CELEBRATIONS ~ The Diamond Jubilee Long Weekend

Downing Street decorated for the Diamond Jubilee
photo from the Prime Minister's Office



Diamond Jubilee Decorations in our village

The official logo

There are some things in life which you know you will only have the privilege to witness once. We should not miss them.

Having always loved history, and especially British history I feel privilged to be here for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

For a nation who normally show reserve it is heartwarming to see how so many are celebrating and have made the effort to show their support for their monarchy, their families, friends and neighbours - and their country. 

Cities, towns and villages are decorated like I've never seen them. On Sunday there are fetes all over Britain where people will be sharing food, drinks and good company with neighbours and friends at picnics and street parties. Grandmothers have been asked to share their secret recipes for trifle and the Pimms will be ready. Gardens are in full bloom and hopefully the sun will shine for everyone.

It all kicks off on Saturday with her usual visit to The Derby where Her Majesty is always warmly welcomed by the racegoers. Well, it is, after all, The Sport of Kings. (And Queens, of course!)  And who should win it this year? The Queen does not have a runner in the race this year but should the favourite Camelot win, it would be quite an appropriate name in this Diamond Jubilee year.

The Queen celebrating a winner at Epsom on Derby day. Photo by Kent Gavin.

We feel sad to miss the celebrations in our own little village, but we're going to London on Sunday to see the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, which should be spectacular. Imagine the possibility of nearly 1,000 boats from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world with The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh in the 'Gloriana', the Royal Barge as the centrepiece of the flotilla.  The flotilla will include Venetian gondolas, a Chinese dragon boat, kayaks, motorboats and a 19th century French trading ship. A million people are expected to line the riverbanks during the three-hour event. A sight like this has not been seen since 1662 when King Charles II used The Thames to introduce his country to his new bride, Queen ­Catherine of Braganza.

 Read more about the pageant here:

But this does not take anything away from the humble celebrations of Her Majesty's subjects.

Getting out the bunting!
Photo from the Daily Mail

THE TEDDY BEAR'S PICNIC

In the woods

If you go down to the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go down to the woods today
You'd better go in disguise!
For ev'ry bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain,
Because today's the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic.


Teddy Bear's Picnic on youtube - listen

The weather is glorious. Gardens all over England are being spruced up and bunting hung in readiness for garden parties to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. It's perfect weather for a Teddy Bear's Picnic and this time of year always reminds me of the song.

The Teddy Bear's Picnic by Molly Brett

The melody for 'Teddy Bears' Picnic' was conceived by American composer John Walter Bratton in 1907. In 1932 Irish songwriter Jimmy Kennedy added the now famous lyrics.  Kennedy lived at Staplegrove Elm, Taunton, Somerset and is buried in Staplegrove Church. Pilgrimages are still made to see the small wooded area between the church and Staplegrove Scout Hut which locals will tell you was the inspiration for his lyrics.  I love the way the song is born again with each new generation of children and lingers fondly in the hearts of many grown up, and not so grown up fans.

I remember being thrilled many years ago when Pete Townshend of The Who chose the slightly scratchy 1936 version done by Henry Hall and his Orchestra with vocals by Val Rosling as one of his songs on a radio program. Producer Keith Altham recalled about Jimi Hendrix, "If things were getting tense in the studio," says Altham, "he'd just play 'Teddy Bears' Picnic'."

This is a video of a shortened version of the song on youtube:

Teddy Bear's Picnic

Our village is bordered by several small woods which we drive through coming and going. I'd love to live even closer, deep in the woods, under the shade of the trees. Carpets of snow drops and bluebells heralding spring, and the crunch of fallen leaves and wood burning bringing winter.

 Puthall Gatehouse 1906, Savernake Forest
From Francis Firth photo library

Often the birds and beasts that live in the woods venture out and give us a glimpse of themselves.

Driving through Wickham Heath recently I was not surprised to see that there really are wolves in this wood! I love this gate so much.

A Wolf at the gate

 

SHOPPE KEEPER ~ A Bit of This n That

What weather that we have in England, from rain and grey skies to very warm and sunny. It seems impossible that just a few days ago nothing was blooming and now the garden is bursting with colour. I love these gentle Aquilegias in such soft shades.

There is something quite fairy like about them. They self seed everywhere and surprise you when they come up the following year.

Mrs Black has been chasing the country mice, a favourite game of hers. I've been busy painting in the garden as although I do have a tiny studio all the prepartion work is done outside to avoid dust getting everywhere so summer is a very busy time. It was so hot that the paint was drying as I brushed it on!

Pale green towel rail to keep, not to sell

Some of the lovely items at The Emporium this week.

We're selling an old dressing table mirror in a beautiful pale lilac

Can you see that the back paper says 'Love' ?

