HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR QUEEN

So today was the Queen's "Official" Birthday--the Trooping of the Colours. We made our way down to Buckingham Palace again. We ended up on St. James'Park side--thinking it would be good to see her coming out of the gate and then when she came back from the "Trooping" she'd make the circle on our side (You know---I saw them going out--I'll see them coming back in). NOT THE CASE.

We waited almost 5 hours to see her come and go and get no closer than a half a football field away. But, nevertheless we felt very much a part of the pomp and ceremony of the day. Met many Americans down there--even in a store close to the parade, I was buying a hat (see picture) to cover my bald head and I began talking to an older couple. Turns out they were from San Antonio and have a daughter that graduated with Diane ("its a small world after all--verse 2).

We moved out into the plaza after QE moved out to balcony to see the fly over. Just then as she looked up and we did too--RAIN. It had been threatening on and off all day--but we just stood there and laughed.

We made our way through Green Park to pick up one of the Big Bus of London tours. This is one of those buses that you ride around all over town and can get on and off. We rode around just looking at all of the people in the area for the day. We rode the bus to St Paul's Catherdral and quickly bee lined it to a Pasta place for lunch--we were starved. Finally into St. Pauls to see the beauty---a very beautiful structure and though I don't remember much of Charles and Diana's wedding--I saw a few things that looked familiar.

We got back on and rode around again--very tired. Tried to make it to Sherlock Holmes museum--but we were within in 15 minutes of closing. Will try to get to it on Monday morning before we head to airport.

Ok--so tomorrow is a big day. I don't know whether to break it to you or not....but Mike Mc Williams may be right--I might have to have a few more pages in my passport book. That's all I'll say for now. You can probably log on late tomorrow afternoon and I'll have a few pictures up there.

Cheerio