Where right is never right

In America, we know that right is right and ever shall be.

Sadly, other countries haven’t achieved the same realization.  Even some of our best friends in the world, places like England, haven’t discovered this simple truth.  They persist in following a wrong course, even though they have our sterling example set before them.  They will only accept that right is right if there is no other option.  At all other times, they refuse to recognize that right is right.

I refer, of course, to the proper side of the road for driving.

But every now and then a man has an itch to put aside the right and drive on the left side of the road.  They tend to frown on that sort of thing when you’re driving the Beltway, so today I took the opportunity to take a turn to the left.  And so we rented a car and drove to Windsor Castle, a place where I’ve wanted to visit since Julie and I came to England in 2003.

Windsor didn’t disappoint.  It’s a magnificent castle – absolutely huge, with plenty of medieval defenses and a lovely chapel – practically a cathedral – that featured the graves of a number of people that excited me.  I got a chance to stomp on the burials of Charles I and Henry VIII, two kings that I particularly despise.  (I take my history seriously!)  And I got to pay my respects to several of whom I think better, including George V and VI and Henry VI.  Here I am with guidebook in hand and the Round Tower in the background.

The living quarters at Windsor are also quite nice.  When Julie and I visited England last, we visited a number of palaces and occupied castles.  With the exception of Brighton Pavilion, which is a delightful place, they tended to feel awfully stodgy.  But we rather liked Windsor, even if there are an awful lot of portraits of Charles I hanging there.  (Then again, Julie rather likes Charles.  One of my complaints about the man is that he was a profligate spender, leaving England bankrupt.  But one of the ways he spent all that money was by patronizing artists, something of which Julie approves.  And something that tends to leave you with lots of portraits of yourself.)

Meanwhile, Kate got a chance to join the guard.  Here she is, learning how to march.

Wipe that smile off your face, Private Kate!  You’ll never make it that way!

In the evening, Julie, Kate, Diana, and I went to see “The 39 Steps.”  This is a comic version of the classic Hitchcock movie, performed by a manic cast of four.  Diana did a project on it in a stage management class and wanted to see it.  It was a fun show, but not amazing.

Meanwhile, Andy decided he wanted a day by himself in London.  I’m not sure what he did all day, but I suppose I’ll find out tomorrow.

And a last note about the weather.  It’s been terrible.  Every day it’s rained at least some.  In fact, we never know when we go into a building whether it will be raining or clear when we get out.  We’ve taken to carrying umbrellas everywhere, and picking up new umbrellas to replace damaged ones.  Here’s a typical view from our touring.

Ah well, nothing’s perfect.