Windsor for an afternoon

Due to the curious nature of the British holiday system, I found myself with an unusual dilemma a few weeks ago. I could either work until the end of the year and lose a week's holiday, or I could take a week's holiday in the knowledge that I couldn't really afford to go anywhere for the week.

The choice was obvious in the end. Hence I've been home this week doing not much at all. It's brilliant. Have read 3 books (well, 2 and a half at this stage) and have met lots of people for lunch etc.

Today's trip was to the lovely town of Windsor, home to Windsor castle, the official residence of the Queen of Australia. Thought it was only fair to go and pay the old girl a visit to thank her for all of her hard work on behalf of Australia over the years. Sadly, she wasn't in.

There is a chain of cheap pubs over here called Wetherspoons. Wetherspoons bars are great. Think of them as the Aldi of pubs. The beer is always very, very cheap. How do they do it you ask? By removing all semblence of atmosphere from them, that's how. There is never any music in a Wetherspoons, music means royalties. You won't be able to watch any live sport in a Wetherspoons, broadcast rights means licensing, which means money. Wetherspoons' wine is bought en masse, generally just before it all goes off, meaning they can sell it for next to nothing. And, Wetherspoons is the only place I've ever been to which sells wine on tap. Despite this, people (including myself most friday afternoons) flock to the places for cheap booze.

Wetherspoons pubs have their uses. One of their standard offers is a hamburger, chips and a pint for a set price, usually very cheap. The price does vary according to where you are in Britain. The friday afternoon pub charges £5.29. The pub in Penge where my uncle drinks charges about £4.39. In Windsor, the same thing will cost you £5.99. No need to draw your own conclusions, Windsor is a super posh town.

The castle itself is incredible. For a start, it's massive. You're only allowed access to a very small part of it, but it still takes you half a day to get through it, longer if you stop to listen to all of the stuff that the audiotour has to offer. There has never been a better example of the word decadent. So much gold, fancy furniture, paintings, all to support one family who, by accident of birth, found themselves in charge of a nation. What really amazed me was the fact that while this family was living in such absolute luxury, the people who paid for their excesses were ordinary taxpayers, ie peasants. So, while the average man struggled to feed their family, their kings, queens and cousins of the kings and queens lived in complete luxury. This isn't a criticism per se, every nation needs some sort of structure and order, that was simply what was used at the time. Looking back however, it does seem ridiculously unfair. It isn't hard to see why concepts such as Marxism were well received at the time they were introduced.

We're well off track now, wasn't I talking about Windsor?

That's right. Oh well, it's lovely. Come over and I'll take you (yes you) there.

Incidentally, posted something last month about the crazy bike paths in Battersea. I was going to go out and take some photos, but someone has already done it for me.

http://www.bike99.com/47.html