The country is turning red, white and blue.
It’s brilliant. Almost every shop display has a bit of bunting, flags or a red, white and blue theme – and it’s only going to get more colourful as the Diamond Jubilee approaches.
I’m already armed with flags, napkins, plates and table covers sporting Union flags. I’ve even got some little covers for the wing mirrors on my car (I’m every marketing man’s dream).
I don’t remember much about my first jubilee, the silver one in 1977. I was six at the time, and there was a fancy dress party held at the playhut, just off Ballens Road in Lordswood.
Forget shop-bought Disney outfits, or head-to-toe themed costumes from the supermarket – there were very few of them around and not many of us who could afford them anyway.
Instead, your mum raided your existing wardrobe and carefully crafted an outfit using what was too hand.
There were clowns (pyjamas with home-made woollen pompoms sewn on), various caped crusaders (tablecloth tied round your neck), pirates (handkerchief tied round your head and a plastic eye patch), a Chinese lady (I was quite envious of this girl, who had been allowed to borrow her mum’s kimono dressing gown).
I loved my outfit. It was my favourite “party” skirt – bright orange with a frill around the bottom (c’mon, it was 1977). But best of all, I got to wear a tiara all day that my parents had lovingly crafted out of pipe cleaners and sequins.
I remember egg and spoon races, stuffing myself with cake and playing on the swings. What more did a kid need?
This time, we’re having a picnic outside our village hall followed by space hopper racing and some tug-of-war.
Twenty-five years on, and good family fun never changes.
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