Ordinary decent folk
I WAS honoured to be personally deputed to muster as many cheery Eastenders as possible to greet Her Majesty. Marvellous folk all, they are forever popping in and out of each other's two-up, two-downs bearing stews concocted from nutritious scraps, tap-dancing, playing 'spoons', indulging in a little good old-fashioned 'pick-pocketing' and talking to one another in rhyme. Alas, I was informed that most of 'em now live in Harlow New Town, but a large, jubilant crowd of roughly six gathered to pay homage to their own dear Queen Mum. `Gissa kiss', yelled one — possibly a 'Pearly King' in civvies. 'Everyone is so very natural here,' quipped back Her Majesty, to universal delight. Able to speak to all classes, she retains a fondness for the British Pub, and, recognising one — The Old Service Station she insisted upon an unscheduled stop. 'Half of your very best,' she asked the pump attendant, and before long she was sipping a jar of Duckham's to her heart's content. A magical day spent with a magical, magical lady.
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