A Day At The Races
It was a good day, despite the fact that we didn’t win any bets, but we had a good place sitting in the sun, with a good view of the course and a big screen.
It was a pity too, that the Queen’s horse, Carlton House, didn’t win, but then she would have said something like. “That’s racing!”
The only problem we had was that the train had to stop at East Croydon, so we had to change there for Tattenham Corner. So the train was rather crowded and we were fifteen minutes later than we should have been.
If I go again, I’ll also plan the picnic better and probably take a rug.
Off to the Derby Today
I’m off to the Derby today to give my support to the Queen. Just as her judges have given Kieren Fallon a handicap. Is he riding? If not, this must help Carlton House.
I’m taking the 11:45 from London Bridge, which is free as Tattenham Corner station is in zone 6, so that’s Freedom Pass territory. It’ll be just £25 an adult to get into the cheap enclosure with atmmosphere. I will probably put my returns from William Hill on the Tote Placepot.
Liz’s Triumph
The Queen’s visit to Ireland has passed so far without any serious hitches or gaffs. But then visiting Ireland, where nearly all the population are hospitable to all visitors, is a lot less tricky than visiting some of the places governed by some of the worst or the worst, she has been told to go by successive governments. I’m sure she really enjoyed her visits to Saudi Arabia and Rumania!
There might however be a problem for the Queen on the horizon, where Ireland is concerned.
Currently, her horse, Carlton House, is favourite for the Derby. He also has entries in the Irish and French Derbys.
Many Epsom Derby winners have followed up their victory at Epsom, with a run at The Curragh. And of course, there are horses, who have run in Ireland because of minor problems that prevented them competing at Epsom.
The permutations are endless.
But it is not inconceivable that a horse as good as Carlton House is, will run in Ireland.
So as with the visit to Ireland, it’s all so far and so good!
But she has undoubtably shown politicians how to forgive and forget and move on constructively. And many of those she’s met in Ireland have shown the same positive attitude.
So many of those in trouble spots around the world could follow this lead in looking forward rather than hundreds of years into the past.
Should The Queen Be Going To Ireland?
Probably Yes! But on a personal note, she’s probably a bit stressed and even a trifle excited about her horse Carlton House, which runs in the Derby on Saturday June 4th.
There is also this little story from horse racing gossip in the Guardian.
The Queen’s racing advisor, John Warren, told journalists an intriguing story as to how the monarch came to own Carlton House after the colt galloped into Derby favouritism with a victory in York’s Dante Stakes on Thursday. The three-year-old was apparently a present to Her Majesty from Sheikh Mohammed and there could be wry smiles all round if the royal colours are carried to victory at Epsom.
Despite more than 30 years of trying and hundreds of millions of pounds of investment, the sheikh has yet to have a Derby winner in his own name – now he could have given away a horse with a potential worth of tens of millions of pounds as a stallion.
Meanwhile, the Queen’s breeding empire suffered from what proved to be an error of judgement in the early 1980s when her mare Height Of Fashion was sold to Sheikh Mohammed’s brother, Hamdan. She went on to become one of the greatest mares of all time and produced the 1989 Derby winner Nashwan.
So perhaps she doesn’t beware of Arabs bearing gifts. On the other hand, it was quite an error of judgement over Height of Fashion.
I have a feeling I might go to the Derby. After all, if Carlton House does justify his favouritism and win, it will be one of those truly I was there moments.
Remember though that the last Royal Derby winner was Diamond Jubilee owned by Edward, the Price of Wales, in 1900. That was the year before his mother, Queen Victoria, celebrated her diamond jubilee in 1901.
And Queen Elizabeth the Second celebrates her diamond jubilee next year!
The Queen’s In Control
The Queen has released a photograph of herself and her two youngest grandchildren riding together in Windsor Great Park.
It’s here on the BBC.
I’m glad to see The Queen is not wearing a hard hat!
The Strange Relationship Between Britain and Eire
I was watching something on the television tonight and they said that the RNLI operated in both the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
I checked on their web site and they are a British Isles charity. And the Queen is the patron.
