The day I saw Queen Elizabeth II (by Robert)

[caption id="attachment_1360" align="aligncenter" width="940"] This is the Queen approaching the Mall before she goes onto Parliament[/caption]

Yesterday, during my half-term break from school, Mum and I decided to have a nice day out in London. We went up to the London Eye and to the National Theatre (both posts coming soon!) and then,after a long day in the boiling hot sun, we went to rest in the Rubens Hotel, which was fantastic. One of the reasons it was so great was because it is literally opposite the Royal Mews entrance of Buckingham Palace.

In the morning, after a delicious breakfast, we went into the lounge which faces the Palace. Mum noticed there was no traffic on the road and lots of police officers were crowding around.

Then someone told us that it was the day the Queen was due to open Parliament and we heard a rumour that the British Monarch was soon going to leave to go to Westminster. So, we stayed in the room (called the Palace Lounge!) and anxiously peered out of the window.

[caption id="attachment_1361" align="aligncenter" width="768"] This is our view from the Rubens Hotel, of the Royal Mews[/caption]

A crowd was beginning to appear outside and soon we could see horses with carriages plodding around inside the Palace grounds.

After about ten minutes and lots of views of random horses, the gates opened. Surrounded by police from all angles, carriages left Buckingham Palace and started to begin a journey left. Nearly all of the carriages were empty except a few. Someone said one contained Prince Philip, but I am not sure.

After all the horses had gone, followed by some big cars, the crowd started to leave to walk to the front of Buckingham Palace. Not wishing to miss the possibility of seeing the Queen, Mum and I left hurriedly and followed the mob.

[caption id="attachment_1362" align="aligncenter" width="940"] It was strange to see Buckingham Palace without lots of traffic driving around it![/caption]

We came to the front of Buckingham Palace. I couldn't believe how many people were there. The queue went on forever, but it was strange because the roads were blocked off, so there was no traffic.

We stood with a clear view near the entrance, but then luckily a policeman notified us that the Queen would no be going anywhere near us if we stayed there, so we walked further up. He told us to go and stand on the Mall as she would be coming around the Fountain and then down that road.

[caption id="attachment_1364" align="aligncenter" width="768"] Someone kindly gave me a flag to wave![/caption]

For the next half an hour, soldiers with bayonets, and horses went by. Then Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, appeared in a black car with a crown on the top smiling and waving. She drove into the Palace, so perhaps she had been somewhere else that morning.

At around 10.45am we heard the national anthem playing and then a carriage came by carrying Prince Charles, the future king. Everyone cheered and he smiled. He looked very happy.

[caption id="attachment_1363" align="aligncenter" width="940"] This is Prince Charles![/caption]

Finally, at around 11am, and after lots of shouting by the soldiers in front of us, the national anthem started playing again and a golden carriage trailed after a massive group of soldiers. Inside that carriage was my monarch, the Queen.

[caption id="attachment_1365" align="aligncenter" width="940"] This is the Queen! Can you recognise her?[/caption]

She looked out of the window and did the royal wave thing. It was so cool seeing royalty.

Normally I would say something like "it was a brilliant day out" or "you should definitely go.". But I cannot really say that about this experience. However, if you go to the Rubens hotel in London, always be on the lookout. You never know who you might see.

More history:

The Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London

An awesome visit to Hever Castle (with video!)

 

Opening the park at Disney World: being family of the day

I spent my childhood craving a holiday to Walt Disney World in Florida. But, although my parents were (are!) wonderful and took us on many lovely places, including a number of wonderful driving trips around Europe. We never made it to America, and I never met the most famous rodent on earth. It is the only time that I remember my parents telling me that it was simply too expensive – taking two adults and three children to Florida was way beyond our means.

I promised myself then that I would take my children and mentioned this to my husband even before we had them! We knew it would be pricey, but we saved up and up, and finally, when the children were of an age when I thought they would remember the experience, we told them it was happening. They were 11 and 7. And they were thrilled.

