London Pride 2014 in pouring rain

What a wet pride! The day started with a trip to the Victoria and Albert museum. Our first find was a lot of naked sculptures which Liv and Caitlin found hilarious. I tried to explain it as art, but don't this i succeeded. Unfortunately the wedding dress exhibit incurred a charge, but luckily we found a vantage point on a balcony and saw them for free instead. The dressing up area was a highlight, I had a Sherlock Holmes coat and the girls loved hiding under the big skirts.

Our picnic was a bit of a wash out, we had to decamp and stand under a tree. We had a quick walk around a really busy Harrods, then onto Oxford Circus and London Pride. Our arrival coincided with a huge downpour so nobody wanted to leave the station. However, it had a good side, we were right at the front of the barriers as the parade turned on Oxford Street. My tactical rainbow umbrellas saved the day.

The parade had 30,000 people, we were covered in stickers, held out our hands for the freebies, saw the Scout Association with their canoes and tents. We saw CSRA and work. The girls were screaming, clapping and waving at the floats. My first time watching London Pride and it was wonderful to spend it with the girls.

A quick rest stop at Starbucks and then to the Princess Diana memorial playground which you have to have a child in order to get in the gates. I waved the girls off at Paddington and then had a lovely Turkish dinner with Alison and Caroline from secondary school. What a day!

Queen's Birthday Parade - royal stalkers

I wonder what constitutes a royal stalker? How about going to see them at Christmas, then celebrating the Queen's Birthday by luckily getting tickets for Trooping the Colour, the Queen's Birthday parade. Wearing wedding clothes at 7am on a train station platform was a first, we felt a little over dressed. A pre parade coffee in Cafe Nero overlooking Trafalgar Sqaure was lovely, until a couple decided to sit the other side of the glass but instead of facing the sqaure and the view, they faced directly at us! We felt like a goldfish.

Through security and a very rigourous check of every pocket in my handbag, then to our seats on Horseguards parade. We were told to be seated at 10am, people really didnt pay attention to this. Nothing worse than having to get up and down, up and down. We saw the distinctive red tunic's and bearskins, Trooping the Colour was about to start.

The field commander on the white horse was amazing, how they project their voices that far is tremendous. Luckily we had amazing seats, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh rode in their carriage directly in front of us. The formations created by the soldiers was amazing, so precise. My favourite stance was the shuffle they do to get in line. The military band on horseback Ive never seen, the horses are directed by the riders feet. The soldiers marched slowly, quickly, then the guns went past, then the horses on a slow walk and then sitting trot when they bobbed up and down on the saddle.

We had to stand everytime we saw the Queen or Royal Family, stand for guns and stand for the flag. There wasn't chance to get a numb bum on the seats. The music of the mass band was wonderful to hear. We loved it and if on cue, it only rained when the Royals were back in the palace! At that point, we were a few rows back from the police line which walks up the mall. Walking past the spectators lining the Mall was a bit odd. We picked our spot, then the Royals came out onto the balcony to cheers and applause for the flypast. The biggest cheer was for the red arroes with their red, white and blue smoke. I couldn't believe we were at the front for the balcony wave.

We then had a quick trot over to the London Hilton Green Park for a chocolate afternoon tea which was gorgeous. Ali tried peppermint tea, all 2 sips of it.