The Diamond Jubilee & Window Shopping

<div style="text-align: left;">Posted by Happy Homemaker UK</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">With the upcoming Diamond Jubilee and the Summer Olympics,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this will be a historical summer in Great Britain!</div><div style="text-align: center;">* squeal *<br /><br /><br />Submitted by<br />10 year old Katherine Dewar of Chester,<br />this official emblem was selected in a competition<br /><br />Along with festive bunting and 'Best of British' slogans,<br />I see it frequently<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LrC50IcwGcv-RHwxI63z8GxMEVnZALwmnBMwL_zdfWxhep6C_NEiPpiKCxTKyHsThWnzR0NH94zWloQl1YrRVYN46jARX-2YzjhXyl7Q5IZX-XohGrUTukvSFR_Jct8HE4gwhPpCj7Q/s1600/Jubilee+Logo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LrC50IcwGcv-RHwxI63z8GxMEVnZALwmnBMwL_zdfWxhep6C_NEiPpiKCxTKyHsThWnzR0NH94zWloQl1YrRVYN46jARX-2YzjhXyl7Q5IZX-XohGrUTukvSFR_Jct8HE4gwhPpCj7Q/s320/Jubilee+Logo+1.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is the line up for the public celebration </div><div style="text-align: center;">of Queen Elizabeth's 60 year reign</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Sat 2 June</b><br />The Queen attends Epsom Derby</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Sun 3 June</b><br />The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh travel in a flotilla on River Thames<br />{ can't wait! }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Mon 4 June</b><br />Concert at Buckingham Palace</div><div style="text-align: center;">A network of 2012 beacons to be lit throughout the UK</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Tues 5 June</b><br />Queen attends service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral </div><div style="text-align: center;">followed by Carriage Procession</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Street parties, '<a href="http://www.thebiglunch.com/">The Big Lunch</a>', and afternoon teas will take place throughout the UK on those days<br /><br />I've sprinkled some fun 'Best Of Britain' in the post to get you in the mood...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmE1kCPmPaDWTNnqSIIMNs4zzauLU74s0aEdVz0mnydZ8QP9oxvPq7ymlm2tQgnZp8jeUupvuoNu_TKytvJmfDUG4ELH3s3oW6HiUCfUyl_Bv9EH7C9NgPr5EskvvRI-HIWcf4aJEqzQ/s1600/Jubilee+Mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmE1kCPmPaDWTNnqSIIMNs4zzauLU74s0aEdVz0mnydZ8QP9oxvPq7ymlm2tQgnZp8jeUupvuoNu_TKytvJmfDUG4ELH3s3oW6HiUCfUyl_Bv9EH7C9NgPr5EskvvRI-HIWcf4aJEqzQ/s320/Jubilee+Mug.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mug by <a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/hunkydoryhome/product/continuing-period-of-reign-mug">Hunkydory Home</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Unlike the Royal Wedding just a year ago, </div><div style="text-align: center;">this event feels more intimate</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The English seem to deeply appreciate her loyalty and dedication to her position </div><div style="text-align: center;">and think it is a wonderful celebration of her 60 year reign<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigKZoUi8EcDfkqMev7eCIgwatWkHtYXfZPf0juU7e8_UR3ENMAkNnI9aX4iqGBpEiL3smA0xby1H2teiChJ7wAMGVJj0KtlSvFTKsAg68qbeCEPT7-6AR8eYn5zWMidO5w-o9RMZeNJk/s1600/Jubilee+card+vase.