Hi everyone
What a busy week it’s been. I have been to London and saw Matilda the musical, also the film “Now you see me”. I visited Battersea Park Zoo and Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire.
After packing a suitcase full of what I may need, I forgot to pack my toothpaste. Luckily I got 2 for £5 from a shop at the train station. There were delays on the tubes during my first and last day there. When I arrived at where I thought the hotel should be, it was a Tandoori restaurant and on the last day I left my handbag on the Paradise Wildlife Park bus, with my tube and train tickets in it, the keys to my flat and my debit cards and my money in it. Luckily, there was a guy who got off the bus who worked at the park and kindly missed his train to phone the park and get the driver to come back with it. I did have my phone on me as I had been taking lots of photos of the animals but it was gone 5pm and I would have been stuck at Broxbourne train station had Neil, the bus driver, not come back with my handbag.
The absolute highlight of my trip to London was going to St James’s Palace for the Community Service Volunteers (CSV) 50th Anniversary celebration and speaking to Her Majesty the Queen.
Her Majesty was wearing a pretty blue floral dress, she was carrying a black handbag that matched her black patent shoes. She looked even more beautiful in real life than on the TV, with not a hair out of place.
When I spoke to her I said, “I am a Health Buddy for CSV in association with BBC Radio Devon in Plymouth but I live in Exeter. I recently received a Good Citizen award for saving someone’s life.”
Her Majesty responded, “that’s good.”
I was able to quickly ask her how her husband is and she said that he is doing well and in Norfolk at the moment.
There was an official photographer in the Palace as we were not allowed to take any photos. Every guest had to hand their phone in before going up the Palace stairs.
I did manage to take some photos outside of St James’s Palace and of the entrance to the Palace. I also took a few photos just inside. Although these have come out blurry as a police officer was watching me.
Walking towards the Palace.
The photo above is on the opposite side of the road to the St James’s Palace Marlborough Road entrance, where we had to queue.
I quickly snapped this photo just before my phone had to be handed in.
Apologies for the blur but security was tight and these were taken just inside the downstairs part of the Palace. You should still be able to make out the gorgeous decor.
After I got my phone back I quickly took a photo on my way out of St James’s Palace. Police officers were watching me and although the photo is a bit blurred, you can see the CSV sign for the celebration to the left.
Upon my exit of St James’s Palace I was able to take a couple of photos looking into the entrance from afar.
St James’s Palace was beautiful inside, with themed rooms. On my way upstairs to the first room, there was a person playing a harp. The first room was a sword, pistol and gun room. They were displayed in swirls on the wall.
Second room was a tapestry room. Some of the pictures on the tapestries reminded me of the Roman baths as they looked like they were from that era, although history was never my strong point at school. (I was okay at the history of medicine, that thankfully was part of my GCSE exam.) There appeared to be some cherubs in the tapestries too.
The third room was where I met and spoke to HM the Queen. It was the Queen Anne room with crystal chandeliers and gold paint. There were satin curtains and seating throughout the Palace.
Two other rooms I remember, were the picture gallery room, full of paintings, some of them appeared to be Her Majesty’s ancestors and the final room, was a throne room, with a real throne. It was magnificent.
To summarise, St James’s Palace was just like a Palace looks in a fairytale but it was and is, very real. So for anyone who doesn’t believe in fairytales, I want to tell you, that they can come true. Never give up hope of fulfilling your dreams. You are only as big, as you dare your dreams to be.
To those who have met me and sometimes think I live in a fairytale world, I do and I am proud of it.
I am very happy to have had the opportunity to visit St James’s Palace and get to meet and speak to Her Majesty the Queen. I totally believe that anything is possible and there are no limits other than the ones we set ourselves. The world is our oyster, so why set limits but believe in the power of the possible.
Until next time
Write soon
Sandra
HI, Sorry i never got to meet you, let me introduce myself my name is Dee Hoy, invited to the Celebration which without a doubt will leave a feeling of appreciation for many years to come, although i was not lucky enough to speak to her majesty, and the camera never fell my way!
However 3 yrs ago i started RSVP Twigs Garden Club in Dorset, check out Twigs blog relaxwithtwigs.blogspot.com not as profesional as your’s i feel.
I have a passion to take this project countrywide. Wether i shall acheive this goal is another matter,
regards
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Hi Dee
Great to hear from you.
I copied and pasted the name into my browser and it says it doesn’t exist? Could you please send me hyperlink already linked to it so I can take a look.
Thanks.
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What a wonderful experience you had, not counting the delays and the handbag mishap. We are used to delays and we keep our handbags always close to us, so it is safe and we cannot lose them. London teaches us. It must have been fantstic to see the Queen real , not on TV and seeing that she looks still wonderful. This will be a memory you will never forget! Thanks for telling us and describing all!
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Thanks Ute. I had two bags with me that day. My large canvas bag for my documentation and food and my handbag that I kept around my shoulder and neck all of the time, except when I took it off and put it by my side on the bus. I was deep in conversation with the guy on the bus who worked at the park about what he was studying at uni whilst working part-time at the park. He is at a uni that I was interested in going to years ago and it’s location is where I was born, which is Nottingham. I got distracted and took the bag off from around my neck which I don’t usually do, even on the bus I normally keep an arm through the strap at the very least. Never mind. It happened.