[caption id="attachment_1344" align="aligncenter" width="940"] We opened the Magic Kingdom![/caption]

The magic of Disney is something which so many of you will know about. But our experience was particularly special because we were lucky enough to do something utterly amazing: we opened the Magic Kingdom.

Until we got to our first Disney Park, Hollywood Studios, I had no idea that a family was even picked to open the park. But then I saw a family do so, and they looked joyous and a little bemused. I thought no more of it as we added in Epcot and visited Universal Studios too.

We left the Magic Kingdom right to the end of our ten day visit. Knowing that the park opened at 9am, we got there just after 8am. It was a lovely day and we were right at the front of a growing queue, near the turnstiles.

We chatted away to the people behind us and the security guards and cast members too. My son was wearing a Donald Duck cap, but we weren’t doing anything special. Then, around 8.30am, a man came up to us. “We’d like you to be our family of the day and open the park,” he said. I looked at him in disbelief. Had he just said what I thought he had? Yes, he had.

We looked at each other in astonishment. I thought I was going to cry. I had waited my whole life to visit this park, the classic one with the Cinderella Tower in the middle and the It’s a Small World ride, and here I was, being brought in before anyone else, and with the people I loved most beside me. It seemed crazy.

[caption id="attachment_1347" align="aligncenter" width="940"] We got to take pictures in front of the castle with no tourists around![/caption]

The man who ushered us in told us that over a million people visit the park each year, but only 365 get to open it. He then passed us over to another lovely man called Scottie who took us over to an old 1915 blue fire engine and told us we were going to have a quick tour round the park. We drove around “Main Street USA” and Robert sat in the front, tooting the horn at different intervals. Scottie couldn’t have been more charming. He told some of the history of the park and made sure we got pictures in front of the castle – with no tourists anywhere near!

[caption id="attachment_1341" align="aligncenter" width="940"] The family with all of the cast before the ceremony started[/caption]

We were then taken into the Disney railway station where we were introduced to the cast members of the show and to the Main Street "Reporter", Scoop. He told us that we were going to be in the opening show and gave us instructions: Brian needed to stand next to Mickey Mouse, Jess to stand next to Brian, with me next and Robert next to me. My task was to say “Good morning.” I immediately wondered how to say this – and think I ended up sounding as English as I could possibly be!

[caption id="attachment_1339" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Brian with Mickey Mouse when the park was opened[/caption]

We had a picture with the dancers and then it all got very busy. The steam train came into the station and all the characters, from Mary Poppins to Chip and Dale, got off. We stood as we had been told and waved madly. We were suddenly part of a show, which began with "Good morning" from Singin' in the Rain. We were introduced as "The Ebner family from London, England" and I said “Good morning”, while the music and dancing continued around us. Then, after a countdown from 10 to 1, some fireworks went off behind. We looked down and there were thousands of people below us.



The show didn’t last long, and then we were taken backstage. I felt quite tearful if I’m honest – what an experience to be part of, and a complete fluke that we were picked. The children were given some badges, plus a general fast pass for us to use and another for us to use to meet Mickey Mouse later on. He then said that we would be driven to the first ride we wanted to go on (the haunted mansion). It was strange to think that we hadn’t even started the day properly and yet we had already experienced one of the best things ever.

The rest of the day was brilliant, and the kids especially loved it when people came up to us and said “you were the family of the day.” We felt like mini-celebrities.

When we got home we Googled how to become “family of the day” and found that there were all sorts of tips on there, from getting there three hours early, to being advantaged if you were travelling with twins or a baby. We weren’t. We don’t know why we were picked and I’m sure that if we’d tried to be, it wouldn’t have worked.

All I can say is that it was utter magic. And wonderful to experience it all together. You won’t be surprised to hear that it made our holiday the best we had ever had.



