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
Quirky Books 