On the special 8th May Bank Holiday, we commemorated the 75th Anniversary of VE Day on a gorgeous sunny day in Marshfield.
The commemorations began with Geoff riding his tractor down the length of the High Street to the War Memorial. There was to be no self-isolating for him today!
At 11am we joined the locals (all standing at a safe distance) to listen to three ladies; first the vicar, then the trumpet player for the Last Post, before observing two minutes silence, and the third lady who led the singing to Vera Lynn’s “We’ll Meet Again”
Such a lot of effort was put into commemorating and celebrating. Champagne, cakes and music. Even an old gramophone playing records from back in the day. It was a very special occasion.
My lovely Dad soaking up the atmosphere from a distance. 😍 My equally lovely Mum was there too, but you’ve got to be quick to get a photo of her! 😉
How thoughtful was this? Someone had left it outside their house for a child to wear.
As we went for our daily walk we enjoyed listening to the old music from house to house and seeing everyone’s decorations.
It was a beautiful hot sunny day which was not only perfect for VE Day but also for our grandson Miles’ 4th birthday. He was able to spend the day in the garden with his sister Eloise and his Mummy and Daddy. Even though he was not allowed to have his friends or family to help celebrate because of the lockdown, Lauren and Jack ensured he had a birthday to remember. Just one of the things they did was make him a homemade McDonalds complete with the branded Happy Meal box and toy. I would love to share the video of his face when he found out that “Old McDonalds” was still NOT open but that Mummy had made it all instead. 😍
I was thinking about the special train cake that Lauren had also made for Miles. I wondered whether, of all the things that will go back to ‘normal’ once all this is over, will people still put candles on birthday cakes and blow them out!? 🤔
The sun shone for the hero’s, the brave military men and women who fought so selflessly for us in the 2nd World War, and for the hero’s amongst us today as we all fight the coronavirus. However, as I type this two days later, it has turned cold and wet. A perfect excuse for Glen to light the wood burning stove for the first time.
The fire alarm has now stopped 😬 and the kindling has done its job (thanks Mark.) Let’s hope it keeps burning by the time we sit down later with our roast pork and raise a glass…. or two… in thanks.
A great community for you to be in lockdown Mandy, sure Mum and dad are loving having you next door.
What a fantastic community spirit! All sounds great fun! X
Great blog. A beautiful and memorable day. Good to get the opportunity to see neighbours in the current circumstances, plus a special birthday too!
Sounded like a great celebration! Maybe we all need a homemade McDonalds and a train cake in these strange times!
May 8th is a Public holiday here, every year, not just for some ‘special ‘ celebration. Normally, we meet at the Maire then form an orderly procession behind a standard bearer, from one war or the other, to the memorial outside the church.
The Deputy Mayor reads the message from the President, flowers are laid, and then there’s a 2 minute silence.
Then we return to the Salle des Fêtes for apéros!
This year was a bit different. France was still on full confinement. There were only 4 of us; The Maire, Deputy Maire, an old ex-soldier and me. The Deputy Maire had forgotten to bring M. Macron’s words, the bells would have drowned them out anyway. We did have 2 minutes silence. The Maire thanked me for going, to which I replied, “We should never forget!” There were no apéros.
Our lockdown has been far more stringent than yours!
What a terrific show of community spirit. And your grandson’s birthday celebrations sounded like a lot of fun. All the best.
Well captured happy memories.