{"id":16136,"date":"2012-07-03T01:43:46","date_gmt":"2012-07-03T05:43:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wendybrandes.com\/blog\/?p=16136"},"modified":"2012-07-03T01:43:46","modified_gmt":"2012-07-03T05:43:46","slug":"london-bloggers-the-queen-and-the-rock-n-roll-cobbler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2012\/07\/london-bloggers-the-queen-and-the-rock-n-roll-cobbler\/","title":{"rendered":"London Bloggers, the Queen and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Cobbler"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tomorrow is the 4th of July. Normally, I’d be packing to go to London to visit my peeps there. Then I’d go on to Paris for Bastille Day<\/a>. But my summer travel got pushed up to June<\/a> this year. I didn’t have time to blog about the trip as it was happening because I spent so much time online dealing with my Topshop issues<\/a>. I wrote about the Paris leg <\/a>last week. Now I’m finally going to give a shout-out to the gorgeous London bloggers who fought torrential rains, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee<\/a> crowds, and Jubilee-party hangovers to meet me at an obscure East London location for our annual Pimm’s fest<\/a> on June 5.<\/p>\n

That was the last day of the Jubilee-related bank holiday marking Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years on the throne. In the morning, the queen and her family attended a special service at St. Paul’s Cathedral<\/a>. When MrB and I left our hotel after lunch, the crowds had thinned out, but there were still some folks hoping to catch a glimpse of Liz. I stopped to take a picture of two ladies dolled up in Union Jacks.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We walked on slowly because I wanted to keep my eye out for other patriotic fashion statements. That’s the only reason we were in the right place when a car with a fancy emblem approached. Everyone around us said, “It’s her!” And, sure enough, Her Majesty herself drove by, close enough for us to see her smiling and waving. I got so excited I wasn’t sure I could manage to get my phone out of my pocket. For a split second I thought, “I could fumble around and take a crappy picture and miss the moment or I could feast my eyes upon Liz.” I decided to feast my eyes. No regrets! I got a really good look at her. It was my second good look at her, actually. I’d seen her up close and personal in 2007.\u00a0 I was equally thrilled this time, especially because she looked so happy and the sighting was serendipitous.<\/p>\n

Thanks to the queen, I was in a great mood even before I hit the Pimm’s with the blogging crowd.<\/p>\n

\"\"

I love this stuff.<\/p><\/div>\n

Per tradition, Sharon of My Style – Fashion, Vintage and Me ..<\/a>. tried on my jewelry.<\/p>\n

\"\"

I wasn’t sure she was going to give that ring back!<\/p><\/div>\n

Some people draw the short straw, but Sharon drew the big chip.<\/p>\n

\"\"

It’s not just a matter of foreground perspective. Sharon’s chip WAS gigantic. That’s Margaret of Penny Dreadful Vintage in the background with a regular chip.<\/p><\/div>\n

Here’s the whole crowd. As you can see, only a few of us remembered to do the special blogger face-touching pose<\/a>. I blame drunkenness for my failure to perform. (I swear, this has never happened to me before!)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

From left to right: Kate of Make Do Style<\/a>, Laura of Sighs and Whispers<\/a>, Liz of Vintage-a-Peel<\/a>, me, Sharon, Margaret of Penny Dreadful Vintage<\/a> and Kristabel of I Want You to Know<\/a>. (Thom Wong of Sunday Best<\/a> stopped by to say hi, but missed the photo op.)<\/p>\n

A trip to London wouldn’t be complete without seeing these ladies — those I’ve known for years and the newcomers. I’m glad everyone managed to come out on such a nasty day. You can read more about our gathering at:<\/p>\n