Category Archives: England

The Concert of a Lifetime

04 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, England, entertainment, London, Music, paintings, The Royal Family, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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After a wet Sunday on the river, it was time for the Jubilee Concert.  I had heard the drifting sound of music in the air all weekend as the bands rehearsed on the giant sound stage set up at The Queen Victoria Memorial Fountain outside Buckingham Palace.

Preparations for the concert have been going on all weekend. Photo by me

Mastermind of the three-hour BBC produced musical extravaganza Gary Barlow promised Sir Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Sir Elton John.  It also promised to possibly be a rainy night on the Mall.

The clouds are building Monday morning as the blimp flies over St James's Park at the Westminster end. Photo by me.

The crowds were already flooding the park before noon staking out their spots with flags and blankets.  The 10,000 grandstand tickets had been awarded ages ago by a national ballot.  Those lucky sods also got a picnic in the Buckingham Palace Gardens. These additional attendees were people outside the inner fence trying to get a good view of the big screens set up down the Mall and in St. James’s Park.

These St. James's Park residents could have cared less about the invasion going on around them. Photo by me.

The best part of the morning was Stevie Wonder rehearsing and although there was no image, you could hear “Superstition” loud and clear throughout the park. His music continued for quite a while. Everyone was already rocking.

Before noon, people were already arriving for the show which would really begin at about 8 pm. Photo by me

I decided to take a break, and headed to the end of the park at Trafalgar to pay a visit to the National Gallery.

The National Gallery of Art, the perfect spot on a cool, cloudy London day. Photo by me.

I got my floor plan and carefully laid out my plan of attack on the massive museum. I began with the Impressionists.

Cezanne at The National Gallery. Photo by me

I also managed to fit in lunch at the museum cafe…an asparagus, fennel, and goat cheese tart and salad.  It was the perfect accompaniment to Turner.

Turner, The National Gallery. photo by me

After lunch, I decided to spend another hour with Cezanne, Rembrandt and Botticelli. Finally, it was time to leave these perfect companions, and head back through the Mall.  The crowds were now setting up mini-tent-towns.

Tents were popping up everywhere like mushrooms. Photo by me

The boards kept flashing notices that if you were planning to stay in the park overnight to view the parade tomorrow, you had to be in St. James’s Park, not on the Mall.  In the park overnight!!!

Food stalls were set up everywhere, these two outside Clarence House. This was a mini-Woodstock. Photo by me

This might be a bit tough to get anywhere close to the action tonight. OMG! These people were serious.

Tents in St. James's with Big Ben in the background. Photo by me

I was bound and determined to at least try.

I love the woman with the high heels...what was she thinking. She was going to the palace and she was going to wear her best shoes, that's what! Photo by me.

Security was ultra strict, thank goodness, and they were already limiting access at certain points and checking backpacks and purses as they came in to the area.

The crowds kept pouring in. I imagine within the next couple of hours it would be impossible to get anywhere near. Photo by me.

I was informed by three concert security people that the sneak route I had planned through Green Park would be closed off…for the next two days.

The Official Souvenir Stands were doing a brisk business. Photo by me.

It looked like I might have to open my window and listen to the music from afar, but we’ll see.

These two music lovers have claimed their positions for the night. Photo by me

The weather may have something to do with it. It was threatening rain by 4 pm. The concert and beacons that would light up the sky were planned for later tonight.  England’s skies don’t get dark until very late this time of year.

I headed over around 5 pm and made it in with many other revelers.  Everyone was in an extremely jolly mood to say the least.

A happy group of Jubilee Concert goers. Photo by me

Some people put some real effort into their ensembles. Photo by me.

The sky got dark and it started to rain.  But all was not lost.

Even the rain couldn't dampen spirits. Photo by me

Soon the sun was shining again and people were dancing in the street.  I had a classic British dinner at the concert…chips (french fries to you Yanks) and a hot chocolate to ward off the chill.

There were many dining options at the Jubilee Concert. I chose chips, a popular choice. Photo by me

And then the boards lit up and it began.

Let the party get started. On the lawn in St. James's Park. Photo by me

The crowd was enjoying the music thoroughly.  At the least provocation they sang along, cheered and waved their flags.

One of my favorite moments. This couple had their Queen and Prince masks on the back of their heads, and people kept running up behind them and having their pictures taken without them even being aware. Photo by me.

