We came, we saw and we didn't get thrown in the Tower!!

Well, yesterday was the big day - off to London and Mr Speaker's house.
And what a nice house it is!!! Mind you - i wouldn't want to be the one to tidy up and dust - too many rooms and high ceilings!

I fell out of bed about 5.30, into the shower and then the day was brought to the masses courtesy of Clarins and No 7!! What you have to do to look good!!
Meanwhile Paul is stoating about in his jammies, cool as anything wondering just what i was up to!!!

Set off for the airport and our flight. Never been on an Easyjet flight. It wasn't too bad - no rammies or fights for seats and luckily, no screaming bratty weans to anny me. (but that is a total other blog. I cam cope with kids who are tired or hungry, but kids who just scream for the sake of screaming to let us know they are there...............)

Journey to London from Gatwick was ok, then, as i got to the ticket office to buy the tube tickets, my phone bleeped. It was a text from Peter's support worker to say she was running late. Well, not much i could do - i was 500 miles away. I quickly thrust the phone into Paul's hands, told him to phone his Dad and tell him what was going on and i bought the tickets.
We hoped Matthew got the message of what had happened before the signal went on the phone.

We texted Norbert to let him know we were on our way and then squashed on to the train and headed to Westminster.

Norbert pointed us in the direction of Portcullis House - unfortunatly, we walked right by, dismissing the modern exterior and ended up outside the Ministry of Defense!!!! I doubt they would have let me in there!!!
Went back, through the modern doors and security, photos taken and they let us in !!! No one had alerted them to these mad Scots!!

Eventually we were taken along to the Speakers House. As you go through the building, you go from Ultra Modern, right back in time to what you expect the place to look like - paintings of various people and crests above doors .............Wow - and still they let us continue on our way!!

And on to the rooms where we were having the reception. Drink in hand (soft drink - honest - i wanted to remember everything!!) There had been a  notice at the front that no photography was allowed. But me being me (and a proud mum!!) put my camera in my pocket and hoped i could at least get one sneaky photo to prove we had been there - and made Paul promise to bake me a cake with a file in it if i got dragged off to the Tower!!!!

We chatted to some people, met one or two we already knew........... It was nice meeting Cherry again and Norbert kept telling me to behave myself - he was watching my every move!!
Now, ALL my friends know that if they do this, i will try my best to do something really silly. SO i did - i sneaked that photo!! The Speaker made a speech, Ed Balls did his bit and then our music recital started. Lord Knight - a Labour Peer - his daughter Ruth was singing. And she was great - i'm not a fan of eechy screechy opera music, but her voice was so beautiful to listen to. And she enjoyed what she was doing, so i'm sure that helped.

Paul chatted to Ed Balls, then we had a break, had some food and back to more music.

I got chatting to Lord Knight - i told him if i ever saw his daughter's name on the Karaoke list down the pub, i'd not put mine down - she'd only laugh at me if i tried to sing!! He said she has auditions for Gildhall and the Academy of Music. If she doesn't get a place, she's been robbed!!!

ANyway - back to WHY we were there- to launch the school stuff on the website. It was nice to meet the 2 people who took part in the CD Roms that were done for English Schools. They have both done well and are happy. So it was nice for Paul to see that his stammer wouldn't hold him back.

Mind you - he wouldn't let it!!!

By this time i really DID want some more photos. I tagged along when the photos for the BSA were being done i the hope that i could get a couple. It was amazing going through the corridors and doors to the offices. On the way back, i even managed to see into the chamber from behind Mr Speakers chair!!! It was only a glance, but i saw it!! Was tempted to ask if we could go in, but camera brazenly in hand at this point i thought better of it!!!

And any way - by this point, i think Paul would have carted me off to the Tower!!!

In one of the rooms, there were paintings of Previous Speakers - We had to have a good look at the one of Micheal Martin - how often can you say that a Man from your city has been in the Office of the Speaker??? It just shows that it doesn't really matter where you come from - if you work hard and believe in yourself, you can, at least  TRY.

Much as i would have liked to take said painting home with me, i think it would have been noticed - and i'm not quite sure it would have fitted into the overhead locker on the plane!!!!

All too quickly our day was over and we were heading back to the tube. It was an interesting day and the experience was worth the early rise in the morning.
Back at Gatwick, over a slice of chocolate fudge cake (Paul) and an apricot croissent (for me ) we talked over events of the day, not quite believing that in the space of a few hours we'd met a Lord (didn't tug our forelocks this time - but he may expect it next!!) a couple of MPs, seen parts of a building that we are used to seeing on the TV, passing it if we ever go to London............

But you never think that you might actually be IN the place and see parts that you never knew existed.


Mind you, we did have something of a dilemma as we hit the departure longe at Gatwick. Should be buy a bottle of Champagne for Louise's Graduation party?? We had a look at prices - man - i needed smelling salts to recover from the shock of the price. Even duty free, it seemed a lot. And of course, it would have to be pink Champagne - nothing else would cut it!!

So we had a clear choice - Champers or chocolate. Now - those who know me well will know that this is a hard one for me - alcohol or chocolate. Which to choose................

Mmmmmmmm - what should i do?????

THe twinpack Moet & Chandon looked nice, but could i really justify £45. I do love my daughter, but would the credit card really survive this onslaught. So i plumped for the chocolate. Small consolation that part of our Asda delivery tomorrow is wine for said party!!!

But Lord Knight - if you care to raid some stuffy Peer's wine cellar for me, i will share the spoils with you - 3pm on the 27th - you and Ruth are more than welcome to join us - you'll have a good time, get fed, meet us again - hear Paul play clarinet if you want!! Just ask Norbert for our address! Ok - he can come as well - if he must!!!

And you'll meet the rest of this crazy family!!