Robert says: Just a few weeks ago I wrote a list of my favourite experiences and right at the top of it was opening Disneyland in Orlando, America. It was one of the best moments I have ever had.
It started off with getting to the park early then all of a sudden a man came along as said “You have been picked to be our family of the day and open Disneyworld with Mickey Mouse.” We got a guided tour of the park on an old fashioned Fire truck and got fantastic pictures of the iconic views without any people or crowds scuttling around us. We met up with more people and were told what we were meant to do when on the balcony. We then walked on and Mickey Mouse came off a train followed by all the other Disney Characters.
It was an utterly amazing experience looking down at thousands of people, who could have been in the same shoes as us. Afterwards lots of people thanked us being so great and rewarded us with lots of fast passes. It was BRILLIANT.

[caption id="attachment_1345" align="aligncenter" width="718"] With Mickey Mouse![/caption]

Jess says: Our family has been to some incredible places and participated in unbelievable experiences, but it's not so often that we get to do something that money can't buy, and that very few people get to do.
In 2013, the Magic Kingdom hosted 18.58 million visitors, yet only 365 families got to open the park. This is probably the reason that this event was so special; everyone was so lovely and we were able to do something unique! I can still remember my confusion at being asked to move forward and get through the gate early, and my giddy excitement at driving around the park with the wind in my hair. I loved walking onto the balcony with mum, dad and Robert, and gasped with exhilaration as the fireworks exploded above us! It truly was a day to remember, and possibly the happiest one of my entire life.

READ ABOUT ROBERT'S TRIP TO SPACE CAMP AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTRE

Read about our trip to the Harry Potter studio tour - and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando...

 

The Monument to the Fire of London (by Robert)

Robert, who's ten, writes:

Last weekend in London when the sun was shining (that doesn't happen often!) Jess, Mum and I decided to walk up the Monument. If you didn't already know, it is a big stone sculpture, six and a half metres tall, with a viewing platform at the top and it was built in memory of The Great Fire of London in 1666.The Monument took 11 years to make and cost £13,450. It was made by Sir Christopher Wren, the person behind St Paul's Cathedral, and Dr Robert Hooke.

[caption id="attachment_1319" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Steps leading up to the top of The Monument[/caption]

The height of the monument is 202 feet exactly because if you pushed it over at a particular angle (that would be quite hard) it would land at exactly the spot where the fire started in Thomas Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane.

There are text and drawings on the side of the Monument (at the bottom) which most people miss, but you should check them out because they are cool. The words are in Latin so if you don't know the language, then read the translation below. They tell you about what happened and why the Monument was put up.

Walking up and down 311 steps - 622 altogether - may be quite a strain but the view at the top is magnificent. You can see the whole of London and unlike the Shard it has a proper purpose other than just a good view.

[caption id="attachment_1322" align="aligncenter" width="940"] The view from the top[/caption]

I also found out a lot of information on our trip. As well as a Monument of the Great Fire, lots of people thought it could be used for science experiments. Some thought they could use it for gravity tests, while other wanted to use it as a giant telescope.

 Another interesting fact I learnt was that in 1814, a donkey was led up and down the Monument without tripping once. I think that's pretty impressive.Although quite a short experience, we thought our visit to the Monument was brilliant fun and cheap. It costs just £2 for children and £4 for adults and you can also buy an interesting leaflet for £2, it includes facts about the monument and the Great Fire of London as well as a 360 degree photo explaining the different things you can see from the top.

[caption id="attachment_1321" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Pudding Lane, where the Great Fire of London began[/caption]

After your visit (make sure you are given your certificate for making it up to the top), you should definitely go and walk up Pudding Lane (which sadly, we learnt, is not named after the yummy puddings we love to eat, but after the bits of meat would fall from the carts coming down the lane from the butchers' market to the Thames). It is only a short walk away and although it is not a great big thing like a museum, it is epic standing where the great fire started.

The Monument is situated right next Bank/Monument Station (Northern Line and District and Circle tube lines), and is at the junction of Monument Street and Fish Street Hill. It is open from April to September from 9.30 to 6pm and from October to March from 9.30am to 5.30pm.

