Dressing for the occasion
A long time ago, when I were but a lickle nipper, I went on holiday to Norfolk with my family. We woke up one morning to glorious sunshine and decided to take a trip to the beach. As you do.

It turned out that the very beach we were visiting had recently built itself a brand spanking new lifeboat station, or bought itself a brand spanking new lifeboat or something along those lines. Whatever it was though, the Duchess of Kent was on hand to open it, so we stood around with the masses waiting to catch a glimpse of (semi) royalty. As you do.

I'll always remember the excitement I felt as my young, innocent eyes fell upon a Proper Famous Royal Person and we watched her walk down the beach chatting to the crowds and making her way towards us. And the sheer embarrassment and shame I felt when she clapped eyes on my dad, wearing nothing but a pair of Adidas Bethlehem sandals and some snazzy, tight, small, green and blue speedos and commented that he had "really dressed for the occasion".

And that was my first and last encounter with royalty.
(tallulah kittiwake, Tue 8 Aug 2006, 13:45, Reply)