A natural tribute to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

Here in New Zealand we are grateful to always have the first Monday of June as a public holiday, to celebrate the Queen’s Official Birthday. It is our last public holiday till the end of October and before we rug up proper to face three months of winter in windy Wellington.

Traditionally, we’ve often been graced with sunshine for the weekend and felt very sorry for Her Royal Majesty that the weather wasn’t so obliging in London – nevertheless the flotilla down the Thames looked an incredible sight, along with the throngs of crowds, cheering, music and singing.

There were a few Union Jack flags flying around Wellington and I enjoyed a cup of tea in my ‘Union Jack’ mug, accompanied by a nice slice of Lamington. I printed off some activity sheets for the girls on the Jubilee and we watched a lovely video tribute of the life of Queen Elizabeth II. But that was as far as our celebrations extended.

The rest of our weekend was left to nature, along with Alice jumping around in her red, white and blue (complete with bright yellow gumboots!).

We tried looking for hidden treasure in amongst the rock pools at Scorching Bay.

Diamonds were lacking, but cats eyes and shells for making jewelry were rife!

Sophie provided Pirate protection…

and we worked off our celebratory ice-creams and coffees with some sport.

There was a very happy vibe in the air of gratitude for the long weekend, the weather being on top form and the thought of all the celebrations in the UK (I have so loved looking at the photographs of street parties from my home-town of Fleet, and the 2012 ‘Best of British’ Carnival – nice to see my old Tavistock Infant School participating – all dressed up as The Queen’s Guards!).