What Happens in Vegas

Whatever happened to 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?' This is a question I'm sure Prince Harry and his press team have been agonising over these past few days. The digital world has been buzzing over the news that Harry was caught partying in Vegas, wait for it - naked! Shock! Gasp! Horror!

I don't think I'm the only one who thinks it's completely ridiculous that this is even an issue. It's no big deal and people should just let it go. I realise I'm being completely hypocritical here in writing a blog post about this very subject but I felt compelled to defend my hometown and the Prince of my current country. Call this my 'Leave Britney Alone' moment, but without the awkward crying.

Is Vegas the city of Sin? I'm going to let you all in on a little secret, it's called marketing! And very clever marketing at that. This whole do anything you want philosophy makes people feel secure, like they can let lose and not get into any trouble. When really, you can get into the same amount of mischief in Vegas as you can in any other city. But remember it was Vegas where OJ Simpson was put behind bars, when he got away with murder in California. I say this to remind you, we have a police force and trust me when I say they don't always have the best sense of humour.

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Does being royal mean you can't have a life? I'm sorry, I didn't realise being part of the royal family meant you had to be a saint. They're human and as such make mistakes. I would also hasten to add I don't believe this to be one.

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I personally haven't seen the photo(s) of Prince Harry in his birthday suit, and if I can help it I'm not going to. I think the boy has a right to privacy and shame on whatever American website posted the photo(s). I am however very proud of the British press for not breaking the code of conduct and publishing them. I must say even with the rules in place, I expected some tabloid rag to pick up the photos. It must be absolutely killing them that they can't.

The moral of the story? Everyone has a right to party, even a Prince, but perhaps choose your fellow revellers more carefully. Now can we all get back to the real news!

Erin x

Quintessentially English's August entry for Post of the Month Club

Day 52 of the Olympic Torch Relay

The Olympics Torch Relay dates back to the ancient games.  A traditional ceremony would be held at the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece where the flame is lit from a mirror and the sun's rays. This tradition carries on in the modern games, with a series of torchbearers carrying it first around Greece (1,800 miles) before passing it to the host city.

The torch arrived in London on 18 May to be carried by a series of 8,000 torchbearers on a 70 day journey around the United Kingdom. On the morning of 9 July the Olympic torch passed through Milton Keynes on it's way to Oxford. To celebrate the occasion, work gave us the morning off (although I think most of my colleagues used the time for a lie in).

I joined the crowd of red, white, and blue supporters on Silbury Boulevard, finding the perfect spot right up front. We had a little while to wait but there was a great atmosphere to soak up. While some children were quite content waving their little Union Jacks, others were not as patient. It seemed whenever the parents would finally pacify the impatient ones, right on cue someone would walk by trying to sell flags, medals, or inflatable torches. The poor parents would then start all over again trying to calm down their children.

Waiting for the torch.

The procession finally reached Silbury Boulevard. The police drove past on motorbikes giving the children's outstreched hands a high-five (this was a particular favourite of the kids). Coaches with torchbearers who had either already done their duty or would be carrying the torch later in the day. Coaches of the London 2012 sponsors like Coca-Cola and Samsung. And finally the torch itself, carried by the surfer Gabriel Villarán.

Gabriel Villarán carrying the torch.

Although my glimpse of the torch was only brief, I'm so glad I saw it and am able to say that I took part in the celebration! You can find out more about day 52 or follow the rest of the route by visiting the BBC website. The last day of the relay is in 11 days time when the last torchbearer lights the cauldron and the games officially begin!

Erin x

Independence Day

This is the one holiday that truly makes me miss living in America. Who wouldn't miss a hot summer day spent by the pool sipping cocktails, listening to music, and having a bbq. To not enjoy the day would be well, un-American.

This year has me particularly homesick for the Fourth of July festivities and the Vegas summer. The weather outside makes it hard for me to believe it's July. Instead of the bright blue summer skies I'm accustomed to in England, all I see are grey clouds accompanied by a constant drizzle. If I didn't know any better I would think I was in the first chapter of the sixth Harry Potter novel and that this constant drizzle is in fact Dementors. The few rays of sunshine we've seem today make me remain hopeful that the summer weather will appear soon and I can then have my long awaited barbecues. Until then I must be reminiscent of barbecues past.

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Every fourth of July of my childhood, as far back as I can remember, we would get together with the Schreiber and the Jones families, usually at our house. The adults had all been neighbours and newly-weds before having us kids come along at relatively similar times. Those childhood bbqs changed slightly over the years. As we got aged less accidents involving sparklers occurred, rivalry in pool games like 'Marco Polo' 'Colours' and 'Shark' intensified, and did accusations of cheating. 

But some things didn't change like Pat could always be counted to be seen at the barbecue preparing the hot dogs and hamburgers. In fact that might be the main image I remember from those childhood barbecues, Pat at the grill. As soon as it got dark we'd rush outside to light off the fireworks, before ending the night watching the fireworks go off across The Strip.

As I got older I began to spend Independence Day with my friends. We would still bbq and play games by the pool but now the games were 'Beer Pong' 'Flip Cup' and 'Kings'. After a few rounds of drinking games we would then sing Team America songs at the top of our lungs, which I'm sure the neighbours absolutely loved. I hope that some day the theme song from Team America becomes our new national anthem, but somehow I doubt it.

Explicit Content Warning: If you are easily offended do NOT watch this video.

It is only today that I realise the last fourth of July I spent in America was four years ago. Since then I have been in either France or England. Which makes me think I'll have to make it back to America for a 4th of July real soon. I'm sure Luke will love the banter he receives from my family and friends. I just keep telling him things like 'this is the day we invented freedom'.



Happy 4th of July to all my lovely readers!

Erin x