As it got dark, the music got better and better. Again, the crowd control was phenomenal.

The crowds were huge all over the area, but it was so well organized it was fine. Photo by me.

There were police, security and concert staff everywhere inside and outside the concert area to make sure everything ran smoothly…and it did. I don’t usually like huge crowds, but this never bothered me.

It was finally getting dark, and Annie Lenox came on. Photo by me

I waited for the queen to arrive, and decided it was time to walk back to my room (the concert actually started at 7:30).  My usual access was cut off so I had to walk around a much longer way, but there were lots of people with me, a happy crowd, who had spent the day celebrating and were also ready to go home, and plenty of security on the streets to guide me home.

I can still hear the crowds and helicopters outside from my room as I write this.  London is a very happy place tonight.  May it always be so joyous. Happy Diamond Jubilee everyone.

I head back to the country tomorrow to join My Beloved Brit after his weekend of sailing.  It will be so good to see him, but I will miss London.

 

 

The Flotilla on the Thames

03 Sunday Jun 2012

Posted by in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, England, London, paintings, The Royal Family, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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Rain was predicted heading in to the weekend for Sunday, the day of the staging of the largest flotilla in decades to parade down the Thames in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.  The event was supposed to begin around 2:30 pm and start near Battersea Park, heading up river for Tower Bridge. All looked relatively calm on Saturday, although there always seemed to be a helicopter overhead, and police sirens kept rushing through the city.

The River Thames on June 2, 2012 looking very calm. Photo by me.

I woke up to the sound of rain outside my window on Sunday morning, and rushed down to Piccadilly to see if I could score an umbrella.  I did at the local newsstand for only 5 pounds.  We’ll see if it survives the jubilee.

I decided the best approach for the day was to head over to Tate Modern Art Gallery on the South Bank.  If it didn’t stop raining, at least I will have gotten to see the Damien Hirst exhibition. If it did, I might be able to catch a glimpse of the river parade.

The banner for the Damien Hirst exhibition at Tate Modern, located in an old power station directly on the Thames. Photo by me

Some poor souls were camped out on the banks of the river waiting for the pageant to begin.  They still had over 5 hours to go before even a hope to glimpse a boat.

Staking out their positions on the river. Photo by me

I couldn’t imagine.  It was quite chilly, and a misty drizzle filled the air, but people were in a grand mood, and everyone seemed happy enough.  Somehow the rain just made the whole day more British. I decided to wait it out in the huge Tate where it was warm…and had bathrooms.

The toasty warm...and dry...Tate Book Store. Photo by me

I paid my fee for the special Hirst exhibit (many museums are free in London, but charge a hefty price for special exhibitions) and spent a long time lingering through the exhibition.  Hirst had never been one of my favorite artists, but as usual, the Tate did a fabulous job of really explaining his career in this retrospective.  I saw the diamond skull, and the shark in formaldehyde and the room of live butterflies.

The Physical Impossibility of Death in The Mind of Someone Living, by Damien Hirst (1991) from Wikipedia Commons

I read the small booklet they gave me and saw the very expansive film with Hirst narrating, and walked away with a much better understanding and appreciation of the artist and his work.  I was not allowed to photograph here, but take my word, it was very well done.

I decided to stop by for a quick lunch in the coffee shop (after realizing it was impossible to eat in the restaurant on the top floor which had a view of the river), and noticed crowds were already trying to command a position by the windows on this floor that faced the river.  It was noon, at least 3 hours until the pageant would reach this point.

The Tate Modern coffee shop. The view out the window was very popular. Photo by me

At this point there really was nothing much to see but a misted over St. Paul's across the river. Photo by me

I returned to the galleries after my smoked salmon and cucumber sandwich, and saw a wonderful exhibition called “Energy and Process”.  It had some interesting work that explored the use of new materials for making art, unheard of in its time. There were also some old favorites of mine of Cy Twombly that I had seen the last time I was here, but will never get enough of.

Surface-to-Surface by Susumu Koshimizo (planks) and Ren-Shiki-Tai by Kishio Suga (stone). At the time, these types of materials had never been used to create art in modern times. photo by me

Untitled by Marita Merz, aluminum Photo by me

Bacchus series paintings and sculptures, Cy Twombly. Photo by me.

