Wedding fever…
I love special events.
I love the Melbourne Cup… an excuse for lovely sandwiches, bets on the races, a good hat and lots of wonderful Irish and English horses mixing with our own sterling thoroughbreds. I love Cracker Night (or I used to until the government took away the right to have wonderful bonfires and great fun). I love the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. I love celebrating the release of a new title or even the release of a friend’s new title. I love celebrating the start of lambing or if we top the market at the sheepsales. Basically I think it can be said that I’ll celebrate the opening of an envelope!
So can you imagine how I feel this week?
I grew up with the Royal Family a crucial part of my family life. My grandmother had a collection of wonderful royal books and we often sat together going through them. I think I knew the names of all the Royals before I could count. I started my own collection of royal books and at one point had 35. But they’ve dwindled now and I only have my complete favourites. Being a horse lover, my number one is called The Queen Rides and written in 1965. It’s a wonderful photographic and text journal of the Queen and all the horses that mattered to her at that time. I’ve got books covering a cross-section of Windsor history and am always fascinated with the execution of a constitutional monarchy. I’ve also watched the effects of the institution on the public when I’ve been fortunate enough to attend receptions attended by HM or the HRHs when they’ve visited Australia.
This latest occasion, this exciting wedding on Friday, is a special event. And one I make absolutely no apologies for anticipating with joy. We’ll have a pseudo-reception here at House. The menu is filled with bite-sized bits and pieces so that one’s other hand can hold a celebratory glass whilst one’s attention can remain on the telecast without having to worry about plates, knives and forks. I’ve made tiny wedding-cakes to finish the occasion and had thought I’d try and write ‘K’ and ‘W’ on alternate ones with a chocolate pen, so I had a practice on a spare. But I think my creative writing might be a touch better than my cake-decorating skills. The ‘K’ looked like a fly had dipped its legs in chocolate and walked over the top of the tiny cake. I could barely manage a ‘W’!
Oh well, its the thought and the flavour that counts…
I love watching Katherine and William together… their evident companionship, the happiness their relationship bestows. I mean who doesn’t love a love-story? But most of all, I value that sense of hope they have perhaps not so unconsciously given a world that has suffered mining disasters, earthquakes, tsunamis and wars in the last six months. Three cheers for Kate and Wills and may they have a safe and memorable day!
Oooh. And I am an uber-Royalist too! In fact, I have been heard advocating the abolition of the muppet show we call parliament and a return to the values of rule by Divine Right!
God save the Queen!
Love you Si… have a good one on Friday! And great to hear that ‘Dark Empress’ is almost ready to hit the presses. Congratulations.
Laughed over your description of cake decorating and spiders! (Robert Bruce and spiders, anyone?)
As I’m normally up at 5AM, no problem tuning to the Wedding. With a thermos of tea and crumpets…
Neither madly pro-Monarchy, nor certainly not anti-, I love history and the ancestral English heritage. So, no excuses either, for enthusiasm about a glorious visual spectacle. Or for a belief that this young couple have a far better basis for a union than some other Royals have had.
I find the whole historical perspective of enormous interest, Fitzg. It doesn’t stand or fall on the actions or not of the Windsors, that’s for sure.
It is the visual occasion that will be jaw-dropping tomorrow and so much better than the ghastly news we see drummed into our psyches day upon night. Its wonderful to see that joy overides politics and personal opinion for once. Enjoy the day.
Sorry but I am a “bah humbug”! I have very little interest in the royal wedding. All it seems to be is a big spectacle for a distant ruling family who barely know that Western Australia exists. How often do they visit us? Rarely. Do they even know anything about us? Do they care?
To me the wedding is something nice that a lot of people are excited about. Well, that’s good. But for me personally it’s just something happening to famous people with which I have no affinity.
By the way, I am NOT a fan of the Melbourne Cup. In fact, I usually take the day off work and hide away so I don’t have to think about it. I’m sorry, but I cannot watch horse racing. I’ve seen some horrible accidents, and no matter what anyone says, I think it’s cruel. I’ve seen cut marks on the horses’ necks from the whips and I can’t bear to see the riders hitting them to make them go faster. The riders get all the glory from winning. What about the poor horses who lose? I bet they get punished.
Sorry to be a dampener. Blame my monthly moodiness!!!
I hope everyone who loves the royals has a wonderful time watching the wedding from afar.
Prue – I think it’s great you love celebrating and get into it so much. I used to be like that. The cakes sound adorable.
Nikalee, that’s fine. You’re absolutely entitled to your feelings, as is everyone.
For me: I guess I just want to indulge in some happiness and laughter and watch as many people as possible do the same. Life’s far to hard and serious not to enjoy the good things when they happen.
As to horse-racing, I don’t actually attend. We have off-field celebrations. The industry has vast detractions, the crowds being one. But I do know a few jockeys and there are good ones and bad ones, good trainers and cruel trainers. As to the horses: I adore them. The thoroughbred is pure elegance and beauty. I used to own one who was retired from the track after running 3 ‘picnic-races’ with no success whatsoever. He came from the track without a single mark on him and his only foible was hating horse-floats. Perversely he was fine travelling in massive horse-transports. His name was Nicholas and he was a handsome copper bay, about 16.2HH and I adored him and we did dressage comps and shows. We were together until he died of cancer not long after my daughter was born.
I hope you have a good Friday anyway despite the pomp and circumstance. Cheers and best.
Thanks Prue. I too love horses, not that I have had much to do with them! I’m glad Nicholas had a lovely life with you (fantastic name, by the way!) I know not all trainers and riders are cruel. I was just in a terrible mood this morning.
Have a blast tomorrow and I know I will, since I’m getting some time to myself at last!!
xx
Minor and major royals visit my country rathere mor than is comfortable for the federal budget/taxpayers to absorb, for security etc.
Nevertheless, I endorse the royals. In England. And take visual pleasure in the bread and circuses spectacles.
In view of which, have been viewing the ceremony since my usual rise and shine time of 5AM. All very visually and musically beautiful. Is it relevant to Canada (with another election ordeal on Tues?) Probably not. Definitely not, in the perspective of everything else happening everywhere else. And here.
So what the H***, I just enjoy the breaks, and the history, and the birdcage headpieces of the gentry/self-important aristos.
It’s the same here, fitzg. Australia will no doubt move toward the unsure destiny of a republic which saddens me because of the evident stability we have had as part of a constitutional monarchy and the British Commonwealth.
I’ve loved all of the 6 hours of viewing… every tiny minute and as ever am in awe of British pageantry, tradition, pride in their icons and I would watch it all again. Beats watching all the negative press on TV any day. To be able to go to bed happy and content is a blessing.
The headgear? My god! Princess Beatrice, Tara Palmer Tomkinson and Posh Beckham looked crazy!
Royal weddings are always the major spotlight. I love Kate’s sophisticated, trend-setting wedding dress! The whole ceremony was a hit. Best wishes to Kate and William!
Nikalee, my son and family have sensitised me to the animal welfare environment, too. I have two rescued cats, one of whom causes eye and skin itch, and they also dumped a rescued dog (sadly she died of a bowel complaint at the age of 11.) Strictly a dog-lover, but what can you do, when the felines dumped on one are right there? And need care and affection?
As for monarchy, as a half English/half Irish Canadian, if the majority opt for a republic at some point, the Irish genes ensure compliance. Meanwhile, I’ll enjoy the bread and circuses as a brief break from far more significant concerns. 😀 I’m clearly conflicted about the relevance or, non-relevance. (Non- I know, but rather visually enjoyable, too.