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Last week, I figured out how to watch the Coronation of King Charles III from my desk in the middle of the US. Tina started a new mystery series set in Britain with the first book, The Landscape of Death by M.S. Morris. Marg enjoyed Summer at Croftwood Cinemas by Victoria Walker, reinvigorating an interest in cinemas.

The coronation was a wonderfully celebratory day during the week leading up to my birthday today.

My favorite parts of the coronation:

• The anointing. I knew this happened behind a screen and its purpose, but since we’ve never had visual recording of it, I had a hard time picturing it. Now I can.
• Zadok the Priest. This piece by George Frederic Handel is a thrilling one at any time. I was impressed by the celebratory solemnity of hearing it in its traditional place in the coronation ceremony, while the monarch is anointed.
• Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new piece based on Psalm 103, Make a Joyful Noise.
• The pealing bells of Westminster Abbey. They led me to look up bellringing for the coronation, including this article about recruiting 38,000 ringers so that every bell in 6,000 churches in the UK would be rung on coronation day.
• Princess Anne, age 72. She served in the King’s personal bodyguard and, thus, wore a uniform with trousers. In that role, she rode horseback in the processional back to Buckingham Palace while other members of the royal family traveled in carriages.

Me and my buddy, the King.

For my second British-style celebration of the week, Dale and Shannon took us out for tea yesterday at the London Tea Room.

I got the traditional afternoon tea, even though it was morning. If we waited until afternoon, I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy an entire pot of The London Tea Room blend which tastes just like the tea we liked in England. My tea consisted of three tiers of food — sandwiches on the bottom, scones with cream and jam in the middle, and desserts on the top. My favorite sandwich was chicken curry on a tiny croissant. My favorite dessert was Earl Grey panna cotta.

Shannon was the best-dressed in our party — complete with fascinator.

What a wonderful way to celebrate my birthday!