Monday 19 August 2013

Oh, to be in England...

Cowes Week races

England is basking in the sun

And we are all enjoying the many events being staged around the country, in particular, the hot air balloon festival over Bristol; Cowes Week sailing events around the Isle of Wight; and the open-air stage performances and concerts, including the London Proms. 

We are fortunate to have the Plaza Theatre nearby in Romsey, their latest production of Les Miserables, a musical based on a story of justice, redemption and love by Victor Hugo, was so powerful, and the staging and cast were so brilliant, that I was moved to tears, in spite of having seen the West End stage show a few years ago and watched the film twice.  It was even more remarkable that the cast were all from RAODs Youth group, who contributed so much of the power, energy and talent required, for this show to move to tears not only the audience but also its Director Lisa Gilmour, during its production.  

Flowers to lift our spirit
Our terrace is now full of blooms, and feels almost Mediterranean. We lent a helping hand to Youzhi and Jerome in their new home; to get their garden ready for a BBQ, in time for their parents' arrival from China and from France.  Our young friends have done well this year: with baby Amelie born last September, they even found time to move into a three-bedroom family home before both being now back at work. 

Youzhi and Jerome
These working parents are the backbones of our economy and we salute them for their diligence  and enterprising spirit; for investing industriously into their future and ours.  If all young people were to harness their precious time into productive employment, they will grow the country's economy and our future prosperity.


Amelie now 11 months old
Full employment will help the nation to continue the good work of the NHS for our future health and well being, and also provide for future generations by reducing our current national debts; get earnings back on track; and to generate decent interest rates and good returns on investments. 

The highlight this year has got to be the birth of our future King, to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on Monday July 22 at 4.24 pm. The healthy 8lb 6oz baby had no problem with the royal wave, right from birth at his first appearance in public on Tuesday, when half the world awaited with their cameras to record the occasion. 

Oyez! oyez! oyez!
From the moment  the Town Crier stepped outside of St. Mary's Hospital, with the red, white and blue feathers in his tricorner hat, ringing his bell, crying "Oyez, oyez, oyez!" to make the announcement, millions tweeted on the internet about the royal birth. 'It's a Boy' went out from the BT Tower, the Tower Bridge in London and the CN Tower in Toronto, switched to blue  to welcome His Royal Highness.   

My first painting of Baby George
A 21 gun salute from the Royal Horse Artillery was fired in Green Park, followed by 62 guns salute from the Tower of London, and the glorious peals from the bells of Westminster Abbey was followed by the 5,000 changes of the Cambridge Surprise Royal peal which sounded for more than three hours, to salute His Royal Highness, third in line to the throne after his father Prince William and grandfather Prince Charles.  All being well, he would become the 43rd monarch since William the Conqueror.

Prince George Alexander Louis was named just before 6.30 pm on Wednesday. He could one day be the head of the Armed Forces; the Supreme Governor of the Church of England; and Head of State in many countries around the world, as well as Head of the Commonwealth of possibly 54 nations.  As King George, he would join six distinguished monarchs thus named: the first King George took the throne in 1714, the second was crowned in 1727.  

King George lll was best known for his madness and for losing the American colonies but went on to reign for nearly 60 years.  His son was a Prince Regent with a notorious love life but with an influential taste in art, and was king George lV for 10 years. 80 year elapsed before the fifth was crowned in 1910 who lived through turbulent times including the First World War and the Great Strike. It was King George V who changed the family name to Windsor.
King George Vl

King George Vl , known to the family as Bertie (Albert), reluctantly became monarch when his brother Edward Vlll abdicated in 1936.  He chose to be George Vl in honour of his father. He didn't feel up to the job, according to the recent film, The King's Speech, but he was much- admired as a leader during the Second World War. His death in 1952 led to his daughter becoming Queen Elizabeth II, who last year celebrating her Diamond Jubilee, 60 years on the throne, and looked set to beat the reign of Elizabeth I.
The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II 


The Romsey Art Group will be holding its Autumn Exhibition from Saturday September 28 until 6 October this year, so I must put brush to canvas soon to make sure my work is completed before hand-in date.  Do come and visit our Exhibition at the Mountbatten Gallery, Lee, near Romsey, Hampshire SO51 9LG. 
Summer flowers are colourful this year



Speak to you again in a few weeks' time. Hope you enjoy your summer wherever you are.