Rosé, Pimms, Champagne and sunshine... London's summer

London is sweltering. The mercury has reached 30 degrees two (almost three) days running and tourists and locals alike are celebrating the chance to wear their summer clothes while sporting sweaty, sun-kissed faces... We're all moaning about heat exhaustion, as you can imagine.

But yesterday, I sweltered in style at the Cartier International Polo Tournament. Meeting up with a group of girlfriends at Liverpool Street station early in the morning, we mini-bused our way down to Windsor to sip Pimms with the Royals and an array of B-grade celebutants and sports stars. Sadly Wills and Harry were off serving their country so it was down to Emma Watson (a.k.a. Hermione Granger) to keep Prince Charles company in the Royal box. Lucky her - seriously - as that dingy little box was the only shade that was on offer when watching the matches.


Touted as "The biggest (and most glamourous) polo day in the world," we were eager to see what all the fuss was about. And what better day to take an interest than when Australia was playing England? Given the bumper to bumper traffic we experienced on our way there - more than 25,000 guests attended and most drove their Audi sports cars and Range Rovers - we missed The Prince of Wales team play for The Golden Jubilee Trophy, but managed to get in a good few hours of drinking and people watching before our boys in yellow and green took to the field just after 3.15pm.

The sun was still blazing when we took our seats, and it blazed on as our team rode by and expat girls dressed in their finest, woof-whistled and held up an Aussie flag. The excitement - and confirmation that Australian's really try their darndest to bring down the calibre of such haughty-taughty events - continued when three streakers emerged from the grandstand to sprint across the pitch before hurdling two metal barriers to escape! Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!

England went on to take the championship, 10 -9, with an impressive goal in the last few minutes but by that time most of the crowd had retreated to the only available shade, behind the grandstand! This little (bright pink) piggy had been in a sun drenched coma since halftime...

As days out go, the polo is definitely an event worth the mission when in London. Ascot may have Ladies Day but the polo has picnics! Nothing beats bringing your own basket and taking ownership of a few square-foot of lawn. And while mere mortals bring their cheese and crackers, it was nice to see a number of lobster shells embedded into the grass as we packed up picnic and headed for home. God save the Queen!