered, I got really excited about it. 

I remember I had this tin biscuit box – without the biscuits inside, of course.  It was squarish in shape and I think the overall colour was red.  And when I was in primary school, my world was in this box.  The box was my secret world.  And I used to put all the things close to heart which could fit in it.  Although this may sound strange to those who know me well, I used to organise and reorganise it.  I remember sitting on the floor, opening my box and looking at the items inside.

You may be wondering what was inside this box… I wish I still remember!  I am sure I had all these small figures, favourite origami, sometimes sweets, small statues of baby Jesus, a blue plastic ring (o I remember that!), toys you find inside cereal boxes and kinder sorpresa… anything small that fitted.  My papa had once found an exoskeleton of a snake but I am not sure I placed it inside – no I am almost definite I did not.  It was placed in a shoe box.  Where has it ended up, I wonder… I do not recall seeing it again.  Perhaps it was stealthily disposed of just before decomposing!

One of the figures I had was Crackle, a yellow hooded creature with curly hair.  I had been playing with the baby bees that had just hatched while my papa was processing the honey.  And one of these bees was not a baby at all and I realised so when it was too late.  It must have been a Thursday as my grandma was at our house.  And seeing me cry after being stung, of course, opened her handbag and took out my little Crackle which she had “found”.  And this ended up in the box… that is to say, only when it was not in one of my pockets, below the pillow, underneath my school desk etc.  It also ended up being my favourite lucky charm which NEVER failed!  Its service was used for all my exams... primary school exams, junior lyceum entry exams and even some of the secondary school exams, I am sure… I hope I still have him (it deserves a "him" rather than "it")!  This August, when I am home again, I will look for him.  I hope he still exists.  I have lately found by coincidence that Crackle is one of the three characters in the Rice Krispies.  It  does not matter though… no matter what his origin is, my Crackle  will never lose his charm!

It will take me such a long time to write all these memories related to my box.  But I will not take more of your time.  I just don’t know what had happened to it.  It is certain, I’m afraid, it has been emptied one day because I still have some of the items which were inside.  But the box?  My box?  Only God knows where it is now… whether it is being reused… or whether it has been recycled and was destined to be remoulded into a beautiful biscuit box, and is perhaps the world of another little child!!!  As I have said, only God knows!