I wonder if there are any others.
The Royal Family was Well-Advised
The Queen as we all know finds that nearly all her travels or events are accompanied by extreme weather. But as least her family seems to have been well-advised in their choice of date for the Royal Wedding. The forecast is showing a grey morning with perhaps a shower, but it all clears up for the ceremoney and the ceremonials afterwards.
You can also argue, that their choice of date has been good for the Americans. It seems most of them are over here and have thus missed some of the worst and most dangerous storms in living memory in the Southern States.
Walking to Victoria Park
Yesterday, I started to walk to Victoria Park to see the site where my son’s ashes were scattered on the anniversary of his death last week.
It is a pleasant walk along the Regent’s Canal. A first surprise was this cafe.
Cafe on the Regent's Canal
Yesterday, the canal was busy with walkers and cyclists of all ages and type. So the cafe shouldn’t be too short of punters.
Good luck to them! I think they’ll be the first of many hostelries on the canal. After all, the canal will be one of the main walking and cycling routes to the Olympics at Stratford.
I also passed the new bridge that takes the East London Line over the canal, just south of Hoxton station.
The East London Line Crossing the Regents Canal
I use the line probably once a week these days and when they finish off Dalston Junction station, I will use it even more. If the line has a problem, it is that it is too successful and has started to get a bit crowded even in the middle of the day. But any good transport project, whether it is a railway, road or a bus route, should attract new customers and it would appear that the East London line has done this.
The Regent’s Canal forms part of the Jubilee Greenway as this sign shows.
Jubilee Greenway Sign on the Regent's Canal
The Greenway runs all the way from Buckingham Palace to the Olympics and then in a circle around London. With due respect to the Queen’s fitness, I can’t see her walking all the way at her age. But it would make a wonderful celebration of her Jubilee to traverse the canal part of the route in a proper Royal Canal Boat.
The canal was busy with traffic, despite the fact that all boats need to transfer through the various locks. I took this picture as I walked through industrial Bethnall Green.
Sailing Through Industrial Bethnall Green
The picture wasn’t chosen deliberately, but it does show how the canal is a long green oasis cutting a bold path across London. Is that spring blossom on the trees?
But it wasn’t just expensive boats. I took this picture just after Acton’s Lock.
Kids on the Regent's Canal
The inflatable boat contained a group of kids and an instructor and they were having a great time, especially as they worked the locks. What better way is there to learn the history of East London, than to experience it from the canal?
There are various works going on to make Jubilee Greenway, one of the ways to get to the Olympics. I particularly liked this well designed entrance ramp and steps to the towpath.
A Well-Designed Ramp and Steps
There is never an excuse for not using the best designs for even the most mundane things.
Note in this picture, you can see the slabs and bricks that cover the high-voltage electricity main, that takes the power to the City from East London. The boat moored at the end of the ramp is a workboat being used by the engineers upgrading this vital power line.
The Regent’s Canal follows Victoria Park for some distance and the park too, is being upgraded. This picture shows the bridge connecting the Park to Bethnall Green.
Entrance to Victoria Park
My kids used to go to the Gatehouse School nearby and used to walk over this bridge into the Park. At the moment due to the works the park isn’t totally accessible.
Works in Victoria Park
It will all be done for next year, when the park will be used as an Olympic viewing venue with big screens, a new cafe and lots of grass to sit on. Perhaps one of the best ways to go to the Olympics, will be to take a picnic to Victoria Park and then walk to the Olympics Park.
In some ways it is one of my favourite parks, and I can remember wheeling our granddaughter through the park with C many times in her pram. As it was also one of late son’s favourite spots it was entirely fitting that his ashes were scattered there.
I shall certainly use it as a venue to watch the Olympics, especially, as it is only about a hundred minutes walk from my house. Or if I feel lazy, it’s just one bus ride away from my local stop.
This sign gives the history of the park.
Victoria Park Sign
I’m certain that Queen Victoria would be very happy about the state of the park she supported and allowed to be named in her honour.
The Anonymous Widower 