Hot Cross Buns

<div style="text-align: center;">Imagine my delight</div><div style="text-align: center;">when I first laid eyes<br />on mythical 'hot cross buns'</div><div style="text-align: center;">sold in our grocery store<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBVgA4oCyb5Jemf2czyzEn-hcbLDgSDQLGeybf4QUpZQUt4AviECeKnvENZxHpVQ6to37tzC_xxILqI_sekGj4o6RGgJAFPEBm8lYHM69odIiZZIYnuwWnqF45RooPUeZn7MSMqWPYBHD/s1600/DSC05039-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBVgA4oCyb5Jemf2czyzEn-hcbLDgSDQLGeybf4QUpZQUt4AviECeKnvENZxHpVQ6to37tzC_xxILqI_sekGj4o6RGgJAFPEBm8lYHM69odIiZZIYnuwWnqF45RooPUeZn7MSMqWPYBHD/s640/DSC05039-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thinking they only existed in a nursery rhyme,</div><div style="text-align: center;">they've been available in stores a few weeks now<br />to be consumed on Good Friday or Easter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />The dough is spiced and fruited</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a cross is cut into it</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">According to a Church of England spokesperson,</div><div style="text-align: center;">'You have got the bread, as per communion,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you have got the spices that represent the spices Jesus was wrapped in the tomb,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and you have got the cross</div><div style="text-align: center;">They are fairly full of Christian symbolism'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And they cost more than a penny ;)<br /><br />Happy Easter<br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- photo by me -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Source: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8598312.stm">BBC</a></i></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Hot Cross Buns

Imagine my delight when I first laid eyes on mythical 'hot cross buns' sold in our grocery store Thinking they only existed in a nur...

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Christmas In England

<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">The Christmas season comes earlier to England than to the US</span><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHte9mp5o1QU_InY5Hoif_Mx45RuUlTyElHCH4wUF_yG1XGum3CuC_Ohe0wfVCZvRt4OtBDmx-47JWBo1n57mv3qEFfcPcqsig62w22CmG1qHA7gqChhwaCPEV1_FeHZHnR0FVPih805sI/s1600/IMG_3147-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHte9mp5o1QU_InY5Hoif_Mx45RuUlTyElHCH4wUF_yG1XGum3CuC_Ohe0wfVCZvRt4OtBDmx-47JWBo1n57mv3qEFfcPcqsig62w22CmG1qHA7gqChhwaCPEV1_FeHZHnR0FVPih805sI/s640/IMG_3147-001.JPG" width="610" /></a></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">In England, it creeps in as early as November 5th</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">after Guy Fawkes Night</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">In the US, <i>the season</i> officially kicks off after Thanksgiving</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">(end of November)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Although England is ethnically diverse</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">(especially in and around London)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">there is no politically correct </span><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">'Happy Holidays' or 'Seasons Greetings' to be heard</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50qR9HOm_Vkne0pu6_GBP3VcNeZHt8j7uT9PmnKhsGZF9d9NCYvzM5nOVBMDCWRQj0GSgf1X-FtXSYdOC8ThWLXIAa4GTTAMKNb90o4q8uLgpSXeuNn9DmSnno0JJ1ICqQvjWMo7r9y39/s1600/IMG_3130-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50qR9HOm_Vkne0pu6_GBP3VcNeZHt8j7uT9PmnKhsGZF9d9NCYvzM5nOVBMDCWRQj0GSgf1X-FtXSYdOC8ThWLXIAa4GTTAMKNb90o4q8uLgpSXeuNn9DmSnno0JJ1ICqQvjWMo7r9y39/s640/IMG_3130-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: #444444;">See the English robin in lights?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">'Merry Christmas' and 'Happy Christmas',</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">are not meant to be religiously assuming</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Just a general 'wishing you a wonderful holiday season'</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">As Christianity is the official religion here,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">there is no pretending it isn't</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">(although they are welcoming of other religions)</span><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityvjujOySohM7CqL2kBi_SvGogWpEt7xCUi_TV2k2eMECfN6qrZmhSNuwcVsQZdNIoiYuriLrM0Iya3kRYtmuWCSRoiT_GGJ-5WTdpVA2Pkg0L63qdERYMmrcMnNx9cb9UCsDwEn2w6w_/s1600/DSC_0075-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityvjujOySohM7CqL2kBi_SvGogWpEt7xCUi_TV2k2eMECfN6qrZmhSNuwcVsQZdNIoiYuriLrM0Iya3kRYtmuWCSRoiT_GGJ-5WTdpVA2Pkg0L63qdERYMmrcMnNx9cb9UCsDwEn2w6w_/s640/DSC_0075-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: #444444;">We were surprised by how many Jewish neighbors lived in our area<br />when we saw 'menorahs' in many home windows<br />We soon learned these 'welcome lights' are actually a new, fast-growing tradition<br />originating from Nordic countries</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">English Christmas traditions include</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">browsing craft fairs and Christmas markets,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">visiting Santa in one of his many grottos</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">& attending a local 'panto' production</span><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4_9ncOf2iv9FZd1oqUtV_a6cm5vBsCWjaltjXMgqcXv3ns05yATExujH3ekr4VEZZX6QHKZlcVb5VkqKpCLbEgsfMx1GVv593h1KeM3-zf1b0CU2v73HjDxgy8VUs-w1lerlWfQQn1ck/s1600/panto3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4_9ncOf2iv9FZd1oqUtV_a6cm5vBsCWjaltjXMgqcXv3ns05yATExujH3ekr4VEZZX6QHKZlcVb5VkqKpCLbEgsfMx1GVv593h1KeM3-zf1b0CU2v73HjDxgy8VUs-w1lerlWfQQn1ck/s640/panto3.