Jubilee Luncheon

God Save Our Gracious Queen

I got up early this morning to watch Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee flotilla on TV.  What a spectacle!  Such pageantry!  And can we please talk about the queen?  Eighty-six years old and she stood ramrod straight on a moving boat for over 3 hours.  In the rain.  I couldn't do that and I'm 30 years younger than she is.

The television announcer mentioned that there had been over 9,000 road closure permits given out to allow neighbours to host 'Jubilee Luncheons' throughout England today.  I am a big fan of the street party.

Alas it was too late to ask permission to close off Kingswood Road, but I said, "We could still have an indoor Jubilee Lunch."  Joe quickly ran to the grocery store for a few key ingredients, we made several sandwiches, and hauled out our Brown Betty.  We invited friends to join us and we were off to the races!

Is it wrong to serve French tea at an English Jubilee Luncheon?  
(Well, at least it was Earl Grey.)

Joe lovingly prepares the ubiquitous English cucumber sandwich.

Again, Joe with the loving hands.  Here he is peeling the stems of asparagus stalks before the boiling the crap outta them.

And you thought I couldn't cook!  My Auntie Isabel would be so proud of me rolling these asparagus and cream cheese sandwiches.

Thank goodness numerous relatives have given us their old teacups over the years!

Our table centrepiece: English rose 'Gertrude Jekyll' in a Stilton Cheese crock.

It takes measured skill to create a fascinator.  And to tie one's crown to one's head with dental floss.

  The Queen Mother was partial to drinking a gin and tonic every now and again.  And she lived to 101.  We drank a toast to her memory.

"To the Queen".

Sheesh...could we find a larger strainer for the tea?

Congratulations Queen Elizabeth on 60 years of service!  You are one amazing woman.