Where: Ascot, England
When: June 21, 2012
With: Camilla, Philippa, Einar, Richard, and Jack
It's like the Kentucky Derby's super old and wildly traditional grandmother - the Royal Ascot Races. Over the period of a few days, English society dresses in their finest (and weirdest) outfits, don oversized hats and gather for a day of horse racing. And as such, this was at the top of my list of events to attend while I'm here. And who better to take me then my super English coworkers?
I am one of six people that sit in a clump of desks at work. We all get along fabulously, and actually thoroughly enjoy spending time together outside of work. Therefore, the plan was hatched that the six of us should go to Ascot. However, this would require taking a day off of work. What better way to allow 6 people in the same group to all take the same day off of work? Ask the entire team to go! And when no one else accepted the invite, we were in, and with a blessing from the bosses (sort of).
After half a day of work, we donned our dresses and hats and headed to Waterloo station to catch the train to Ascot. On the way, we made sure to purchase supplies to have a proper picnic on the train, including some buck fizz (mimosas).
After a muddy, uphill hike from the train station (really glad I wore wedges), passing a carnival of food stands and kiosks, we reached the stadium. And at the time, I got my first glimpse into the kooky fashion that accompanies Ladies Day at the Ascot.
Just as we arrived inside the gates, the Queen was making her famous pre-race loop around the track. I got one shot of her on the giant TV screen, but sadly, my second shot was blocked by tall people in large hats.
The next important thing was to take bets. I had no idea who to pick or how to do it. While I eventually got into the betting, I was very much not a winner. My technique of picking horses based on the name I liked best didn't work for me.
After bets were placed, with drinks in hand (champagne, of course), we headed out to the track to watch the first race of the day. Walking down the stands, it was hard to focus on the horses, I was so blown away by the sights around me - all the hats, both men's and women's, and so many proper people, hooting and hollering as the horses ran by.
We decided to spend the next race right next to the track. There were two main reasons for this: one, it's apparently something one must do at least once during the day, and two, if it started raining again later on in the day, we wouldn't want to be down by the mud of the track.
Next item on the to-do list was to watch the parading of the horses prior to the next race. The rain started pouring at this point, but the horses didn't seem to notice nor mind.
Soon after, the rain stopped as suddenly as it started, we got back on the champagne, and gathered under a tent for some race cheering. And the start of one of our many photo shoots for the day.
After the racing was done for the day, we spilled out of the track into the main entrance, where music was blasting and a large screen provided the words of songs. It was a giant karaoke in Ascot.
It's like the Kentucky Derby's super old and wildly traditional grandmother - the Royal Ascot Races. Over the period of a few days, English society dresses in their finest (and weirdest) outfits, don oversized hats and gather for a day of horse racing. And as such, this was at the top of my list of events to attend while I'm here. And who better to take me then my super English coworkers?
I am one of six people that sit in a clump of desks at work. We all get along fabulously, and actually thoroughly enjoy spending time together outside of work. Therefore, the plan was hatched that the six of us should go to Ascot. However, this would require taking a day off of work. What better way to allow 6 people in the same group to all take the same day off of work? Ask the entire team to go! And when no one else accepted the invite, we were in, and with a blessing from the bosses (sort of).
After half a day of work, we donned our dresses and hats and headed to Waterloo station to catch the train to Ascot. On the way, we made sure to purchase supplies to have a proper picnic on the train, including some buck fizz (mimosas).
After the train arrived, in typical English fashion, the skies opened up on our lovely outfits. But being prepared, as you do in England, we had large umbrellas abounding to keep us looking fantastic.
After a muddy, uphill hike from the train station (really glad I wore wedges), passing a carnival of food stands and kiosks, we reached the stadium. And at the time, I got my first glimpse into the kooky fashion that accompanies Ladies Day at the Ascot.
Just as we arrived inside the gates, the Queen was making her famous pre-race loop around the track. I got one shot of her on the giant TV screen, but sadly, my second shot was blocked by tall people in large hats.
The next important thing was to take bets. I had no idea who to pick or how to do it. While I eventually got into the betting, I was very much not a winner. My technique of picking horses based on the name I liked best didn't work for me.
After bets were placed, with drinks in hand (champagne, of course), we headed out to the track to watch the first race of the day. Walking down the stands, it was hard to focus on the horses, I was so blown away by the sights around me - all the hats, both men's and women's, and so many proper people, hooting and hollering as the horses ran by.
Cheers to the start of the races!
The track, looking back - a sea of color and hats.
We decided to spend the next race right next to the track. There were two main reasons for this: one, it's apparently something one must do at least once during the day, and two, if it started raining again later on in the day, we wouldn't want to be down by the mud of the track.
In between races, I stalked people and their hats with my zoom lens.
As well as the ridiculously weird outfits (I think her shoes match her hair)
At the next race, we got nice close views of the jockeys and horses warming up, and then ultimately, the race.
Next item on the to-do list was to watch the parading of the horses prior to the next race. The rain started pouring at this point, but the horses didn't seem to notice nor mind.
Soon after, the rain stopped as suddenly as it started, we got back on the champagne, and gathered under a tent for some race cheering. And the start of one of our many photo shoots for the day.
Ahh, and then the sun came out. Just in time for my shot of the entrance.
The day continued on pretty much in the same way. Bets, champagne, race, repeat.
Oh, and of course, ladies in ridiculous outfits too.
By this point in the day, we forgot there was much horse racing going on...
...until a race went thundering by, when we'd remember, shout and cheer.
Our desk pod, very happy to be here instead of at the office!
Next activity of the day: the great hat swap.
Like a young boy on his first day of prep school
I'm not sure how we got so these subsequent nice pictures, cause I thought after the hat swapping, any class we may have had at the start of the day was gone.
That's more like it...
Next up - Big face, little face -yay!
And the champagne kept flowing. We justified purchasing more bottles in that we all should get at least one of the hot pink commemorative carrying cases.
As the day went on, it became more and more gorgeous out.
No longer a need for umbrellas, they needed a new purpose. So they became javelins.
After the racing was done for the day, we spilled out of the track into the main entrance, where music was blasting and a large screen provided the words of songs. It was a giant karaoke in Ascot.
Upon New York, New York, I took over in introducing a kick line.
We thought that was the end of our day, but to our surprise, there was one more tent still selling champagne! I think this, plus the karaoke, were all ploys to stagger the crowds headed for the trains. If so, it worked!
English people singing "God Save Our Queen"
More big face, little face.
Finally, we made our way to the train.
While waiting, we started playing swords with our umbrellas. I forgot, however, that English people are much more likely to actually learn to fence as children. This was almost a very unfortunate lesson for me.
On the train back to London.
We decided that we were dressed too nice to call it a night quite yet, so we hopped off the train in Clapham Junction to keep the party going. But before continuing our "lash", we needed some food. So of course, we picked the classiest place we knew: McDonalds.
Note how Einar stares down the scrubs in McDonalds - someone didn't get the memo about the dress code. Although, for looking so classy, Einar ended up eating 5 cheeseburgers.
Being well fed, we found a small bar to have some fruity cocktails and play 21s (a drinking game). While counting up to 21 in a circle that will change directions depending on how many numbers you choose to count at your turn, you drink when you fail and make a new rule when you reach 21. Rule #5 = standing up to raise your drink to Einar and say "Einar is a very, very bad man who does not share his cheeseburger". (It's true, he wouldn't give up a bite of the five he bought.) From all the way over there, he had no idea why we kept toasting to him.
An incredibly classy day that turned into an even classier evening, and I couldn't have shared it with a classier bunch of people.
No comments:
Post a Comment