Honeymoon on the Isle of Wight

The weather was brilliant all week, which was amazing given the afwul weather which preceeded the wedding! Our cottage in Whippingham was lovely, there was a nice outdoor pool (which we didn't in the end make use of, as we were out every day) and red squirrels in the garden (very camera shy ones).
The nearest pub, the Folly Inn on the River Medina, is quite a famous pub amongst yachties, and it does excellent food - so we made good use of it in the evenings. Other favourite pubs included the Bargeman's Rest (huge meals and good beer - we missed out on the live music this time, but usually that's very good too) and the best beer on the island, "Long Willie" at Fat Cat Bar round the back of the Sandpiper Hotel in Freshwater (rumours of it's closure were thankfully unfounded!).
The Isle of Wight Cycling Festival was on, so we hired a couple of bikes and joined in on one of the rides (the Around Chale Pub Crawl, of course!) as well as our own rides around Yarmouth and the river Medina.
Patrick couldn't believe his luck as, cycling down the disused railway from Newport to Cowes, he learnt about a shipment of wind turbine blades about to be shipped from the River Medina to Marchwood - he completed our cycle ride to West Cowes then rode back like the wind to photograph the barge ("Bladerunner 2") with his posh camera! I was quite happy, I just went shopping in Old Cowes for a while and met him later :)
Walking was good too - a walk from Freshwater Bay to the Needles in perfect weather was completed by a visit to the Needles Old Battery and their little tea room.
My treat of the holiday was a trip to the Alum Bay Sweet Factory, where I purchased my favourite Rhubarb and Custards as well as Blackberry and Apples. Yum yum! I also made a sand frog at the sand souvenir place, well it had to be done. A good childhood nostalgia experience!
Returned relaxed and happy to home - bit tired though ;)

The Wedding of the Millennium

Despite my worries, the Wedding went almost perfectly and the day was extremely enjoyable! It was good to see so many of our friends and family there to support us and share in our celebration.
The hair appointment wasn't a disaster, as I'd feared because it was with an unknown hairdresser - Amy did a good, professional job. However I didn't trust the makeup artist and ended up doing the makeup myself!! These are the kinds of problems you get trying to sort these things out in a new city.
The cake was ready at Marks and Spencer in the morning so Jane and I went down to get it - it was packaged securely so it was fine in the boot of her car till it got to the Swan Hotel in Bradford on Avon, which was where our Wedding Breakfast was. Jane and Shirley tied, zipped and buttoned me into my wonderful dark burgundy wedding dress, and I'd finished my makeup and nails just in time before the Rolls Royce (1965 from Ace Wedding Cars) arrived.
It was an exciting journey from Bath to Bradford on Avon in the Rolls, and we passed near both town centres so there were lots of people to wave at! The Rolls was very luxurious inside, with lots of leather and wood panels - the driver was nice as well, obviously enjoying his chauffeuring.
As soon as we drew up at the West Barn, I was collared by both the Registrar and the photographers! I was a little late by the time they had finished with me, but recognised Show of Hand's "You're Mine" at last which was my cue to walk down the aisle to meet Patrick.
Well, thankfully I managed to get through our vows and ring words (which we had chosen ourselves) without crying! A lot of people did get rather emotional, naming no names. The Registrars were great and it was such a beautiful ceremony. There was a slight cock up with signing the register as I forgot my Dad's middle name, but it was all sorted and after more photos I went back down the aisle to Eliza Carthy's version of "The Little Gypsy" and everyone started clapping along!!
The meal at the Swan Hotel was excellent and the boat trip in the evening aboard the Barbara McLellan couldn't have been more appropriate! As Patrick had steered trip boats before, he was allowed a little while at the tiller. It was a good opportunity for people to mingle and chat to each other without loud music blaring, and with beautiful views along the Kennet and Avon canal. Plus all the money went to the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, a worthy cause.
No official photos as yet but some friends and relations have taken snaps - they will appear on Facebook, Myspace and Valerie's Gallery soon!

Hen Weekend Part 2 - The Detox

Next morning the Hens and I roused ourselves - some earlier than others - and had breakfast. Claire, Kathy and Sancha departed and so Julie, Jane and I headed for town to do some Sunday shopping. Julie bought loads, in particular at Pink Lemon, Bijoux Beads and the Roman Baths Shop, so that we worried that she would be unable to take it all back on the train! My sister, Shirl, arrived a little late and the four of us had a really good lunch at the Cafe du Globe before Julie parted.
The remaining three of us headed for the Thermae Spa for two hours in the large complex. We chilled out in the rooftop pool with beautiful views of the Regency buildings of Bath and the Somerset hills, detoxed in the aromatherapy steam rooms, and went round and round in the 'lazy river' of the Minerva pool. My skin always feels great after a visit to the spa, and I always feel very relaxed too. It might have been somewhat over budget but I think it's a great asset to the town.
After the spa it was goodbye to Shirl as she left to catch her train home, and Jane and I went to meet Patrick and Simon in the Moorfields pub where they too were looking very relaxed and happy after Patrick's stag weekend aboard Ripple.
Hey not long to wait now - only 3 more days till the big event!!

