2013 INAUGURATION–ADVANCE PRESS RELEASE

Washington is awash with preparations for the Inauguration of President Obama in 3 days time (or 2 days officially – the real one takes place on Sunday 20th Jan in front of 200 family and friends) – 20th is official day, but because that is a Sunday the public gets to see it again on Monday – TV calling the shots as usual.
This is the Capitol, with the flags flying and the platform on left hand side where Obama will stand – look at the photos now as there will be no chance of us getting anywhere near on Monday.

When He feels the urge – there are hundreds of mobile toilets all ready for His use, if the man with the scissors arrives with the correct security pass on Monday morning – the loos are all currently fastened with those impossible plastic ties.  Street cleaners, lawn tidiers, seat jet wash cleaners, TV crews, food storage vans, floor layers, barrier people and yet more toilet suppliers, are all making ready for 100,000 people to stand and freeze and watch the big screens. 

No chance of actually seeing the main man unless you have paid $750 – and my cousin has failed to raid his bank account for his loving relatives.  But he has offered gloves, hats, scarves and a promise of a quick retreat to the nearby warm museums if we develop hypothermia.  But we will be there – a special occasion and an honour to take part. 

We have had some great tours, specially arranged by Allan, of the Supreme Court, the Capitol, Senate and House of Representatives, and the Library of Congress – fascinating look at American values and politics.   At one point we saw the guy who is in charge of organising the Inauguration - he looked a little harassed, so we didn't ask him to take a photo of the four of us going through our 20th security checkpoint in the space of     2 hours.

Look out for the following – inside information for you to impress your friends in advance of Monday – our guide (see piccie below) in the Capitol today - will be there at 5.30 am on Monday and will be standing just below the President looking after VIPs – so VI that she has not yet been told who it is!  And the room she is standing in will be where He has His lunch, with the special gold curtains draped behind Him (with a painting that is so secret no-one knows what it will be) – menu is lobster, bison and apple pie.  Again, Allan has failed to get us an invite – and Joan, our American neighbour in Beck Head, has proved just as useless, despite our name-dropping to the security guards. 



There is probably some gambling website that will take your bets on Obama’s lunch menu – so place them now and make some extra pennies.


Were dozens of statues around the various buildings today but this one was sculpted by a 16 year old girl!!!!