the parliament

a rare chance, i had a tour of westminster last friday. i always thought that the british held strong to their traditions and the whirlwind guided tour reinforced that notion. the many quirky little traditions that still go on in today's modern world is just, hmmm, quirky. like how a man bearing a black rod has to have the wooden door of the house of commons slammed in his face, just scraping the tip of his nose. this is before he hits the door with his baton 3 times. a peephole in the door will then be opened and someone peeks through to make sure the black rod man is alone and the queen of england is not hiding behind (the royal family never sets foot inside the house of commons because many years ago king charles I had crossed boundaries and over-exerted his power there-making it a no man's land for the royal family)??!!@#$!.. he then invites all the members of parliament to the house of lords to listen to the queen's speech.these MPs will then set off in a sprint to the other hall to secure a good spot for themselves as it can get a little overcrowded....i think we just had a very interesting and slightly over dramatic tour guide. i was also told that the queen is a very little woman, not very tall. just slightly taller than me. so if i had sat on her throne, my feet would probably dangle in the air. geez, i know i am vertically challenged. people never fail to reinforce it.

AIESEC City dances in the Westminster Hall