FUNK

DESTINATION - AU FIL DE L'EAU

Set back from the Riviera, near Nice and north of Cannes, find this little gem. Known as Clue d'Aiglun, here is Pammukkale - this side of the Dardanelles. The limestone is carved from centuries of flash floods, so take a plunge in the aquamarine.

ON THE AGENDA: LONDON SPECIAL

London is abounding with culture this coming season, due to the, you guessed it, Jubilee. Therefore, to kick things off - The Queen Art & Image at the National Gallery. Follow that up with the V&A's British Ballgowns, book online; the British Museum's Horse: from Arabia to Royal Ascot and Shakespeare: Staging the World

Best of British

As it's the Jubilee, I thought I would put together my very own "Best of British" top ten:

1. Shakespeare. There's an exhibition at the British Museum opening in July, be there. Also, Dickens (the 200th anniversary of his death this year!), the Bronte sisters, Keats, Hughes.

2. Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles, Minstrels, Skips

3. British strawberries

4. William Morris

5. The V&A

6. Tartan - dressing rebels since the 1960s

7. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings

8. Marmite (although 50% of the kingdom hates it)

9. Fish & chips

10. Red buses!

A funny bunch, really, aren't they? As previously mentioned, a nation of football fans. The height of culinary excellence with shepherd's pie and battered fish wrapped in newspaper. King sof the cheeseboard with cheddar... However, birthplace of one of the most important popular culture phenomena of the past thirty years (J.K. Rowling), and the most incredible sweets known to man :)

REFLECTIONS ON A JUBILEE

The British are a funny bunch. Some close friends of mine are taking to the streets today in Union Jack or crown tights and colour-coded jewellery. Deep down they are just a nation of football fans.

The dismal drizzle today is 'failing to dampen pageant fervour' on the Thames, according to the Guardian. What kind of a flag-waving headline is that? We watch seasoned Londoners and country bumpkins alike don their anoraks just to wave stripy napkins on the ends of chopsticks at a sparkly boat. And don't you love it?

See you there. I'll be the one singing the Marseillaise.

HAPPY {JUBILEE} WEEKEND!

Today: not much happening.
Tomorrow (Sunday 3rd June): Royal barge procession
Tuesday: Royal carriage procession!