Day 26

Today the only plans we really had were to go to Kensington Gardens and have a little picnic. So at around 11 the four of us went over to the gardens and walked for a while until we got to a Merry-Go-Round, which we of course decided to ride. Us and the 2 year olds. It was amazing- definitely the fastest one I have ever been on. It even gave me a little bit of a headache. “Best two pounds I ever spent!!” Then we found a patch of kind of soft grass and settled down to eat our lunches. Whilst we were eating there were some bugs who started attacking us. For the story on the bug that attacked Robyn, you will have to ask her. But it is a really good story, so you should. After we finished lunch and left the bugs, we decided to go to Kensington Palace since it was right there and we hadn’t been. It was fun! The first part of it is The Last Debutantes Exhibit which teaches you about what it would have been like to be a Debutante or a Deb’s Delight (the boys) in 1958, which was the last official season of the Debutantes here. So we even got to try out things like tying a bow tie (I couldn’t do it), walking with a book on your head (I was perfection), and curtseying (also couldn’t do it properly). Then they take you to the exhibit of some of Princess Diana’s dresses. Most were from around 1987- the year I was born! Some were really pretty and some . . . well I just don’t really think that was the most attractive time for style, but apparently she had really good taste (according to the ladies behind us). We continued the tour which took us through the state rooms. They were very similar to the other millions of state rooms I have been in, but I do remember one interesting fact. It was in Kensington Palace that Queen Victoria found out her father had died so she was to become the next monarch.

So then we went home, and before long were out to our next show- The Mousetrap. It is an Agatha Cristie mystery play and it is actually the longest running play (not musical, that is les mis) in history. I really enjoyed the play! The thing I like about Agatha is that even if you are pretty sure about the culprit you are never really 100% sure. She was really good at making you suspect everyone. At intermission I made everyone guess who it was going to be and none of us got it right- I would have been, but I changed my answer. After the show we were famished so we came back to Gloucester and went to an Italian place by our flat. Then we just went home and chatted for a while, then went to bed.