I spent time wandering through a few more floors, visited the book shop and finally decided to reclaim my jacket and umbrella from the cloak room and head out in to the throngs of humanity which had been building all day.

The crowd had grown outside while I was enjoying art inside. Photo by me.

There wasn't an inch of space to stand near the river. Photo by me

I couldn't even get a view of the big screen set up on the outside of the Tate. Photo by me.

I could see this area wasn’ t going to work out, and I could tell by the crowds cheering watching the screen that the Queen had boarded the barge to start her trip up the Thames.  There were helicopters overhead and bells were ringing.

I decided to head down river.

A bit of ice cream never hurts, no matter what the temperature. Photo by me

But everyone was in a great mood, and it had stopped raining, and there were lots of police controlling the crowds.  If an area got too packed, they blocked off new people coming in and explained how to get around it…and people did.  So civilized.

The South Bank of London. Photo by me

London's finest had everything under control. Photo by me

Finally, I made my way down to The London Eye at Jubilee Park.

The London Eye on a grey jubilee day. Photo by me

Here there was another giant screen set up…and many, many people watching it.  But it was on a hillside so it worked, and the river was in the background so we could hear the boats moving on the river with fire whistles and salutes. It was very festive to say the least.

The crowds loved it. Photo by me

And when the image came on the giant screen showing that the Queen’s barge was right behind us on the river, and you could hear the salutes, the crowd went wild. Flags were waving and people were cheering.  The woman next to me said it made it all worth while coming out to see it live, and not sitting at home watching it on her tellie with a cup of tea.

You could see The Eye on the screen that was right behind us in the park. The crowd went nuts! Photo by me.

The Queen and Prince Philip. The cheers went up again, and the women commented on how lovely she looked. Photo by me.

Once the Queen’s barge went by, I decided (along with about a million other people) it might be time to head for Waterloo Station to get back across the river.  It was growing darker and darker and the sky was looking a bit threatening.

Coming out of the Green Park Underground Station in the wet. Photo by me

As I came out of my station, it was pouring again but I managed to use my trusty cheap umbrella to get me in to my London room. As I passed the library on my way upstairs, I noticed the TV was on with other wet jubileers watching the ending ceremonies at Tower Bridge.  They had been on bicycles and were quite bedraggled, but we all agreed it was a tremendous day.  We sat down and shared a cup of tea to toast the Queen.

Monday night is the huge Jubilee Concert outside Buckingham Palace.  I can hear them rehearsing across the park this evening.  The forecast is for rain. We shall see.

 

 

London at Jubilee

02 Saturday Jun 2012

Posted by in England, London, The Royal Family, Travel

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Walking through London, the images are overwhelming.  Everyone is in a tremendously festive mood and in such good spirits that it’s bound to rub off on you.

Many of the streets were decked out with flags and bunting. Photo of Oxford Street by me

The town is ready for the 60th Anniversary of the Queen’s reign.

A sweet window decorated with the Queen in mind. Photo by me.

I thought today I’d share some of the London sights on the Friday before the weekend Jubilee Celebration really begins.

As soon as I got to London, I could see there was a party going on. Photo of Bond Street by me.

Getting ready for the concert on Monday night at Buckingham Palace. Photo by me.

I wandered over to Buckingham Palace to see what was going on in preparation for the big weekend. The bands were beginning to rehearse and there was great music playing.  Have no idea who was playing it, but it didn’t matter.

Everyone was wandering about anticipating the fun to come. Photo by me

I’ll walk down a few more times before the actual night of the concert to catch the rehearsal music. The crowds are manageable now, and I have a feeling they won’t be on Monday night. Luckily my accommodations are a short ten minute walk  through Green Park.

The view the other direction from the soundstage. Photo by me

The Mall is pretty much shut down to traffic getting ready for the big event. But the guard at Clarence House directly off the wide boulevard doesn’t seem to be aware of all the commotion around him.

A guard at the gate of Clarence House, official residence of Prince Charles, The Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla) and Prince Harry. Photo by me

When I strolled in to St. James’s Park next to The Mall, I saw the most extraordinary foliage sculpture of a crown right behind the stands set up for the concert…

The Topiary Crown in St. Jame's Park. Photo by me

…not to mention the most gorgeous gardens in full bloom (nothing to do with Jubilee. I just thought they were spectacular).

