One heavy-duty 4x4m tarp, 10 packets of double-coated Tim Tams, five Aussie cork hats and a can of Norsca deodorant … just some of the items on our family packing list to take to the coronation of King Charles in London.
I say ‘family’ but it is really me dragging my long-suffering husband and three apprehensive children across the world to witness history.
We will be watching it as weary Aussies, roughing it on the side of a road in a bid to get front-row street seats to watch the Coronation Procession pass by in London.
But who cares about a bit of frost and not being able to have a shower for a few days when we will be witnessing history.
I am a long-standing Royal Family fan, but I am not so sure of my level of devotion after the passing of our wonderful Queen.
Instead of doing housework, I much prefer to look at old YouTube clips of ‘Elizabeth The Great’ taking tea with Paddington Bear in all her pearl-necklace glory.
I met the Queen when my grandmother took me to Brisbane on a royal tour and I gave Her Majesty a posy of home-grown flowers.
Tens of thousands of locals lined the streets to see the Queen in her apricot polka-dot dress, complete with gloves, hat and, of course, her trademark strand of pearls.
The year was 1977 and I was five years old.
It was love at first sight for me of this classy and kind woman and I remained a huge fan for life.
I am not so sure of the current royal mob.
Sometimes, I feel sorry for loveable Harry because he was clearly deprived of his mother’s love due to her tragic death.
On other days, I want to whisper in his ear to “Zip it, Hazza – you have to stop airing the family’s dirty laundry, Old Mate”.
My husband and kids have never been to the United Kingdom.
There will be no red double-decker bus tours of Oxford Street and Big Ben for our clan.
Instead, we will be camping out to catch a glimpse of that royal procession.
Why?
Why not, I say!
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And if you are wondering why I am packing 10 packets of Tim Tams … well, I always find they are worth their weight in gold for good old-fashioned sucking up.
When we need to go to the loo on those long days and nights on the side of the road, we can make friends with the souls next to us and hopefully they will save our spot – thanks to Australia’s finest choccie biscuits.
Wish us luck.
The trick is really going to be keeping my kids entertained.
So, I suspect the Tim Tams will be eaten within hours of arrival.
Sami Muirhead is a radio announcer, blogger and commentator. For more from Sami, tune into Mix FM.
