THE ROYAL VISIT

Guess who from the Herriot Museum?
Last weekend we took ourselves off to London having booked a tour of the State Chambers at Buckingham Palace. The Palace opens it's State Chambers,Royal Mews and Queen's Gallery to the public during July to September, and it is necessary to make an early booking because of the demand. Our time of entry was for10.45 so we got down to the station early enough to catch a train to get us there on time. Of course there was upgrading of the railway line so the train only went as far as Upminster, from where we joined the underground. There were 27 stops from here to Green Park - naturally we were very late!

But it was all worth while - as one would expect everything was opulence and perfect taste.Magnificent galleries of paintings by the worlds most famous. A collection of the Queen's gowns and jewels were on special display and it was interesting to see the different styles (and sizes) worn by Liz from 1954 until 2006!!

As well as this visit, we had also booked for "afternoon tea" at the Four Seasons Hotel. This was a freebee from the Loyalty Points Carol had accumulated while working for ITN in Ramsey. The Hotel was a bit hard to find even though it was theoretically on Park Lane near Hyde Park corner, but a longish walk only served to heighten the appetite. A lovely spread - cucumber sandwiches of course, scones and cream,french pastries all very quickly disposed of.

The we took a punt and went to Fenchurch Street station (where the Laindon service normally starts) but found the line was still closed, but we could divert to Pitsea and get a train back fom there. This took us along the Thames River and through almost continual container yards, power stations and dock facilities - but very interesting.

Golf hit the highlights this week. I went along to the Basildon Golf Club and met the secretary of the Seniors. All very complicated - the Course if owned by Basildon Council and is therefore a public course. At the coourse there is a private clubThe Basildon Golf Club" and within that club there are the Seniors. So I bought a Season ticket for Senior 5 day a week golf and made an application to join the club!!

Had a game on Wednesday and found the course a trifle challenging. Very hilly and lots of side sloping fairways but I managed to play just about to handicap and am looking forward to my first game with the seniors on Monday next week. When going around on Wednesday I noticed a number of teeing platforms (they had some at Ramsey for times that it was too wet to use the normal tee) and I made a comment about them to the bloke I waas playing with. He told me that the course can get very very wet! He then told me that you can buy a pair of wellingtons with golf spikes on them from the pro shop!!!! Talk about mad dogs and Englishmen.