Tuesday 24 November 2020

A Postcard A Day - Tuesday 24 November 2020 - T or Cava, lions and queens

Good morning lovely ladies.

Today I am a bit late at the T-Party. I normally prepare the day before but that hadn't happened, so here I am: better late than never!

Let me start by showing you my postcard for today:

This postcard is a real photo, like they used to do back in the day. It comes from the Netherlands and is an image of the late Queen Juliana and her family going for a tour in 1948. With her in the carriage are her husband, prins Bernhard and their two eldest daughters Beatrix and Irene.
Juliana was Queen of the Netherlands from 1948 to 1980, when she abdicated in favour of her daughter, Queen Beatrix. Hers was a reign marked by dramatic upheavals, national and personal.
Queen Juliana was the only daughter of Queen Wilhelmina - on the throne since 1898 - and her consort, Prince Hendrik of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. As their only child she was the last of the direct line of the House of Orange-Nassau, hereditary but often controversial rulers of the Netherlands since William the Silent liberated the country from Spain in the 16th century. Her first name was his mother's.

As headstrong as her mother, Juliana took the question of the Orange succession into her own hands. Always a keen skier, she went to the winter Olympics in Bavaria early in 1936 and fell for Bernhard von Lippe-Biesterfeld, a dashing prince of a minor royal house. German consorts were the norm in a royal family which itself derived from Germany; but it was not normal for a princess and heir-apparent to find one for herself, without consulting her mother or the government.

They announced their engagement in September 1936 and married in January 1937. Beatrix was born in 1938 and Juliana could not end the run of female heirs to the throne - and vast private wealth - of Orange. Irene came in 1939, Margriet in 1943 and Maria-Christina in 1947. Then, in 1948, the mother of four became mother of the nation when Wilhelmina followed the Orange custom of abdicating. Her reign had lasted 50 years.

The inauguration of Juliana (the Dutch, as republicans manqués, do not have coronations) came at a difficult time for a nation still reeling from the worst disaster in its history. The German invasion of the neutral Netherlands in May 1940 was an unsurpassed national trauma. Most of the country was liberated only on the very last day of hostilities, May 8 1945.

She carried out all her constitutional tasks, such as presiding over the agonisingly slow formation of coalition governments, with discretion, fairness and aplomb. Despite all vicissitudes she retained the affection of most people in the only republic in the world headed by a constitutional monarch.


The stamp is one from 2014 and shows something typical Dutch: a bicycle.



 I'm joining the T-Party hosted by Elizabeth and Bleubeard and of course i need to bring a drink of sorts.

It is a bottle of Cava (can't call it champagne as it was produced in Spain). It was our 28th wedding anniversary on the 22nd of november.

We couldn't go anywhere, so I cooked something special (a chicken curry) and we celebrated in private.

Cheers! To the next 28 years!
These have been the happiest 28 years of my life and I couldn't have wished for a better husband.

An image of mature wedded bliss (chuckle chuckle).

Now the other day I was walking through the village and i saw something that reminded me of Iris:


It looked very much like Henry on that van!

Then later that evening I got a photo of one of our grandchildren:

It must have been taken at a garden center in or near Windsor, England. because that is where they live.

That is it from me today.
Wishing everyone a happy T-Day,
Take care and stay healthy.
Hugs,
Lisca





16 comments:

  1. Happy Anniversary to you both! It looks like you celebrated in style 😁. Loved hearing about the postcard too and those lions made me smile, perfect! Such a fun photo of your grandson too. Happy T Day wishes! Hugs, Jo x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy anniversary. I like your assortment of "Henry" photos. Happy T-Day!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I always enjoy your history lessons!
    Ohhh, you made me smile so big seeing you two happy lovebirds like that! Happy belated anniversary and yes, to the next 28!!

    And ohhhh, Henry blushes over here! 🦁 🧡
    And he waves hi to his siblings - with a warning to the second one - be gentle, he says!
    Happy T-day and hugs
    Iris

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy belated anniversary, Lisca. So glad you have stayed together so long. It's not unusual in Europe, but in the states, people are lucky to stay married more than seven years.

    LOVED the cute lions. I see Iris was happy and apparently, so was Henry.

    It was nice to learn about Queen Juliana and her family. Seems abdication was their way of carrying on. I always enjoy a good history lesson.

    Looks like, even though you were on lockdown, you were able to have a good anniversary celebration. So nice that you fixed a favorite meal and a great drink, too. Thanks for sharing your postcard, your lions, and your anniversary party that included Cava with us for T this Tuesday, dear Lisca.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nice postcard. I remember seeing Queen Juliana in the Hague during a visit there many, many years ago. Happy Anniversary to you and your husband, good that you enjoy each other's company. I like the last pic of the boy with his hand in the lion's mouth! Have a good week, happy T Day, hugs, Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a fascinating vignette of Dutch Royal history! And I love the bicycle stamp.

    be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happy anniversary enjoyed your post. Enjoyed reading the history and I loved seeing Henry, and the lion with your grandson how fun. and Happy Anniversary!! Happy T wishes Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy Anniversary! Cheers, and best wishes for many more joys together ahead :) Happy T Tuesday!

    ReplyDelete
  9. That is a wonderful postcard, and I loved reading about the Dutch royal family. I know there was a royal family but didn't know much else, so it was fascinating reading. And so many queens. That is very progressive! An Happy 28th anniversary. Marriage isn't easy so it is wonderful to have a good man. (I have one too!). Cava is a favorite of mine when it comes to sparkling wine. Nice choice to celebrate. I hope you have a wonderful T day. Hugs-Erika

    ReplyDelete
  10. Happy anniversary-and yes, cheers to many more!! We love having Spanish Cava on occasion.
    Love your postcard!! I always enjoy seeing real photos and the clothing styles of older times around the world.
    Happy T day!

    ReplyDelete
  11. First Happy Anniversary to you and your hubby and a wish for many more happy years. I enjoyed the history lesson and of course, the Henrys. The picture of your grand is a riot. He really knows how to have fun. Happy T Day

    ReplyDelete
  12. Happy Anniversary. You both look so happy. My, partner of 39 year, sleeps in a chair like yours. LOL I think it is a man thing. Lovely post card, and a wonderful photo from your family. Enjoy your day.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for the history lesson about the Netherlands, Lisca. Our elementary and high school history and geography lessons in the U.S. were sadly lacking in regards to the rest of the world. Our little brains could only hold so much - lol.

    Happy anniversary! We love Cava and can buy it here in Mexico! Here's to another 28!!

    I love the lion photos. I'm sure Iris will too.

    To respond to your surprise over us singing in church - Juan and I wear our masks when singing and we make sure to stand far away from anyone else and face away from them.

    Happy T-day! Hugs, Eileen

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy 28! Photo of hubby is just a normal life photo. :) Great photo of the grand with arm in the lion's mouth. LOL
    Happy T Day1

    ReplyDelete
  15. yes to that kind of wedded bliss!!! Congrats, pour me a glass of sparkly and pass me a bowl of curry as I celebrate with you!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Happy Anniversary! Curry and Cava looks like a great way to celebrate! I loved reading about the Netherland Royal family - as a girl I loved seeing pictures of the family as they seemed to go out and enjoy normal things unlike the British Royal family. Belated Happy T Day Chrisxx

    ReplyDelete