More by Robert on London:

 

Dr Johnson's House

The Churchill War Rooms

The Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower Of London

London is awash with fantastic things to do, both for those who live here and for tourists who come for a short or long visit. We are lucky enough to be Londoners, but we make sure we take advantage of many of the things this fantastic city offers – from concerts and plays to museums and more. Some cost a lot, some a little, but one of the best things we have ever done came to just £1 in total. It is called the Ceremony of the Keys and it has got to be the best value in the capital!

The Ceremony of the Keys takes place at the Tower of London and is the locking of all the doors to the Tower (home of the Crown Jewels and many other valuables). It is the oldest military ceremony in the world, at over 700 years of age, and also one of the shortest (the actual ceremony is only seven minutes long). It is carried out every single night, and even continued during the Blitz (the one time when it started a little late, thanks to an inconvenient bomb).

This is an opportunity to see living history right in front of your eyes. At one point, as soldiers marched in front of me and one began to play the Last Post on his bugle, I felt as if I was in a Shakespeare play. It was fantastic.

You need to book to see the Ceremony – which takes place after the Tower has closed for the day – in advance. We signed up for our tickets last year and all it cost was a £1 admission fee. It doesn’t start until 9.30pm, so be aware of this if you have young children (it will be a late night as although the ceremony is short, you meet the Warder beforehand and he fills you in on what is going to happen as well as the history behind the ceremony itself.) The whole thing takes around 40 minutes).

We turned up about 15 minutes beforehand and were called into the Tower just before 9.30. No one is allowed to take photographs when you are inside and we entered as a group, escorted by a Beefeater called Jim.

It was actually quite thrilling, as ten-year-old Robert will tell you:

Over to him:

"The Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London is a brilliant experience and you have got to do it when you come to London.

After we met Jim, who told lots of funny jokes and who lives in the Tower with his family (like all the other soldiers and their families), we walked through Middle Tower and stood in front of Traitors’ Gate. Just seeing Traitors’ Gate was amazing.

After an explanation about what was going to happen (It was quite complicated) soldiers came and started locking up the gates, accompanied by the Chief Yeoman Warder, who was dressed in red, holding the Queen’s Keys and a lantern with a single candle in it.

They walked so in time they looked like robots, but I didn't say that. I wanted to keep on the soldiers' good side, especially the ones with bayonets and swords!

I was a bit scared whenever they clicked their guns because I thought they might shoot someone by mistake.

The ceremony continued with the locking of the gates, and was like a play at the theatre. I don’t want to tell you much, as it would ruin the experience. But I will tell you that one of the soldiers who take part is called LANTERN MAN, which sounds a bit like a super hero and that when the Chief Yeoman Warder was asked by the Sentry what he was doing, the Sentry said: “Halt, who comes there?” (not “who goes there”).”

The ceremony ended with a call to preserve the Queen, to which every present said a fervent Amen. The clock hit 10pm as we said it and the Last Post sounded.

Afterwards we really felt as if we had experienced something special and unique. And we can’t believe we had never done it before. Do visit – you won’t be disappointed.

You can book online for the Ceremony of the Keys and definitely do it in advance if you are planning a trip to London. Only around 40-50 people are on each tour.

The only thing I would say to tourists is that all the information (and there's a lot) is given in English, so be aware of that if English is not your first language.

More history in London: Read about our trip to Buckingham Palace

We're linking up with Weekend Wanderlust this week - a place where you can find many fab travel blog posts!



 

We're also linking up with the lovely Country Kids, where you can read about lots of great family adventures.

Great family fun, from star gazing to Horrible Histories - coming up soon...

[caption id="attachment_1298" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The Thames and The Shard, London[/caption]

I'm often told about family friendly events and activities, but I've been particularly taken by four I've come across recently and which I think you will enjoy. In fact, I think they'd be enjoyed by all the family. What do you think? I'd like to try them all out......(if only I had endless time!)

1) Glamping with the stars

I have a son who wants to be an astronaut, so I'm always attracted by anything space-related and this sounds fantastic.

The National Space Centre, based in Leicester, is going on tour with its new astrocamps. They will combine workshops, rocket building challenges stargazing. They sound good, don't they?

