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!!!
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