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: #444444;">Family-friendly pantos take a classic story<br />and add gender swapping, songs, humor for adults & kids,<br />and loads of audience participation<br />photo: <a href="http://www.atgtickets.com/">ATG tickets</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Another activity includes stopping by a local <a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/">National Trust</a> property</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">to view it in period holiday decor</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh513LborC39ixak48nZE95_E9WxjHN57EZFhIMtJ6n263UceP_eBN5f_c3ze7n1m-KuS1uRzsV2ujIn3ydld6AC2f8y3_C3_r3R1NG8Ec4ZuNiQyCUSD1pUEwYtNitG9AIe4Uso2Smi3Wu/s1600/DSC04078-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh513LborC39ixak48nZE95_E9WxjHN57EZFhIMtJ6n263UceP_eBN5f_c3ze7n1m-KuS1uRzsV2ujIn3ydld6AC2f8y3_C3_r3R1NG8Ec4ZuNiQyCUSD1pUEwYtNitG9AIe4Uso2Smi3Wu/s640/DSC04078-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Edwardian Christmas at Polesden Lacey (National Trust)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;">Although sending Christmas cards is an old tradition here,</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">family photo cards are just starting to catch on</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;">The cutie-pie English robin is closely associated with Christmas</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">possibly because postmen in Victorian times</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">wore red uniforms and delivered cards</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">Postmen were nicknamed 'Robin'</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;">Post boxes have been red since 1884</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;">Also, the robin is one feathered friend still seen on the island this time of year :)</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61_bWnrGXMLrSmWzu5D_8wUS8ImdasDl1418K1Bnk8wAP1teVdmkO-fN_enLaEDVfAUZdFxHggHFR4KqWARYOwreeZ7oALoxnBj_X0gK99N7Nl5mgZR83ZG8gQntQfO6oPJXuZH28GHym/s1600/DSC04235-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61_bWnrGXMLrSmWzu5D_8wUS8ImdasDl1418K1Bnk8wAP1teVdmkO-fN_enLaEDVfAUZdFxHggHFR4KqWARYOwreeZ7oALoxnBj_X0gK99N7Nl5mgZR83ZG8gQntQfO6oPJXuZH28GHym/s640/DSC04235-04.jpg" width="554" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div><span style="color: #444444;">Santa will find small mince pies, not cookies, </span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">left for him </span><span style="color: #444444;">by the fireplace</span></div><div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjrGFq4Ere3_Afy7oyZdkasf-Z0-fq_SexyXsyw8oh8FMPG4CtRsdVFxW_zGfkMmkfacWMG7tt6iQ-Uf6BYwRo667NNLNGHGBrcwTM91q8EbBIlayRhMZf2zYLuM6Euz5j6GAJtQPJseI/s1600/DSC_0009-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjrGFq4Ere3_Afy7oyZdkasf-Z0-fq_SexyXsyw8oh8FMPG4CtRsdVFxW_zGfkMmkfacWMG7tt6iQ-Uf6BYwRo667NNLNGHGBrcwTM91q8EbBIlayRhMZf2zYLuM6Euz5j6GAJtQPJseI/s640/DSC_0009-3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Mince pies</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Christmas meals will be enjoyed at local pubs and in homes</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">The menu is often goose, ham, or turkey with stuffing</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">In fact, turkey first appeared in England on wealthy tables in the 16th century</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">Reportedly Henry VIII was the first monarch </span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">to </span><span style="color: #444444;">eat the exotic American bird for Christmas</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Today, brussels sprouts and parsnips also may be served</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">followed by Christmas Pudding</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">('pudding' is a general term for baked desserts)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fN3trgQCn56AX2NAjcIzBj-Z-BfeLiTjP585DK-p8lQh9YfBkk6E-B3_z7Y2eAXcihwmVCD3YAPvsZcrZPZPzu-G4wbCZ6qncZYW9Zng04Je3JH7zO-ycZsMABL3HV1E1YuhKJzapemZ/s1600/mini-christmas-pud-muffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fN3trgQCn56AX2NAjcIzBj-Z-BfeLiTjP585DK-p8lQh9YfBkk6E-B3_z7Y2eAXcihwmVCD3YAPvsZcrZPZPzu-G4wbCZ6qncZYW9Zng04Je3JH7zO-ycZsMABL3HV1E1YuhKJzapemZ/s640/mini-christmas-pud-muffins.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Mini Christmas Puddings</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">photo credit: <a href="http://realfood.tesco.com/recipes/mini-christmas-pud-muffins.html">Tesco</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;">Don't come to England looking for 'Figgy Pudding' </span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">as it has been replaced by Christmas Pudding</span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;">Figgy Pudding's key ingredient was figs and </span><span style="color: #444444;">was offered to carolers </span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">as a thank you for singing to the wealthy community</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;">'Oh Bring Us Some Figgy Pudding' </span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">is a line from the carol </span><span style="color: #444444;">'We Wish You A Merry Christmas', </span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">originally sung in the 16th century in England's West Country</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">And although they don't have yummy eggnog here,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">mulled wine is a delicious alternative</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">- warm, spiced red wine -</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Another lovely tradition after the Christmas meal</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">is Christmas Crackers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JbD-w6jjHEhvIHiN-xhaj998Y063uArFb3gp_95GExwVgBlGSq0-xN8aubrJq2-A5NrL3dHTtLAOI2UxpfkNDngJZUf1kTh0CRiPIjO-JO2SdB7w97j9I9mnViXBAfUYQYuDFgEUrT2z/s1600/DSC04075-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JbD-w6jjHEhvIHiN-xhaj998Y063uArFb3gp_95GExwVgBlGSq0-xN8aubrJq2-A5NrL3dHTtLAOI2UxpfkNDngJZUf1kTh0CRiPIjO-JO2SdB7w97j9I9mnViXBAfUYQYuDFgEUrT2z/s640/DSC04075-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Two people pull each end to open the cracker to see what is inside</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">- a paper crown, small toy, confetti, or a joke -</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Wishing you a wonderful holiday with your loved ones</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">May you stay warm and cozy in heart and home :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">- all photos are my own, unless otherwise noted -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">Sources: Wikipedia <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_box">1</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Robin">2</a>; <a href="http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/arundel/">Arundel Wetlands Centre</a></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Christmas In England

