Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot is one of the main events on the summer calendar in the UK, along with Wimbledon, the Lords Test and the Henley regatta. This year Kylie and Anthony were organising a group trip, along with Daniel and Bree, and Tristan. We got dressed up (fascinators for the ladies, suits for the men) and joined the throngs on the train (I don't think anyone drives themselves – we common folk take the train, the elite are driven in limos, while the Queen arrived in a horse-drawn carriage).

Sarah, Anthony, Kylie, Stephen, Bree, Daniel and Tristan

The ladies enjoying Pimms and Lemonade

The boys preparing to place another losing bet

It was a fun day with good company, even though we lost all our bets – we got two sightings of the Queen (once arriving, and once in the royal box). It was crowded, though – I don't see how people got as drunk as they did, since it was nearly impossible to get to the bar! Certainly something to do once, but I don't know if we'll be hurrying back...

Not pictured - our horse (it is somewhere to the right of screen). Pictured - enormous crowds, and bookies getting richer

Quite possibly as close as we'll ever get to the Queen