Send her Victorious...

Wow, that was a surreal day.

Up at 6, to make sure I could get the paper out of Tooli's hair.

Set off to Edinburgh, and made it to Holyrood Palace, at 10, just in time to join the queue. Wow there were some outfits, I have no idea what they thought they were turning up for. . I'm glad we had taken the "Garden Party instruction" and dressed "smartly, as long as it wasn't jeans.

Tooli was exceptionally excited that Dad was in a suit. That was actually entertaining her more than the thought of meeting royalty. She wasn't entirely clued up on who Prince Edward was, but figured he might pass her number to Harry, if he was related.

Walking into Holyrood Palace Gardens was somewhat akin to walking into the Magic Kingdom at Disney; albeit without the six foot high mouse and ride. It had a very unreal feel to it - massively long marquee's with long tables on them and about 10 bottles of water to a table... and nothing else.

A lovely band were playing under another marquee and "High Commissioners of the Palace" were parading back and forth with their painted wooden batons.

We had to gather in our "allocated" space, and took instruction on what should follow.

A man with an umbrella, in line with the doorway of the Palace held it aloft and the band struck up the national anthem.

Then I got bored.

So I spotted two "Secret Service men" pacing around behind me. I think my dancing to the Frank Sinatra Melody alerted them. I asked them very politely if I could wander around.

"No".

I asked them very politely if I should point my camera at the Palace and "accidentally" capture the Prince in my lens, would I be "apprehended".

"your camera will be apprehended"

So I bimbled back into the crowd with the other parents, and waited.

Eventually HRH appeared and chatted pleasantly with the award winners, and then spent a moment speaking to us, and then delegated the handing of the certificates to the "nominated presenters" .

This photo is of us, and one of the "nominated presenters", Scottish Comedian Janey Godley. Janey decided to join us for our Family photo...and it was just too hysterical not to use.

If you would like to see the other photos of the Day here