Lubilee Jubilee

A long time between blogs. We'll get around to posting some photos of our new flat soon. We've got a bit of catching up to do, first of all let's up date you on our experience of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations...


Leading up to the jubilee weekend London basked in some incredible weather, 10 days of hot sunny weather. Union Jack flags and bunting were appearing in shops and outside people's homes in an unusual display of patriotism for the UK. Some photographic evidence of the great weather leading up to the jubiliee weekend:

Was so hot I had a cold drink instead of coffee at my visit to my regular coffee shop near work

Perhaps off to join the flotilla? My view from my regular coffee shop down the road from work

View of London on my way home from a meeting in town

The weekend before the jubilee weekend was the Ritherdon Road street party which is just around the corner. We went and had a look and enjoyed a German sausage and ice cream. It was a great street party with lots of people and atmosphere.

Ritherdon Road street party (or should that be road party)

The Friday before the jubilee weekend the weather packed up. On the Saturday morning I went for a jog in to town to see the preparations for the main event - the flotilla down the Thames. I ran through Battersea Park which was hosting a festival and had some prime viewing spots for the flotilla.


From Battersea Park I ran through Chelsea to Hyde Park were more preparations for various events were taking place, Kensington Palace was looking very well groomed having been closed off for quite a while as they redid the gardens and maybe prepared the palace for Kate and Will to inhabit.


All in all, there wasn't as much to see on my run as I thought but at least it dragged me out for a long run. Some sights from my run...

On Saturday afternoon we did a bit of shopping and on the way back stopped in at a street party which got us in the mood for the weekend.


On Sunday, the weather looking particularly poor, there was a Vintage Market in Balham, it's a shame the weather was so bad because there weren't too many people at this market. We stopped for tea and cake.

Scone with jam and cream, yum

Victoria sponge

The works

I headed in to town to see the flotilla (while Jackie and Theo stayed at home to pack). I think it was probably just as well the weather was a little suspect because there were so many people who turned up, I'm sure if the weather was half decent there would have been too many people.


I caught a train and then had a long walk to where I thought I might be able to get a view. Being on my own I was able to squeeze in between people and eventually got to a point where I was about 3 rows back from the river. My view was obstructed but I was happy with my spot, the people around me were quite nice, not too raucous.


There was quite a bit of waiting involved but we were entertained by big screen showing the BBC coverage of the day. It wasn't too long before the boats started coming, there was some confusion about where the Queen was amongst the flotilla with some people suggesting she was on the first fancy boat but when she did eventually arrive there was no mistaking her boat or her.


The flotilla was quite impressive but I wasn't going to hang around till the very end because I knew the trip home was probably going to be a long one.


As the bridges were all closed for the flotilla and I had got myself on to the north side of the river I needed to find a tube or train that could get me home. I found a bus stop, waited for a bus but they were all full. Eventually I crossed the road and got a bus to Victoria station which whisked me home with little fuss.

These had been at the Chelsea Flower Show but was sitting in a  car park near the river

A panorama photo of the scene by the river

My view of the big screen

My view of the river was probably better than my view of the big screen. This was the barge which had the bells ringing out. 

This was the fancy boat leading the flotilla which some people thought had the Queen on it. It didn't

The rowing boats were out front, including a waka

The Queen's boat

You prob can't see it on the screen, but when the photo is full size you can see the  Queen. 

There were some interesting boats bringing up the rear, I did stop to watch the steam boats go by

Victoria station was decked out for the Queen. 

The Monday and Tuesday were predominantly spent packing. On Tuesday we went for a great walk past lots of street parties and went and had a pint at a pub, including a Jubilee Ale and even got a photo with the Queen.

One of the street parties we saw on our walk

Jackie and Theo having a taste of the Jubilee Ale

Jackie and Theo with Liz

All in all it was a great weekend, the atmosphere across London was happy and friendly, there was a real sense of excitement. It was amazing to be a part of it all. We did wonder whether we might be hear for a coronation in the near future. Ticking off a Royal Wedding, Jubilee and Coronation would be quite a set to have!