The Ceremony of the Keys

No photos allowed- so this one is from Google

No one does ceremony and tradition like the British. Every night, for over 700 years, the guards at the Tower of London have held a special ceremony to ensure the safekeeping of the Tower, its residents, and, of coarse, the Crown Jewels.  A small number of people are allowed to witness the ceremony and we were lucky enough to have tickets for last weekend! 

At 9:30 we were escorted inside.  Of course, it started to rain.  We were drenched, but it did add to the spooky atmosphere of the Tower at night. The Yeoman Warder (commonly called a Beefeater) explained the specifics of the Ceremony and reminded us to be perfectly silent throughout.  He escorted the children to the front for a better view, and then it began.  There was marching, a lantern, the slamming of the huge doors, the jingling of giant keys.  And then the highlight:  An armed guard shouting, "Halt!  Who comes here?"

It was pretty exciting.  I was amazed that this exact ceremony is held every night, and has been for so many centuries.  It is the oldest surviving military ceremony in the world.  As an American, it's hard to even comprehend a tradition that dates back so many years. 

After the gates were locked I noticed my five year old looking a bit scared.  He was wondering how we were getting out.  Thankfully, the guests are allowed to exit through the Lion Door (which is an ancient "doggie door" used when lions used to stay at the Tower).

It was such a fun night- made even better because we were able to share it with our dear Australian friends who were on holiday in London.

Tickets to the Ceremony of the Keys are free, but must be requested in writing well in advance.  For more information click here.

This was one of the more unique experiences I've had in London and something we will all remember for a long time to come. 

Have you been to the Ceremony of the Keys?

What other unique things have you seen or done in London?  

 

Wimbledon on a Whim

Attending the Tennis Championships at Wimbledon has been on my London wish list.  I applied for tickets through the public ballot months ago, but was not awarded the opportunity to purchase any.  I wasn't prepared to spend a small fortune buying Debenture tickets and I had no interest in camping overnight in a park to get tickets through The Queue.

So I had pretty much abandoned any hope of seeing the tennis this year.  And then I read Laura's post about the Wimbledon Queue.   And my hope was renewed.

In a matter of hours I booked a babysitter and hatched a plan. 

Yesterday we put the plan into action.  We traveled by train to Wimbledon station and then boarded the special shuttle bus that goes directly to the tennis club.  (From the shuttle bus drop off, it is a loooong walk to The Queue.  If I were to do it again, I would just get a taxi from the station directly to The Queue).  I was prepared, and a bit excited, to take my place in the infamous Wimbledon Queue, but as luck would have it, there was absolutely no line!  They still handed out queue cards and stickers so I guess I technically queued at Wimbledon.

We passed through security and right up to the turnstiles.  Tickets after 17:00 were only £12 each!  Once inside, we headed for the resale ticket kiosk. 

As spectators leave for the day, they hand in their tickets which are then resold to latecomers (like us) and the proceeds are donated to charity.

The queue here was quite long, the the kiosk didn't even appear to be open.  No one seemed to know who would be playing next or on which court.  About 30 minutes later, as I approached the ticket window, we finally confirmed that Venus and Serena had just started their match.  So we bought £5 tickets and dashed off to Court 2.

We were thrilled to find ourselves in the second row just a few yards from the action.  I was afraid the noise of my shutter clicking would disturb the players-  that's how close we were!

At one point we had a brief rain delay which is all just part of the Wimbledon experience.

As you can see, there were many empty seats.  I think most people (including Wills and Kate) were watching the Centre Court match between Murray and Ferrer. 

Many spectators watch the Centre Court match on TV from the grass

After the match we checked out the famous strawberries and cream, had a Pimms, and hit the gift shop (the only place at Wimbledon that accepts credit/debit cards).

It was such a fun evening.  I'm so glad we had a chance to experience this English tradition!

The Story of a Hat, a Queen, and a Horse Named Black Caviar

The Crowds at Royal Ascot

It's been the talk of the town for months.  Royal Ascot 2012.  An exciting week of horse racing attended by dapper gentlemen, ladies in outrageous hats, and by The Queen herself.

The Queen's viewing area- filled with her personal artwork and furniture.  She even brings her own caterers!

Racing has been held at Ascot for over 300 years.  It is steeped in tradition and quite an experience.
We applied for tickets to the Royal Enclosure through the US Embassy.  This is basically a VIP section with a variety of restaurants, bars, seating and viewing areas.  It also has the most formal dress code.

So that meant morning suits and top hats for the gentlemen, and formal dresses with hats for the ladies. 

I'd heard all about the "hat lady", Margaret Partington, who has been hiring hats for over 25 years.  She has over 2500 different hats in her little shop which is housed in a charming tudor building that used to be a butcher shop in the 16th century.  She chose the most beautiful hats for my sister and me!

When the big day finally arrived, the weather was typically English.  Which is to say, cold, scattered showers and extremely windy!

