Robin And Jackdaw

I had a play with the 800mm lens this morning. I got a jackdaw through the window scoffing seeds and a robin on the roof.

I don't know why I didn't go to Stapleford to try to get pics of the Trooping of the Colour aircraft flypast. Probably because it was so cold, dull and wet. I turned the heating on and curled up under a blanket on the sofa to watch the ceremony on the TV.

I loved Seamus the four-year-old Irish Wolfhound mascot of the Irish Guards. Onyx, the grey horse which likes to run, looked like it was struggling not to. Princess Anne's horse was a bit jiggy. Luckily the wind didn't get under the horses tails as Claire Balding had feared. I loved it when Trouper Batey's grey horse had to gallop to get into position after he had played his piece. The shire drum horses Apollo and Juno with their feathered feet looked wonderful.

It was touching to see Princess Catherine in public for the first time this year. She and The Queen both chose to wear and looked lovely in white. It's the 'colour' of the season. I'm sure all were captivated by the royal children.  

It was great to hear all the tunes that I sung in school as a child, particularly The British Grenadiers, Men of Harlech and The Keel Row. I didn't know that it is a Tyneside folk song. My grandaughter has a dental job in a hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne after she has graduated.

I learnt that quick march is 116 paces a minute and the difference between a rising trot and a sitting trot. Evidently the latter is very uncomfortable for the rider. I thought the Royal Standard flying on Buckingham Palace looked big. It's the size of a tennis court!

Great to see the aircraft fly over the palace as the sun broke through at last. It's the 60th anniversary of the Red Arrows. I found watching The Trooping of the Colour quite an emotional experience. I'm so proud of our armed forces and our royal family. So proud to be British.

PS The Queen was actually wearing pale green not white.