Changing of the guard and a spot of shopping

Friday 30 May 2014

Blog post by the mother

Today was our last day with the cousins so it was tinged with a wee bit of sadness.  We have had lots of fun together and it has been great for the kids to catch up and to get to know the littlest cousin.  After the morning ritual of hotel room breakfast (thank goodness for paper plates and a nearby M&S) we did a bit of homework and then went out to watch the changing of the guard.  This is where our hotel location has been seriously great as we have the castle just across the road and the guards march right past the hotel every day. At 11am the new guard marches from their barracks up to Windsor Castle to relieve the previous days guard with lots of pomp and ceremony.

 I was particularly pleased with the next photo as it shows the guards with the Guildhall and the Crooked House tearoom (built in 1687) in the background. The Crooked House is crooked because it was built with unseasoned green oak.

 We waited for 15 minutes outside the castle to watch the departing guards march back to their barracks.

 Here they come around the statue of Queen Victoria.

Mr 11 was quite taken by the only black guard in the parade and thought he was very cool.

 Next stop was Peascod Street and a last chance to spend some pounds.  Miss 7 has been hankering after a tiara ever since she saw one in Harrods.  We managed to find a more reasonably priced one in Claire's and the cousins kindly purchased it for her as an early birthday present. She is absolutely delighted!

 We checked out Daniel's department store which has a toy department to rival Harrods.  Mr 11 had to have a photo with the Lego guardsman.

 A spot of lunch and a bit more shopping later and it was time to say farewell to the cousins as they had a three hour drive back up to Trentham.  It felt very quiet (well apart from our own 4 children obviously!) with them gone.  We managed to finish our shopping and whip in at the last minute to the post office to send the majority of it home.  On our way to have our last English dinner we bumped into Kate and the Queen making a quick call in the phone box.  How very convenient!





We have all loved our time in England.  Up early tomorrow and off on the Eurostar to Paris!