In honor of the Queen’s visit

[Note: This dates from the end of May. Technical difficulties in getting it posted.]
Living next to Phoenix Park, I could hardly miss all the hustle and bustle of the historic visit. Queen Elizabeth II is the first member of English royalty to visit Ireland since it became a republic. It has been the topic for the week, with people voicing opinions for and against—and whether she should apologize for the English’s treatment of the Irish (no, according to the English politicians). She has bowed her head in the Garden of remembrance and expressed sorrow at the loss of life somewhere else. I can’t remember. There were also a few bomb scares, but luckily none went off. She is off to see the horses in Kildare today.
My biggest memory of this week will be all the guards (police) in their bright yellow high-visibility jackets. Steel barriers were everywhere, the guards were too. I saw stacks of them being transported in the double-decker Irish buses. Tuesday on my way to work, I saw O’Connell Street in a sea of yellow as the luas passed by. Apparently, there have been 10,000 guards on the streets. There are none left to make tea in the stations.
Yesterday the luas was not running so I had to walk to and from work. The quays were empty of cars. The odd helicopter overhead and occasional guardai motorcycle or car with flashing lights were the only vehicles to be seen. I was carrying my backpack with my lunch and change of clothes in it. I was stopped twice for inspection of my bag on the way to work. On the way home I made the mistake of buying vegetables. Not only were they heavy but my bag was checked more often. When I arrived at the beginning of Parkgate Street. The nice female guard would not let me pass. I was told to wait until the motorcade passed by. I tried to explain that I lived close by and just wanted to go home down the street; I did not want to cross the quays like the many waiting at the barriers to get across to Heuston station. She explained that unlike others being allowed to continue down the street, I could not because of the vegetables. When I asked why she said that they did not want anyone throwing vegetables at the Queen. My turnip was too heavy to throw, even if I had been so inclined. Others with vegetables were not impressed either.
Eventually two motorcades passed by separately. After all that I could not even see the Queen. I had my glasses on but still could not distinguish the people in the cars. What a historic waste of time…
The two hours of walking and the half hour of waiting at the barriers were for the Queen. The yoga at lunchtime, the creamed spinach I made last night and my breakfast of pancakes with fresh raspberries were just for me.