Royal Ascot

We awoke to a glorious day, rain had been predicted but out in the back garden a different story was unfolding.

We had breakfast with the other guests, an English couple and a Dutch couple travelling together, they too were off to Ascot today.

We thought we'd do the sneaky thing and follow them in the car, however our attempt was thwarted when they turned into a petrol station! Bugger! oh well, we'll have to find our own way, and after a few goes round the maze of country roads we lucked upon the right one and found our way into car park 8 in the middle of the race course, on 'The Heath' as they refer to it. Apparently Queen Anne found the Heath whilst riding one day from Windsor Castle, and thought it would be an ideal place for peasants to lose their money for the next 250 years!

Car park picnics were being set up, some VERY elaborate. You know, 2 or three top of the range, Range Rovers with fete type marquees, trestle tables with damask tablecloths, fine china and stem wear, or Rolls Royces reversed together with their enormous boots overflowing with all sorts of goodies.......in the car park! Regardless of your type of picnic, every table was adorned with vases of flowers. The women, sitting in their fold up chairs, sipping champagne with their hair in curlers. Quite the sight! The money there was very very old.....

We started the long walk to the grandstand, this place is enormous. They expected a crowd of 100,000 today, and that was if it rained. The sun was out and it was 25 degrees- beautiful! So we crossed onto the hallowed track and then made ourselves at home....

 

The Royal procession dutifully waited for us to cross, acknowledging our presence with a wave. Then the Queen, Prince Charles, Phil the Duke, Camilla the Horse, Humpty Dumpty and all the Kings men made their way to their seats. We would have had a beer with them, but we were lunching with Queen Anne and had some punting to do.....

 

The carriages after dropping Queenie off

 

Some of the young girls with their hats

Lunch in the 'Queen Ann Restaurent' was very flash. Waiters and waitresses were beside themselves at the thought of waiting upon us. The fact that Lord Someoneflash was sitting at the next table may have helped?

As for the punting, we have something in common with the Queen. She didn't have a win and nor did we! We did get close......apparently doesn't count for much over here either!

By the way, our admission allowed us 'Grandstand Admission'. 98% of staff didn't know that existed. You see, the worlds biggest grand stand only allows for top hat and tails....and about twenty blokes ONLY in suits as 'Grandstand Admission'. We were making up the very much minority of the stand. But we rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous and I'm sure they walked away bemused.....

Without doubt, the highlight of the day was the very last thing. After the last race, seemingly the entire 100,000 mingle around the bandstand. The Royal Military band strikes up the English favourite songs such as 'We'll meet again', 'Jerusalem', 'Rule Brittania', 'Hey Jude', ' I'm forever blowing bubbles' and the classic 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. To hear the Poms sing these, over and over, was fantastic. But the top hats mixed happily with the plebs and vice versa. Just shows, no matter what class, after a day at the races, everyone gets just as smashed...Sensational!

Homeward to Tinkers Furze. A couple of beers and wines from the 'off licence' (bottle shop) on the way. Australia goes down to the Dutch in the soccer (oops, football) and we crashed. What a great day!

Stay tuned, more coming on the last couple of days,

 

Cathngreg

 

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