Once in a Lifetime Part One

A once in a lifetime experience...

That's a phrase I've heard and used a lot recently.

The first time I said it this year was way back in May, when the anticipation of waiting for the Olympic Torch was just so exciting.

Even though it was all over in a flash, I can say I was there. A once in a lifetime, unique, experience.

Can I claim it was unique when I shared it with thousands of people, young and old?

Yes, I think so, it will never be an event that I am likely to see again, not here in my country, in my town, on my doorstep.

History.

Then in June, we celebrated the Queen's Diamond Jubilee; another occasion that will never come around again.

The whole country seemed to be decorated with union flags and bunting. I don't remember it being so obvious during the Silver or Golden Jubilees.

We celebrated the Jubilee weekend with a huge feast at my sister's house...

We ate and drank far too much.

And on Jubilee Tuesday, we caught a coach to London and joined the masses in the rain. But everyone smiled...

and waved flags and cheered...

despite having to view the Queen on a big screen in St. James Park, because we couldn't get anywhere near the Palace; the streets of London were packed!

We did have a fantastic view of the Red (White and Blue) Arrows from the park.

Yet another day that can never be recaptured...

And this fantastic image appeared on the wall opposite the Childrens' Hospital in Bristol, where once had been a Banksy of a boy about to pop a bag behind a police marksman, and then the Eton Posse, David Cameron and Boris Johnson rioting! 

Who knows if it's a Banksy or not, who really cares? It is a once in a lifetime image of the Queen.

So that brings me to the middle of June, and the middle of the summer. Very soon 2012 will be a once in a lifetime too.

I'll fill you in on the past two and half months in my next post...

Ship Shape

SS Great Britain

Last weekend was the 40th Bristol Harbour Festival. The festival is always a vivid spectacle of music and dance, arts and crafts, food and drink (lots of it!), and of course, a wide variety of floating vessels from tiny steam boats for two people to huge Royal Naval Mine Sweepers.

We decided to take in the sights on Sunday afternoon. After depositing the girls to go off with friends to enjoy the festivities, Hubby and I took Rosie for her first stroll around the harbourside. We started on the Hotwells side of the harbour, quite a ways downstream from the main event. It was a chance to marvel at how much Bristol had changed since we were teenagers. It really is a beautiful city now, with so much going on and slowly every square inch of it is being revitalised.

Rosie was very good, although she didn't really like the mass of people near the Watershed or the noise of the Top Gear ride by the Arnolfini. 

A tall ship outside the Arnolfini

Everywhere we went, The Matthew appeared to follow!

And no self respecting Bristol Event would be complete without a Banksy. This one is on the side of The Thekla, an excellent music venue  on a ship moored next to the Mud Dock.

Sunday was very warm, so after walking for quite some time we decided to have a nice cool refreshment here:

They do great food too!

Rosie was feeling the heat too.

Then it was time to head back, this time on the other side of the harbour.

No, that isn't Rosie hitching a lift - I don't think she is quite well-behaved enough for that challenge just yet!

About half way home, we stopped briefly at the Olive Shed to listen to the crazy violinist. Excellent - another highly recommended Bristol establishment!

I think Rosie really enjoyed herself. She had a lovely long walk, experienced lots of new sensations and made a few new friends too.

I'm not so sure the swans were that keen to get to know her though, but these familiar faces seemed very happy indeed!