Jubilee Parties

Monica. Well I had to Google Gradgrind to find out what you meant.
Hard Times was my favourite Dickens book.

Not heard of anything going on around our area.
And with covid still lurking it`s probably a good thing.

Our city has given sapling trees to schools, individuals and community groups for planting and has planted commemorative trees in parks and other places. I believe these will all be posted online as part of the Green Canopy map.

The city’s Appeal for Ukraine is ongoing.

nadeturbe I have not read the book, I cannot stand Dickens, apart from 'A Christmas Carol'. But Gradgrind is like Mr Micawber, you do not need to have read the books to know the character, or even the plot! A bit like Mr Darcy!

and are planting a tree for the 'Queen's green canopy

Good idea Aveline
That's a better way for the Councils to spend this money too.

I agree with ginny.

Our Council has set aside a few thousand pounds for grants for Jubilee street parties and encouraged us to apply but we shall fund our own (which won't be in the street anyway).

I'd rather they set aside that money for those who need it or to aid any refugees who come to our town.

I'd rather any money available went to the food banks, or to help homeless people. However, it sounds like some of you are planning your own celebrations and I agree it is a historic event. If weather permits, I will be sitting in my own garden, with a glass of fizz and wishing Queen Elizabeth well.

Our village has grant money too for the Jubilee celebrations. Is it allocated by the parish?

Good point Monica. Life needs to be more than just existing. (I couldn't remember Gradgrind although I read the book many years ago.)
I wonder how much the grant is.

I didn't realise. Why do you need grants to run a street party?

Although, this is always one of lifes dilemmas. People in need often seemed condemend to a life of unremitting misery, will nevertheless , now and again spend money on pleasure rather than food because these moments of pleasure make the rest bearable.

In times when people were far poorer than we are now, street entertainers could be found mainly in the poorest areas, soneome would find money for a bunch of violets or daffs.

In Ukraine bands perform on the front line, children dress in national dress and dance.

I find I am persuading myself, that a small amount of money spent on a street party to lift spirits and bring a bit of joy to a community is a good thing, Is it any different from using government money to support the arts, or sport or anything else that is not entirely utilitarian in its purpose.

There may be some that admire Mr Gradgrind, but I am not among them.

Monica giving grants isn't self funding. That is what Ginny's post is about.

I had to look up the dates for the 4 day BH weekend! Then realised the four generations of our little family will be away in Ibiza to celebrate a family ‘0’ birthday. Excellent.

(It’s Thursday 2nd June till Sunday 5th June if you - like me - weren’t aware!)

There will probably be something on the marina and we will join in,

nadeturbe why is it a lot of money if it is self funding, and people are celebrating in their own gardens. Whatever meal makes up the celebration meal, will be prepared and eaten anyway and at a distance who notices whether you are eating bread and jam or caviar and blinis, and who cares.

We'll find out when the time comes if the village turns out to support the things we are planning. Our kind Tesco community champion is funding the refreshments and some prizes for us.

Gosh rubysong you're celebrating in style. Sounds brilliant. Also a sort of celebration of being able to celebrate properly after the Covid years.

In answer to the OP it's a lot of money when so many are struggling financially.

I'm on the village jubilee committee. We have the village hall for the four days. Live streaming Trooping the Colour and Party at the Palace, lots of tea and cakes all weekend and bar open for some events. Social afternoon on Friday. On Sunday we have a service at church then a parade to the hall followed by a bring your own picnic lunch and games. Quite an ambitious programme for a small village, we hope people will come and join in.

We’ll be doing the same as PollyDolly. There are about 50 homes in our road. I drafted a letter I’ll take round soon suggesting we do as we’ve done before-just come out onto front drives/pavements with your own food and drink. We wear red, white and blue with a badge showing name and house number (if we want to that is!). Easy peasy and great fun with the children playing in the (quiet) road and adults wandering up and down.

I like the thought of communities joining together in a joint enterprise for fun and jollity.

We will be 'joining' the neighbours with a celebration similar to the VE Day celebrations. We all catered for ourselves, had chairs etc on our own drives, had a strategically places sound system playing 40's music......it was fabulous and complied with all social distancing. Naturally, the rules are now relaxed but we intend to do the same for the Jubilee.

They are lighting a beacon on our nearby foreshore and there are plans for a river pageant. No plans for a street party thank goodness. My idea of hell with some of the locals.

My village has plans for a self-catering Jubilee party on the green.

When we had the 75th anniversary of D Day in 2020, we all partied in our front gardens. It varied from street to street, but our road came out in force and we chatted with neighbours at distances of 15 metres or more, but you could see people up and own the road and it looked really festive.

I made about 25 metres of my own bunting for the Queens 50th anniversary in 2002. It was easy and cheap to make. 25 metres of tape, a couple of metres of different patterned fabric but into triangles and machined on to the tape. It has come out a number of times since then for all kinds of reasons and will be draped along the house again this July.

I’ve heard nothing near me I suppose lots will take place in town ( London) but I shan’t be travelling in to see it.

Half term/ jubilee week has a) raised the cost of renting a place , b) is busy everywhere with families.
I might suggest a garden party at home & invite all our republican friends