Summer 2009 Fun Times

Hi all! So, summer 2009 has been very busy!

The following are just a couple of snapshots from

the different things and visitors so far. In this picture above

We are enjoying a jug of Pimm's and watching the Chelsea

football match. Yes, I mean soccer. Chelsea won!

The day I flew back from my Chicago trip in May

two of my oldest friends met me in London. Heather is

the babe in the blue and Jean is the babe in the white

pants. I have known them since grade school.

Here we are out for the night. We had a fabulous time

catching up and laughing all night long!

Next on the agenda was the Taste of London. We

missed it last year so we ordered our tickets plenty in

advance. All I can say is that it is nothing like the Taste

of Chicago. You have to order tickets for a certain day

and time. Only those people get in and it is very organized

and not super crowded.

There were all kinds of nice booths including the

Laurent-Perrier Champagne tent. We learned

a bunch about restaurants in London and a bunch

about wine.

This is Hampton Court Palace. It is about an hour away

on the train from my flat. My good friend Heather

and her husband Justin and daughter Olivia came

to visit and we had to go see where King Henry VIII held court.

Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London; it has not been lived in by the British royal family since the 18th century. It was originally built for Cardinal Wolsey, a favorite of King Henry VIII, circa 1514; in 1529, as Wolsey fell from favour, the palace was passed to the King, who enlarged it.

Here are Justin and Heather with Olivia (almost

hidden) at the King's dining table. Just kidding I don't know

what it was but it was set up very nicely so we had to pose

for the photo op.

This is Heather and I lounging in one

of the rooms where the courtiers used

to hang out.

And here is the big man himself, King Henry VIII.

Sorry for the bad photo, forgot to turn off my flash.

Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was also Lord of Ireland (later King of Ireland) and claimant to the Kingdom of France. Henry was the second monarch of the House of Tudor, succeeding his father, Henry VII.
Henry VIII was a significant figure in the history of the English monarchy. Although in the great part of his reign he brutally suppressed the influence of the Protestant Reformation in England,[1] a movement having some roots with John Wycliffe in the 14th century, he is more popularly known for his political struggles with Rome. These struggles ultimately led to the separation of the Church of England from papal authority, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and establishing himself as the Supreme Head of the Church of England. Although some[who?] claim that Henry became a Protestant on his death-bed, he advocated Catholic ceremony and doctrine throughout his life. Royal support for the English Reformation began with his heirs, the devout Edward VI and the renowned Elizabeth I, whilst daughter Mary I temporarily reinstated papal authority over England. Henry also oversaw the legal union of England and Wales with the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542. He is also noted for his six wives, two of whom were beheaded.

This a picture of the Tudor Garden. Each of the little

poles has an interesting little character on it.

Now we are out in the gardens behind the palace.

We found out something very funny on this part

of the tour - William and Mary lived here as

well - but they hated each other. Mary cried on

her wedding day (as I am sure plenty of women back

then did) and their reign is referred to as the only

time in English history that two Queens reigned together. :)

Here are Heather and Olivia with our valiant steeds pulling

us around the gardens.

This is a picture of the French Gardens. Yep, looks French...

This is the royal tennis court that is still in use today.
We were able to go in and watch two people playing a very odd
game of tennis. It looked more like racquetball to me. They were using the walls.

Next it was on to the very charming town of Windsor.

Windsor Castle was really amazing. It was exactly
what you expect an English Castle to be.

Windsor Castle, in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, is the largest inhabited castle in the world and, dating back to the time of William the Conqueror, is the oldest in continuous occupation. The castle's floor area is approximately 484,000 square feet (44,965 square metres). Together with Buckingham Palace in London and Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, it is one of the principal official residences of the British monarch. Queen Elizabeth II spends many weekends of the year at the castle, using it for both state and private entertaining. Her other two residences, Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle, are the Royal Family's private homes.
Most of the Kings and Queens of England, later Kings and Queens of Great Britain, and later still kings and queens of the Commonwealth realms, have had a direct influence on the construction and evolution of the castle, which has been their garrison fortress, home, official palace, and sometimes their prison. Chronologically the history of the castle can be traced through the reigns of the monarchs who have occupied it. When the country has been at peace, the castle has been expanded by the additions of large and grand apartments; when the country has been at war, the castle has been more heavily fortified. This pattern has continued to the present day.

Heather and I are standing in front of the Round Tower.
This was first built by William the Conqueror after 1066.
Parts of the castle are over 1000 years old. The Queen spends
almost every weekend here and considers it her home. She was
home at the time of our visit.

Derek and I in front of the Quadrangle. The state
apartments are to the left of Derek.

This is Saint George's Chapel. Kind Henry VIII

among many others are buried here.

In 1348, King Edward III founded two new religious colleges: St Stephen's at Westminster and St George's at Windsor. The new college at Windsor was attached to the Chapel of St Edward the Confessor which had been constructed by Henry III in the early thirteenth century. The chapel was then rededicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Edward the Confessor and St George the Martyr. Edward III also built the Aerary Porch in 1353-1354. It was used as the town called rentinh.
St George's Chapel became the Mother Church of the Order of the Garter, and a special service is still held in the chapel every June and is attended by the members of the order. Their heraldic banners hang above the upper stalls of the choir where they have a seat for life.

This a picture of George IV gateway that
begins The Long Walk. The path leading from
here is almost three miles long and leads to The
Copper horse on Snow Hill. The path is lined with
London Plane and Horse Chestnut trees.

I have a bunch more fun photos coming your way
from the exciting Hegerle Family visit. I promise to have
them up after this weekend!

Love to all!

Leah and Derek