A divine china hand painted little bird, at £12.00 I am very tempted!
This unit owner always has lovely tags with descriptions on their items.  

Stunning art deco coffee table!

If Mrs Black had been with me she's have insisted I bought this charming cat with
ball of wool figure. So sweet and lifelike.

Pretty creamy coloured hand painted chest of drawers

A bit Alice in Wonderland, I love this giant key and pale pink Lloyd Loom chair.

NATURE ~ Remember to look for the unexpected

I love the saying 'not all who wander are lost' because sometimes when wandering you can make unexpected and delightful little discoveries.

There are lots of secret gardens, entrances and alleyways in Marlborough and when the sun comes out I like to walk very quietly around there with a camera taking all the paths less travelled.

Look what I found this week as I turned down a very quiet path there.  

I know that Pigeons are often thought of as pests and indeed we do have far too many of them in towns and cities. But they thrive because of the waste of humans.

You would have to have a hard heart not to be touched by this brave mother guarding her eggs.

I love the rich blue of the doorway against the white washed bricks and you can just see the dark beams above. Mrs Pigeon chose her nest site well!

MARKET DAY

The antique dealer who sells at the market had a great stand on Wednesday!

Markets are just one of the many folkloric aspects which I love about Europe. When I was growing up in California 'super' markets were the norm, it was very rare to find an old fashioned market. After moving to England I was fascinated by the history of the market and set about visiting as many as I could.  Of course markets were the places to buy items of food and household goods long before shops opened. There is something magical about market day, especially in the countryside where the old towns were given charters by the kings to hold a market.

Wednesdays are market days in Hungerford. I like being there on those days even though parking can be tricky! Parking further away means more exercise and gazing at the pretty houses and gardens along the way into town.

The sun was shining so I took advantage of it to deliver items to our unit 'Mrs Black's' in The Emporium in the High Street. I put some pieces of vintage china, books and this round crocheted tablecloth in.  I love this tablecloth and it is a craft which I have not mastered myself so I really appreciate the talent and hours which have gone into this piece. I hope it goes to a good home where it can be shown off.



large circular crochet tablecoth £30.00



close up of the delicate crochet flowers

 

These are a few of the items that caught my eye today which other dealers at The Emporium have for sale.  Our little unit is upstairs and it is nearly impossible to pass through the shop without wanting something! 



Some very pretty chintz jugs,
and a pair of darling dog bookends




I love this doorstop - very unusual!



So feminine - a pale and interesting dressing table

Some more of what we have for sale at the moment.

An art student's copy of Constable's 'Cottage in a Cornfield'

Meakin sunflower coffee set

  

Audobon Canada Goose plate

 

Driving home the sky was a dreamy dark blue and the rape seed fields bright yellow, rich with that Heavenly scent. Swallows and Kites circled and chirped and shrieked overhead. And then it rained!

THE TERRACOTTA PIXIE



Leopold our terracotta gnome or pixie

Recently we found this fabulous guy whose seller thought he was a Gnome, or a Pixie. We're not sure either.  He was advertised as a rare Art Deco Czechoslavakia large terracotta garden fairy or pixie figure, measuring 14 inches tall. My husband immediately christened him 'Leopold' but maybe he should have a more mysterious name. I'm sure that he does and just has not revealed it to us yet.

Having done some investigation we are more baffled than ever. He has no beard, and he has wings.  Gnomes don't have wings do they? 



Gnomes, a 1979 release from Wil Huygen and Rien Poortvliet

I can find no other like him and will continue to find out exactly what he is, and when he was made. His painted surface is peeling and many layers can be seen, but we have no plans to give him a new coat. I love all the colours coming through. We've no plans to sell him either, he's a keeper.



His wings and peeling paint

What I like best about him is the way he is sitting with his legs crossed. Don't you love his pointy-toed Pixie boots? 



cross legged

Although he seems benign he has slightly scary eyes and this gives him a spooky edge. Maybe he will guard our garden if we are nice to him and give him a good home under our staddle stone mushroom.



Leopold's dramatic makeup and his scary eyes!

would Leopold be happy under one of these?

Our cottage is on a small estate of workers cottages built in Victorian times. There is a communal bakehouse, outside loos and a well, which is in what is now our back garden. It is long since capped, by an old stone mushroom and he would certainly look at home underneath that. But we think he is pretty old, has seen lots of duty and that perhaps he would now like to retire indoors. He's living in the fireplace at the moment and might go outside for special occasions when better weather arrives.

Happy May Bank Holiday!

It's still raining here and so you know it must be a Bank Holiday coming up! We're going away for a few days to even deeper countryside to visit old friends. I hope that wherever you are a little sunshine comes your way this weekend, or if not, then perhaps a rainbow.