Planning a Royal Wedding Street Party
The other day I noticed that the deadline for applying to the council to close your road for a party on the Royal Wedding day was 31/March. The idea of celebrating the wedding wouldn't normally have occurred to me, but I thought it would be nice to have a little do on the road. "For the kids", don't you know.
Any excuse for a booze up, hey?
So I asked the council for the relevant forms. One of which needed a signature from each resident. If a majority are in favour the council will close the road to traffic.
Yesterday I went knocking on each of the 20 houses on our road, which, as you can see is a cul-de-sac and well-suited to being closed off.
Being a small road it's quite neighbourly and I know the names of everybody on it. As I'd expected the majority were more than up for it, most offering to do whatever they could to help.
Only two people objected.
One "anti royal" neighbour gave me a quick lecture about the evil of received wealth, but then signed anyway, saying "Do what you like though".
The conversation with the other objector went something like this:
Me: We're thinking of closing the road for a party on the royal wedding day.
Him: I'm a republican, so I'm not bothered.
Me: Yeah, but it's just an excuse for a party isn't it. For the kids and all that.
Him: So, what I can't drive my car?
Me: Well, no. You'd just have to move it up the road a bit.
Him: Hmmm. [pause] What are you asking me to do?
Me: Just sign here and tick yes or no.
Him: No. Not bothered. [walks off without signing it either way]
People are weird aren't they. He lives directly opposite us and always smiles and says hello ("keeps himself to himself" as they say). This was the first time I've spoke to him though and will probably be the last. There was no need for how rude he was. The way he acted, you'd think I was trying to get him to switch electricity suppliers on a Sunday lunch time.
I'm trying not to let it bother me (although it always does when people are needlessly rude) and I'm trying to looking on the bright side - that at least half the road will be actively joining in and having a good time. It would be nice to think that we weren't bothering anybody at all in the process though.
We now have a month to plan and source the bunting. I'll put up some pictures of the day once it's done. Anybody else got any plans for a part? What about tips?
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Want to wager that he is there eating and drinking everyone else's food and beer without contributing anything himself
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I doubt it very much. He's not the social type. I always had him down as shy, but now I'm thinking he's just anti-social.
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I prefer attending the main event....still Weatminister Abbey in a suitable option. Can get there cheap if I plan with 2 or 3 royal wedding fans using www.cogotrip.com
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One tip: Sounds like a good night to teach the kids how to roll a house!
Take dozens of rolls of toilet paper, grab the loose end and throw the roll over trees, bushes, the house, whatever you can find. LOL activities of a mis-spent youth!
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I couldn't possibly condone anything that might cause damage to property (shhh, don't tell anybody but I won't be taking out any insurance).
Surprisingly, it wasn't a pre-requisite that you take out insurance. I'd half imagined there'd be a mountain of red tape involved, but there's none at all. Brilliant.
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Sounds like a good idea. Ignore those party poopers, he should go and live in a republic then :-)
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The conversation sounds like "Knights who say Ni" ...
I would love to listen to yours voices :)
Ni, Ni ...
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Dear Mr. Howlett,
We are in receipt of your completed form WTHAP-OMS-11 and am pleased to inform you we find almost everything to be in order. We note with some sadness that you failed to acquire a signature from the household at 99 Station Ave. I regret to inform you that this invalidates your entire form and you will have to resubmit the requisite documentation by no later than 5:00 yesterday.
You also appear to have failed to file form WTPAP-OMS-11 seeking unanimous poll on consent to display a photograph of you street. All of those poor unknowing souls now have their private front doors displayed for the whole world to see. Why, this might attract people from OUTSIDE of your perfectly nice quiet cul-de-sac to said (no doubt booze-filled and rambunctious) party. This is simple unacceptable, Mr. Howlett and I implore you to take note of our objections.
Good day sir.
typed by secretary to Council, N. Chips
99 Station Ave.
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Jake
That's great !
I want to do that here in South Carolina ! We could like celebrate our long - ago mother country and turn on the TV's to the wedding and kind of try to follow along....
And just to make it Lowcountry, we could also have oysters .....
Charleston, SC
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Hope you are all having a fab day, totaly jealous, you are so lucky to have that community spirit like the olden days x ps photos please and not computer stuff thanks
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Hi there from Florida - I liked the message from Charleston, S.C. (I LOVE oysters & Charleston). Wedding fever hit pretty big here - unfortunately I had to record the whole thing to watch later as the damn air-conditioning chose to break down on Wed. (in midst of an early heatwave) & not fixed 'til Thurs. p.m., so wiped out had to sleep in Fri. a.m. My birthday is St. George's Day so has always been special to me (I have a flag) & usually try to 'slay a few personal dragons' on that day (i.e. tie one on). For me it doesn't detract at all from being a proud Brit. even though I'm also a patriotic U.S. citizen as well (Dual National). I still sing Land of Hope & Glory every chance I get & still display the Union Jack occasionally. So glad U were able to have the party (I remember the 1953 Coronation parties), too bad some sourpusses chose to wallow in their own misery but at least you guys won the day - up & at 'em! Cheers. Cousin Pam
ps I toasted the Royal couple with some pink bubbly......
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