Jim and I landed into Heathrow airport at 8pm after approx 19 hours in the air with two stopovers (Singapore and Dubai).
We stayed in a beautiful Georgian Boutique hotel in Earls Court not far from Hyde Park. As you can imagine, after checking in, we just wanted to go for a walk.
We found an English pub so we decided to go in and have a drink only to be confronted by picketers yelling at anyone that went in to repent and stop our wicked ways they even came with their own placards.
It felt so surreal after the long flight to have them shouting but at the same time very entertaining as the locals of the pub gave it back to them.
Not long after that the police came to put a stop to it and one of the locals shouted to the protesters, "Go on, tell the bill what their faults are.” Thankfully it ended peacefully and the London Constabulary are not to be messed with.
Click the image to see more of Jim and Janelle's Ascot adventures
The following day we walked to Hyde Park which has an abundance of bird life and squirrels, which I'm told are like rats or possums but they did look very cute.
After the walk we headed for Kensington Palace to have a look inside. I wasn't sure how they conducted tours with royals in residence, but they have blocked off the tourist section to the living quarters of the royals.
Their section is securely fenced with police and cameras. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see Will, Kate or baby George.
On Saturday, we went to Royal Ascot for the running of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes – the prize money made the Melbourne Cup look like pocket money as they are sponsored by a Saudi Arabian Racing Company.
Jim and I dressed in our best race gear headed for the London Underground to catch the several trains to get us there. We had a few stares – quite funny looking back at it.
Royal Ascot racecourse is amazing in size – it backs on to the parklands of Windsor Castle, and there is approximately 5 levels to the main grandstand. We brought Premier tickets which gave us access to the best viewing areas.
The parade ring is at the front of the grandstand and the horses and jockeys ride under the main grandstand to get to the track in between the races. They open a gate either side of the walkway to allow the public to walk through.
After the running of the main race – the Queen Elizabeth Stakes – Jim and I were walking back to watch the presentation by the Queen and we had to walk through the walkway, but they closed the gate after Jim and I
was left out.
Jim, never one to miss an opportunity, started walking towards the presentation area. They allow the press, owners and trainers in there. I settled for standing on a mound outside to get a look.
Click the image to see more of Jim and Janelle's Ascot adventures
The press were armed with the 'mother of all camera lenses' snapping away at the Queen and her party and standing next to them is Jim armed with his iPhone (great ad for APPLE). I just shook my head.
He befriended an Irish couple in the presentation ring whose horse ran third so he asked them to take his photo with the Queen in the background, which they did.
Not happy with that Jim decides to move closer until the Scotland Yard minder says to Jim 'no further’. If the minder didn't kill him I was going to went he eventually came out of the presentation area!
Anyway, the photo was amazing that he got and no this is fair dinkum I could not believe how accessible the Queen was and even a couple of locals standing next to me said the same thing.
We took in two West End musicals back to back, THRILLER (Michael Jackson story) love or loath him, the music was superb and Let It Be (The Beatles story) which was out of this world. I’m not trying to sound like Molly Meldrum, but if you are ever in London or when they get to Oz go and see them.
Because we did two shows back to back and the theatres were a fair walk, Jim decided to ask a Rickshaw driver how to get to the second theatre (big mistake!!)
Now imagine if you will, sitting in the back and a bicycle pedalling you on one of the busiest streets in London with a truck up our rear end and the Rickshaw driver turning right into oncoming traffic, which included a big red double-decker bus. I think I fell out of the back at our destination – m y legs went to jelly.
Click the image to see more of Jim and Janelle's Ascot adventures
We also visited Hampton Court Palace, the home of Henry VIII, the building and the grounds (600 acres) are breathtaking. They have their own deer herd, which dates back to Henry's time as he used to hunt them.
We took a ride around the gardens by horse carriage. The two beautiful nags pulling us stood 6ft 4in tall and weighed close to a tonne each. Their hooves were just about the size of a dinner plate. They are Yorkshire Draught Horses.
We head off to Prague tomorrow to start our Canal cruise so we will talk later.
