Author: boomingbanter

Sunday was the Bro’s day to choose what to do so stop reading now if you are faint hearted this is not a cuddle teddy story.

Being a fan of murder most foul the deal was a day spent on the trail of Jack the Ripper the most notorious of serial killers. Ma is not immune to a little true crime herself so she was all for it. Let’s go gory!

They headed to the Tower of London where they met Sam a Jack historian.

He took them on a walking tour of Whitechapel and all the sites of the slayings.

They walked the cobblestones and touched the remains of the Roman wall and saw the sites that the unfortunate victims frequented for their “mothers ruin”.

It must have been a lousy life they lived and their deaths were certainly horrific.

Sam speculates that the murders were all connected and that the secret service was involved in covering up the culprit.

They ended up at the Ripper Museum where many more theories were offered up on the identity of the vilain.

Who knows who did the dreadful deeds but the investigating vacationers sure got plenty of steps in!!!!

Blessing#1696-Sleuthing

Even though they got up at 5:45 and were at Green Park before 8:00 all viewing points along the Mall and at Hyde Park were closed.

There was still remote hope at Trafalgar Square so Ma took off at her fastest pace for that point but the bro decided it was a lost cause. So they split to meet later at the hotel.

The Bro was right!!!!

By the time Ma got to Trafalgar the viewing points were also closed so she retuned with tens of thousands of others to the big screen viewing site at Hyde Park.

Even with the rain that soaked to the skin everyone enjoyed the experience very much. Lots of cheering and singing and people generally in good spirits from all over the world including a lovely lady from Cameroon called Blandina who lives in London and shared her brolly with Ma.

Both the Bro and Ma got to see the entire ceremony and even got a sense of the live processions seeing some of the guards and horses on their return to barracks.

It was certainly an unforgettable day clearly the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales are very much loved

Blessing-#1695-Being There

The bro was in charge of yesterday’s plans so the Ma and he went all around London to visit the premier league soccer clubs.

They did the big tour in alphabetical order just for fun so they started at Arsenal.

Next they went to Chelsea and from there walked to Fulham along the Thames.

Finally they hit Tottenham Hotspur that involved quite a circus of tube and bus and walking but they made it.

Tottenham had the best shop but the three new stadiums were all amazing. Fulham was cool because it is the oldest club in the league and has all the old gates.

Each area was quite different it was almost like doing a world tour.

After all the steps they rewarded themselves with much need retail therapy in Oxford Street and a fuel stop at Saint James Tavern at Piccadilly Circus!

Blessing#1695-Footie Fans

Yesterday Ma and the Brother took themselves to Windsor to pay their respects to the dear departed Queen. Ma shed a tear!

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. It is truly majestic dominating the small town and can be seen for miles. Ma took this pic for us from the train they took to get there.

It houses some of the most magnificent art within the royal collection and most of the Kings and Queens of England are laid to rest here.

Alas you cannot take pics inside but it’s amazing when you stand in front of those famous faces and see the real thing.

They took these pics for us of all the famous sites including those steps at Saint Georges chapel

Here’s the great thing though you can attend the evening service at the Chapel at 5:00 pm so Ma and the Bro did that.

They got there early as Ma had sore feet so you will never guess what! Make your daily drum roll………

They got to sit in the seats where the Royals sit at weddings and funerals!!!! Right up front at the altar and we’re able to take photos of this.

The singing and the service were amazing truly a memorable occasion.

What better than to site where the Knights of the Garter sit and saying a little prayer for the King himself.

Blessing#1694-Evensong

Well as the world waits for the big day on Saturday Ma tells me that she and the bro went to speck out the route for the coronation procession.

While attempting to reach the gates of Buckingham Palace along with hundreds of other tourists they were stopped by a police barrier. Please wait here for just a moment the lovely polite police people said.

So they waited and within a few seconds the palace gate was opened, then came an outrider ………….

and then as if by magic THE KING in his big maroon car arrived.

Ma just snapped and snapped and couldn’t believe she got such a good pic. People were asking her to airdrop it to them.

It was like something from a dream.

Ma must have been looking so happy that while walking away she was approached by a journalist from France Inter. Madam can I ask you some questions? Well you know Ma ask her about the Royal Family and she right in there. You just can’t stop her!!!

Once released from her new found fame as chief correspondent the bro and Madame du Monde made their way to Westminster Abbey.

Down the Mall they went, past horse-guards and nipping through birdcage walk reached Big Ben before it struck one!

Next up they decided to see if they could get into parliament. No problem just wait here.

Where was here? Well dear reader it was the nine hundred year old Westminster Hall itself the very place where Anne Boleyn was tried for treason and where the late dear departed Queen Elizabeth had been laid in state.

Maybe people don’t know that you can get into Parliament because there wasn’t a long wait. There is however a very steep climb up the the chambers themselves

The House of Commons was debating a new security bill and The House of Lords a proposal about of all about all things Parish Councils.

The Abbey was closed to visitors but there was a lot of activity outside including a man touching up the gold leaf on the railings!!!

It was all a bit surreal and the day didn’t end there but we’ll save the rest of the pics for another time so you don’t fall asleep!!

