1:21 p.m. - 2009-11-04
Farewell to Rainbow Leaves
Last week Wifey and I took advantage of a beautiful day to admire the glorious autumn foliage. Not having the price of two tickets to New England, we settled on Kew Gardens as a marginally more affordable option.
The trip didn't start well.
I sauntered up to a short line of people waiting at one of the ticket booths and stood behind them. A few seconds later this woman comes up behind me and says, "excuse me, I'm in this queue".
What the .. who the ...!?
But being one of life's gentlemen, I let her through with just the advice that, next time, if she actually stood behind the people infront, it might be more obvious that she was, indeed, in said queue.
So, we're standing there, and it becomes obvious that she's on good speaking terms with a man and two small children in the next line. She seems to know them quite well. They might almost be her partner and kids.
Gradually, as their line is moving forward more rapidly than ours, she begins to creep over to join them. They are one of those terribly intense, terribly cut-glass accented couples: and I can't help wondering how much of the fun stuff, the kids (shall we call them Annabel and Giles?) will be allowed to enjoy. This, I can tell from their conversation, is going to be a very educational day out for them.
"Oh look Giles, look at that adorable mango tree."
"Annabel, isn't that a divine Ilex Aquifolium?"
I'm more restrained than I used to be, so I contented myself with inquiring whether Madam was still in this queue, or had she decided to stand in that queue now? She was unabashed.
"Now, watch me, Annabel, and you'll learn how to be a rude, self-centred, scheming, cow just like Mummy."
Anyway, the gardens were glorious.
Fantastic foliage
Interesting buildings
Colourful characters
A photo-opportunity round every corner
