Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee Fete

There are those who think the sun has set on the British Empire (the sun had certainly disappeared when I took this photo), but by Gad, we are British and we stand firm for Queen, for Country, for the Commonwealth and for Empire!

Okay, we haven't exactly got an empire any more, and most kids would be hard put to tell you who some of the Commonwealth members are, but give us a break, we have little else to celebrate.  American's have 4th July, the French have Bastille Day, the Canadian's have er, Dress up as a Mountie Day.  And what have we poor Brits got?  Nothing.


It is no wonder then that come a chance to celebrate something, we jump at it with alacrity.

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee was a great chance, to have a day of fun and a bit of a party, and the British Club Bangkok, did its bit of flying the Jubilee flag, by having a very British garden fete.

Every bit of the club was decorated with Union Jack bunting.  Tables were set up on both the back and front lawns. 

The afternoon started with pipers (oh Janice, I KNOW you would have enjoyed that!).

Nobody, and I mean nobody, will ever look good puffing on a bagpipe.

Tables were set up with people selling various items and Angela even had her festively decorated car for sale.

The rain did fall, but it soon cleared up and really didn't appear to dampen spirits.  See, good old British stiff upper lip!

 On a different note, but for Bangkokians, there is a new Beirut restaurant open, on Thong Lo.  Unlike the other branches, this one has a view of the outside world, through large open windows.  Like the others, the food was fantastic.

The decor, which is a huge step up from the other outlets, is very yuppy Lebanese.  The chairs, made of a metallic golden vinyl, had about five huge fake crystals tastefully imbedded into the seat back!

One thing I have to acknowledge.  The staff were really friendly (shock, horror!).  Clearly they haven't had time to become jaded by the typical Beirut insouciance, which so clearly marks their other establishments.

For a feast beyond measure, dine up at Beirut, and then go downstairs where there is a branch of Crepes and Co.  You can gorge yourself on my signature dessert of a banana and chocolate crepe, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream; and then roll out the door and straight into a taxi.  I am pretty sure the taxi driver won't mind your hummus and chocolate smeared face!