R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

What are your plans for this weekends Jubilee celebrations? Have you got the bunting out? Holding a street party - or just sitting watching it on TV?

I be there in the thick of it...
Wink

littlepieces · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 1098 Location: Lowestoft

In bed hiding till the whole thing is over Cool

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ColinB · Guest

I won't be "celebrating" and I won't be in the thick of anything.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Hopefully having as normal as a Bank Holiday weekend as possible. I'd have liked to be away (I've nothing against the royal family) as I dislike all the hype. 10 years ago we were in Las Vegas courtesy of a business trip with my O/H which was rather nicely timed!

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

10 years ago I made a sudden last-minute decision. I cycled up to the local station with my kitchen steps looped over my saddle. Parked the bike at the station and went up to London.

I had a fantastic time! I stood in The Strand and saw and photographed the Golden Coach and various royals in their carriages and on horseback, had my packed lunch perched on my steps in Trafalgar Square watching the big screen, then walked to The Mall, stood on my steps by a tree in the crowd but not hiding the view from anyone and watched the processions. I joined the polite surge towards the Palace and saw the balcony scenes and the terrific flypast.

Ah well, that was 10 years ago. This year our local Carnival takes place which I shall go to and the rest of the time I'll be watching all the action on TV, between gardening time I hope.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Sounds like you had a wonderful time Eileen! Sometimes the best times are had on the spur of the moment.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Sounds like you enjoyed a delightful,improptu day out,Eileen ...what was the weather like?

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7202 Location: North Yorkshire

I will be at work for the next three days, so I will have to make the most of Tuesday. Rolling Eyes

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Pirate Johnnie Walker played my request on 11 April 2009

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

I've put some bunting up and so have our neighbours, it makes everything look a bit more cheerful on a drab day like today.

I've also purchased a jar of this special edition Marmite. Laughing

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Mrs W has planned a garden picnic, but we had it in the lounge instead! Laughing

And that meant we could watch the Thames pageant.

The new Royal Barge Glorianna was stunning. I'm so pleased for the Queen. Sod the weather it's a great day!

Flicking from BBC to Sky News, it was clearly better coverage from Sky. I figured out that each section of the flotilla
(rowing, steam, Dunkirk veteran vessels, pleasure etc) had music performing on the lead vessel, and Sky have managed to capture
much of that with their microphones. Lots of Handel, Elgar, Walton, RVW.

A highlight was London Philharmonic and a brave rain-soaked little choir with Land Of Hope And Glory, proms-style sea shanties,
yes the choir were bobbing up and down Smile

and at the end, the National Anthem!

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John W

SantaFefan · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 6:43 pm Post subject:

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

I enjoyed watching the pageant from home with a cup of coca. It's just a shame that the weather was so naff.

The stand out points for me were.
1. The rowing boats which must have been tough going in choppy conditions.
2. Whoever managed to 'park' the royal barge with pinpoint accuracy.
3. The soggy, frozen, heroic choir on the music barge
4. some of the royals bobbing up and down to the sailor's Hornpipe Laughing

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

I thoroughly enjoyed it and, Toggy, thank you for showing us the "Ma'amite" jar. I now have my own!

SantaFefan · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:37 pm Post subject:

I've just thoroughly enjoyed watching "All the Queen's Horses" on ITV... what a great show. Unfortunately, I missed the first 25 minutes or so and missed the US contribution so hopefully I can watch again on Virgin catch up TV or something... (does ITV have a version of iPlayer?? )
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13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3415 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

gazmando · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 560 Location: Huntingdon

Glad you all enjoyed it, looks like Littlepieces and ColinB are as miserable as the weather Wink

ColinB · Guest

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

I watched the re-run on Sky and it was certainly better and I heard a lot more of the different musical offerings than on the BBC.

ColinB · Guest

I refuse to subscribe to Sky, but thankfully we were walking along the windswept coast of North Norfolk, ending up in a great little pub with good food, fab beers ....... and no telly. Couldn't be better!

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

ColinB · Guest

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

Sky News is Channel 82 on Freeview.

I went to see the River Pageant, as my daughter's partner works in City Hall, which was handy, as you had to have a pass or a ticket to get by the river. So I watched from the warmth and comfort, while the poor buggers outside got soaked and chilled to the marrow. Such a pity about the weather, as it would have been nice to stand outside and join in the celebrations, instead of wimping out and staying in City Hall, with a great view on the second floor.

Her Maj is quite something. We'll never see her like again.

I did catch the highlights on BBC that evening. Abysmal, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was deliberate, as it was so inept as to be unbelievable. I've read the POV boards, and as Becky says, they are getting mauled on there...and rightly so. Not that it will make any difference, as we all know that the BBC doesn't do listening to the people that contribute towards their wages.
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life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

ColinB · Guest

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

I really enjoyed the pomp and pageantry. The pageant on the River Thames shows how everyone is united together with the crowds lining the streets - with her majesty all the royals on the Royal Barge in the wind and rain. Sky News was the better coverage than the BBC. There was no need to roll out celebrities that's the failure of the BBC

I thought the concert had some good and bad parts ( Cheryl Cole ) - the BBC should have got a Taxi for some of the comedians out bursts. I also thought some were missing - Rod Stewart, Phil Collins, David Bowie, Rolling Stones and The Who. Duran Duran - Simon Le Bon was upset they weren't asked. I don't think Gary Barlow deserves a Knighthood yet. There are many more desirables who are well in front before the Take That star.

