Will you be celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee?

No, I don't mean Trev's birthday.

But the Monarchy.

Golly, will I!

It's going to be like all of my birthdays rolled into a huge pleasure ball of felicitations.

I was disappointed that Queen Elizabeth didn't celebrate my birthday when I was in India last year.

She probably did ... didn't the Indians get an invite?

DJ_Smerk wrote:I was disappointed that Queen Elizabeth didn't celebrate my birthday when I was in India last year.

You do realise that this is not the Queen's birthday?

I shall have a pint and sing GSTQ loudly in the street.

I was in Britain when she had her silver jubilee. The only thing i recall was the mountains of cheap & tatty souvenirs. I expect it will be much the same this time.

Big Dog wrote:I was in Britain when she had her silver jubilee. The only thing i recall was the mountains of cheap & tatty souvenirs. I expect it will be much the same this time.

I saw Her Maj and the Duke close up that year (1977) as they passed me in their Rolls on a small bridge on their way back from the Ashes Test at Trent Bridge to the official dinner at the Council House during their visit to Nottingham. Wonderful sight as the glass-covered back of the car was illuminated. Illustrated their goldfish bowl existence I suppose but a memorable sight nonetheless.

I met her at a display celebrating the 75th anniversary of the formation of Dogs Dick Airways aka the Royal Air Force, in 1993. I was manning an exhibit and the royal party stopped for a few moments for a closer look at a couple of our display items.

I should add that she didn't actually speak to me, a mere snotty Junior NCO, although she did ask a question of my boss. I knew from seeing her on TV that she was quite small, but not until standing within a few feet of her did I realise just how tiny she actually is.

On the subject of royalty, just a few months later I was in charge of the handling crew for Prince Charles's aircraft when the body of General Wladyslaw Sikorski was repatriated to his native Poland from Newark cemetary, since his burial 50 years earlier.

The event was treated almost like a full state funeral. After his exhumation, there followed an overnight vigil, then a memorial service led by three Polish bishops, and the casket taken to Waddington with police escorts and the roads closed. In the hangar, the coffin was then transferred onto a gun carriage, the route to the aircraft lined with men, and full military ceremony observed.

To this day, I believe we owe a huge debt to the forces of many countries for standing alongside us in WWII - but in particular the Free Poles. I believe that only the Jews were treated worse than the Polish people by the Nazis.

I found the whole experience profoundly moving, and I'm not afraid to admit to a few quiet tears ( and I wasn't the only one ). In contrast, just four years later I found the mass emotional incomtinence on display for Diana quite sick-making if I'm brutally honest.

No.

Growler wrote:mass emotional incomtinence on display for Diana

normally this would be a typo, but I think you've summed it up perfectly

Growler wrote:I met her at a display celebrating the 75th anniversary of the formation of Dogs Dick Airways aka the Royal Air Force, in 1993. I was manning an exhibit and the royal party stopped for a few moments for a closer look at a couple of our display items.

I should add that she didn't actually speak to me, a mere snotty Junior NCO, although she did ask a question of my boss. I knew from seeing her on TV that she was quite small, but not until standing within a few feet of her did I realise just how tiny she actually is.

On the subject of royalty, just a few months later I was in charge of the handling crew for Prince Charles's aircraft when the body of General Wladyslaw Sikorski was repatriated to his native Poland from Newark cemetary, since his burial 50 years earlier.

The event was treated almost like a full state funeral. After his exhumation, there followed an overnight vigil, then a memorial service led by three Polish bishops, and the casket taken to Waddington with police escorts and the roads closed. In the hangar, the coffin was then transferred onto a gun carriage, the route to the aircraft lined with men, and full military ceremony observed.

To this day, I believe we owe a huge debt to the forces of many countries for standing alongside us in WWII - but in particular the Free Poles. I believe that only the Jews were treated worse than the Polish people by the Nazis.

I found the whole experience profoundly moving, and I'm not afraid to admit to a few quiet tears ( and I wasn't the only one ). In contrast, just four years later I found the mass emotional incomtinence on display for Diana quite sick-making if I'm brutally honest.

Worth reading twice. Onya Growler.

Aye, nice one Growler.

Growler wrote: In contrast, just four years later I found the mass emotional incomtinence on display for Diana quite sick-making if I'm brutally honest.

Bang on Growls....couldn't get to work for all the traffic jams caused by roads being closed off and the thousands indulging in hand wringing whilst gushing tears .... FFS .... overly melodramatic.
She was a nice bit o fluff though ...

No - I won't be indulging in the force-fed celebrations .... they're all a bloddy waste of time and space ...

When is it?

Main events take place around 2-5 June:

Diamond Jubilee Weekend

I was dressed up in a soldiers uniform & bearskin hat for the 1977 jubilee. Even at 4 years of age I remember it not being a great 'look'.

Mick Sawyer wrote:Worth reading twice. Onya Growler.

What he said.

I paid $17.4 million for a pink diamond at Hong Kong Christie's to set in an Eternity Ring for the Chief.

Bling

"After six minutes of frenzied bidding, one of the world's rarest gem stones - a large pink diamond - has sold at auction in Hong Kong for $17.4 million."

The only comparable pink diamond is one that was given to Queen Elizabeth II as a gift way back.

2 birthdays and 4 days for an anniversary? She does love celebrating.

Big Dog wrote:I was in Britain when she had her silver jubilee. The only thing i recall was the mountains of cheap & tatty souvenirs. I expect it will be much the same this time.

Yes...nothing has changed.

Tacky carp

At least some charities will benefit.

So tacky, expect channel 9 to sell signed copies during the next aussie cricket season...

Well, the bird's working so it looks like Liz will be graced with my presence. By the height of 'celebrations' I expect I'll be face down, twitching, mouth-frothing with cut hands and one trainer on.

Any of you going to the Concert on Monday?
Just had a look at the lineup. Some big names there as well as some i have never heard of. (who or what is a Lang Lang?)
Should be a good night out anyway.