Oh the poor ladies caught trying to hold onto their hats while their skirts blew around (think Marilyn Monroe) darting inside to avoid the sudden rain.  Sure made me glad I wasn't wearing a full skirt!

Each day, the Queen and Prince Phillip arrive at Royal Ascot in a horse drawn Landau carriage.  What fun to see them arrive while the band played "God Save The Queen."

Because of the chilly weather, I spent most of the day inside, sipping champagne and people watching with my sister.  But I did brave the cold to watch Aussie favourite Black Caviar extend her winning streak in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.  It was such an exciting race!  And the Queen just beamed as she presented the cup to the winning trainer.

 My view of Black Caviar crossing the finish line.  (above)

The Queen in the Parade Ring to present the Jubilee Stakes Cup. (below)

I just love the way she stands out in the crowd!

It was a fantastic day!  As we walked back to the car with sore feet (on the ladies) and sore heads (on the men-those top hats are uncomfortable!), we all felt as though we had experienced something so uniquely English.  And I loved everything about it.

Day Out: London

We have visitors!  Two of my favorite people have arrived- my sister and brother in law.  I'm determined to show them a good time while they are here.  And that's just what I did today.

We headed into London bright and early to catch the procession for The Colonel's Review.   This is a dress rehearsal for the Trooping of the Colour ceremony which will take place next weekend to celebrate the Queen's birthday.  If there's one thing the British do well it is ceremony and pageantry.  What a thrill to see the band playing and the soldiers marching.  And, oh my, the horses!  So beautiful and regal looking with their fancy tack.

From there we headed over to Oxford Street & Regent Street to do a little shopping.  London looks so pretty, still wearing all her Jubilee decorations.

The Queen in Legos in the Hamley's window

After popping into Harrod's (it's a must-see for tourists) we decided to take advantage of the unusually sunny weather and go for a ride on the London Eye.  The views were gorgeous and we all enjoyed the slow tour through the sky.

And it wouldn't be a day in London without spotting something a bit out of the ordinary.  So I really should not have been so surprised when over 1000 nude bicycle riders zoomed past us near County Hall.  It seems we stumbled upon the path of the London Naked Bike Ride.  I think my nine year old daughter may be scarred for life!

Never a dull moment! I hope you had an exciting Saturday, too.

The Diamond Jubilee

All of Great Britain is abuzz with preparations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration which takes place this weekend, June 2-5, 2012. 

Source

Union Jack bunting is strung through all the villages, street parties have been organized, and flags are flying high.

Windsor all decked out in bunting

I am absolutely in love with the Jubilee teapot I bought for myself to commemorate the occasion.

Americans who want to get into the Jubilee spirit can shop here for their own souvenirs.

(My personal favorite is the solar waving Queen)

There will be concerts and pageants royal appearances.  It seems that half the country's population will be in London for the festivities, and the other half are using the extra public holiday for a long weekend getaway.

Can you guess which half I'll be in?

Oh Happy Day

When you were a kid did you ever carefully cut the "Proof of Purchase" off cereal boxes, save them up for months and months and then send them off with the promise of redeeming them for some sort of amazing toy?  You'd wait weeks and weeks, checking the mailbox to see if your long awaited prize had arrived. 

Well, for me, that day is here- for two reasons!

First,  I am setting off on a much anticipated ladies-only trip to Provence.  I can't wait to soak up some sun in the south of France and I'm looking forward to telling you all about it when I get back next week.

Photo Credit

And secondly, it's my SITS day!  Hooray!

Months ago I joined this useful site and today is finally my day as the SITS Girls featured blogger.  If you're visiting from The SITS girls, welcome!  I'm so glad you've stopped by to take a look around.  I hope you'll pour yourself a cuppa and and stay for a bit.

I blog mostly about my experience as an American Expat living near London.  Before moving here I was lucky enough to be an expat in Australia.  You can read all about that adventure here.

Sometimes I find myself befuddled by the cultural differences I've experienced.  Like when no one eats birthday cake at the party or when people queue up for hours to have their cars washed (in the rain!),  or, wondering why I need to serve tea to the plumber.

We are on a mission to travel as much as possible while living here, and I write about dragging my kids around Europe, one playground at a time.  You can have a look at some of our trips over in the sidebar.

Thanks again for stopping by.  I love reading your comments and look forward to getting to know you better by visiting your blogs, too.  What a happy day!

Three Years

That's how long we've been expats.  Today is our Expativersary.  (I believe my friend Laura coined that term).   Three years ago today we landed in Australia and started our life abroad.

Arrival in Sydney- 2 kids, 9 suitcases

Exploring Balmoral Beach for the first time.

Since then, we've made new friends, and kept the old.

We've visited 9 countries on three continents.  Always with our kids.

We've grown exceptionally close as a family.  We welcomed a new baby.

We've started new schools and new jobs and handled the transitions remarkably well.

One of us became an expert at assembling IKEA furniture. 

