Julia9054
Guru
- Location
- Knaresborough
- nope - spoke too soon, refreshed the page and found more - and some actually have bids
Search completed listings. Several have actually been sold
- Status
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Search completed listings. Several have actually been sold
lazybloke
Priest of the cult of Chris Rea
- Location
- Leafy Surrey
You weren't wrong about the crowds.
Took my family up to London this morning, arrived before 9am and enjoyed lovely morning light and fresh air before the crowds descended.
To Green Park where my wife & daughter vanished off into the flowers. I'd seen them a few days earlier, so I just kept an eye on my son who was indulging his new photography hobby. Damn, he's taken the camera upstairs so I can't grab any of his photos.
Didn't think I've an emotional reaction to the place, but the atmosphere reminded me every funeral and every loss I've ever experienced, and the noise is hushed and reverential too. Even though the messages were nothing new, i had to blink away some moisture a few times.
Strangely, the hat and the handbag nearly set me off.
Some tributes were just a bit too quirky.
By now the flowers enclosure was very congested. There were massive queues to get in, and it took nearly 20 minutes just to get out!
Headed south next; the wide path out of Green Park was rammed:
Finally got to The Mall, just as the King's Life Guard trotted along, turned and stopped in formation.
There was was a building tangible excitement in the air, and then cheering broke out and the King suddenly slid past in a procession of motorbikes and cars. No photo of that, so you'll have to imagine he's in the back of that pickup. Low rent pope-mobile.
We were some of the few that weren't cheering. Sorry, not a forelock tugger..
Then off through St Jame's Park and to Whitehall. In hindsight, I can't believe how quiet the Cenotaph looks; Parliament Square was the complete opposite.
A glimpse of the crowds
Even though we had no intention of going to the lying-in-state, my wife wanted to see the spectacle of the massive queue. We stood watching it filing in, when three figures came striding along in the (closed) road: Lyndsay Hoyle, and I think Eleanor Laing plus some scruffly bloke behind them... Nigel Evans? I had to explain to my family who Lyndsay was!
Oh can't attach any more photos.
Then we had a leisurely stroll along the queue over Lambeth Bridge and back along the Thames on the other side. The queue was marshalled all the way by volunteers, army and police; uniforms of all sorts and colours. The press were everywhere, media helicopters hovered above in the blue sky.
I've never seen London so busy, and yet so friendly and so beautiful in the autumn sun.
The day was such a unique experience. Well worth the nearly 18,000 steps and sore feet!
Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
Thanks for sharing.
As mentioned upthread, I’m back from dropping Bolletta off at her new Uni accommodation just south of Buckingham Palace yesterday. The satnav took me along the M4/A4 to Hyde Park Corner before swinging off to more minor roads.
If I remember one the set pieces of the day is the transfer of the coffin from the gun carriage to the hearse at the Wellington Arch. It certainly felt like the security arrangements were well on their way. Some of the roads around the Corner already had barriers and anti-ram bollards in place. There were A LOT of plod. Also plenty of serious-looking dark-windowed battenburgs racing about on blues.
If you’re planning a caper I‘d suggest committing it outside London tomorrow because I doubt your local force has any officers left.
If I remember one the set pieces of the day is the transfer of the coffin from the gun carriage to the hearse at the Wellington Arch. It certainly felt like the security arrangements were well on their way. Some of the roads around the Corner already had barriers and anti-ram bollards in place. There were A LOT of plod. Also plenty of serious-looking dark-windowed battenburgs racing about on blues.
If you’re planning a caper I‘d suggest committing it outside London tomorrow because I doubt your local force has any officers left.
It can play out in 2 ways, Guy Richie jumps on it and creates "Lock, Stock and one Coffin" or the elderly gentlemen who did the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Heist and do one last caper with Heathrow in mind.
Fab Foodie
hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
- Location
- Kirton, Devon.
Update - every downstairs window (quite a few) has a different A4 picture of the Queen selotaped to it....
Fab Foodie
hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
- Location
- Kirton, Devon.
Indeed, we have Tom and Barbera 2 doors down! Barbara brought us some courgettes from their garden yesterday!
And….whats your problem with that???
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
I've just driven from Coventry to London (M1, M25, M11, A12). I was dreading it because it can be a terrible journey at the best of times, and I was afraid that there would be people driving down to have a gawp at what's going on. I tried to get train tickets but the usual interweb outlets weren't working so I elected reluctantly to drive.
But good news, it was as good as it ever gets.
All of the usual blackspots were snarled up but, if anything, less than usual.
But good news, it was as good as it ever gets.
All of the usual blackspots were snarled up but, if anything, less than usual.Tribansman
Veteran
I guess we're all in a long queue for a coffin, really
Grant Fondo
Guru
- Location
- Cheshire
Lovely photos @lazybloke. Thanks.
I've just driven from Coventry to London (M1, M25, M11, A12). I was dreading it because it can be a terrible journey at the best of times, and I was afraid that there would be people driving down to have a gawp at what's going on. I tried to get train tickets but the usual interweb outlets weren't working so I elected reluctantly to drive.
But good news, it was as good as it ever gets.
That was my sense as well with my trip in - the traffic was awful, but standard awful. You’d have to be either nuts, rich or following daughter’s orders to take a car into central London right now, so I think the strain is probably being taken by the train. I know the train companies have asked people to delay their journeys home to avoid a surge but I reckon the big stations will be crazy busy tomorrow evening.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
Extra services will be running, including some retired heritage sets from charter companies, and some late at night.
- Status