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Things happen, specially when you are not concentrating. At least you go tit back and you had a nice conversation. Not so bad after all 🙂
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Yes, I agree. I was really pleased that I got it back and blessed to have such kind people helping me to get it back.
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London isn’t so bad after all, there are lovely people here. When I took Alastair round (another blogger) we only met helpful friendly people. I love my London!
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I follow Alastair and you. I saw the photo of you both in London together. It looked like you had a great time and was a lovely photo. I love London, to me it’s a second home. I am back there again for the Success Seminar on 28th of Sept, at Excel. I will be staying for two nights and three days. I booked my train travel last night and my ticket to the show. I have yet to book the accommodation.
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Sandra, London is my home and I love it. If you like you could stay with me for the two nights, it is in Leyton/East london, but not so far to the Excel, I only noticed that the other day. I have got a sleep sofa in the frontroom, if that is enough. I am not a Hilton but it is a bed and warmth. You are very welcome to stay. If you like more information, please email me!
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Hi Ute, that is incredibly sweet of you. I will have a think about that. Are you near a tube station?
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I am between Leyton and Walthamstow Station. Stratford i the next town.
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Hi Ute, I have looked on the tube map and can see you are not too far from Excel. I have been considering your very kind offer and I would love to meet you but I am going to be out late in the evenings and because I have Fibromyalgia, I have certain needs that can take a bit of getting use to. So on this occasion, I think it’s best if I decline, even though I am absolutely thrilled that you have invited me. I am hopefully going to see Charlie and The Chocolate Factory on Fri 27th of Sept and the Success Seminar is on the 28th and Sun I will most likely be going on a day trip, to the zoo or aquarium. I don’t know if you wanted to meet up for a meal or a drink before I go to the theatre on Fri 27th Sept? I can email you my mobile num.
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No worries Sandra, I say we could always meet up for a drink, before the theatre on the friday, it would be lovely to meet you! I am penciling it in my diary and you can email me your mobile number so we can make up a time nearer to the day. Would be great! 🙂
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That would be Friday 27th of Sept. What is your email address? I couldn’t spot it on your site.
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ute@lark.me.uk great!
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Hi Sandra, I’ve been offline for a couple of weeks to manage some family issues. It’s so nice to catch up and read about your wonderful day! What an inspiration – it is a great reminder to me that anything is possible.
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Thanks Carolyn. I hope your family issues have been resolved satisfactory. If your inbox is anything like mine, you will probably need another couple of weeks to catch up. I currently have 370 emails to sift through.
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How exciting! Her Majesty is one lady I would love to meet.
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She looked beautiful. Slightly shorter than you would expect but a real pleasure to speak to.
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Reblogged this on Ekweozor Mishael and commented:
“The world is our oyster, so why set limits but believe in the power of the possible.”
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San, Your story is one that enthralls readers from beginning to end. You certainly have carried us along with you on this remarkable journey of yours. Look! That was terrific. It certainly must have warmed your heart and particularly interesting to speak with the Queen. Bravo!
Oops, the earlier setbacks you had? Sorry about those! (Full disclosure: I Just winked.). And, I strongly concur to your parting words, “The world is our oyster, so why set limits but believe in the power of the possible.”
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Thanks so much for your kind and thoughtful comments. I am glad you could get a good understanding of what happened. I tried to write it in my own easy to follow style. The security was high at the entrance to the Palace and I could have decided not to publish the blurred photos but I thought it best to get across that I was trying to take them without anyone noticing. I couldn’t have held the camera steady otherwise I may have had my phone permanently removed from me. They were taken before and after my camera was held in storage.
I now try to call all would be obstacles, challenges and smile to myself, here we go again. Lets see how I can overcome this one. The fact of the matter is, everything happens for a reason and I left my newly bought toothpaste behind by accident, to be able to get a great deal on 2 for £5 in London. I just didn’t know it at the time. In Exeter I paid nearly £4 for just the 1.
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Congratulations -:)!
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Thank you so much Daniela. Thanks for Liking quirkybooks on my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/quirkybooksnet – I really appreciate it.
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Excellent. You were lucky with Neil
Glad it was a good time
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With Neil the bus driver, I was in luck. It was also lucky that another guy who worked at the park phoned reception to get a message to him and missed his train.
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Everything happens for a reason. Not necessarily for us. The reason he missed his train, was to help you.
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I totally agree that everything happens for a reason. But he didn’t miss his train and then help me. He was on the same bus from the park and we were chatting on the bus and when we got off, he put his ticket through the barrier and when I went to get mine, I realised I hadn’t got it and I called him back asking for his help.
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I see. Well, good of him to help
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Sandra,
Congrats, how wonderful… and thanks for having vicariously taken us there with you… the best as ever!
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Thanks so much. I did my best in getting as many photos as I could.
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And thanks so much to you…
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Bless you. Thanks for stopping by.
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