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigKZoUi8EcDfkqMev7eCIgwatWkHtYXfZPf0juU7e8_UR3ENMAkNnI9aX4iqGBpEiL3smA0xby1H2teiChJ7wAMGVJj0KtlSvFTKsAg68qbeCEPT7-6AR8eYn5zWMidO5w-o9RMZeNJk/s1600/Jubilee+card+vase.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clever cardboard vase by <a href="http://www.talkingtables.co.uk/ranges/british-street-party/958/royal-carriage-teapot-vase/">Talking Tables</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Quite a few remember her coronation in 1953</div><div style="text-align: center;">when she was just 27 years old</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She has been Queen during the lifetime of most Britons<br />and has provided stability and continuity to this country<br /><br />Because the only other Diamond Jubilee has been for Queen Victoria<br />and many Britons may not experience another Jubilee in their lifetime,<br />this event is a really big deal<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3llw-fHdfTZkoF_2pr9Jh_uaKadzVWk0Qxqg4LejftIIaoUQc7qKeq27Q9rLc7EZfL_okPRJ4BnAn3vSe2sY3jizhQ1eREuro1k-1zZ4tyX3Ctn3spgOsdG4OFhWUkwmbZ40omgQkcng/s1600/Jubilee+Hunter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3llw-fHdfTZkoF_2pr9Jh_uaKadzVWk0Qxqg4LejftIIaoUQc7qKeq27Q9rLc7EZfL_okPRJ4BnAn3vSe2sY3jizhQ1eREuro1k-1zZ4tyX3Ctn3spgOsdG4OFhWUkwmbZ40omgQkcng/s320/Jubilee+Hunter.JPG" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hunter-boot.com/original-brit">Hunter</a> is the iconic British wellies brand</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This Jubilee reaches across ALL ages<br />and has brought out loyalty, pride, and even patriotism<br />in Britain<br /><br />The curious thing about the British is they have allegiance to <b>two</b> flags<br />- the Union Jack and their constituent country<br />(England, Scotland, Wales, or N Ireland) -<br /><br />which creates a multilayered identity at the heart of every Brit<br />with perhaps muddled patriotism<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY92ppaEz54MWVYoyBYGxv-5fGfFrCDJbvb-RcA7XbBdRsbYFtsvINVt9tSFk6ymOjcvk5oRNlqctqR4rDPDjoZfz1ZX8DrqtC3SPtKsagMCv680vm5tmQjwgYG_afjFjeQESNzn2nPE8/s1600/jubilee+bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY92ppaEz54MWVYoyBYGxv-5fGfFrCDJbvb-RcA7XbBdRsbYFtsvINVt9tSFk6ymOjcvk5oRNlqctqR4rDPDjoZfz1ZX8DrqtC3SPtKsagMCv680vm5tmQjwgYG_afjFjeQESNzn2nPE8/s1600/jubilee+bag.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always something bright & cheery at <a href="http://www.accessorize.com/en/restofworld/union-jack-laminate-vanity-case/invt/18925199/">Accessorize</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Ooh, it is going to be an exciting few days,<br />and I'm going to bring you along :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In this series:<br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/beacons-for-queen.html">Beacons For The Queen</a><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/diamond-jubilee-flotilla.html">Diamond Jubilee Flotilla</a><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/london-getting-ready-for-jubilee.html">London Getting Ready For The Jubilee</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/celebrating-queen-elizabeth-ii.html">Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II</a><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/find-your-jubilee-beacon.html">Find Your Jubilee Beacon</a></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>