St James's Park near the lake. Photo by me

I left the excitement surrounding the palace, and headed over to the National Portrait Gallery to see the exhibition on the Queen.  Well worth the walk. There was a special exhibit featuring six decades of art portraying Elizabeth II.

The National Portrait Gallery at Trafalgar Square. Photo by me

As I came out and turned to walk back to my room, I noticed the Canadian Embassy, decked out in honor of the Queen.  Congratulations, your majesty. Job well done.

The Canadian Embassy honors the Queen. Photo by me.

 

Jubilee Windows

01 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by in England, Shopping, The Royal Family, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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Wherever we went in England and Scotland this past week, we saw store front windows celebrating the Diamond Jubilee, and announcements everywhere of festivities and local events in honor of the event.  There is a great sense of celebration everywhere, from the smallest village to London’s high street. You really can feel it building, and the sense of national pride and just plain fun is in every corner of the country. This weekend should be a kick!

Happy Diamond Jubilee Your Majesty. Photo by me.

I have thought more than once what a great sense of community the monarchy brings, and whenever I hear people wonder why the British keep it, this makes it perfectly obvious. At the moment it is at the height of popularity and seems to pull the entire country together.

Loved this one in Oxford, but Prince Philip does look a bit like a head waiter. photo by me

The deep awareness of history and common past has never shown its strength in a more obvious way. Most Brits have never known a different monarch in their lifetime when you consider this celebrates Elizabeth’s 60th year. So though we Americans may go through many heads of state in our lifetime, the monarchy gives the British people a great sense of continuity and national pride.

Windows for the celebration. Hard to see, but Will and Kate are on the left. The celebration is focusing on the accession. Photo by me.

There are all sorts of street parties and local celebrations planned, from pony rides to special fairs, and just about everyone seems to be getting in to the spirit.  Of course a four day holiday weekend does help bring joy to the nation.

Even the bakeries are getting in to the spirit. Photo by me.

It’s been great fun to be around for it, and I head in to London on today to join in the main festivities.

The Sailor Returns to the Sea

31 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in Burnham-on-Crouch, Sailing, Travel, United Kingdom

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The first evening we came in to Burnham-on-Crouch, My Beloved Brit’s old sailing haunt, we were two beats ahead of showers. It was wonderful coming around the corner in the familiar village.

Burnham-On-Crouch...the high street. photo by me

One of the first things we did was drop off our luggage at the Inn and walk down to the seawall for a stroll…lovely as ever.

The Crouch River escaping the storm. photo by me.

MBB will be sailing this weekend in Burnham with all his mates, while I take the train in to London to witness the Diamond Jubilee celebration there.  We will both be very happy even though it has gotten quite a bit cooler and there is some rain predicted.  It is, after all, the grey country.

The marina stands ready for the weekend races. Photo by me.

 

 

Road to Scotland

25 Friday May 2012

Posted by in England, Food, Lake District, Travel, Uncategorized

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On our way to Scotland, we stopped at a motorway hotel in the countryside near the Lake District.  After a full day of driving it was a relief to get to our destination for the night, but it was a bit of a chain hotel.

The Westmorland on the motorway. Photo by me.

After looking over the high priced menu we decided to venture into the nearby village for dinner at the local pub.  I agreed to forfit my glass of wine with my meal, and drive us back along the narrow roads.

These narrow country lanes put you in fear of oncoming traffic. photo by me

It was well worth it.  We found a great pub, and enjoyed dinner with the locals. And I managed to get us back safe and sound quite easily.

The perfect spot for dinner. Photo by me.

I was quite proud of myself and we immediately retreated to the hotel bar for a glass of wine. I’m not sure I will ever get totally used to driving in this country.

Meanwhile, many areas in the country have difficulty with internet connection in the small inns.  If I miss posting for awhile, you’ll know we are enjoying the peace and quiet of a country inn.

The Olympic Torch Begins Its Journey

20 Sunday May 2012

Posted by in Cornwall, England, Olympics, Travel, Uncategorized

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What a great first day in England, jetlag and all.

We had the usual awful red-eye flight, on a totally packed plane with no sleep at all.  I’ll never get used to those dreadful overnight flights to Europe.

