Did you see the Queen?

....no, neither did we...

but we did try...

See the drawn curtains on the top deck - she was in there....hiding!

I have to admit to being a little indifferent about the monarchy. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing much against them, it's just I don't come over all sentimental and patriotic. Anyhow Sibs mentioned a few days ago that we would like to go and see the Queen on her visit to Brisbane. As the day drew nearer she pulled the "it's part of my history" card and of course she knew that would get me!

I had a quick look at the arrangements for the Royal four hour trip to the city, and not wanting to battle the expected 100,000 at South Bank for the walkabout, decided that we would wander down to the river and watch the Royal boat go past, give a wave, take a few photos and all would be well...

We got to our spot about and hour and a half before she was due to go past and there was a smattering of people there.

Sibs patiently walked up the riverside....

...then down the riverside...

We watched a lot of the police and security patrols go up and down.

Some were even on jet skis which looked like a lot of fun.

After a while we felt a little sorry for the flag selling man, so we parted with $4

... and that filled about five minutes of the wait...

There was some excitement when the students from the school on the hill opposite came out to cheer....

she was getting close...

Then around the corner came this -

and everyone snapped away, until someone realised it was just a city cat on it's usual run down the river.

False alarm!

Never mind, seconds behind came a fleet of police escort boats and then

'Pure Adrenalin' - that's the name of the boat....not what I was feeling!

There she is!

Where?

In there somewhere?

Really, I can't see her.

Umm, neither can I actually....

Neither could any of the other three hundred or so gathered at the river bank...

It appears that Her Majesty was not going to make an appearance,

 not even for the press who were in close pursuit behind.

Maybe if I keep waving she'll come out?

So after she got all dressed up and even bought a flag to wave, the morning was a little disappointing for my little nine year old Sibs. At least she can say that she was there when the Queen went past in a boat!

Maybe we should have joined the thousands who apparently started arriving at South Bank at 3am to get a good spot...?

So we ditched the flag, climbed a tree, came home to watch the TV coverage of the Royals arrive to the crowds at South Bank, had some lunch and will put it all down to part of our history.