The Diamond Jubilee & Window Shopping

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK With the upcoming Diamond Jubilee and the Summer Olympics, this will be a historical summer in Great Britain! *...

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Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Are you ready?!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLwrhkZAu6PxcPfc820hftt3K26YFVLQyNQcpzAyErBMkK9edQFZondRAv2GRvx3zONag8hmoo7zH9XQjgMBJhBSN-gcMtPuP6XycONkjlpNigUC_lz-vW-6uzj569kT3VrBpnr1oCIU/s1600/IMG_2154-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLwrhkZAu6PxcPfc820hftt3K26YFVLQyNQcpzAyErBMkK9edQFZondRAv2GRvx3zONag8hmoo7zH9XQjgMBJhBSN-gcMtPuP6XycONkjlpNigUC_lz-vW-6uzj569kT3VrBpnr1oCIU/s400/IMG_2154-2.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">As THE week begins,</div><div style="text-align: center;">follow my posts as The Diamond Jubilee unfolds</div><div style="text-align: center;">to celebrate 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>'I declare before you all that my whole life,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>whether it be long or short, </i><br /><i>shall be devoted to your service</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong'</i><br /><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Princess Elizabeth, age 21, five years before coronation</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJEEFF9q0RrOcfg2qKOFXTvIobbTn-ADNDDGbQQjimvb4IwCw3FZJjVeok7vd4IBDs0f69jJNdWFOFKEVpsbf4JciAM2X5q1lpd6dalATJYel_Cgm2jyBfBXyEYi-LwkXWouVFVq0n34/s1600/DSCN4895-012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJEEFF9q0RrOcfg2qKOFXTvIobbTn-ADNDDGbQQjimvb4IwCw3FZJjVeok7vd4IBDs0f69jJNdWFOFKEVpsbf4JciAM2X5q1lpd6dalATJYel_Cgm2jyBfBXyEYi-LwkXWouVFVq0n34/s640/DSCN4895-012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Biographer William Shawcross describes the Queen as</div><div>'very steady and unassuming, but allowing herself to move with the times'<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">At age 86,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Queen Elizabeth II is the longest lived </div><div style="text-align: center;">and second longest reigning monarch of the United Kingdom<br />(Queen Victoria reigned 63 yrs)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and is the second longest serving current head of state in the world</div><div style="text-align: center;">(King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand is longest) <span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She has no intention of abdicating, although she may reduce her commitments over time</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Graced with good genes, the Queen Mother passed away at age 101 in 2002</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>- photos by me -</i></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In this series:</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/beacons-for-queen.html" style="line-height: normal;">Beacons For The Queen</a></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/diamond-jubilee-flotilla.html" style="line-height: normal;">Diamond Jubilee Flotilla</a></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/london-getting-ready-for-jubilee.html" style="line-height: normal;">London Getting Ready For The Jubilee</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/diamond-jubilee-window-shopping.html">The Diamond Jubilee & Window Shopping</a></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/find-your-jubilee-beacon.html">Find Your Jubilee Beacon</a></span></div><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Source: The Sunday Times Magazine, May 27 2012; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_ii">Wikipedia</a></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK Are you ready?! As THE week begins, follow my posts as The Diamond Jubilee unfolds to celebrate 60 years of Que...

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Post Of The Month Club: May

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4j25CD-rUm8ivkicCAlD3GoKZNZbFF10mZwHrDH3ahCbIJc9Ms3OloZjtCYCXnqMKF0ylZYLnagAtNZPZwJE9vTKXdT5x_pQKUNYcyfnF3fmfC0kK56CxHEF1qARdOW02q5wtcPYRy4/s1600/Post+Of+The+Month+Club+Button.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4j25CD-rUm8ivkicCAlD3GoKZNZbFF10mZwHrDH3ahCbIJc9Ms3OloZjtCYCXnqMKF0ylZYLnagAtNZPZwJE9vTKXdT5x_pQKUNYcyfnF3fmfC0kK56CxHEF1qARdOW02q5wtcPYRy4/s320/Post+Of+The+Month+Club+Button.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This month's Post Of The Month Club</div><div style="text-align: center;">will be hosted by the wonderful</div><div style="text-align: center;">Jane from <a href="http://www.lifeonplanetbaby.com/">Life On Planet Baby</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Compassionate, crafty, and 'real',</div><div style="text-align: center;">Jane lets you peek into her life as a busy mum of three</div><div style="text-align: center;">living in Tasmania</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pop over to Jane's blog at the end of the month</div><div style="text-align: center;">and submit your best post in May</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is a great way to give exposure to your blog</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a wonderful way to connect with other bloggers around the world</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">See you <a href="http://www.lifeonplanetbaby.com/">there</a>!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thank you to Felicity of <a href="http://www.giftsofserendipity.com/">Gifts of Serendipity</a> for hosting March & April!</span></i></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Post Of The Month Club: May

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK This month's Post Of The Month Club will be hosted by the wonderful Jane from Life On Planet Baby Compassio...

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