After arriving at Heathrow totally bedraggled, we decided to spend our Saturday driving towards Cornwall where we needed to be by Sunday to meet up with family. With frequent breaks and even a catnap in the car at a rest stop, we hit the really pretty part of Dartmoor Forest in Devon and decided to start looking for an Inn to spend the night. Of course, we had no idea that the Olympic Torch had landed at Lands End to the west of us by helicopter from Greece that morning, and was making its way through the area on the very first day of its journey, and ours, on English soil.

The torch is beginning it's journey through England. Photo by me

After searching in vain all afternoon for any kind of accommodation on the moors or along the southwest coast, we finally made it to Bodmin in Cornwall and found a great little hotel right in town that MBB had discovered online.  Checking in, we mentioned our trials and tribulations of the day because of the torch’s progress.

A great little hotel in the town of Bodmin in Cornwall. photo by me.

The gentleman behind the desk said he understood, and added that the flame was arriving in front of this hotel at 6pm with great fanfare.  What luck!  A room and the torch, and a great early supper of curry in the dining room watching the street outside as people gathered for the festivities. You couldn’t ask for a sweeter first day, and we even got some true sunshine by evening.

Everyone rushes in to town to see the torch come by. photo by me.

The excitement kept building for an hour waiting for the athlete to come running down the main street. photo by me

Then the church bells started ringing all over town, the police car escort flashed down the hill, and the crowd cheered as the runner came. photo by me

The torch bearer came by in a flash, but the crowd was thrilled. It really was an event of a lifetime. photo by me.

My Beloved Brit of course took full credit for planning such a wonderful day, although I think there was a bit of luck involved. None-the-less, I love him for turning what could have been day of only frustration into a memorable adventure.

UK weather forecast…toughen up

17 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in Cornwall, England, London, The Royal Family, Uncategorized

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For weeks now My Beloved Brit has been telling me that we need to toughen up for England.  Well, the hour has arrived.  We leave the end of this week for the “Grey Country”, and the forecast is for cold and rainy weather. How English!

And we’ve planned for a week in Scotland at the beginning of the trip before returning to the south so I can witness the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, which may drive him to the edge of his sanity.  He always says he had enough of being chilled to the bone in his youth.  He never wants to be cold again and we stand a good chance of it in Scotland.  They predicted snow flurries earlier this week.

Sunny Cornish hills. Pastel by me.

Luckily our first stop is Cornwall to visit with his cousins.  A good thing.  If there is one place in England that has a chance of sun and warmth in the spring, it’s Cornwall.  And it doesn’t hurt that he gets to reconnect with family.

So until we get a bit settled and un-jetlagged, I may miss a few posts.  But then I’ll report to you from across the pond.  And hopefully the sun will shine.

Portraits of the Queen at the National Portrait Gallery

15 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, England, London, paintings, The Royal Family, Uncategorized

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In honor of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the National Portrait Gallery in London is mounting a stellar exhibition of over sixty of the “most remarkable and resonant portraits of the Queen made during her 60 year reign”. The show runs from May 17 – October 21, 2012.

I am thrilled that I will be in London in a couple of weeks, and this is on my list of things to see in the midst of all the Diamond Jubilee excitement of that weekend. It is fascinating to have one figure that has been interpreted by so many artists over such a large span of years. Artists include Cecil Beaton, Andy Warhol and Lucien Freud to name just a few.

Queen Elizabeth II by Dorothy Wilding 1952, copyright William Hustler and Georgina Hustler, National Portrait Gallery, London

 

 

Bond, James Bond, meets the Queen?

13 Sunday May 2012

Posted by in England, entertainment, movies, Olympics, The Royal Family, Uncategorized

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A new Bond movie is in the works, Skyfall, with Daniel Craig once again playing Bond. The new film will be released October 26th in the UK, November 9th, 2012 in the US.  Judi Dench returns as M, and the new plot revolves around her character as “her past comes back to haunt her”. Javier Bardem joins the cast as the “villain”, and the new Bond Girl is Berenice Marlohe as Severine. Sounds intriguing.

From the new James Bond film, Skyfall, Photo: Francois Duhamel/Sony Pictures

According to speculation in an article in The Telegraph, The Queen  agreed to make a cameo appearance in the film.  James Bond 007 is to have knighthood bestowed on him by the Queen, and the scene will reportedly be beamed around the world during the opening ceremony at the Olympic Games.

Bond, of course, cannot comment.  His future missions are top secret, after all.