Happy Birthday

Many happy returns to Queen Elizabeth II. As part of the celebrations I was fortunate enough to be invited to the 21 gun salute at Edinburgh Castle today. It was a grand display of all that is good about the British military and the pomp and ceremony involved. Arriving at the drawbridge I was met and escorted to the Officer's Mess for drinks and later lunch. Various people from business and commerce gathered around while being briefed on what would happen prior to and during the 21 gun salute. Everything was very precise - to the minute in fact and I absolutely loved it. A minute or two prior to the firing of the guns, we were led out of the Officer's Mess and across the parade ground and as the front door opened several hundred pairs of eyes turned in our direction to see who we were and probably wondering why we were there. I felt very special indeed and I'm sure the other attendees did as well.