Monthly Archives: May 2012

England, undoubtedly, has a rich lineage of imperial events that also have included the common man, in its revelries. In the times of antiquity, such regal celebrations used to mark a new King’s ascension to the throne, exciting victories, or religio-political episodes or importance. In the current era of secular republican democracy, however, the royal family and its customs act as a splendid reminder of the nation’s glorious past. Though the incidents of royal celebration have considerably been reduced, every once in a while, Britain does still get to don a grand carnivalesque mood that is the token remnant of the country’s magnificent colonial past. The upcoming Royal extravaganza that has the entire nation putting its best foot forward is, of course, the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. This event, which is due to take place on the extended weekend between 2^nd and 5^th June, has already engulfed all the citizens of Britain in a frenzy of festive activities. Consequently, everyone is planning how to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee in a lavish manner that is fit for the royalty!

There are numerous ways, in which, you can make your Diamond Jubilee weekend memorable for your friends, family, and yourself. Some of the popular ways that are being considered by people to celebrate this special event are:

A luxurious house party:  Many people are deciding to stay indoors, decorate and renovate their homes, and organise their own parties. In this way, the Diamond Jubilee weekend becomes a convenient opportunity for highly pressured working people to bond with their friends and families. Of course, the decoration choices for this special party would be best complimented by a touch of British icons, like the Union Jack. Many people are also choosing to emulate the Queen’s famous garden parties, complete with sophisticated cocktails for the adults, and party games for the children.

Upbeat suburban street parties:  Many people of the younger generation plan to dance the night away, at one of the many suburban street parties and fetes, around the country. These are fun, community-based events that allow people to enjoy local cuisine and hospitality.

Visit Hyde Park: Hyde Park has been chosen as the official venue of a two-day long Diamond Jubilee extravaganza. You and your family can choose to visit Hyde Park, where there will be music, live performances, street acrobatics, as well as mouth-watering traditional British fares. Though the pocket pinch of the Hyde Park event will set you back by £20 per person, it will be definitely worth it.

Regal cruise: This year, the Queen has decided to assemble an imposing flotilla of 1000 ships to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee. This will be a breathtaking event, and many cruise companies are offering people to glide along the ‘Avenue of Sail’, on the days preceding the royal D-Date. As a result, thousands of people have already got their tickets for these cruises.

Other than these, many people also intend to visit the Buckingham Palace, and lighting beacons in their neighbourhoods, in order to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime event.

And what are YOU planning to do?

If the short vacations that come as bank holidays are all the time you get to indulge yourself, you will want to plan your trip well. It could be a weekend getaway with a sweetheart, family or friends. Since your bank holidays mostly afford you only a day off, unless fortune is courting you to throw in a weekend to it, careful planning is called for as every half hour counts.

Packing for your bank holiday will depend on the plans you have for your holiday. If you intend to go fishing, all your backpack will need are your fishing gear, an additional pair of shorts, and a reserve of your favoured drinks and snacks if no eatery or hotel is comfortably close to the rendezvous point.

The location that you finalize for your trip will decide the contents of your back packs. If the weather is nippy, be sure to pack in cold cream lotions as cracked skin is not conductive for a happy time. You will also want to stock up on extra pairs of inner and outer wear to keep yourself warm. If the weather is too cold, you will also want to pack thermal wear. Should your plans keep your outdoors for the day a sizeable thermal flask filled with a suitable beverage will be a saviour.

If you are flying out of the country for your short vacation, you will want to do some research to learn about the culture of the land. Since a bank holiday trip is bound to be short, you can choose to carry canned or ready-to-cook edibles with you so as to avoid any untoward health hazards if the local cuisine seems unpalatable.

Taking a trip into the wilderness will call for heavier bags, with a bottle of water, a survival kit, mosquito repellents, bug repelling serums and the like taking the seats of pride. Should an overnight stay be a part of the game, carry either a sleeping bag or a simple tent as logs and the hard ground may not make for a good bed.

Packing for a family can be slightly more difficult than packing for an individual or a couple. With the requirements of kids also to be catered to, you will want to draft and maintain an itinerary of the things you need as and when you think of them. Always carry extra sets of clothes for children so that you need to keep them from enjoying themselves out of concern for their apparel. Carry some food and drinks as travel tends to make kids very hungry.

No matter what the plan of action for your vacation, a first aid kit is an integral part of your luggage. Apart from cleansing spirits and band aids, you must also carry medicines for headache and for upset stomachs as these are the first symptoms for a journey not gone well. With these major hurdles taken care of, you can rest assured to having a memorable trip.

Another busy week has just started, but along with all duties at work you need to make sure that your family is not left neglected. When you spend more time with your family creating lasting memories, the results are stronger family bonds.
Here are some ideas how to turn a small part of the weekend into a great and unforgettable experience 🙂

Madame  Tussauds

Madame Tussauds houses wax figurines of renowned actors, comic book heroes, actors, spiritual leaders, eminent historical personalities and sportspersons, thereby hosting something for every member of a family. Apart from gawking at their favorite heroes, kids can also marvel at the range of activities that are held at Madame Tussauds frequently, all year round. Competitions and adventures are a part of this wondrous place whose fame is known across the world.

City Tours

River Thames is simply breath-taking, and cruising along this ultra-popular river with the sights of the city swishing by is a sight that parents and children can enjoy together. A ferry ride typically commences from the London eye, and if you plan your trip well, you can catch the stunning sight of the illuminated London Bridge in all its celebrated glory in the evening.

Spending a night on a replica of a pirate ship captained by Sir Francis Drake is something the youngsters never forget, and you can ply them with this reward to accept a tour to other parts of the city. Bus rides are also arranged for tourists and you can opt to soak in the history of the land while visiting the nooks and corners of the city on buses.

Museums

Home to more than 500 species of marine organisms, well segregated into 14 themed zones, Sea Life London Aquarium is a marine museum that will take more than half a day to tour, but is certain to stun visitors with vibrant worlds beneath the sea.

London is home to numerous museums whose entry permits are priced at negligible prices, and some of them are free too! The exhibits of these museums are a sight to behold, and you can pick out a museum that specializes in the region of interest of a majority of the family so as to simultaneously educate and entertain yourself.

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace is home to a maze designed out of pruned greenery. A maze that has been testing the intellect of folks for more than 500 years, since Tudor dynasty, Hampton maze is an absolute delight. After a family finds its way out of the challenging maze, huge dinosaur sculptures welcome you into an adventure playground. There is ample opportunity for picture perfect moments that will enrich the gallery of memories for all involved.

Theatre

United Kingdom is, after all, the land of the world’s most celebrated bards and poets. Literature and performing arts are pillars of the land. London is some to several theatres that house operas and plays all year round, and you can catch a classic or contemporary rendition any time. As a family with teenagers, the theatres of London invite you to watch stage performances of fun plays like Hair Spray!, as well as deeper ones like Shakespearean tragedies. If you get lucky, you could also get to catch a troupe whose story calls for aerobic stunts amidst the audiences.