The Christmas season comes earlier to England than to the US In England, it creeps in as early as November 5th after Guy Fawkes Night In the...

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Snapshot Of London In December

<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">London, all dressed-up for the holidays!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Twelve Days Of Christmas' this year on Regent Street</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07wI5JODWGuxYLLxvu7JYkRl4oluWYGgKtDM08EXTe_U_deRr1SpS5ik3lIg9Qxk4Mpys-GPSRVX8kZPte9ZHVGxEjY4DH5ndlYTB-Ym8bNZSWuqIaMd57dZuOr6Muoz5a1rmDirc6N2_/s1600/IMG_3103-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07wI5JODWGuxYLLxvu7JYkRl4oluWYGgKtDM08EXTe_U_deRr1SpS5ik3lIg9Qxk4Mpys-GPSRVX8kZPte9ZHVGxEjY4DH5ndlYTB-Ym8bNZSWuqIaMd57dZuOr6Muoz5a1rmDirc6N2_/s640/IMG_3103-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks to my sister</div><div style="text-align: center;">I discovered a new area, St Christopher's Place</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssZTE3QCCNdgMH-G1eyL7HT9gpx7ExehmHuOT6cj7i62PN7rPCluWWGLh5tczrRRsyoCP3YlUjrUujG2uCa5kFdYWo8oga98yvXRlSUjdDYW9MqHQBjaOdVTFxGTA-_1QRozYpirbeK8c/s1600/IMG_3087-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssZTE3QCCNdgMH-G1eyL7HT9gpx7ExehmHuOT6cj7i62PN7rPCluWWGLh5tczrRRsyoCP3YlUjrUujG2uCa5kFdYWo8oga98yvXRlSUjdDYW9MqHQBjaOdVTFxGTA-_1QRozYpirbeK8c/s640/IMG_3087-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Carnaby Street is always a fun place to wander</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAnm6eP45kakkKYb1OWVAb97oaG9oUo22jZdGRGfFqQAu6j-oZxgg2wmhRIqsiEIQk8RnRsBKFI25vu_Kg7D0eH5JzwkYOSaBjy4dTeQoP4T6ixg0GldqsLPpfvVMHCv82qHjM-iApQIV/s1600/IMG_3101-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAnm6eP45kakkKYb1OWVAb97oaG9oUo22jZdGRGfFqQAu6j-oZxgg2wmhRIqsiEIQk8RnRsBKFI25vu_Kg7D0eH5JzwkYOSaBjy4dTeQoP4T6ixg0GldqsLPpfvVMHCv82qHjM-iApQIV/s640/IMG_3101-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And lovely Liberty is adorned with simple greenery</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6ghWRn951MXa3AfFsPe7gMD4UsLF-k-S6Ee4WHEtgPIdERj4F2-ofXa0tV40iXWhYY5ZJrvKQPEnJh8gApfQTFDLHfSx7cMaDf2QaDXeY2Ieqsht7RuX0EDHRit1UyD6QNGg_k0xxOLI/s1600/IMG_3097-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6ghWRn951MXa3AfFsPe7gMD4UsLF-k-S6Ee4WHEtgPIdERj4F2-ofXa0tV40iXWhYY5ZJrvKQPEnJh8gApfQTFDLHfSx7cMaDf2QaDXeY2Ieqsht7RuX0EDHRit1UyD6QNGg_k0xxOLI/s640/IMG_3097-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This month has been busy, as December always is</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Recently I was fortunate to meet one of my first blogger friends in person,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Suzanne of Privet and Holly</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She wrote up a bit about her visit <a href="http://www.privetandholly.com/2012/12/still-learning.html">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope you are enjoying the holiday season so far!</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Snapshot Of London In December

London, all dressed-up for the holidays! 'Twelve Days Of Christmas' this year on Regent Street Thanks to my sister I discovered a ne...

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Guy Fawkes Night And Other Holidays

<div style="text-align: center;"><br />Did you notice the new banner above?<br />I'm really drawn to gray right now :)<br /><br />***<br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the heels of Halloween </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">is Guy Fawkes Night</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">{ aka Bonfire Night, Fireworks Night }</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bonfire Night will be observed all weekend</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Officially it is on November 5th</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In 1605</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Guy Fawkes and his Catholic crew attempted to</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">blow up Parliament and {Protestant} King James I</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">in the foiled Gunpowder Plot</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bonfire Night celebrates their failure</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.383333206176758px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #333333; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 14px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5U1nGTrSPkDkn23eB2wmTkU65yQd_YzEA8yAqKVH4KjzzaQ06yphBSej3UN3HAY1N2rUbJWtxRRO91rD5tzW8Dwr1qkVszeaHHH4g-Ecb9lrRNcnZR6huwe3W9_SlEE5Ib_wvzlvM4zU/s1600/IMG_2360-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5U1nGTrSPkDkn23eB2wmTkU65yQd_YzEA8yAqKVH4KjzzaQ06yphBSej3UN3HAY1N2rUbJWtxRRO91rD5tzW8Dwr1qkVszeaHHH4g-Ecb9lrRNcnZR6huwe3W9_SlEE5Ib_wvzlvM4zU/s640/IMG_2360-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Seen in York</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(photo by me)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div style="font-family: Nobile; font-size: 14px;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><br /><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">November's Fireworks Night</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">has always been a bit of a head-scratcher for me</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's the only annual event the whole country gets together</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to celebrate something British</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Think bonfires with effigies, sparklers, fireworks,</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">games, mulled wine, food</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Think general merriment and good fun</span></div></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #333333; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 14px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbVMgsWpilDXxDxwhyphenhyphenOtYm5IJUlZ-r8z1zLGZN43BWPjWBlYMlIANh61BuMaVULgy3uOa0zLkG64C3Ar7tBf7kiOi3riiXIweZNTtiUm4UZ6TnxFIbBL21VSE_Atm7W9x-qaxYU9Qe9dn/s1600/DSC_0067-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbVMgsWpilDXxDxwhyphenhyphenOtYm5IJUlZ-r8z1zLGZN43BWPjWBlYMlIANh61BuMaVULgy3uOa0zLkG64C3Ar7tBf7kiOi3riiXIweZNTtiUm4UZ6TnxFIbBL21VSE_Atm7W9x-qaxYU9Qe9dn/s640/DSC_0067-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Typical Guy Fawkes effigy on Bonfire Night</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(photo by me)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There have been so many other Britons who have</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">contributed much to the UK and the world</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">other than Guy Fawkes and his crew</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In England</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">there are a few bank holidays called...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">wait for it...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'Bank Holiday'</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">(bankers are pariahs in this country</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">and not the least bit celebrated)</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is not one but</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> three</i> annual 'Bank Holidays'</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So I propose the renaming of Bank Holidays</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">- are you with me here? -</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's a few suggestions I'd like to bring forth...</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Classic British Literature Day</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">celebrating</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">William Shakespeare, Jane Austin, and Charles Dickens just to name a few</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiUeT_MuCoGArdNtJEXpJXijJYW-oOuIvepmnzpsa0pbOWgVu2JDpiV5ARMHbHbyvmjLwFM9FjqoomlRN7iMhy0xben37ttjGpiTiFvql-mTuvUyiciqHI0XWMFSJL1TiSUMe0fpLF00p/s1600/FlourishCafe3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiUeT_MuCoGArdNtJEXpJXijJYW-oOuIvepmnzpsa0pbOWgVu2JDpiV5ARMHbHbyvmjLwFM9FjqoomlRN7iMhy0xben37ttjGpiTiFvql-mTuvUyiciqHI0XWMFSJL1TiSUMe0fpLF00p/s640/FlourishCafe3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Print for sale via <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/FlourishCafe?page=1">Flourish Cafe</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Too much of a stretch for</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Fabulous Fictional Characters</b><b> Day</b>?</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">with</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peter Pan, Willy Wonka, The Hobbit,</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, and Harry Potter</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">coming to mind</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Imagine elevating books to become a national holiday!</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">what an excellent example for kids</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or how about</span><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">UK Explorer Day</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to recognize the adventures of Charles Darwin, Captain James Cook, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">David Livingstone, and Ernest Shackleton (South Pole explorer)</span><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJNEVJhmquwC2Pl_9q7rb_jaZdFqOL5giq1XCqaqQvqJ7i_IajezWaBjSRBAwO8L_7cUVca3u1kXx0lDSwv_7dhox4EaRtwVeHy3X4h8w4mdC_l9FRpAEBLeqERoCHXim2daSIIK_PKdk/s1600/PrintLand5-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJNEVJhmquwC2Pl_9q7rb_jaZdFqOL5giq1XCqaqQvqJ7i_IajezWaBjSRBAwO8L_7cUVca3u1kXx0lDSwv_7dhox4EaRtwVeHy3X4h8w4mdC_l9FRpAEBLeqERoCHXim2daSIIK_PKdk/s640/PrintLand5-004.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For sale via <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrintLand">Print Land</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Try on</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>'Really Historical Folks' Day</b> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to commemorate King Arthur, Florence Nightingale, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Duke of Wellington (defeated Napoleon to end war)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">or Sir Winston Churchill</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course I like</span><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy Homemaker Day</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">to celebrate</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"> those charming English toilets with chains & cistern,</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">the first washing machines (debuted at 1862 London Exhibition),</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">domestic dishwashers (thanks to Englishman William Howard Livens in 1924)</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">and Dyson vacuums (he's British too)</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">to make life a little easier at home</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">And happier</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">:)</span><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRm4Yq6TU2I1FgpeoLcQYnh0YyzZblRNg-qR9fykOaG6n2tip2NuNuZAzGK7B7RxTbXPBJRwNSIftwufJKLghYf_uFOzfkOT3hwSXkmMvRNQedko2EFAQm-ENN1AjI-zk262cRCluTfbc4/s1600/Graphique.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRm4Yq6TU2I1FgpeoLcQYnh0YyzZblRNg-qR9fykOaG6n2tip2NuNuZAzGK7B7RxTbXPBJRwNSIftwufJKLghYf_uFOzfkOT3hwSXkmMvRNQedko2EFAQm-ENN1AjI-zk262cRCluTfbc4/s400/Graphique.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Graphique?ref=seller_info">Graphique</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd also cast my vote for</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let's Jump In The Puddles Day</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">or</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy Dance For The Countryside And Gardens Day</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">:)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How would you rename boring ol' 'Bank Holiday'?</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Sources: Wikipedia <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washing_machine">1</a>,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dish_washer"> 2</a></span></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Guy Fawkes Night And Other Holidays

