The F1 qualifying was at lunchtime and in the late afternoon we went to Neil’s hotel which is next to Hyde Park and Oxford Street (part of the parade route). We got the best seats on the hotel car park on the first floor looking directly down on the street (unbeatably the best place). Equipped with drinks and food we passed the time until the parade started just after sunset.

The parade was colourful, loud, cheerful and weird at times (you could not help thinking that it was partly just an excuse to party). After nearly 2 hours the crowd of “friends of friends” that had gathered in the car park moved up to the two hotel flats to continue the party there well into the night.