the Tower of London

While Mary Frances was here we ventured out to the Tower of London. Wil and I loved it when we visited London for interviews, but we had not taken Wiley there yet. I knew he would love it with the "beefeaters" and castle/knight stuff, not to mention the guards. It was perfect that Wiley and MF could see it for the first time together!

Watching the guard, who looked so young! He barely smiled when Wiley waved goodbye. Wiley could watch guards all.day.long.

{Hate history? Skip this paragraph! And if I got it wrong, I'm going from memory and remember, I'm not English.} Our lovely, totally refreshingly, un-P.C. Yeoman Warder (a.k.a. Beefeater) tour guide who periodically would casually mention how they would throw unwanted children at intruders or how he didn't like children, and Wiley immediately was paying attention to what children's involvement was at the Tower. You kind of think he is kidding, but in the end, it might have been the truth. He also threw in a few jokes (or insults) about the Scottish and of course the French. If you visit the Tower of London, do wait around for a Beefeater tour! These men (aside from being great military people; it is quite an honor to be a Yeoman Warder) are hilarious and all have a passion for English history that is quite contagious. This man in particular harbored a great hatred for Anne Boleyn that I haven't heard before in this country. Most dismiss it as "oh, yeah, Anne Boleyn" as you question them about what you learned from Philippa Gregory...they just don't seem to care either way. This guy though totally believed she had it coming and deserved what she got as he reminded us of the 7 affairs she had. He also felt strongly about the modern art that is a bit of a tribute to those beheaded in the Tower (including Anne and Kathryn Howard, I believe, who he felt sorry for as she was 19 and Henry was 49). "We should not have a tribute to those convicted of treason, they should be forgotten." Again, he certainly didn't hide his feelings. He did add too how after Henry split from Rome that More said it was too much power for one man to be head of the Church and King (More was executed as well). After I believe Kathryn's death, Henry had her remains destroyed (sorry, is that too graphic?) so that she would be unable to stand to be judged and thus enter heaven. It is at that point, our beefeater pointed out, that King Henry VIII became tyrannical. He had crossed the line. Hearing such bits of history from a true Englishman with such a passion for his country and its history that even the Scots, Welsh, and apparently those from Cornwall, don't quite measure up (all in jest...I think?) all while in one of the most historic places in the country, and perhaps world is really quite amazing! Again, if in London, put the Tower at the top of your list!

Whew, he didn't throw Wiley out!

Just having some fun with a crossbow!