Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Royal Poinciana, Pimms, Scones and Pork Pie

click on the links in green

 Llewellyn Xavier: Vermillion from the series: Flame of the Forest

Royal Poinciana,
Flamboyant Trees

At this time of year, one of the most magnificent flowering trees of the Caribbean, known as: Flamboyant, Royal Poinciana, Flame Tree, Shak Shak tree, and also by its botanical name Delonix Regia, blooms glorious showers of flowers in reds, oranges and yellows.  The show can go on into September and it is well worth searching to find the most beautiful natural flower display and follow its growth over the years.

Orange Flamboyant Tree

Red Flamboyant Flowers

  Red Flamboyant Tree and waterfall at Cap Estate 

Orange Flamboyant Flowers

Red Flamboyant Flowers

Orange Flamboyant Flowers

Yellow Flamboyant Flowers

The name Shak Shak is a regional name for the tree because of its long seed pods that are amplified and used as a percussion instrument in folk bands. 

Shak Shak sound Click on arrow above to hear sound.

Shak Shak seeds

Flamboyant pods

Yellow Flamboyant Flowers

A Taste of Britain

Three British things to enjoy:

Pimms - one of the most refreshing summer beverages, add a  few Caribbean fruits to make it more exotic;

Pork Pie - It has always been something that I believed was impossible to make unless you were a Cordon Bleu chef or you had been handed down a family recipe or you just bought some at a store.  The recipe I used was from Gordon Ramsay, Ham and Pork Pie.  I substituted Italian Sausage meat, either hot or mild will do, instead of the regular sausage with added Tabasco sauce.  As I didn't have any pork fat I used bacon fat instead of the lard, which is pretty easy to make and store in a jar in the fridge.

Tea Scones - either wonderful sweet fruit scones with Strawberry Jam and Clotted Cream or the savoury cheese and herb are an integral part of a British High Tea.  If in London, do go and have High Tea at Brown's Hotel. 

PIMMS ON ICE

PIMMS AND YELLOW FLAMBOYANT

 

 

P I M M ' s

Take a tall glass and fill it with ice.

Mix 1 part PIMM'S No.1 with 3 parts chilled Sprite; add some mint, cucumber, and for that extra special Caribbean twist a paper thin slice of lime

Pimm's was first produced in 1823 by Pimm, a farmer's son from Kent who became the owner of an oyster bar in the City of London, near the Bank of England. He offered the tonic (a gin-based drink containing quinine and a secret mixture of herbs) as an aid to digestion, serving it in a small tankard known as a "No. 1 Cup", hence its subsequent name.  Pimm's began large-scale production in 1851 to keep up with sales to other bars.

HAM AND PORK PIE

HAM AND PORK PIE

HAM AND PORK PIE WITH MANGO CHUTNEY

TEA SCONES

Afternoon tea with scones at
Brown's Hotel, London - A MUST

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

This year Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne).  Various forms of celebrations are taking place throughout the Commonwealth and Great Britain.   In St. Lucia, the Governor General, Dame Pearlette Louisy, GCMG, started off the celebration with a visit by His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex , KG GCVO and Sophie, Countess of Wessex  followed by a Gala Banquet and Ball at Government House.

Llewellyn Xavier at his investiture receiving the OBE (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)  from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace

Talk about being born with a silver spoon in your mouth, some of us were born with two!  Silver spoons from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for children born the week of the Coronation.

(Rosa in the Bahamas: do you still have yours?  Maybe we could press for the rest of the set!)

Government House, St. Lucia

Royal Palms - Government House

Government House, St Lucia 1900's

Queen at Government House by CX

Croton at Government House

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the Henley Regatta 2012 - photo by Jessica Koomen

The Swan Uppers on their boat at Henley - photo by Jessica Koomen

Thank you Jessica for letting me use your two wonderful photos of the Henley Regatta.

Swan Upping is an annual ceremonial census of the mute swans on the River Thames.  They are checked, marked and let go.  The Monarch retains the right to ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but only exercises ownership on certain stretches of the River Thames and its surrounding tributaries.  This dates from the 12th century, during which time swans were a common food source for royalty.

The Henley Royal Regatta is a colourful rowing event held every year in July on the River Thames by the town of Henley on Thames.   Anyone wanting to enjoy the finest Henley has to offer can stay at this charming Bed and Breakfast: The Lyndons .

Feral Cat Shampoo

Ti Noir was one of our first feral kittens to visit.  However she decided that she preferred to spend the better part of her day in our air-conditioned bedroom than roaming the wild foraging for food.  She leaves home at 5 am and returns at 6 pm unless she has been mousing or birding!   She has a penchant for shampooing hair.   Click on arrow above to see video link. 

Music : Mille Cherubini in Coro sung by Luciano Pavarotti.

Ti Noir

Ti Wouge shampooing Ti Noir!

First encounters: Feral Ti Gres bringing her offspring Ti Noir and Ti Wouge home 

and finally,

congratulations to Great Britain for hosting such a wonderful opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympics.

Special congratulations to Danny Boyle for his brilliant creation and to Thomas Heatherwick for his magnificent Olympic Cauldron which included children, representing the 204 competing nations,  carrying the copper petals to the main sculpture and the flower closing together magnificently.  Absolutely fantastic  A R T.

2012 Olympic Cauldron by Thomas Heatherwick



2012 Olympic Cauldron from Heatherwick.com

JERUSALEM BY WILLIAM BLAKE

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire.

I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.