I still complain about the ridiculous 4-wheel-drive shopping trolleys that are impossible to steer. (Haven't any of these grocery store execs been to America and seen the beauty of our 2-wheel-drive carts?). 

We regularly use words like "rubbish" and "brilliant" and I can't help but smile when my 5 year old asks to climb into the car "through the boot."

I can drive on the left, think in kilometres, and know that 21 degrees feels just right.

We're experts at using public transportation, navigating ferries, buses, trains and the tube with familiarity and ease.

We've cuddled koalas and fed kangaroos.  Snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef and seen the rugged coastline of Tasmania.  We've visited Europe's castles and cathedrals and museums and monuments.

We've learned about history, and architecture, and art.  And along the way I've learned something about myself too.  I'm more adventurous than I thought I was three years ago.  I'm more confident.  I'm willing to try new things and put myself in new situations.  This is one of the beautiful gifts that comes with being an expat.

Exploring Hampton Court Palace on one of our first UK Adventures

I don't know how long this adventure will last, but I don't worry about the future any more.  I live in the present, enjoying today and appreciating all the opportunities we have here.    It's been the most amazing, challenging and rewarding three years of my life.  And I can't wait to see what comes next.

Surviving the 100 Days of Darkness

London is 51 degrees, 32 minutes north of the equator.  That's pretty far north, my friends.  And that means that our daylight hours are very short in the winter.  When we first arrived I was warned about the "100 Days of Darkness" that were to come.  And, I must admit, it's quite a change from sunny southern California and sparkling bright Sydney, Australia.

Bike riding on a sunny morning.

In these, the darkest days of winter, the sun rises around 8 am and sets about 4 pm.  This means that it is dark when my kids leave for school in the morning, and dark when they return home in the afternoon.

Virginia Water Lake

Roman ruins at Virginia Water Lake

All this darkness can have a some negative effects.

It is estimated that around 25% of the people in the UK suffer from some form of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)- ranging from mild "winter blues" to severely debilitating depression.

Jack enjoying the sunshine (and the bitterly cold weather)

And while I don't think anyone in our household falls into those categories, I have certainly noticed an increase in our slothfulness.  Everyone wants to stay home in pyjamas/pajamas, read books, watch movies and eat popcorn.

And if we're lucky enough to get a few hours of sunshine we force ourselves out of the house to enjoy it.

Swan enjoying the sunshine on Virginia Water Lake

All photos taken on the morning of January 2, 2012 during a brief burst of sunshine and blue skies.  Just a couple hours later it was pouring rain and dark again!

Time for the Panto

Take a well loved fairy tale, add in some funky song and dance numbers, some television personalities, and a "dame" in drag and what have you got?  A classic form of British family entertainment:  The Panto!

Months ago fellow expats raved about the Panto so I snapped up tickets to Sleeping Beauty at the Theatre Royal in Windsor as soon as they went on sale.

The Panto has been a Christmas time tradition in England since the middle ages and it's still hugely popular today.  Pantos are everywhere this time of year- from small community playhouses to West End theatres.  All pantos share some basic elements:

The Plot:  Pantos are based on a well known fairy tale or folk tale.  Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Aladdin, are all popular pantos.  As I mentioned, we saw Sleeping Beauty.

The Principal Characters:  The cast is made up of a principal girl, a principal boy (often played by a girl), the dame (played by a man in drag),  some "goodies" and some evil "baddies", and an animal (either real or costumed actors).  Our cast featured some pop icons from the 1960s, a former Bond Girl as the evil fairy, the third place runner up from the UK television show "Dancing on Ice", a semi-finalist from Britain's got Talent, and a chiwawa in a tutu.  There was even an appearance by the cartoon character Noddy.  As you can see, we're talking big name talent here.

Audience Participation:  Although it seems to me to be very un-British, the audience is encouraged to cheer, boo, hiss, yell, and interact with the performers.  The actors even talk directly to the audience and encourage them to participate.  It is all great fun.  We even had the chance to throw foam snowballs at the actors and catch some sweeties they threw at us.

The Action :  The panto is full of slapstick comedy, wild song and dance mash-ups, witty, relevant comments, and crazy costume changes.  My favorite bit was the dance number that was part Beyonce, part Lady gaga, and part ABBA.  Hilarious!  The lively rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas (with such endearing gifts as watering cans, wellies, and a "bra that could only hold 3") also had us all laughing out loud.  Some of the jokes were obviously aimed at the grown ups in the audience, but there was plenty of goofy kid stuff to keep our 5 and 8 year olds completely enthralled.

You know it was a good show when everyone is buzzing about it as they exit the theatre.  My sweet daughter giggled as she looked in the program and discovered that the Nurse (dame) was actually played by a "man in a frock."  We all laughed as we recalled our favourite scenes and characters.  It really was a fabulous fun day out for the whole family and the best British tradition we've experienced so far.  (Which is to say I liked it more than mince pies).

Happy New Year!