h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Last week I was in England. Sorry I didn't warn anyone.

Short summary:

On Corpus Christi (public holiday in this part of Germany) it was our Church fete - hard work for most, taking money, pouring drinks, talking to people and performing for people. A Church fete in Germany is nowhere near as varied as an English one - they just eat and drink.

Anyway, on the Friday, my husband and I flew to Stansted and took the coach to my parents' house.

The Saturday was the big day - they had a lunch and tea time celebration at the very posh Jockey Club rooms for their Diamond Wedding Anniversary.

In the morning, before we left, the card from the Queen arrived, my father was genuinely surprised and very touched by this - my mother had caught on that my sister was organising this, but it was a very moving moment all the same, to see their faces when the postman handed it over.

The party was formal but great fun, my family are a jovial lot, and all the friends who were there were really nice to talk to. Everyone took lots of photos and admired the flowers - my sister had done beautiful table and standing decorations with white roses and white peonies.

After a superb lunch, cooked and served by the competent and freindly Jockey Club staff, we stood around on the terraces, admiring the lawns and nattering. Tea and a Wedding Celebration cake were served. It rained a lot, especially as people were arriving, but nothing could dampen anyone's mood.

My husband went home on the Sunday, as he had to be back at school on the Monday. I stayed on for a week. Every day there were cards of congratulations and thanks in the post, at least two more bouquets were delivered and people brought round pot plants and gifts.

On the Thursday I had arranged to meet some classmates in the evening (reunited thanks to friendsreunited.co.uk) and we had the best kind of evening you can imagine - we had all got on well at school and were a small group. I hope there'll be lots more like that!

So here I am back home in Germany and it's Sunday and I've got nothing to eat in the house so we'd better get going on out to find an Italian salad or something. (I'm so full up after this week I don't mind if we don't have anything to eat, but the troops are restless).

Off to work again in the morning. It's going to take some adjustment, talk about life in the fast lane - my parents potter along on the hard shoulder.

Isn't it amazing the effect a card from her Majesty has?

I was lucky enough to be with my parents when their card arrived and it too was a moment, they still talk about it 3½ years on!
And I have an enlarged photo in a frame of them holding the card, which was in our local paper.

Congrats to your parentsand I'm so glad you had a good time

Congrats to you and your parents - and it sounds like they had a wonderful party.

I envy you the week in UK though - it sounds like you had a fab time.

What a wonderful occasion to celebrate and it's nice to know that Her Madge still works her

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