Sunday, February 05, 2006

In Which Queen Elizabeth Visits West Newton..

Today has been a most exciting morning. The Queen has been in residence at Sandringham for the past week or so, and today she came to the church in West Newton to give prizes. The children in David's school were invited to come to the service and to be presented to her afterward. I thought they would line up along her path like the other royal watchers, but she met them in a group.



Here are some pictures of the event. First, me waiting for Her Majesty and his Davidness to exit the church. I had a good time talking with some other royal watchers, and knitting to keep my hands warm.
















When the Queen and Prince Philip came out, they stopped with Reverend Riviere to speak with some little ones who had brought flowers.

















David, some his classmates, and Head Teacher Mrs. Brand waited in a group for the Queen. (Some other classmates are also in the Sunday school at the church, and they met the Queen separately.)
















When the Queen arrived, my view was obstructed by two ladies-in-waiting who took flowers from the Queen, and by the constable who took the flowers from THEM. Boy, were her hands full... You can see the Queen's back (red) and David right beside her in blue shirt and open orange coat. Good view of Prince Philip off to the left. He has his hands in his pockets instead of doing the arms behind the back thing that they usually do!

















This guy cracked me up - I asked him if the Queen had stopped to pat the dog, and he said, "Not THIS morning..."

A Day Out in Cambridge

Well, events conspired to send us to Cambridge for the day a couple of weekends ago. It's a beautiful city, with a great pedestrian shopping district a mere stone's throw from the historic colleges and chapels of Cambridge University. The day was sunny and warm, and we checked out the market square (best market I have seen in England so far, both for food and for "stuff").

After lunch, we ambled around to see King's College and walk over to the River Cam...NOT stepping on the grassy plazas as that is a great no-no.

















Here is a view of King's College Chapel, with a teeny Susie and kids in front...





















Clarke and David in the January sunshine...note the forsythia already in bloom!

















Here's another of the colleges - St. John's, maybe? I've already forgotten (blush..)





















Flat Stanley (visiting from Katarina in Virginia) was impressed by the historic buildings, but he liked the veggie stalls at the market better...

Barcelona

Well, Le Blog is a bit behind, but on 14 January, I took a daytrip to Barcelona, Spain, with the spouses' group from David's squadron. Gorgeous day, great food, neat shopping, street performers, and some amazing architecture...I brought Flat Stanley along for the ride, but no kids, thanks to Clarke The Greatest Babysitter Known to Man. She rocks. So does Barcelona!