Let's get this party started!

Yesterday, I was so very proud to be so very nearly-British! Although, I'll have to wait another several months before I can put forward my application to become a Naturalised British citizen, my chest swelled with pride watching the City of London, the nation, and my own tiny corner of England turning out to celebrate and honour its beloved Queen, and her 60 years of service to us all.

An early burst of summer throughout the month May, meant of course that the 'British inevitable' would happen: It rained. All day. As I sprinted across the road to open St. Peter's Church and prepare the altar for the 8AM service, heavy, grey clouds loomed overheard. The church, however, looked resplendent!

The DEB and I sent a precarious afternoon 'dressing' the church with flags and bunting, including the Church tower. A few pics below - can you spot the DEB?

   

The Sunday 8AM Eurcharist was lovely, as usual, but, of course, and an early start. After the service, we journeyed off to that great cathedral of commerce, Sainsbury's and did our Jubilee shop. Unfortunately, it seems everyone else had the same idea! As we arrived at Sainsbury's, it started to rain. "Poor Queenie," said the DEB as we dashed through the doors of the shop.

We made it back in time to catch the preliminary reports and build-up to the Thames Pagaent. We wouldn't have a chance to watch it in "real time" as we had a little 'pageant' of our own to attend. But I did get a glimpse of The Queen's arrival, and The Duchess of Cambridge's gorgeous red ensemble, and that hat!

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in Alexander McQueen ensemble

She's just so lovely! And, what a striking pair she and William are!

Harry, Kate and William

To be sure, the entire royal party looked amazing! I've always carried a torch for Prince Charles, and yesterday, he certainly did not disappoint! And, Camilla looked lovely on his arm.

HRH Prince Charles in full regalia

But, of course, the day belonged to Her Majesty, The Queen, who was a vision herself in diamond white:

Her Majesty, The Queen, arrives for Thames River Pagaent

   

No one puts on 'pomp and circumstance' like the British, and London did not fail to be magnificent in the background. The organisers of the Thames Pageant did an incredible job, and it truly was the 'show of the century'!

The DEB graciously bought and set up a new digital recorder so that we wouldn't miss a moment of the  pageant proceedings. The Pageant started around 2:00 PM, and at 3:00 PM, all the church bells across the land were set to ring out. Our lovely bells here in Barford joined in the refrain. We dashed to the church just in time to catch their start, just before our "Diamond Jubilee Service of Celebration".

With all this talk of fashion, I must add that I, too, did my part in a lovely lime green vintage-inspired dress, with matching jacket (Thank you, Debenham's for making gorgeous petites!) -

Finished off with a sassy pair of Uptown Heels from Boden -

Topped off with my favourite navy and white floppy hat by Suzanne Bettley!

The service was inspired by the Order of Service created for the Queen's Coronation. The choir performed that infamous (and incredibly difficult) motif from 'Zadek the Priest' ("God Save the King!"), and did an amazing job! There was a selection of readings, notably a passage from Joshua which includes these powerful words:

As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

⁶ Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

⁷ Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

⁸ This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

⁹ Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

After the service, we were supposed to have Strawberries and Cream in the churchyard. Needless to say that became an indoor event!  Following the service, we came home and crashed in front of the telly and watched the Pageant.

And, what an stunning Pageant it was! From the Jubillee bells, and the incredible rowing boat Gloriana -- linking the two golden Elizabethan ages -- to the fireworks off London Bridge, the river show was spectacular!

Today, already looking a bit drier (!), the festivities continue! Must sign off now, as we have a gaggle of people coming round to our house for a champagne toast before we walk down to the Village Green for the ceremonial raising of the new village flag and flagpole. Then off to the planting of a new Jubilee Oak Tree down by the river. Picnic on the Green (hopefully) around 1:00PM. Another long day of joy and celebration!

God Save the Queen!

J.Crew, J.Who?

Shopping in England provides unique challenges, to put it mildly. 

To be sure, there are gems to be found, like the fab Dolce & Gabbana culottes I found at a few weeks back at my favourite vintage shop, Corina Corina in Warwick; or the blissful retail therapy that is Oxfam online.

But, overall, I find "high street shopping" here very disappointing. Shops, like the ever-classic Laura Ashley and fun 'n funky White Stuff, with their exorbitant prices and ridiculously miniscule dress sizes - that offer no allowances for the female form - have left me lamenting the loss of my favourite Manhattan shops: J.Crew and Anthropologie. 

That is until now!

The DEB and I have been invited to a wedding for one of his work colleagues. It's a big 'do' and everyone is getting "glammed up." There was talk of us girls hiring sarees, but that plan was very short-lived. For weeks, no months, I have been fretting about what to wear, wanting to make a suitable splash. Indian weddings are very colorful affairs. And so, I was determined to branch out, and not resort to wearing my bog standard black!

I search hopelessly to find the perfect dress, and quite by accident, I stumbled across the perfect solution. I discovered the British fashion solution that is Monsoon. 

Monsoon is an odd hybrid: part J.Crew, part Anthropologie. Passing their shop in the Stratford-upon-Avon high street, initially, I'd  thought, "No way their stuff will work for me."

Being a shapely petite, I had previously been put off by some of their wares, which seem to lean toward a sort of "ethno-tribal" aesthetic. (That's fashion code for "large prints and crazy colours.")

But, quite by chance, I stumbled across "the perfect dress" by Monsoon. A seller on eBay UK who goes by the moniker "HiYouTart" caught my eye. She seems to have been peddling

Monsoon gear on eBay for donkey's years.

On offer recently, was a "silver-grey, silk linen, pencil shift dress" with my name on it!

 

Not a colour or shape I'd go for normally, but something about it said, "Yes, please!" Without hesitation, I bought it. I waited with bated breath until it arrived.

When it arrived, everything about it was right: the cut, the colour, the fabric, the empire waist, the cleavage-friendly ruched detailing at the wide neck-line...and, it fit like a dream

Trinny and Susannah would be proud!

Success at last!

That settled, the quest for bag and shoes begun. To my surprise, lightening struck twice, and I had immediate success after perusing the website of another popular British fashion retailer, Boden.

Boden's website was breath of fresh air, their look is very J.Crew. And I found the most delightful shoes.

Boden seem to speak my language, here's the description of their cute Embellished Heels:

There’s more than a touch of Marilyn Monroe to this desirable pair, and the kitten heel means you can run for a taxi and still pull off a glamorously dignified look. The single strap fitting across the toe will make your legs look even longer, and the wink of diamante clinches the film-star appeal. Kittenish.

Well, meow, indeed!

And of course, gorgeous matching bag...Hubba, hubba!

In Hamlet, Polonius advises his son Laertes to shop wisely as "apparel oft proclaims the man". Apparel always proclaims the woman, or so we are lead to believe. 

I think the one of the greatest gifts of aging/growing up is that you stop caring about tren

ds and what others think. You discover your own style, what works, what doesn't; what suits you and what you like.

So, let's just hope that our recent revelries  at The Boar's Head pub for "National Cask Ale Week" haven't taken it much of a toll! 

It will be just my luck not to fit in the "perfect dress". 

Trust me, it has happened before! 

Beers be damned!