King's, Beheading's and Snozberries: day 3

Today we were off to Hampton Court, a palace built for Ann Bolyne by Henry the VIII. I found it most difficult not singing 'Enry the eighth, I am I am Enry the eighth I am' every time I said his name which only Tim thought was funny, til about the 13th time, then not so much.......I still sing it in my head though. Anyway, this place is massive! Both decadent and overwhelming in size and what it took to run, it definitely was good to be king. Seeped in both the rich english history that still nodded to roman times in its art, the amount of brink and marble just attested to the sheer labour and artistry of its architects. As the snow began falling here we weaved between inner courtyard's with manicured lawns and fountains that looks as if time never touched them. The tudor style is so grand, you almost wonder if was actually a overcompensation for male anatomy like those guys who drive Hummer's, hmmm, smaller the pillars bigger the....well you get my point.

I could of spent all day just admiring the craftmenship of the wall tapestries and paintings on the walls and ceiling's, let alone the carvings on all the wood. Even the royal toilet was padded in velvet. ok thats kinda gross when you think about it, but in concept I can see where they were going.

Turning every ornate corner you could feel the past as real as it is today. At one point we were in the actual dining room that has become synonymous for Henry's decadence. I was engrossed in the table cloths that has facts printed on them on what it took to run his sumptuous meal and when looking up I was startled by the actual person himself walking with another. No, don't call Ghost Hunters yet, it turned out to be a paid actor to give 'realness' to what you were experiencing.

They even had an outdoor skating rink with a cafe right outside with an ornate old fashioned Merry-go-round. (this would be for the tourist's, I doubt Henry had one installed.) Driving thru Cobham from the castle to lunch you would almost expect to see knights riding on horses thru the woods, and the whole time I am thinking I am taking the same path's and footsteps these actual people of yore did and seeing the same sights. Ok perhaps not the Panda Express and Starbucks but other than that the village with its upscale shops of apothecaries, candle necessitates, and the like kept reminding me for such a span in years, some things hardly change regardless of the length of time and evolution of man's needs. I must admit though, I did snicker in my head when I past the dentistry office. Usually one doesn't put Dentistry and the english in the same sentence, as much as one doesn't put the word 'hot new gay bar' and 'downtown Port Orchard' together. Just saying.

Lunch was wonderful at the New York Grill (Jane's idea, she thought it would be a taste of home) and as we ate the snow started falling fast so after my California chicken burger we went to the grocery store to get supplies for tonight's dinner when I saw the coolest thing. It is a scanner that you check out, pop it on your grocery cart. You then scan in each item you put in your basket as your stocking it up. THEN you swipe your card on it, pay for it, and leave. NO check out, No checker, No waiting for someone to finally have the stuff wrung up, then dig thru their purse to write a check ect. ect. ect. BRILLIANT! Do you hear that Safeway, I WANT A SCANNER! It was the coolest thing EVER!

Tim, Frank and I just came back from the 'old vic', their local pub, a bustling group of cheering english kicking off Friday. What a jolly lot, they even have gambling machines that pay out money. I had to do it, not that I knew what buttons I was pressing or doing, but I did walk away with £6. Beginners luck, but it was fun. Well anyone who knows me knows I am a sucker for anything twinkling with buttons to push. (that would explain what attracted me to Tim, HAHA)

Anyway tonight Frank and Jane are having their friends over for dinner who want to meet us. I guess he is a multimillionaire and she,

who studied at 'le cordon blue' in France and who always wear's the kickiest high heels. I love her already. Tim is cooking for us all, Polenta bars with balsamic,mushrooms, parmesan, onions and tomato's and a pork loin. YUM!

p.s. Operation Snozberry was a huge success and I promise we will post the video and I promise pictures ARE coming!

*wink Lacy Orser*