a queen's birthday
She reigned for 63 years, seven months and two days -- the longest reign ever.
She was five feet tall and monarch to one-quarter of the world's population.
She was 81 when she died.
Her own sons lifted her into her coffin, as she had requested.
She was dressed in a white dress and her wedding veil.
She was laid to rest next to Albert.
Her birthday is not a holiday in England. It is here. (emphasis mine)
I wonder, would she be amused?
(It amuses me when the English prefer to forget that many of their monarchy are German.)
So today is a holiday Monday in Canada, the first long weekend of the summer season, the weekend of opening up summer cottages for many. Here in Vancouver we had a glorious sunny week, but the weekend weather caved into a rainy one. My week's heavy gardening work resulted in severe back pain, so the wet weather actually allowed me to rest without temptation or guilt and I feel much better now. Happy Victoria Day!
Comments
Take good care of your back, won't you?
Posted by: Tall Girl | 13:20 21 May 2007
Oh TG, thank you! It's much better already. My usual annual spring overdoing-it-in-the-garden abuse of my aging body! (Try saying that fast, heh.)
Posted by: marja-leena | 14:14 21 May 2007
My back is suffering from today's planting out of the courgettes, so I sympathise.
Let's remember the Royals connived in our forgetfulness by changing their name to Windsor. We haven't forgotten where Phil the Greek comes from, however.
Posted by: Mr Zip | 16:30 21 May 2007
Mr Zip, thanks for the sympathy, and same to you! Yes, the conniving Royals - but then aren't all the royals of Europe related to each other!? I guess I just have to chuckle at some snobby Brits who think they are "pure" English, especially some of the colonials living on this side of the pond. I think Queen Victoria must have been quite the lady to survive in that man's world.
Posted by: marja-leena | 16:46 21 May 2007