Did you notice the new banner above? I'm really drawn to gray right now :) *** On the heels of Halloween  is Guy Fawkes Night { aka Bonf...

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Halloween 2012

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Last night</div><div style="text-align: center;">there was no question trick-or-treating</div><div style="text-align: center;">had a stronger foothold in our area</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSm5fD9gqEgswrjW7B8yFfMsepOeDVbOvb1dHkTZYmbfz5hbVLNN0DP0A6mD7PFcLj7tcsOWYqQd22pyyux5UP24E70pjo406q0qJ4fVcz0v-UHetGELAgr1HIASq6ZE2HiZVg5RAjGeF7/s1600/IMG_2591-004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSm5fD9gqEgswrjW7B8yFfMsepOeDVbOvb1dHkTZYmbfz5hbVLNN0DP0A6mD7PFcLj7tcsOWYqQd22pyyux5UP24E70pjo406q0qJ4fVcz0v-UHetGELAgr1HIASq6ZE2HiZVg5RAjGeF7/s640/IMG_2591-004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whereas only a quarter of houses offered sweets two years ago,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'd guess as many as half of the neighbors participated on the same street this year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It feels magical to witness a new tradition in the making,</div><div style="text-align: center;">as it was the first time many of the residents had given away Halloween candy</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>ever</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">I heard a few children saying 'cheers' as they left with their goodies,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and neighbors oohed and aahed as to how scary costumes were</div><div style="text-align: center;">{ they don't do 'cute' costumes here }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The evening ended with a typical English rain</div><div style="text-align: center;">which made it easy to call it a night</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a look at the goodies we received</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqFuk9B2E9z_x7TCBRW1vYKzKqAbTKnkSu3LO2zkIzr0u0hSFVU9o_XWTV9T-PUZVLID3YvFGWRIewxPUKpF3n73FuXCBbYJj4pDuxBvpBNCkfJu3UjGNfDlZQOFJA2SRe-8XedPybC2l/s1600/DSC03509-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqFuk9B2E9z_x7TCBRW1vYKzKqAbTKnkSu3LO2zkIzr0u0hSFVU9o_XWTV9T-PUZVLID3YvFGWRIewxPUKpF3n73FuXCBbYJj4pDuxBvpBNCkfJu3UjGNfDlZQOFJA2SRe-8XedPybC2l/s640/DSC03509-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I believe Parma Violets are a very old-fashioned sweet here,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I'm not sure the words 'foam' and 'candy' should ever meet on the same package :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Americans will be pleased to know those yummy Marathon braided bars of yesteryear</div><div style="text-align: center;">are alive and well in the UK as Curly Wurlies</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How was your Halloween?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Halloween 2012

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK Last night there was no question trick-or-treating had a stronger foothold in our area Whereas only a quarter o...

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Trick Or Treating In England

