At the end of the day

I always find a challenge of photography is to get a different angle on a familiar subject and today was no exception. We were fortunate enough to be able to go to the Henley Royal Regatta for the third consecutive year courtesy of Ian, my cousin's wife who is a member of Henley Rowing Club and the mighty and revered Leander Club. Unfortunately, Ian was not well enough to travel this year but very generously insisted we went anyway. We'll look forward to going again on another occasion as it is good being able to talk about the sport with someone who wants to go and watch the racing and knows about what's going on.

This shot was take at the end of the day, with the once filled deckchairs now blowing in the wind, the river turning to peaceful evening tranquility apart from these two passing the time of day on the edge of the river.

Earlier the place had been heaving, the trains were busy, streets crowded with a carnival atmosphere pervading on a hot sunny day. Our entry was once again into the Stewards Enclosure, the top place at the event, where it was rowing blazers or suits for the gentlement and dresses below the knee for the ladies. Despite the heat, gentlemen were not permitted to remove their jackets in the Stewards Enclosure, for a more relaxed time you had to move into the Regatta Enclosure, which we did on a couple of occasions.

As usual the bars and restaurants were heaving with I suspect some people not even seeing one race during the day! Drink was flowing freely, champagne much in evidence at prices ranging from £55 to £90 a bottle with a Jereboam to be had for £200. A 1.5 litre jug of Pimms was £27, one chap bought two while I was waiting for our two small glasses. The waiters were observed clearing away part filled jugs too. What a waste!

We had an afternoon tea, which was pleasant enough, but you'd have thought they would have put on a fresh cloth to cover the spills of the previous occupants of the table. Goodness knows what they were doing with their tea to get the table in such a mess, must have been thinking they were back in the dining hall at public school.

We did enjoy the Pimm's at the end of the day and we were hoping to have a seat in the hallowed bar of the Leander Club but, as expected, tables were very difficult to come by. We were resigned not to enjoy this privilage but in the end managed to find a table where we enjoyed a glass of wine soaking up the atmosphere of a place where so many of our finest rowers have come from.

The train back to Twyford was as interesting as the journey in the morning. Three ladies, dressed in their finery, who had been at the Regatta sat beside us each with a box of fish and chips, one even had mushy peas. Quite spoilt their image, nor did they offer us even a chip.

On the journey there I was eavesdropping on two chaps talking - one from Richmond, the other from Windsor, lamenting about how difficult it was for both of them to travel the short distance from where they lived to Henley on public transport. It was far easier, it transpired, for them to get to Twickenham and to Ascot than it was to get to Henley. How the other 1% live eh?

Even the journey back to Kent was filled with excitement as thunderstorms were about, with bursts of heavy rain and flashes of lightning illuminating the dark sky. Just as electric when we arrived home too, with lightning flickering around for quite a while.

Another day of days, to be remembered for a very long time.