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Post by fusilier23 on Nov 20, 2007 12:04:04 GMT
Hi all, I just got back from the UK. Unfortunately there weren't any Hayley events, since she was in Japan, but I did get to see another concert by one of our own:  Much more to come! |
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Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
Posts: 6,715 
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Post by Joe on Nov 21, 2007 4:34:13 GMT
Hello Steven O,
Glad that you had a good trip. Did you attend any of the Remebrance Sunday celebrations?
I am looking forward to your further photos etc.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Joe
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Post by fusilier23 on Nov 24, 2007 0:40:41 GMT
Indeed I did, Joe, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. I guess the theme of this trip is probably "Twilight" since the UK appears to be in a permanent twilight at this time of year. I'd meant to do this most of the year, but plans finally gelled in September.  Part I Twilight Travels: On Friday night we flew out of Newark Liberty, arriving in Heathrow on Saturday at 9 AM. After dumping our bags we headed down to the general area of St. Paul's to catch the Lord Mayor's Parade. They say a picture is worth many words, so here we are:  Band of HM Royal Marines i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/Stevenolivo/DSCF01632.jpgMarching sailors of the Royal Navy.  More RMs i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/Stevenolivo/DSCF01772.jpgThe Light Infantry  The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/Stevenolivo/DSCF02192.jpgThe Nonourable Company of Artillery.  The trumpeters of the Household Cavalry.  The Blues and Royals, up close and personal. i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/Stevenolivo/DSCF02302.jpg[/IMG]The Lord Mayor's Coach  The Lord Mayor himself.  The Lord Mayor's musketeers and pikemen. After a quick meal and a visit to St. Paul's, we watched the fireworks, but then retired early to stave off jet lag. |
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Post by graemek on Nov 24, 2007 1:15:14 GMT
Many Thanks Steve, Why did I think of you as soon as I saw the pics??  Excellent stuff. Funny to think that those outfits were devised (mainly) in a non photographic era. Did you visit a model shop by any chance? Graeme  |
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Post by fusilier23 on Nov 24, 2007 1:36:05 GMT
Part II: Twilight of the Fallen Sunday morning I leaped out of bed early and made a mad dash for Whitehall and the Cenotaph, careful to dress in black and place the red poppy in my lapel. It was Remembrance Sunday, when the UK and the Commonwealth commemorate the fallen of the world wars. I was among the first there, and quickly cleared security and made my way up to one of the corners directly opposite the Cenotaph, the great monument capped by an empty casket. There I stood for nearly three solid hours, as the wind blew, the occasional rain fell, and the people pressed in behind me, squishing me against the barrier. Armed policemen paced back and forth outside the barricade, and I don't blame them. i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/Stevenolivo/DSCF02492.jpgAt about a quarter to 11 the various military units began to march in culminating with the massed bands of the Guards Division. They began to play the prelude to the ceremony, consisting of the famous national airs of the British Isles: "Rule Britannia," "The Minstrel Boy," "Men of Harlech," "Fairest Isle" and the mournful "Flowers of the Forest." Then they struck up the Act of Homage, and, almost before I knew it, the choristers and clergymen appeared, bearing the Cross of Remembrance, and shortly thereafter the various digntaries joined them, ending, of course, with the Royal Family, though my angle wasn't the best for seeing them . A cannon shot marked the beginning of the two minutes' silence for the dead, during which the sun, at an angle more like sunset than midday, broke through. That silence was broken with the sounding of the Last Post. After prayers by the Lord Bishop of London (the only person to speak during the service), the various dignitaries laid their wreaths of red poppies on the Cenotaph. After a few more prayers, the singing of the hymn "O God, Our Help in Ages Past," and a rousing "God Save the Queen," the many, many veterans assembled paraded by to a medley of "Long Way to Tipperary," "Pack Up Your Troubles" and other WWI and WWII songs. The crowd applauded, as well they should have.  The Royal Marines assemble i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/Stevenolivo/DSCF02572.jpgThe Royal Navy i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/Stevenolivo/DSCF02682.jpgThe massed bands of the Guards  The Life Guards i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/Stevenolivo/DSCF02642.jpgThe RHA, giving an eyes left.  The Kings Men i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/Stevenolivo/DSCF02762.jpgThe Prelude begins.  The Commissioners i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/Stevenolivo/DSCF02852.jpgThe buglers of the Royal Marines sound the Last Post i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/Stevenolivo/DSCF02924.jpgTwo of the princes stand at attention. On the right is Prince William, for whom this was a very special day, as it was his first appearance, with the added poignancy of the recent death in battle of his best friend in his regiment. i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/Stevenolivo/DSCF02932.jpgThe buglers of the RAF sound the Rouse, signifying resurrection after death.  The veterans pass by  The Chelsea Pensioners  Female veterans. i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/Stevenolivo/DSCF03084.jpgThe Royal Family at the balcony.  The Cenotaph afterward, strewn with wreaths. |
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,700
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Post by Dave on Nov 24, 2007 3:18:41 GMT
Hi Steven, These are very nice photos but... please check your private messages before posting any more, as you are greatly exceeding the maximum file sizes and this will cause problems for some members. We have a guideline for the maximum file size of photos posted in the forum and it is 100 KB as mentioned here but it's the ones over 200 KB you posted, that I'm mainly worried about. Some of these I've changed (hopefully temporarily) to clickable links. Cheers, Dave |
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Post by fusilier23 on Nov 24, 2007 18:46:17 GMT
Hmm, I was using a new camera. I'll look into shrinking these down a bit. The good thing with this is it's a 9 pix camera, meaning you can shoot from far away and keep high detail, or blow things up very big without losing detail. The pic of Prince William and Edward, Duke of Kent, was taken from a good 500 feet away. Hence I could go see Hayley and be far away, yet shoot high quality pics, like that of Holly. Don't worry, those were done with a suppressed flash so as not to distract the performers, and I'd use the same function with any other performer, assuming pics were permitted.
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Post by fusilier23 on Nov 24, 2007 18:47:38 GMT
Many Thanks Steve, Why did I think of you as soon as I saw the pics?? Excellent stuff. Funny to think that those outfits were devised (mainly) in a non photographic era. Did you visit a model shop by any chance? Graeme Indeed I did, and picked up about 70 more pieces for the collection. 70 more are due to arrive from NZ soon. |
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Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
Posts: 6,715
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Post by Joe on Nov 25, 2007 4:26:01 GMT
Hello Steven !
Thank you for sharing your photos from the Rembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.
You really did secure a prime location for viewing. I daresay that the BBC cameras didn't have as good as view as you.
I liked the many pics of the procession of troops and others. The photo of The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of London was simply perfect.
Thanks again, Steven.
Take care,
Joe
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