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In Ireland and Britain<br />during the Middle Ages on Hallowmas { November 1 }<br /> people went door-to-door in costume<br />receiving food in return for prayers for the dead<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BhFERo1ZGGhHXeZGtLC2ed831KKtYCQHkPFgN3lM3uPNgHCBoieQ8NVqvk97UvHQqdcNheW8Pogp5UfW7a5CsTfIjNjmASdgbdbCTaRyZo0cOY_Y9NW6EHg48SRPWY6V8BgqmgRIsTg/s1600/DSCN5788-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BhFERo1ZGGhHXeZGtLC2ed831KKtYCQHkPFgN3lM3uPNgHCBoieQ8NVqvk97UvHQqdcNheW8Pogp5UfW7a5CsTfIjNjmASdgbdbCTaRyZo0cOY_Y9NW6EHg48SRPWY6V8BgqmgRIsTg/s640/DSCN5788-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Fast-forward to 1895<br />for the first record of '<i>guising</i>' in Scotland,<br />where children in disguise visited neighbors<br /><br />performing a poem, song, or joke<br />to receive cake, fruit or money for their efforts<br />{ practiced later in Ireland too }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />They carried lanterns made of scooped-out turnips<br />{ which was on the menu the following day }<br /><br />First record of guising in North America was in<br />1911<br /><br />Some point before 1940, guising evolved to 'trick-or-treating'<br />on Halloween night in the western US and Canada<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifLwaTwffo07ni_m6gc_OLUa18NcOQQFkDR_yWsRJ3SlrEordr-h_nrH0hR-S67fcBk4K16Pb9k4rj4BnGfup8T7W_vXZUJLFjWVX7Y7rYQF3yg0_dmfe3Ldr2M0a21L2eAWdukhAPG0/s1600/DSCN5729-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifLwaTwffo07ni_m6gc_OLUa18NcOQQFkDR_yWsRJ3SlrEordr-h_nrH0hR-S67fcBk4K16Pb9k4rj4BnGfup8T7W_vXZUJLFjWVX7Y7rYQF3yg0_dmfe3Ldr2M0a21L2eAWdukhAPG0/s640/DSCN5729-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Although this annual US event of<br />asking for candy without a performance was stalled<br />by sugar rationing from 1942-1947 due to World War II,<br /><br />trick-or-treating picked up steam<br />with the mass production of costumes<br />and attention given to it in children's magazines and radio shows<br /><br />firmly establishing it in American pop culture by 1952<br /><br />Today<br /><span style="text-align: start;">Halloween has a really fun vibe to it </span><br /><span style="text-align: start;">and is generally loved by everyone</span><br /><span style="text-align: start;">in the US</span><br /><br />It's a time<br />for parties in classrooms and among adults,<br />for catching up with neighbors,<br />for giggly teenagers to scare themselves at staged haunted houses<br />{ I haven't seen those here }<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmqxtrvo6RqjGmYox9byHT5qnuWbxnKbbYIWnDjwGj6JRYkjB8o72kE_70-CO0MJw0PuGvpjJsTcV0jvjS0GGtVA2YF2GJ0uuZ4VFGWM__6CRg2HPWGw8ueBkAk6EnaEsSkp0YnFwyFc/s1600/DSCN1145-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmqxtrvo6RqjGmYox9byHT5qnuWbxnKbbYIWnDjwGj6JRYkjB8o72kE_70-CO0MJw0PuGvpjJsTcV0jvjS0GGtVA2YF2GJ0uuZ4VFGWM__6CRg2HPWGw8ueBkAk6EnaEsSkp0YnFwyFc/s640/DSCN1145-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Carving pumpkins is an American tradition, as pumpkins are native to America</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">{ and bigger than turnips }</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Trick-or-treating' in England is viewed as an American export<br />and not necessarily a welcome one</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In 2007 the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7067804.stm">BBC News</a> wrote<br />the 'authentically ancient festival' of Halloween<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">'<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">has been hijacked by trick or treating' </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">and cited</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">the 1986 House of Lords debate about</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #464646; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">trick-or-treating being not a tradition, </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">but American for begging</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">{ Yikes! }</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Seasonal decorations displayed on house exteriors is considered 'in bad taste'<br />so we have festive window stickers at the back of the house<br />{ plus some spooky fake [and real] cobwebs hanging inside }<br /><br />Therefore<br />a giant blow up ghost popping out of a pumpkin<br />would never be seen in front of someone's home here as<br />1) electricity is too expensive<br />2) you would be calling attention to yourself</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxkyffOa4xunMKFyTLHMDYeFKvgcRycm5skfGTzOEBIEKj6hqwSY6Ut5hq2yIGDWAMk97_hm1s3cTrxwWcP6JoP2z3yL554SXUmSeCK4prBRVImZphASyhPY27pf5HIMOzQOkb1Y3j_4/s1600/DSC_0535-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxkyffOa4xunMKFyTLHMDYeFKvgcRycm5skfGTzOEBIEKj6hqwSY6Ut5hq2yIGDWAMk97_hm1s3cTrxwWcP6JoP2z3yL554SXUmSeCK4prBRVImZphASyhPY27pf5HIMOzQOkb1Y3j_4/s640/DSC_0535-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Halloween is more of a dark occasion here,</div><div style="text-align: center;">which makes the older generations nervous about bad behavior<br />in a society that closely guards its privacy<br /><br />My first year I saw 'No Trick Or Treaters Here' fliers distributed for posting on doors<br /><br />To indicate trick-or-treaters are welcome at a home,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a pumpkin or lit candle will be outside the front door</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />However each year there seems to be<br />increased lightening and acceptance of this event<br /><br />evidenced by more Halloween displays in store windows<br />and more aisle space dedicated to bagged candy, costumes, and knickknacks<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcJVB3COJJmbdtQuTNfitbcV5HqMbl9K7wXIfN3XrLNM5uS6w2j6uyjlK65viwUjkbFF03ThJBq9OHu9Sid7FhvH535IKn_FqShdBdB6BdG58CsTYQw2VoNHW37uS79lYTKHceGOl5KI/s1600/DSC_0004-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcJVB3COJJmbdtQuTNfitbcV5HqMbl9K7wXIfN3XrLNM5uS6w2j6uyjlK65viwUjkbFF03ThJBq9OHu9Sid7FhvH535IKn_FqShdBdB6BdG58CsTYQw2VoNHW37uS79lYTKHceGOl5KI/s640/DSC_0004-37.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Although most English parents never trick-or-treated as children,<br />it is catching on and their children are enthusiastic about it</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Children's costumes are scary or gory</div><div style="text-align: center;">- skeletons, witches, ghouls -<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">never 'cute' like a puppy dog<br />or Disney characters<br />{ that would be seen as bizarre }<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxI23xNnOD6CD-HzWnTkj5qxjZwSVlEJK8RVMPzHhxkh8Or1cZkHShFCZhuSn7-B11E8sxQS__YTRjLOqFdaMTQpWLQ6XNrv5KrG0YkSVIOcuPeKNbPIRLBu7SaSMkbkBzvrD3KQvRS1w/s1600/DSCN5795-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxI23xNnOD6CD-HzWnTkj5qxjZwSVlEJK8RVMPzHhxkh8Or1cZkHShFCZhuSn7-B11E8sxQS__YTRjLOqFdaMTQpWLQ6XNrv5KrG0YkSVIOcuPeKNbPIRLBu7SaSMkbkBzvrD3KQvRS1w/s640/DSCN5795-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Many houses have spooky 'fog machines'</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">{ well, ventilation for boilers, actually }</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I noticed trick-or-treat bags are quite small,<br />humbly not wanting to seem greedy<br />{ some Americans bring pillowcases to fill in the US }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />English neighbors typically give one piece of candy or one coin<br /><br />Our street is filled with elderly neighbors,<br />so I expect none of them will be participating<br /><br />We will seek a street with more family homes<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5amOgRLQlYuH4Ol9db1jQwLSIVYM9vJKYtzeDujOOf2973g86syERUgDAJSpjvXSgOq2dpR-lkytE6YtVqcuuzyR0vZTKzrTkhHSJY97iwf41_DO_yYI8C3DOaqTvC7R3PyhXU95qO8/s1600/DSCN5212-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5amOgRLQlYuH4Ol9db1jQwLSIVYM9vJKYtzeDujOOf2973g86syERUgDAJSpjvXSgOq2dpR-lkytE6YtVqcuuzyR0vZTKzrTkhHSJY97iwf41_DO_yYI8C3DOaqTvC7R3PyhXU95qO8/s640/DSCN5212-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />American readers are probably thinking<br />how nice it must be to avoid the heavy commercialization of Halloween,<br /><br />but with no Thanksgiving in England<br />you can bet Christmas paraphernalia has been for sale since the beginning of October!<br /><br />Happy Halloween, y'all :)<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Source: Wikipedia <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick_or_treat">1</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween">2</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_costume">3</a>. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7067804.stm">BBC</a>, <a href="http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/blknow_halloween.htm">Rampants Scotland</a></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Trick Or Treating In England

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK In Ireland and Britain during the Middle Ages on Hallowmas { November 1 }  people went door-to-door in costume ...