Their first destination is the Dandelion Hideaway in rural Leicestershire which has six cottages and take place on June 6th. It sounds right up our street.

2) Free half-term admission for kids at the Shard

Talking of up, the Shard is offering free admission for children during May half-term (bank holiday week). It's a glorious place to enjoy sky high (well, almost, as it is the highest vantage point in Western Europe) views of London and they are also running a special Top Trumps London landmark "game" where you need to pick out London landmarks from the viewing gallery.

Tickets for adults cost £24.95 and as kids' tickets are usually £18.95, this is a rather attractive offer.

3) The W Factor at Warwick Castle

This is another which is right up my son's street as Warwick Castle challenges kids (and their parents) to take part in Wicked Warwick, a show from the makers of Horrible Histories.

It's X Factor meets Horrible Histories, in fact, as you enter (via the Warwick Castle website) and then audition live during half-term, on 27th May. Everyone who registers will receive a 2-4-1 voucher, but the winners will perform in live shows at the castle in June!! Such fun, especially for aspiring actors.

4) Storytelling at the Tower Bridge Exhibition

If you've got younger children, you need to head to the Tower Bridge Exhibition this weekend (16th May) where they are running free family learning events, including storytelling performances and art activities.

There is even the special tale - based on a true story no less - of the double-decker bus which jumped the Bridge as it opened in 1952. This will be performed four times throughout the day, from 11.30 to 3pm.

It's perfect for kids aged around 5-8 years old, but adults will enjoy it too. Make sure you take in the Glass Floor which gives you a remarkable view of London, from 42 metres above the Thames.

Keeping Bees At St Ermin's Hotel, London

Jess, aged 13 writes: Over the weekend, mum and I took part in the "Bees in the Burbs" beekeeping workshop at the St Ermin's Hotel, which we had visited once before to try out the "Young Bonds" spy package. I was really excited to put on a bee suit and get up close to a hive, and was not disappointed - we had a fantastic few hours.

Here is a video of our time outside with the bees:

[kad_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgJM1boTfvc&feature=em-upload_owner#action=share" width=800 height=500 ]

We entered the beautiful hotel (where a wedding was taking place) and walked through the crowds to the first floor, which is where the majority of the workshop took place. We were greeted by a friendly woman named Camilla Goddard, who ran the workshop. Camilla is a beekeeper and looks over hives in more than twenty locations in London. She also rescues bees.

The workshop started by introducing ourselves and telling everyone why we were attending. I was definitely the youngest person there, but the atmosphere was very welcoming and everyone was genial. Most people attending were interested in getting a hive for themselves, something I had never considered and many of them were there because they had been given the workshop as a birthday or Christmas gift.  I was there as I wanted to see bees and find out how honey is made.

[caption id="attachment_1278" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Camilla taught us all about the different components of a bee hive[/caption]

We spent about an hour and a half in the room, where we learnt all about bees. We were told about different types of bee hives and their different components, and also the differences between a queen, worker and a drone. I was amazed that drone bees have virtually no other use than for procreation, as they are the only males in the hive. I also never knew that bees can find their hive in a three-mile radius, but if the position is changed, it should only be done in very short distances or over three miles. The reason for this is simple - if the hive is only slightly moved, the bees will be able to find it, and if it is moved over three miles, the bees will not even attempt to locate their old hive and will quickly adjust to the new one.

As I have a very sweet tooth, one of my highlights of the workshop had to be tasting honey! Lots of jars were passed across the table, and mum and I obviously tried them all. They included honeys made in London, but my two favourites had to be Scottish heather and eucalyptus leaf; they were delicious and very, very sweet...

[caption id="attachment_1279" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Tasting delicious honey[/caption]

Now, it was time to go outside. We all donned bee suits and went outside to the hives, which were absolutely beautiful. There were loads of different types of flowers and four purple beehives, home to over 300,000 bees.

