Thankyou so much,everybody,for your kind wishes & observations -Anyway,here is a description of the day's events !

On the Big Day ,Thursday 9th,we were in various states of stress / paranoia----Ok, well I was,anyway.Karen's new outfit,specially purchased in Tavistock ( well, we were at the Dulverton Folk Festival, !) was no trouble,but my trouserings required some last-minute adjustments and a press .We knew we couldn't take cameras,so posed in Karen's garden while her son took photties.
We left home (Marlow)about 1200,having checked 20 times that we had passports and tickets with us,and had a clear run,apart from Knightsbridge,to Hyde Park Corner,thence easily to Constitution Hill.The police saw our windscreen sticker,and guided us to a parking spot at Green Park. It being only 1315,we visited the bogs at Green Park station ( a long walk !),and finally started queueing outside the Palace main entrance at 1400.
            We were let in at 1435,but only as far as the inner courtyard (to clear the pavement outside !).Finally,we were allowed in to the Gardens at 1455,and Karen made straight for the Tea Tent ! We found a table,with another couple seated there,and joined them,she a charming Scottish lady,he a former Aircraft Handler.We made friends and stayed with them the whole time ! Tea was at 1530, the food was amazing,and we went round three times ! At about 1456,there was a big flypast of helicopters,then the National Anthem,and some Royals made their entrance.No Queen ,though----she got SOAKED at Tuesday's GP, and wasn't going to risk it again.
          At half past four, the catering staff moved amonst us with trays laden with tubs of Losely's ice-cream ( Yummy!), and we indulged in some "people watching"----I saw and spoke to some members of the Bournemouth branch of the Fleet Air Arm Association,of which I was Founder & first Chairman (they didn't remember me !!). We saw LOADS of people in uniform, of course---a large number of Senior Officers,of course,mainly aircrew,naturally,and lots of other ranks too,from Junior Naval Airman to Warrant Officer--it was nice to see the young ones enjoying the occasion,they revelled in it !! Also present were visitors from other navies---I saw a Maori CPO from the New Zealand Navy, an American sailor in "whites",and a US Marine Corps pilot.There was even someone from something called,apparently,the "RAF" !
    At 1700,the excellent catering staff circulated once more with trays of Champagne,instigating a frenzied scramble ! After a good glug,as per my name,I grabbed a refill,and off we went for our tour of the lovely gardens !At this point,we noticed that EVERYBODY was taking photos with their mobile 'phones ,so our friends Myra & Martin asked us to snap them (and vice versa ) ---later on, we posed for shots of us standing in front of helicopters near thePalace gates ; I will get Karen to do a Blue Clicky link tonight !
   Of course,all too soon it was over,& time to go home, but what a day !! What an experience !! We shall never forget that day,I can tell you !! I want to go again !!