Our Big Lunch

God Save the King! So echoed round the village halls, the pubs, the streets the day our Charlie Prince was crowned. Homes decked with bunting, cake, and treats. We celebrated with a rave, or knees-up, as my grandma said; with piped music via short-wave. At two pm, it went ahead. They closed the street the coppers did. Then out came tables, plates, and chairs lace runners, doilies, too, amid assorted china tablewares. The caravans and four-by-fours were parked elsewhere to clear the way, they even shut the local stores and closed the schools, hip hip, hooray! Outside of number seventeen, twixt the sausage rolls and jelly, rested a crocheted King and Queen removed from atop the telly. Not to be beat, at twenty-two, they placed a lifesize photo out; which overlooked the cheese fondue, soused herrings, and some sauerkraut. Betty and May sang old-time songs atop a shaky stage, arrayed with bunting; made from their spare thongs; while Ruth, the ukelele, played. The Aussies were there, well, on screen. Bobby, Kenny, and Aunt Maud too to toast the King and mourn the Queen with tea (and a tinny or two!) Simon and Peter went all out, made a spread called L G B tea; with brightly coloured cakes throughout. Open to all, as it should be! Douglas and Rex from forty-eight sat with Lil as she won her prize; for the most original plate, coronation jerk shrimp surprise. Prizes too for best-dressed table, front door, and garden gate, won by Teddy, Fred, and Aunty Mable; all well-deserved, we can't deny. Captain Brett (self -titled we think) gave a roaring one-gun salute sporting a coat of dazzling pink over his Royal Navy suit. Thalis, made by Shrimati Nath, were such a delicious hit they caused a queue up her garden path. (They paired well with Andre's Cabernet.) We kids, long past our sugar high, so full of cake, shrimp, nans, and stuff, were told to say a quick goodbye; we'd been awake quite long enough. As the sun set on our nation, Old Fionn Byrne began to sing, a joyful amalgamation;  Danny Boy and God Save the King!