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Diamond Jubilee After Party Link Up

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">What a wonderful week we have had</div><div style="text-align: center;">of celebrating the Queen's sixty year reign</div><div style="text-align: center;">with a flotilla pageant, BBC concert, beacons, a carriage procession, street parties,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and Union Jack bunting everywhere</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74JwVF7BKCqxW6Gg8enjvV7V_a1TqMVbmcmhCQ9m3yCyqtymORjL60jJ2EseWZFFysvVZqIEDjQ7RMwTjhMtrrpsRmPyz0NQn_BoF5GOVTcmstd5C89IG3jcUNBUCZQyqDDVqaEkQxPY/s1600/IMG_2597-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74JwVF7BKCqxW6Gg8enjvV7V_a1TqMVbmcmhCQ9m3yCyqtymORjL60jJ2EseWZFFysvVZqIEDjQ7RMwTjhMtrrpsRmPyz0NQn_BoF5GOVTcmstd5C89IG3jcUNBUCZQyqDDVqaEkQxPY/s640/IMG_2597-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">From television to Twitter,</div><div style="text-align: center;">with square heels, fabulous hats, and a boxy purse,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Queen has done a magnificent job</div><div style="text-align: center;">of bringing stability and continuity to the country,</div><div style="text-align: center;">changing with the times yet not,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and evolving the Empire to a Commonwealth</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not raised to be a queen until her uncle Edward VIII abdicated in 1936,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Elizabeth's life has had a few twists and turns</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">While visiting Kenya in 1952,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Princess Elizabeth received the news that not only had her father passed away</div><div style="text-align: center;">but that she was now Queen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She, a mother of two young children and age 25</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlUvDnt32rh3RntqGkFdnBJaHisr3K8DOs2JDxF_djLtz3uVRqX4bYR9Yj5-hg2x6SP8LH7afp7GXYC8Y0iXSSzlvZ8ERpNoGAY1ueSuZbFXfWOd5tc6RMOpT_AHlrSt5K5aNRqt8fC8/s1600/IMG_2148-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlUvDnt32rh3RntqGkFdnBJaHisr3K8DOs2JDxF_djLtz3uVRqX4bYR9Yj5-hg2x6SP8LH7afp7GXYC8Y0iXSSzlvZ8ERpNoGAY1ueSuZbFXfWOd5tc6RMOpT_AHlrSt5K5aNRqt8fC8/s200/IMG_2148-1.jpg" width="131" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made of plants</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As the third female monarch,</div><div style="text-align: center;">she is viewed as a calm queen</div><div style="text-align: center;">who doesn't give interviews but often seen waving to crowds</div><div style="text-align: center;">and gives a few public speeches annually</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As every gathering has expressed this week,</div><div style="text-align: center;">'Hip-hip-hooray!' </div><div style="text-align: center;">for the Queen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How have you been celebrating this week?</div><div style="text-align: center;">We can't wait to see</div><div style="text-align: center;">Feel free to add my button to you post - find the code on my sidebar :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">And stop by a few other bloggers to say 'hello'!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #ff5304; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRG5-9a2B-oOLW4Mz3KxA-3ppMUjbmPT5DfnmEgH6hJhrhGBenMy_QEFYoumt8DCYGUoYDTRsAKc02UmAmDIrzDuKQBrsd3yRTTr_621Iu4InJsUADpAitYIKAR20Ol4UCLaDZVyte5jc/s200/IMG_2412-0029909.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(255, 110, 0); padding: 4px;" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for stopping by this week! It's been great to have you here</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><i>- all photos by me -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">In This Jubilee Series:</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/beacons-for-queen.html"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Beacons For The Queen</span></a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/diamond-jubilee-flotilla.html" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Diamond Jubilee Flotilla</span></a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/london-getting-ready-for-jubilee.html" style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">London Getting Ready For The Jubilee</a><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/find-your-jubilee-beacon.html" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Find Your Jubilee Beacon</a></span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/diamond-jubilee-window-shopping.html" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Diamond Jubilee & Window Shopping</span></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: xx-small; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/celebrating-queen-elizabeth-ii.html" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;">Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II</a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a> <script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=148555" type="text/javascript"></script>

Diamond Jubilee After Party Link Up

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK What a wonderful week we have had of celebrating the Queen's sixty year reign with a flotilla pageant, BBC ...

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Beacons For The Queen

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wow, what a glorious evening after raining all day</div><div style="text-align: center;">Last night was chilly but clear<br /><br />A perfect night to witness the lighting of a Jubilee Beacon<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMH2yxOhhV1jihL1XmECBo9p6CB7-nRmH6RbKMBBzLo9D2zjcKlZEumFz_fVEnhGx9c5kKtj0EqWsjOstsk_ohYiaV7sRm0VTJuQG_dzWLjcBi-hwVVHqOui1PkAvOq9QWK7IE1MkeEU/s1600/IMG_2520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMH2yxOhhV1jihL1XmECBo9p6CB7-nRmH6RbKMBBzLo9D2zjcKlZEumFz_fVEnhGx9c5kKtj0EqWsjOstsk_ohYiaV7sRm0VTJuQG_dzWLjcBi-hwVVHqOui1PkAvOq9QWK7IE1MkeEU/s640/IMG_2520.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Joining a few hundred others in the middle of a hay field,<br />there was one round of 'hip, hip, hooray'<br />and a few bottles of champagne opened<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLIucouS55Dv5b1nRgqhpLJoY8yGYyb0XH3M49ZC2n8uT-bASjFar1Y8IWlwQOsm6HEaSiJorcLZ98fFI9Gw4uAaDUiEp7WBteQLjHChhRLyF3cJ1BWO4OTt8m3GKPQFXlqgzb3p5B6E/s1600/IMG_2538-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLIucouS55Dv5b1nRgqhpLJoY8yGYyb0XH3M49ZC2n8uT-bASjFar1Y8IWlwQOsm6HEaSiJorcLZ98fFI9Gw4uAaDUiEp7WBteQLjHChhRLyF3cJ1BWO4OTt8m3GKPQFXlqgzb3p5B6E/s640/IMG_2538-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />From where we stood, we could see fireworks<br />and two other beacons in the distance<br /><br />knowing we were just 3 of 4000 beacons lit around the world<br /><br />It was <i>awesome</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In This Series:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/diamond-jubilee-flotilla.html">Diamond Jubilee Flotilla</a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/london-getting-ready-for-jubilee.html" style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">London Getting Ready For The Jubilee</a><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/find-your-jubilee-beacon.html" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Find Your Jubilee Beacon</a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/diamond-jubilee-window-shopping.html" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Diamond Jubilee & Window Shopping</span></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/celebrating-queen-elizabeth-ii.html" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II</span></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Beacons For The Queen

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK Wow, what a glorious evening after raining all day Last night was chilly but clear A perfect night to witness t...

