A Cuppa...

Sorry that it's taking me forever to write these latest posts. Blogging has gotten pushed to the back burner over the last couple of days. Matthew is getting three copies of his thesis printed and bound as I type! Understandably, proofreading his paper and keeping him sane have come higher on my priority list this week. But, he's done! (Essentially.) What a relief! Hopefully we will get to celebrate tonight or tomorrow. Can't believe my husband is going to have a Master's degree from the University of Cambridge (knock on wood.) Also can't believe that he starts medical school at the end of next month. I got a smart one didn't I?

Really quick, before I get into Switzerland recap mode, I wanted to finalize my commentary on the Diamond Jubilee celebrations that concluded yesterday. Monday night was the star-studded concert. From what I could tell (thanks to some replay clips), it looks like it was a smashing success. Everyone from Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber to Jessie J performed, and it appears that the show went off without a hitch. Over 70,000 people jammed into the one mile stretch of the Mall leading up to roundabout near the palace. The rain even subsided, allowing the concert goers to avoid pneumonia. Sadly, the Queen's hubby didn't get off so easy. He had to miss the concert and be taken to hospital for a bladder infection. (Yes, I realize I left off an important article adjective before the word 'hospital,' but that's how the Brits do it. They say things like, "In future I'll..." and "He was taken to hospital for..." Weirdos.)

Here's an idea of what the stage setup looked like. At the end of the concert, the Queen took the stage to light her final beacon and began a massive fireworks display behind her.

Anyway, yesterday morning I woke up in time to watch the live stream of the thanksgiving service in honor of Her Majesty at St. Paul's Cathedral. He's a quick visual summary.

Plenty of people were still lined up along the Mall and en route to the church to cheer the motorcade as it passed.

Since Prince Phillip was still at the hospital, HRH was accompanied by one of her Ladies in Waiting. I have no idea how you become a Lady in Waiting or what that job description entails. But, if it means riding in the Queen's Rolls, Bentley, or gold-encrusted carriage, I'd like a chance to apply for the position.

You already know how I feel about this one. I'm swooning. Not about Will.

The place was packed. It was strange to see the Royal Family sitting under the same dome that I have sat under to watch organ recitals. Obviously, the organ recital attendance numbers are much lower. And I think mostly everyone was awake for this service. However, the camera did close in on one guest whose eyes were drooping heavily and actually closed right before the camera cut to another angle.

This was not that guest. This is Her Majesty praying, not sleeping. She supposedly had a very strong say in the musical and Scriptural choices for the program. You could tell that she was singing the hymns by heart, while contrarily, Charles (who was sitting next to her) fumbled along unnaturally. I think it's wonderful that the Queen is so vocal and steadfast in her faith. Even the news anchors commented on her genuine love for God and the fact that this service was likely the Queen's favorite part of the Jubilee festivities.

Once the service concluded, the guest dispersed to various important venues for fancy lunches and receptions. Toward the end of the afternoon, the Royal Family paraded around in various carriages and reunited on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for a good old-fashioned wave. (Similar to the waving session after last year's royal wedding, although no one was kissing on the balcony this time around.) There was a special flyover of antique war planes and a group of fighter jets, then a video recording with a thank you message from HRH. She was truly humbled by the community support all over the world and hoped that the joy and pride of this jubilee would continue for years to come. (PS - The 90 year old Duke of Edinburgh is expected to make a full recovery. I was quite sad that the Queen had to make that many important appearances without him by her side, as I'm sure she was missing him terribly on this day. But never fear, she showed no sorrowful emotion. She kept calm and carried on and all that rot.)

When the service concluded, I was invited to afternoon tea in Grantchester. Sela, Xenia, Asha, new arrival Davide (Sela's housemate), and I walked from the University Centre all the way to Grantchester along the river. That's a little less than 3 miles of scenery, and it took us about 45 minutes to reach our destination.

Some of the houses along the way were adorable. I love the English rose bushes that climb their way up the bricks. Gorgeous! These yellow ones matched the yellow front door.

Davide was a good sport about being our photographer. From left to right, it's Asha, Xenia, me, and Sela. All together again for the first time since London Fashion Week back in February!

Cows were plentiful along the way. And they were quite friendly cows. I felt a pang of nostalgia for the cow-filled prairie grass of Oklahoma. Tear.

Alongside the cows were quite a few doggies. We must have seen 4 black labs. Bullitt would go crazy if he had this much open greenery to run around in. He might be a bit intimidated by the cows, but he would probably try to sniff them at least once. He seems attracted to bigger animals. Great Danes and Standard Poodles are his favorite friends at the bark park.

Ready for some cake, we made it to The Orchard Tea Garden. This quaint little tea house is situated in in a shady grove near the river and was a frequent hangout spot of Virginia Wolf, John Maynard Keynes, and the like.

Yumm... Carrot cake and English breakfast tea. Thanks to the Queen for an excuse to have a special cuppa!

There are tons of outdoor picnic tables and chairs that I'm sure are lovely to employ during the five-ish sunny days of the English calendar. Yesterday was not one of those days. Indoor seating fit the bill.

And finally, on the way back to Cambridge, we had to stop at this charred, hollowed out tree. Asha and Xenia scampered right up there with ease. I opted for solid ground. Apologies to Sela for not being included in this picture. The one with all four of us didn't turn out as well.

And now, I need to switch gears and finish editing my Switzerland photos! The land of waterfalls, glaciers, and ridiculously expensive pizzas provided me with a plethora of shooting material. I have around 450 pictures to sift through! I'll try my best to get them up before we leave for Ireland, but I can't make any promises. The sun is temporarily shining, which is a rare occurrence in Cambridge these days, and I can't allow myself to waste the day inside sitting at the computer. If the sky is only mostly cloudy and the temperature is above 60F, you are obligated to get outdoors! Never know when another chance will come around.