Hen Weekend in Bath, Saturday Crawl

I had a great time on my hen night! Several of my friends were staying over, so some met me at the house before getting the taxi into town. The first port of call was the Coeur de Lion, a superb little pub - a country pub in the middle of the shopping centre of Bath. Slater's 'Top Totty' was the obligatory pint here! The retired men at the bar looked somewhat confused at a hen night arriving in their local but took it all in good spirit.
Next was the Green Tree, another small cosy pub with a long back room. The regulars gave us a few 'oh no, not a hen party' looks but the bar staff were really friendly. Sancha had some very wierd looking cider - bright blue, apparently flavoured with blueberries!
Then it was off to the Garrick's Head for a meal. Most of us thought the food was great - I certainly enjoyed my lamb cutlets, and Jane enjoyed her beef skirt! Claire and Kathy found their chips a bit underdone which was disappointing for a gastropub with such a good reputation. I was taken aback by the service charge - at a pub restaurant?? The service was vey good though. Beer was great as well.
Next port of call was the Salamander, one of Patrick's regular haunts. The Bath Ales 'Wild Hare' was magnificent but the pub was very overcrowded. We could have sat in the dining room bit but it was closed - why?
Lastly we staggered to the Raven, not far away. They had been a bit more enterprising and opened their upstairs room and bar. We met up with some kindred spirits - a group dressed as pirates, celebrating someone's birthday. Julie has a photo of me with 'Captain Jack'!
After the Raven I vaguely remember getting a taxi outside the Abbey and, upon arriving home, crashing out on the sofa still in my dress.

Choirfest 2008

Last weekend we headed East for Choirfest, a series of singing workshops at Mellow Farm, Dockenfield with optional camping, ceilidh and singing around the campfire! This is run by my old choir leader, Anna Tabbush with her family and friends. It was a great opportunity to meet up with my old friends from Guildford Vox and learn some excellent new songs. While I was singing, Patrick explored the area, walking to Frensham Ponds which isn't far away from the peaceful little campsite.
This year Paul Sartin (fiddle player with Bellowhead, amongst other bands) had to drop out as a tutor, but instead we had Lucky Mayo, a Zulu singer from Zimbabwe. He just stole the show, I'm afraid, with his exciting performances of 'Mbonu Baba' and 'Inkululeko' complete with Zulu drum and dancing (we had to pretend to hold shields and spears!). But I'm sure the Tabbushes and Sarah Morgan didn't mind. Other songs that I really enjoyed learning were Mike Harding's 'King Cotton' taught by Carolyn Robson, and the traditional 'Old Sir Simon the King' taught by Freya Tabbush. I don't think I could sing it (all two verses and three choruses) in one minute though!
There was tons of food at the barbie, as usual, and the ceilidh in the beautiful medieval barn was excellent fun. Weather was great on the Saturday, but it was stormy from the early hours of Sunday so I didn't get a lot of sleep! Luckily there was a sunny spell at lunchtime, so the tent dried out a bit before Patrick packed it away.
Good to see everyone again and I hope to be back next year and make it a regular thing!

REM at the Rose Bowl, Southampton

Yes, REM, dear readers! A band you will have heard of ;-)
We were very excited to get tickets for REM as they don't tour the UK that often and there are very few venues that can accommodate them. We did have to pay somewhat over the odds on Seatwave to get them but REM were amazing and it was well worth the money to see them.
The Rose Bowl, Hampshire's cricket ground which is actually in Hedge End, was an ideal venue but with a few transport problems. The car parks all seemed to be reserved when we got there, so we parked in a housing estate maybe half a mile away and walked back to the ground. There were plenty of food stalls, bars and loos in the brand new stadium, and we found seats quite easily as most people were standing on the plastic mats which protected the pitch.
The support acts were The Guillemots whom we missed, then The Editors, who have been reasonably successful though I'd never heard of them. Quite similar in style to REM but their songs got a bit samey towards the end.
When REM came on we stood, though could still only see Michael Stipe as a speck in the distance. There were huge displays either side of the stage and behind it so we could still see images of the band performing. The atmosphere was electrolytic! They played a well pitched set, including a few songs from their latest album which is quite punk-rocky, like their earlier stuff. Patrick was pleased that they opened with Bad Day, it's one of his favourites. And of course they played Orange Crush, Losing My Religion, Electrolyte, The One I Love, Imitation of Life, What's the Frequency Kenneth, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, Nightswimming, Animal before finishing with Man on the Moon.
Can't wait till they come back to the UK again - and will definitely get their new album asap!