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Diamond Jubilee Flotilla

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I will never forget yesterday</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">celebrating the Queen's 60 year reign</div><div style="text-align: center;">with one million spectators in London</div><div style="text-align: center;">observing the grand 1000 boat flotilla</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6w8OAlbvNEEU0D1vsXudNBb4pWvp4MQ3PeBNTK_PYagxSjXrCf4aRmkWtgWwPi4WV_ksjWJe4qi8zxdhF6nr-z3JKi2t8VeyKmrvqRueqw1SPKz1DW1Cdurp2xdWKfkLXVFCGvxRMm0/s1600/DSC_0064-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6w8OAlbvNEEU0D1vsXudNBb4pWvp4MQ3PeBNTK_PYagxSjXrCf4aRmkWtgWwPi4WV_ksjWJe4qi8zxdhF6nr-z3JKi2t8VeyKmrvqRueqw1SPKz1DW1Cdurp2xdWKfkLXVFCGvxRMm0/s640/DSC_0064-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It was a chilly rainy day</div><div style="text-align: center;">as it had been on Queen Elizabeth's Coronation Day in 1953</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5bNhFIA9BnpakhKdG7wABz-4D1jCs5U3dDxTSpoScVestuF29Jnjkt4sUpk3cGL4zAFVtsyt9H0WiJ8rJTicnl9Pe-9A_f3WxZvFGGrgf09S_swIqQeUXfiPoJVPtfNOt-iMMgLog3Y/s1600/DSC_0128-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5bNhFIA9BnpakhKdG7wABz-4D1jCs5U3dDxTSpoScVestuF29Jnjkt4sUpk3cGL4zAFVtsyt9H0WiJ8rJTicnl9Pe-9A_f3WxZvFGGrgf09S_swIqQeUXfiPoJVPtfNOt-iMMgLog3Y/s640/DSC_0128-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I loved seeing the colorful flags of the 54 Commonwealth nations</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioVnOYG3b1PbvYHonHAxx8gptI_oZv_YaeRP0HhyLMwx7j9a0a4tdi9RLZQ813R9NrzZtS7Nel78UoWMELJ9SRJ4T1HvTk-vrcVS3sHNXHTxj2U-1ULtXD3r0B9P5_F-hltDU9irtXGk/s1600/DSC_0047-012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioVnOYG3b1PbvYHonHAxx8gptI_oZv_YaeRP0HhyLMwx7j9a0a4tdi9RLZQ813R9NrzZtS7Nel78UoWMELJ9SRJ4T1HvTk-vrcVS3sHNXHTxj2U-1ULtXD3r0B9P5_F-hltDU9irtXGk/s640/DSC_0047-012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There had not been this number of boats on the River Thames in hundreds of years</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was quite a sight</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">During the event, the downstream Thames Barrier maintained the water level due to tides </div><div style="text-align: center;"> (the world's second largest movable flood barrier)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9l8XzOuYr8CDpnBh6k92r7aR2xvMSCz36Fhuuu_RUk0VW8Cwi_hGOC3_2TCB8RLL6VLZ-ie_3hZkWOOIP6Lpghyphenhyphen4GAe7uFEAczDIcmOtqRj6-OwWuxbNje9_jsxpr50j2Abj4hTwV_2Q/s1600/DSC_0098-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9l8XzOuYr8CDpnBh6k92r7aR2xvMSCz36Fhuuu_RUk0VW8Cwi_hGOC3_2TCB8RLL6VLZ-ie_3hZkWOOIP6Lpghyphenhyphen4GAe7uFEAczDIcmOtqRj6-OwWuxbNje9_jsxpr50j2Abj4hTwV_2Q/s640/DSC_0098-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Queen wore white and stood during the entire pageant</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvUb75DG0okBWvS5Cl9fZKqVE-unKtV1qMygVVr5ijdyMAWj_OcOnypxVYFclVh3LeoN99ydVmIpkeAGPZYy-4V0IGt3istUY-OQ1vSLCokKiNx2-iiY4vnWopT1UaDF0c7o5rg3Yt5Y/s1600/DSC_0083-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvUb75DG0okBWvS5Cl9fZKqVE-unKtV1qMygVVr5ijdyMAWj_OcOnypxVYFclVh3LeoN99ydVmIpkeAGPZYy-4V0IGt3istUY-OQ1vSLCokKiNx2-iiY4vnWopT1UaDF0c7o5rg3Yt5Y/s640/DSC_0083-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Prince Phillip, Prince Charles and Camilla,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Prince William and Kate were also aboard</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Spirit Of Chartwell</i> with the Queen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkzYwBNrIuA8iy2TeIlG2lItSCdwWH23dMMjhqr8RKLZCEZRku0h-DnJcYJv65s7QK3W2VjkQBZLYY3MeUFJgX6YOe7vFP9hhSirRKMGT90QmV54YYpxFYjca05hk5nnAH-C_lycJIxA/s1600/DSC_0123-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkzYwBNrIuA8iy2TeIlG2lItSCdwWH23dMMjhqr8RKLZCEZRku0h-DnJcYJv65s7QK3W2VjkQBZLYY3MeUFJgX6YOe7vFP9hhSirRKMGT90QmV54YYpxFYjca05hk5nnAH-C_lycJIxA/s640/DSC_0123-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The event finished with fireworks at Tower Bridge</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although the military flyover was cancelled due to weather,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think everyone felt it was an unforgettable, historic event</div><div style="text-align: center;">within the 4-day Jubilee celebration</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Memory-making continues with the lighting of the beacons worldwide tonight</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">May your inner-beacon be shiny & bright today :)<br /><br /><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">In This Series:<br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/beacons-for-queen.html">Beacons For The Queen</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/london-getting-ready-for-jubilee.html">London Getting Ready For The Jubilee</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;" /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/find-your-jubilee-beacon.html" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px; text-decoration: none;">Find Your Jubilee Beacon</a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/diamond-jubilee-window-shopping.html" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Diamond Jubilee & Window Shopping</span></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/celebrating-queen-elizabeth-ii.html" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II</span></a></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Diamond Jubilee Flotilla

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK I will never forget yesterday celebrating the Queen's 60 year reign with one million spectators in London o...

