Trailing Spouse Gets Invited to Buckingham Palace

Lulu had her last class today - so they went to Buckingham Palace. She invited Keith and I along.

During the month of August - the queen spends most of her time at Windsor Castle. While she is away - her "regular" house is open to the public. For about $30.00 - you get to walk through the state rooms on the first floor.

The place is absolutely beautiful with priceless furniture and art. The dining room was set up for about 150 people. Each place setting had about 20 items of silverware and china. Every item was placed using wooden gauges. There are two state dinners a year.

Since I am from America - it is none of my business how the British run their country. But everyone has an opinion - and mine is that it makes no sense to have a monarchy and the waste of all this money. It costs about 40 million pounds a year to have a monarchy and the queen seems to do nothing of value. She is rewarded for simply being born to a rich family. It is simply a welfare for the rich program. I do not get it. It reminds me of riding first class on an airplane simply to sit a few feet in front of everyone else and to arrive at your destination a few seconds before everyone else.

Having a monarchy reminds me of India - where many people are starving - but a whole bunch of sacred cows roam around the country and are given special treatment. My answer to India's starving population - eat the cows. To the British - take Buckingham Palace - plow it under and plant corn - or make it into a time share.