The carriage procession through the streets of London bought everyone together again. You will get some anti royalists who like attention. Just need to walk past them and hopefully they will fall into the Thames.

ColinB · Guest

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

Did anybody here watch the concert? as with most of these things there were good bits, bad bits, terrible bits and brilliant bits.

Terrible bits
The very unfunny 'comedians'
Lenny Henry interupting Rolf while singing Two Little boys, rude, ignorant and embarrasing for Rolf.
Macca's out of tune singing.

Bad Bits
Kylie Miming
Cliff dancing (though singing not too bad)
Cheryl Cole. Shocked

Shirley Bassey failing to hit the high notes.

Good bits
Feisty and bonkers Grace Jones with her hula hoop. Laughing

Annie Lennox with her angel wings.
The song with Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber with the choir and African children, it was a lot better than I was expecting it to be.
Stevie Wonder on good form.
Jools Holland & Ruby Turner

Brilliant bits
Tom Jones - What a voice!
Madness on the roof with the video projections, very very clever.
Alfie Boe & Renee Fleming on the balcony, beautiful voices.
Prince Charles' moving & funny speech.
The sea of union jacks down the mall

All in all not a bad gig. Very Happy

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

I thought Cliff was awful apart from when he sang Congratulations and I've seen Macca do much better.

Lenny Henry totally out of order on his racial bits and with his interrupting Rolf Harris.

I thought Tom Jones was the best, plus Alfie Boe and Rene Flemming who I'm not usually a fan of.

Prince Charles was great.

Thought the Golden Jubilee one was better, (I saw when it was re broadcast and still have it on DVD) but then Cliff & co are all ten years older now............................

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

New gig for Britain Got Talent next year. Sing whilst Hula Hopping...

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Cliff was completely flat, singing Dynamite ... Shocked

just awful...thankfully he got better as he went along..he looked as if he was trying too hard..

Grace Jones is a complete fruitcake but looked and sounded fabulous...how did she manage to keep that hoop going all the way through?.. Laughing

Poor choice of song for Ruby Turner,I thought ...but a great voice ..

Lang Lang was brilliant and I loved that he played one of my favourites ..Rhapsody In Blue
.
Renee Fleming superb ..wasn't over keen on the jazzed up version of Just One Cornetto from Alfie Boe but the duet with Renee Fleming was beautiful

Fabulous graphics for Madness who always sound good....

Annie Lennox was a disappointment for me

Kylie sounded good (I didn't think anyone had mimed) but why did she have about three songs whilst our Shirl only had one?..Shirl didn't disappoint

Stevie Wonder was okay but I wondered why he was there ...can anybody enlighten me?

I watched the programme with Gary Barlow going round the Commonwealth gathering talent together to sing the specially commissioned song ...which I think is a pleasant one...so it was a nice moment to see them all together singing it

Tom Jones looked and sounded fabulous ....

Poor form from Lenny Henry (although I'm sure he was told to do it) shushing lovely Rolf halfway through his song ...would a couple more minutes have hurt that much?

And it is with a heavy heart I say goodness knows I love Macca but his voice has sounded better...

All in all not a bad night's entertainment....fireworks were spectacular.

I heard on the radio (from the man himself) that the person responsible for the graphics on Buckingham Palace is going to do a similar thing for the Olympics.

ColinB · Guest

I had a look at McCartney's bit and, much as I love the bloke and everything he's achieved, I feel that he's becoming a bit of a caricature of his old self; I wish he'd introduce new audiences to more songs from his amazing and varied back-catalogue than rehashing the same old two or three standards. Today's generation could be forgiven for thinking that "that bloke who was in some band called the Beatles" has only written a handful of hit songs.

Mind you, that's the very nature of these "roll em on, roll em off" type gigs, which are all a bit of a compromise anyhow. I've seen some amazing McCartney - and also Wings - gigs over the years, and it's such a pity he doesn't do more.

A pretty lame performance, all things considered.

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

I'm sorry to say that Paul sounded like a very bad pub singer, not good at all.

I forgot about Lang Lang, absolutely terrific. Must give credit to the orchestra as well, I'm sure it was a bit of a break from the norm for them. I recognised the conductor as it was him who conducted the film music night at the proms last year.

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

Possibly we're being a bit unfair in criticising the oldies' failure to reach the high notes. After all, Macca, Cliff, Elton etc are hardly youngsters and vocal range does diminish with age.

I was a bit disappointed with the concert. The so-called comedians/presenters were totally unfunny. Hang on, I've just remembered Miranda Hart, Lenny Henry, Rob Brydon were never funny anyway. Why does Henry have such a huge chip on his shoulder about being black? And why did Brydon make a totally gratuitous reference to someone doing something faster than Jeremy Hunt deleting a text? Does he really think that people from deepest Africa who might have been watching, or half the British public come to think of it, would really understand that one?

As for the artists, why did Kylie have five songs and Shirley only one?
Why did Stevie sing Happy Birthday? Presumably he really thought it was the Queen's birthday.
Elton was pretty awful, one Queen singing to another. Annie Lennox was dreadful (she was so good at previous concerts). Madness are always appalling of course but I did like the idea of the rooftop performance, even if Brian May did it ten years earlier.

Highlight for me was Sir Tom, and the African choir, Rene Fleming/Alfie Bow, and Macca who can do no wrong anyway.

ColinB · Guest

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

Yes, Ob La Di Ob La Da was a strange song to end with, Lennon would have rolled in his grave.
You were probably better off in the pub!

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814