Days 15, 16 and 17

First free weekend! Not quite as action-packed as I might have hoped, but all in all a nice (but rainy) 3 days.

Day 15 aka the rocket

I literally have been sitting here asking Sarah, my roommate, "What did we do on Friday before we went to The Rocket?" Not because I got so drunk that I lost my memory, but because I actually do not remember what I did two days ago. I do remember that we got together some of the ladies who were home (a lot of people traveled over the free weekend, including our flatmates, Pam and Emily) and picked up some pizzas from Pizza Hut. Shameful, I know. But they had a deal where 2 pizzas and 2 sides was £20 so it came out to dinner for £4 each. Then we got ready and went to The Rocket, one of our favorite places to hang out with a younger crowd and buy cheap drinks. It also has a dance floor and really loud music alternating between (presumably) British hits I had never heard of and the all too well known American dance variety and then some more classic (but not soft) rock thrown in there.

Day 16 aka Happy Birthday Queen Elizabeth (but really Prince Phillip)!

We got up early and at first, debated whether or not to go to the Trooping the Colour parade or to watch it on TV. We realized that we would not ever forgive ourselves if we missed this annual event the one time we're here. We met up with some others in the house at 9 and left for The Mall, the street between the Horse Guard and Buckingham Palace, and St James'Park and Green Park are along it. We got there early enough to get a good spot, only behind one row of people (and lucky enough that they were kids). We saw tons of guards walk by in the ceremonial uniform, and then the carriages came with the royals! Sitting in the first carriage was Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew and Camilla Parker-Bowles.
The second carriage had Prince Edward's wife, their children and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. The third carriage that came later held Queen Elizabeth and her consort, Prince Phillip ( in full ceremonial guard uniform).

Directly behind her carriage on horseback rode Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Edward and Princess Anne. It was too cool to see them in person and have them waving at the crowd! I wish I was a princess. But not like directly in line to the throne. Just the super overprivileged and doing charity fundraising part. We got home at about 12 and I fell into an incredibly deep sleep for 3 hours. We watched Love Actually with some of the girls in Flat A and then watched Harry Potter 1 about halfway through until we decided to go to sleep.

Day 17 aka Lazy Sunday

I woke up with a big headache, so I decided not to venture to Columbia Road's weekly flower market. It was also raining, so I am sure I will go on a more sunny Sunday. I slept until about 11:30, when I woke up to the return of Pam and Emily, who went to Amsterdam and Brussels this weekend. Thus started the cycle of reading and procrastination. Which I am doing right now (for the homework that's due on Tuesday, don't worry family members reading this). Also notable about today was the time when there was no toilet paper so I had to walk to the supermarket and buy toilet paper and back all while holding my pee. In the rain. Attractive, I know. Good thing the grocery store is like, .25 miles-- sorry, .4 kilometres-- away. I then spent the entire day reading EIGHT chapters of politics homework. And skyping Michelle Kay Smith and skype touring Kasey's new apartment :) Sarah and I finished watching Harry Potter and now are continuing to procrastinate haha. Goodnight readers! PS this is the 3rd year in a row I am missing the Tony Awards! So NO TELLING until I can get up and read them in the morning. UPDATE: we watched Harry Potter 5 and then Andrew Levy left me a link on my facebook to stream the Tony's live!!! But then as it was from 1-4, I fell asleep around 3am and missed most of what I wanted to see... thank goodness for youtube :)