Suffice to say some steps were taken!!!

Blessing#1693-Tales of the Unexpected

Ma sent this postcard from the edge. The edge of sanity she says.

If the goal was to create a royal record Delta and Virgin airlines sure made medal worthy contributions.

After two hours sleep at a hotel Delta paid for thirty minutes from the airport on Long Island the bro and Ma set off at 5:00 am for their Virgin flight to Heathrow London.

They go to check in. Virgin can’t check them in because Delta need to issue the boarding pass. They line up for half an hour at Delta who says Virgin is wrong and literally March with Ma and the bro back to Virgin. Virgin supervisor called, fiddles something and prints the pass.

They go through security to the gate. The bro goes and gets them breakfast with the meal vouchers Delta provided.

They sit and watch as panic ensues as all the people joining the flight from Delta to Virgin are being sent running back and fro between the Virgin gate and the Delta desk on boarding card incompatibility. They thank their lucky stars that lady from Delta took charge of their case at Virgin and didn’t issue their passes.

Make a drum roll now with anything available to you because what happened next almost resulted in a riot. Delta issues texts and emails to all passengers on Virgin saying “We are sorry your flight to London is now cancelled”

People were gasping and almost fainting in horror. Virgin staff were acting like nurses. Don’t worry don’t worry it’s not true they said. On and on the panic went right up until boarding thirty minutes later.

Finally they got onboard. They took off and seven hours later after a very uninspiring experience were in London at the glorious Holiday Inn Heathrow where Ma issued a very profound statement.

“You know what Aaron if everything had gone smoothly we wouldn’t have nearly as much adventures to share with your kids because this was truly a memory making mess up”

Blessing#1692-Unforgettable

So the bro and Ma abandoned Dad too.

Poor old soul hasn’t even a dog to talk with.

They left so early for their Detroit flight to London that they had time for a big lunch and still got to the airport four hours early.

Ma asked at check in if they could get on the earlier flight.

The lady took a look and said it would be $1000. Ma said thanks but no thanks.

The pair then proceeded through security and persistent as always Ma suggested they go to the gate for the earlier flight and sweet talk the agent.

She’s is a real stinker when it comes to digging her teeth in to get her own way.

Since they had no checked luggage the agent said she’d let them go on the 6:35 instead of the 9:20.

Perfection Ma said smugly just like those stuffed potato skins she had at lunch.

« We’ll be into London Aaron before the Kings has had his first cuppa Earl Grey »

Well that was the theory. Just wait for the rest.

One hour into the flight and half way through to Sir With Love they encountered « A mechanical failure » and had to divert to JFK. This involved going around New York in circles for an hour to burn off fuel.

They landed at 9:20 ironically the time they should have taken off from Detroit. Next up they had to find a gate to park. No gate. Too late to repair defect. Flight canceled.

Another three hours of torture followed to get the passengers rebooked and find hotels.

Ma and the bro are now on the 8:00 am flight so two hours sleep if they are lucky.

Why oh why can Ma not just take one day at a time and not get people into pickles like this. All she had to do was sit and chill at Detroit but no she had to chance her luck and get the earlier flight for more fun!!!!

It’s poetic justice for leaving us

Blessing#1961- Check Mate

All day yesterday I worked on grooming Trouble in an attempt to calm my nerves. Nothing doing.

After dinner at four and a very quick trot we were unceremoniously bundled into ARETHA and taken west.

We were without doubt driving into a storm.

« Stop Ma this could turn into a tornado. We might end up like Dorothy and Toto somewhere close to Kansas City »

Alas no she kept on going. Through the hail and torrential rain.

Such was the downpour that when we reached Four Paws both Ma and the Bro got totally drenched bringing us inside and completely forgot to drop off our Nylas.

So here we are, me and the monster just waiting for the mailman

Blessing#1690-Postmarks

All day yesterday I worked on grooming Trouble in an attempt to calm my nerves. Nothing doing.

After dinner at four and a very quick trot we were unceremoniously bundled into ARETHA and taken west.

We were without doubt driving into a storm.

« Stop Ma this could turn into a tornado. We might end up like Dorothy and Toto somewhere close to Kansas City »

Alas no she kept on going. Through the hail and torrential rain.

Such was the downpour that when we reached Four Paws both Ma and the Bro got totally drenched bringing us inside and completely forgot to drop off our Nylas.

So here we are, me and the monster just waiting for the mailman

Blessing#1690-Postmarks

I’m enjoying a little lie in this morning in my cosy warm bed because I know that Ma is taking me and the monster for our vacation this afternoon.

Now don’t get me wrong the Four Paws Resort and Spa is a luxury location fit for a King and we are all definitely pampered pooches who play there but I’m a home body and I so miss my creature comforts.

I want to reassure you all that I’ll post all the updates I get from Ma and the bro each day.

They have promised to send a posse of pics.

I will do my best to endure the torture of being bound up next to the beast.

Please keep me in your thoughts as I will have no Spam at the spa so will be on hunger strike for at least the first few days!

Blessing#1689-Health Club Holiday