Another British Celebration That Got Washed Out by The Rain
Did we lose billions or gain infinitely?
For much of the UK, the Saturday of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend promised to be the biggest party of all.
There were thousands of street parties organised across the country and everyone was geared up for a weekend’s excuse to drink and be merry.
In my own little town, one of the local parks was being transformed into a mini fayre, and it was certainly the day that would be most special for the kids.
But, in the true British style, over much of England and Wales, the heavens opened; great, fat raindrops poured from the sky, and thunder and lightening rang out through the clouds. The weather gods proved again that we are mere mortals, humbled by nature, and outdoor celebrations were all but halted.
What a bummer — or was it?
Despite the pouring rain, there was something peaceful and beautiful about the day, as there often is when it rains. Especially following a period of sunny weather, which we had been blessed with until then.
The UK had already had two days of national holidays and the children were on a full week’s break from school. Holiday-makers had been and gone from our part of Britain and we had enjoyed an evening eating fish and chips in one seaside town, and an afternoon on the beach.
A day of reading, playing board games and card games and watching movies were in order, and we spent a beautiful, cosy family day enjoying our wonderful home.
The fine weather of the week just gone, along with the onset of the month of June, signalling the end of Britain’s “No Mow May”, had inspired a good deal of garden tidying for me. In addition, I added a few new plants to the beds in the garden, refreshed the hanging baskets, and transplanted some geraniums onto our decking outside the kitchen.
Today, as I looked out at the plants on the decking, the fresh, rich soil, and the brightness of the leaves and flowers, I couldn’t help feeling how happy they were looking as a result of the rain.
I am sorry for those who lost out
£1.5 billion was spent in total on the Jubilee celebrations, including grants for town councils to plough into celebrations in their locality. It’s likely that a fair amount was washed away by the rain.
I am sure that many were looking forward to these celebrations and had pinned their hopes on their town’s activities for family entertainment.
For all of this, I am sorry that people have missed out.
I would also like to think that the money won’t go to waste, especially amid rising fuel and household prices, and could, instead, be used to help local people.
But, personally, having worked in the tourist industry in this country for a good deal of my adult life, I always learnt to not only not rely on the weather, but to appreciate the rainy days — the opportunities they give to take a day off being busy, and to just be present with those who matter.
And for the fact that it feeds our thirsty gardens and helps our fruits and vegetables grow plump and juicy.
I am thankful for the rain. And my flowers, strawberries, and raspberries are positively dancing with gratitude.
Besides which, the Queen did have herself some pretty good celebrations already. Not to mention that Scotland, apparently, nailed some pretty lovely weather compared to the rest of Britain — for once — and were happily carrying on with the parties up there!
There’s something so British about plans being destroyed by the rain.
Would you believe me if I told you that on every single birthday I remember in the last ten years in Britain, and many before that, it poured with rain?
And my birthday is a summer birthday, FYI.
Well, it did.
Although I hate organising parties, I felt obligated to mark my fortieth, and so I invited many over for a garden party. Our house was too small to accommodate more than a few, but it was summer, and we had a decent-sized garden.
But, you’ll never guess what happened?
You got it! It rained!
It absolutely poured!
And guess what else?
I was relieved.
We ended up having a very small, intimate get-together with another family the following day. It was perfect.
The number of times the weather has turned from beautiful and hot to wet and washed out, just in time for my birthday, has been nothing short of amazing.
Meanwhile, I have spent the occasional birthday in France over the last fifteen years and it’s always hot and sunny.
It is just Britain. I think the rain knows when we have a party planned.
I remember when I spent a few months living in Tel Aviv during my gap year, the film, Black Beauty, filmed in the English countryside, came to the cinemas. I took a South African friend to watch it with me.
As soon as the film began, he started exclaiming,
“Wow! Wow!”
“What?” I asked, puzzled.
“Look at how green it is,” he said. “I had no idea that England was so green. It’s beautiful.”
Having been away from England for a few months by then, I could see what he meant. It really did look astonishingly green.
Some years later, I met an Israeli couple who were living in England. They told me how much they preferred living in England over living in Israel.
They said that all of their friends and family felt sorry for them, living in such a rainy country. But they didn’t feel that there was any reason to feel unfortunate.
“The only reason it is this green is because of the rain,” they said. “So we love the rain for that.”
So, today, as my kids and I settled down to watch Mama Mia! Here We Go Again with popcorn, blankets, cats to cuddle, and a dog trying to squeeze onto the sofa too, I looked out at the beautiful greenery and flowers and remembered why I feel thankful, even when parties get rained off.
Queen Elizabeth, I celebrate you and your 70 years on the throne. But I also celebrate the glorious rain of this country, and the unpredictability that comes with it.
More from me on the Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations:
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