[caption id="attachment_1280" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Mum and I wearing our bee suits out on the terrace[/caption]

This was really exciting. Camilla took the hive apart, and showed us all the different components. My favourite part was when she held up a slab which was covered in bees and let me hold it - something which thrilled me! I enjoyed seeing a drone being born, and learnt how to tell the different types of bees apart. I was disappointed that there weren't more bees flying around our faces and getting close to us, but I think mum was relieved!

[caption id="attachment_1281" align="aligncenter" width="940"] I held a frame covered with bees![/caption]

Soon, it was time to go back inside and take our bee suits off. We had the opportunity to ask Camilla any final questions, and learnt that queen bees are made by feeding larvae with "royal jelly", and that emergency queens can be created if the queen dies. This involves making about four or five queen bees, who then they have to fight to determine who the new queen will be. To ensure that no other queens are born, the firstborn emergency queen goes around to where the other queens are growing and kills them...

This fascinated and shocked me - I had never thought that bees could have such interesting lives!

[caption id="attachment_1282" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Some of the cocktails being made[/caption]

After two and a half hours, it was time to go. Mum and I thanked Camilla, before heading downstairs to the bar. Everyone who attends the workshop gets a free honey cocktail from the Caxton Bar, which we were all very excited about. As I am only 13 and mum doesn't do a lot of drinking, we both asked for non-alcoholic cocktails, which were delicious. This was obviously another one of my highlights of the day.

Overall, mum and I had a fantastic, educational and enthralling time learning about bees about St Ermin's Hotel and would definitely recommend it, possibly as a birthday present or something similar. I never knew that bees were such fascinating creatures, and will never think of them in the same way ever again.

We attended the "Bees in the Burbs" beekeeping workshop, which costs £25 per person on certain Saturdays throughout the year including May and June. More information on the dates can be found here (advance booking is essential). For guests who would like to check in for an overnight stay and bee keeping workshop, prices start from £259.00 per night (room only).

More about us and animals:

Blair Drummond Safari Park in Scotland (by Robert)

Woburn Safari Park - A Safari That's Not So Far From Home

We've joined up with #WeekendWanderlust where you can find out about all sorts of great travel adventures!

An Underground Film Club in the heart of London

London has a famous underground train system, known worldwide as "the Tube." It dates back well over a hundred years to 1863 when the world's first underground railway, the Metropolitan, opened between Paddington and Farringdon and it now boasts 270 stations (there's a quiz question if ever I've heard one) and 11 lines.

But while there are many thriving stations across the capital, there are around 40 which are no longer used - the so-called "ghost stations". Some of these were closed due to low passenger numbers, others because lines changed their routes. Some also have fascinating histories (Aldwych station, on The Strand, which has been seen on screen in films such as 28 Weeks Later, was used to house the National Gallery's collection during World War I and the Elgin Marbles, among other artefacts, during World War II).

One of the most recent ghost stations is more of a ghost concourse! Charing Cross, not far from Aldwych, still functions as an overground station and also as part of the Northern and Bakerloo Lines. It was also, for many years, the final stop on the Jubilee Line, but that ended in 1999 when the line was extended and trains began to bypass Charing Cross, going from Green Park to Westminster. In other words, the Jubilee Line platforms were no longer used - or needed (except for filming - it's where the James Bond film Skyfall was shot, even though that was supposed to be at Temple tube station...)

Until now film fans! Because a unique festival is to be held right on the platform and concourse, with screenings of a number of films at the end of this month. The screenings begin on May 27th with Strangers on a Train (the perfect choice) and include Paddington, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Birdman. But be quick - they're going fast...

There are 100 tickets on offer for each screening, with prices at £14 for adults and £7 for children. There's even going to be hot dogs on sale beforehand (you won't get told off for eating at the station this time). You can find out more at Underground Film Club's website.

We are so happy to have been shortlisted for the Bibs (Brilliance in Blogging Awards) for 2015, but we really need your help to get through to the final 5. Please could you visit this link and then scroll down to travel and then us (Family Travel Times)? We’d be so grateful. You don’t have to vote in all categories, though there are lots of great blogs in there!