31 July 2013 Harwich

Yesterday we visited the queen, or at least that was our intention.  She was not at home, apparently she was on holiday!  I had made reservations to see her at Buckingham Palace, one would think she would've let me know.  Oh well.  We checked out the place anyway.  Unfortunately, pictures are strictly forbidden, and there were employees EVERYWHERE making sure no one was sitting on the royal throne, or hugging the nymph statues.

One reason I love travelling with Hannah is because she not only understands my sense of humor, but she shares it.  I spent most of our time there trying to figure out where the queen naps, and where she sits while watching tv.  Hannah spent most of her time trying to figure out which tables the queen dances on, during her wild parties.  

We did got to take some pictures of the garden, but you all know what a wooded area with birds looks like, and frankly, it just looked like your average park.

We left there, went to our hotel, got a taxi, which got us to our train with four minutes to spare.  We took the train to Manningtree, where we were to catch another train to Harwich.  No problem.  Ok, one small problem. Ok, one huge, gigantic problem.  When we boarded the first train we put our luggage on and then tried to find a seat.  The first two seats we found beside each other were four cars away from our luggage.  When we arrived in Manningtree I was so frantic that the train would leave before I got my luggage that I sent Hannah off with some small bags, while I literally ran through four cars to get my luggage.  I got off the train with moments to spare.

We got onto the next train and this was when I discovered my problem.  In my haste to get the luggage, I forgot my wallet on the train.  It had my money, my ID, my credit cards, and my train tickets.  PROBLEM!!!  I contacted the conductor who was empathetic, and called the station, and unsuccessfully tried to call the other train.  He told me to stay on the train and return to Manningtree.  Once there it was learned that my wallet had been handed over to the good people at the Norwich train station and placed in lost property.  It was then placed on the next train back to Manningtree, where it was returned to me, unharmed. Two hours later we were on our way to Harwich.

The B&B is clean, and in a beautiful home.  The owners, Debbie and Tony, have a lovely garden out back, and two cats whom Hannah loves.  

Today we are on our way to Colchester to see some ancient sites.
Oh, when we first arrived I bought loads of postcards, and 20 postcard stamps.  With all the moving around I forgot all about them.  I have one day to use them.  The first 20 people to send me their physical address will get a cool postcard from the Hunterian Museum or some other neat place in England.