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London Getting Ready For The Jubilee

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxvVpj238LezdcUpm2VqlhK8yelA00GU3StW2fmGF2hxi1Hgd5t6JamZU7yObtfolFsuFVNkdDsCS8DiFmOmVy6kABkbtccMgr5VVp6mWPJtC830Q5ZeKWi3QUkC_A-TaV6VQjLuP08k/s1600/IMG_2327-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxvVpj238LezdcUpm2VqlhK8yelA00GU3StW2fmGF2hxi1Hgd5t6JamZU7yObtfolFsuFVNkdDsCS8DiFmOmVy6kABkbtccMgr5VVp6mWPJtC830Q5ZeKWi3QUkC_A-TaV6VQjLuP08k/s640/IMG_2327-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street window in Selfridges</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This week I took two walks...</div><div style="text-align: center;">one in London</div><div style="text-align: center;">one in Richmond</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">See what I saw</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HuncE6iW26qEgSoH0v-HzfCfeRImDC0TMr8wIPDuw9qLUx0xT8IRZ0-wq3PsQjJeHCEX7qd476jmJsituiFtcWrZ4c7itgDng8-Bjkvt2XwBAyLWHqTRtu9-JiSJ-QJy_hgml1v-uzg/s1600/IMG_2379-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HuncE6iW26qEgSoH0v-HzfCfeRImDC0TMr8wIPDuw9qLUx0xT8IRZ0-wq3PsQjJeHCEX7qd476jmJsituiFtcWrZ4c7itgDng8-Bjkvt2XwBAyLWHqTRtu9-JiSJ-QJy_hgml1v-uzg/s640/IMG_2379-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regent Street</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Union Jacks <b>everywhere</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNBuoT0FMJfomb3as9k0SdYL3HFrjQYBYrkdnwWojqVSj_PzUjOe3Xoi09TJVUpDsE484ae7nBe3cN5w2jhHfbpfqz84K4uJ6R2weyqHnqKH-mzUjsz-lT97VkeybsdNYCmtwoX3g3nA/s1600/IMG_2352-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNBuoT0FMJfomb3as9k0SdYL3HFrjQYBYrkdnwWojqVSj_PzUjOe3Xoi09TJVUpDsE484ae7nBe3cN5w2jhHfbpfqz84K4uJ6R2weyqHnqKH-mzUjsz-lT97VkeybsdNYCmtwoX3g3nA/s640/IMG_2352-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made of fake flowers, but beautiful nonetheless</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Drool-worthy Liberty</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXFk3tghuH-1po2mLRZhHcqKdyvT3d5r79Bm8Qvu82lZeeHsW1favjKIPkFYPwDjFot2CdO8bZuQZ8N6pVWflJAdwmbUvZ3Yu_LnQEb4lZb6uJzKthbQ7c9fPciQuTjGpPSWopIyBYvI/s1600/IMG_2353-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXFk3tghuH-1po2mLRZhHcqKdyvT3d5r79Bm8Qvu82lZeeHsW1favjKIPkFYPwDjFot2CdO8bZuQZ8N6pVWflJAdwmbUvZ3Yu_LnQEb4lZb6uJzKthbQ7c9fPciQuTjGpPSWopIyBYvI/s640/IMG_2353-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXJF4u1nZSJSCoRTrww945yoASUQFzoc3oCLd1X3IQZ4fSLNr4pC9-n9tz4fmMv5bc6N6mjQPSfEXuZVZplafvua-OBMCtTbtMphPXuOm2ffBRYTvpiYOQI9iPlPJNLow06qyPGnbJDM/s1600/IMG_2372-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXJF4u1nZSJSCoRTrww945yoASUQFzoc3oCLd1X3IQZ4fSLNr4pC9-n9tz4fmMv5bc6N6mjQPSfEXuZVZplafvua-OBMCtTbtMphPXuOm2ffBRYTvpiYOQI9iPlPJNLow06qyPGnbJDM/s640/IMG_2372-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made of Liberty fabric</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Boats heading toward London on the River Thames to dock for the flotilla</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaY-LzoOn_9dpwpP__qp-pX0BeOLGLlIfEmhsX38Xa8YIjZoUR9KfppPKBI8JpZDnHjTkg9a9ptP2ylFilG4g2QMBspGwa7ng35wGQqbjHv9TBt4ZLmB30CJKSs2JxoEfgUDUf0oIN3ys/s1600/IMG_2395-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaY-LzoOn_9dpwpP__qp-pX0BeOLGLlIfEmhsX38Xa8YIjZoUR9KfppPKBI8JpZDnHjTkg9a9ptP2ylFilG4g2QMBspGwa7ng35wGQqbjHv9TBt4ZLmB30CJKSs2JxoEfgUDUf0oIN3ys/s640/IMG_2395-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Royal Barge Gloriana (below) will be in the flotilla tomorrow</div><div style="text-align: center;">and was being worked on as I walked by</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgobvXtDNcoB6gw6iJ3ieTIf5cMiCPKA2mJzglIubejBJVgEf0YxQ4fhwPdi45DJKCvuP6faXjDfKqMt0Yh8M_uCwaT_dak1F-CIANiCB5VWNFGVzcafmwr-XaHyDXWKAh5i089yvwFM/s1600/June+20122-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgobvXtDNcoB6gw6iJ3ieTIf5cMiCPKA2mJzglIubejBJVgEf0YxQ4fhwPdi45DJKCvuP6faXjDfKqMt0Yh8M_uCwaT_dak1F-CIANiCB5VWNFGVzcafmwr-XaHyDXWKAh5i089yvwFM/s640/June+20122-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">At home, we decided to try to make our new favorite English dessert,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lemon Drizzle Cake</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was</div><div style="text-align: center;">We followed a BBC recipe <a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4942/lemon-drizzle-cake">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULgHkxc8y4_USXtqEwomzCv6bu1e_2CEjzn0nasMsrOGjvikuDQpox_k_g0azdY179gXTqUiC9e4tDzhXKzcujj-VTdBqgQofuI1joJwZiihWka1eQW8Fft5pu_-8j_1hkbhWhlPZqDA/s1600/IMG_2503-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULgHkxc8y4_USXtqEwomzCv6bu1e_2CEjzn0nasMsrOGjvikuDQpox_k_g0azdY179gXTqUiC9e4tDzhXKzcujj-VTdBqgQofuI1joJwZiihWka1eQW8Fft5pu_-8j_1hkbhWhlPZqDA/s640/IMG_2503-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch for precarious cracks, Mr Carriage Driver :)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The cake broke while getting it out of the pan</div><div style="text-align: center;">but yummy, nonetheless<br />& the kids loved decorating it</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><center><center><div style="text-align: center;">Off to the flotilla tomorrow in flip-flops or wellies :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">We'll see!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">In This Series:<br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/beacons-for-queen.html">Beacons For The Queen</a><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/diamond-jubilee-flotilla.html">Diamond Jubilee Flotilla</a><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/find-your-jubilee-beacon.html">Find Your Jubilee Beacon</a><br /><div><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/diamond-jubilee-window-shopping.html">The Diamond Jubilee & Window Shopping</a></div><div><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/celebrating-queen-elizabeth-ii.html">Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II</a></div><div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="border: 0px !important;" /></a></div></center></center></div>

London Getting Ready For The Jubilee

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK Street window in Selfridges This week I took two walks... one in London one in Richmond See what I saw Regent S...

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