NORFOLK'S BOUNTY

8th June is a very important day of celebration on Norfolk Island. There are all sorts of activities in the morning down at Kingston, but I do not have pictures of those. 

However at lunchtime we picnic - in a big way.

 Nowadays we have our picnic here at Devon, and more than 55 lovely family and friends came to join us.

And they all brought food - lots of it! It covered 4 large tables and two smaller ones. 

It is always great to have Jamie doing the honours in carving the ham, which was delicious. And I must point out the large silver platter standing behind the food. That was won this year by the Christian family for being the best dressed family. Actually, we al;l agreed they probably got it for being the best breeders!

 Kim and Tina always enjoy catching up!

 The kids enjoy the food as much as anyone, with plenty to choose from.

Fun in the sandpit...

 And the usual ball games on the lawn...

 It was all too much for Teddy...

 It is always good to have Jenni and Peter along to special occasions, and there will be more opportunities now they are able to live on the island for an extended time.

 Even the sweets took up two tables, and those pies and cheesecakes were delicious.

 Cloud the cat came up from Charles' and Kim's place to join in the party. She made the most of several laps, but here she is on Alma's.

 There was fun on the bikes for young and old.

 Everyone agreed that it was a most wonderful day, and the weather was just perfect for us.

THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE

When she visited Norfolk Island in 1974, our Queen had been on the throne for just 22 years.

I had the delightful privilege of meeting her on that occasion, although we only exchanged a few pleasantries. Bernie, however, would spend more than an hour with the Royals, even travelling in their car with them! I am the one in the apricot dress and the white hat.

 As you can see in this picture, I was pregnant with John at the time. Charles is behind Bernie in my mother's arms, while 2 year old Miriam, standing just behind me, absolutely refused to look at Her Majesty.

It was with happy memories of that occasion that we joined in various local celebrations and commemorations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  One of the main events was to take place just across the road from us, at the corner of Queen Elizabeth Avenue, which had received its name at the time of Her Majesty's Coronation.

The schoolchildren had made their way down from the school for the occasion, and took up their place in McCoy's paddock.

 That included Liam. We had to laugh. When I came across the road, the teacher said that some of the children asked if I was the Queen!!

As you can see, Digby was there for the ceremony, having followed us over the road from Devon!

Then just before six that evening, we made our way down to Government House for the lighting of the pine tree.

Now this particular pine tree is a magnificent specimen and is said to be the largest Norfolk Island Pine in the whole world.

 The weather had taken a distinct turn for the worse, and it was quite cold. But fortunately the rain was still light.

 We all sang "God Save the Queen" - which is still our national anthem on Norfolk Island.

Following that, Andre read from the long list of names of Norfolkers who have received honour awards from the Queen over the years.

It was nearly ten o'clock that night, and by then it was very stormy, cold, windy and wet. But Bernie said we might as well make a hat-trick of it and go down to the Queen Elizabeth lookout for the lighting of the beacon.

 There were only a few brave souls there, but I am glad we went.

By the time they got the beacon alight, the flame was almost horizontal!

 And everyone was feeling very cold and damp!

Even the "official" party!

 Doesn't it look magnificent burning over Kingston in the early daylight hours?

And here is a picture taken from the very same spot 38 years ago, when Her Majesty unveiled the plaque naming the Queen Elizabeth lookout.

That is Bernie in the mid foreground beside the Queen. On the other side of Her Majesty is Lord Mountbatten, and just behind her is the Duke of Edinburgh. In front are Princess Anne and Mark Philips, who were on their honeymoon.

What memories!!

SELLING AND BUYING

In my last posting, I showed some of the cards I have been making. They feature "ladies" in the classic and romantic style, mostly Edwardian, a few from the twenties and thirties.

I intended making cards that would be suitable for Mothers' Day, but not restricted to that occasion.

 Just the sort of thing you may give to the special lady in your life, just because you felt like it!

I took the cards down to the Soul Gallery the day before Mothers' Day, and was quite delighted when one was purchased immediately by someone to give to her daughter! It was one that said "Always and Forever."

I do not know if any more have sold. However, on that day I received a few dollars in payment for some other sales from the preceding fortnight. That was enough for me to make up my mind to go to a garage sale I had seen advertised in the paper that morning.

I did not really expect to find many goodies that I would want, because the lady holding the sale is a sewer and quilter, and would be hanging on to that sort of stuff.

But I was wrong....I found a heap of treasures in the form of doilies and cloths, with loads of lacy edgings etc.

 I do not think there are many people on this island who are really interested in this sort of stuff, so it usually sits around waiting for me to rescue it!

 I suspect these cloths above are commercially produced, but the crochet lace is just beautiful, and there is so much of it.

 Some of these are definitely handmade.

 These have some real possibilities!

A few simple little embroidered doileys in the mix.

 And some exquisite linen napkins. I do not know why, but I have been strongly attracted to lovely linens in recent times.



Now I really must dream up some projects to showcase some of this lovely work.

And I managed to spend almost the exact amount that I had "earned" earlier from the Gallery takings. So that made for a very satisfying morning!