Well, the news is everywhere, and anyway you guessed this would happen from my last post, dear readers!
Patrick proposed on Wednesday 17th, whilst we were watching the sun go down on a beautiful clear evening at the top of Leith Hill, so of course I said yes! It was four months to the day since that fateful weekend in Middlewich. Some might say it was a bit quick, but then we have known each other for 17 years!
So it was ring shopping on Saturday in Bath - I'd had a scout round the shops on my own in the morning, whilst Patrick was at work, and so when we met in the afternoon I showed him my favourites. We both liked a gold ring with an aquamarine and 2 diamonds, so that's what I'm wearing now! All my friends have remarked on how beautiful it is. Then it was off to the Salamander for a celebratory beer and burger.
We watched the rugby on the big screen at Bath Beer Festival in the evening - disappointing rugby but great beer and cider. Our beer of the festival was Star Spangled Banner from Saltaire Brewery - delicious American hop taste. Cider/perry of the festival were from Ross-on-Wye press - aged in whisky casks for an unusual finish.
Sunday was the walk along part of the derelict Somerset Coal Canal - very interesting, especially the bits about the lives of the ordinary bargees and coalminers, but a bit of a scramble in places, and I hadn't brought my walking boots, d'oh! It was good to meet Patrick's canal enthusiast friends - no doubt I'll be seeing them again soon for some 'vertical gardening' (clearing the weed from canal remains). Patrick offered to drop me off in Salisbury; we thought we'd have a quick walk to the Old Mill and back (again, really nice clear evening) and a pint and takeaway curry at the Village pub round the corner from the station.
Another wonderful weekend :)
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Monday, October 08, 2007
Emma and Ting's Wedding
Emma is my oldest friend that I'm still in contact with, having known her since school days, so I was very pleased to hear the news that she and Ting were to get married. I'd met Ting once a couple of years before, and wasn't sure that he recognised me, especially as I was with a different partner! Emma looked stunning in her embroidered silk wedding dress as she came up the 'aisle' in the wedding suite of the Chilworth Manor Hotel near Southampton. Both sets of parents looked very pleased, always a good sign! Noriko, a Japanese lady whom we met on Emma's hen night, had arranged the fresh flowers and Emma's bouquet, and these looked wonderful despite their train journey from London.
Patrick and I were witnesses, so we had to sit quite near the front. It did bring back a few sad memories of my own wedding day of course, even though I was happy for Emma and Ting - an odd mix of emotions. I'm just a hopeless romantic just as it says on my profile.
After the simple registry-office ceremony we were invited outside for some sushi and buck's fizz or orange juice. But as soon as the guests started relaxing and chatting to each other the photographer appeared on the roof and started rearranging us in a more asthetically pleasing way (although we had to pretend to still be chatting)! The photography seemed to take forever, but the grounds of Chilworth Manor were beautiful to look at, and Patrick and I had fun explaining the culture of Georgian English nobility to Noriko. Then it was all single girls to the fore for the Throwing of the Bouquet shot - Patrick laughed as I selected a prime position and posed like a goalie taking a penalty shootout! I managed to catch it quite easily - Emma seemed to have been aiming it straight at me. Don't know what Kevin will say when he sees it though LOL.
Next it was off to Kam's Palace for a ten course Chinese banquet. We all signed a piece of red silk with our best wishes for the couple, which is part of the Chinese wedding tradition, then found our tables. Ting and Emma had generously provided beer, wine and soft drinks. The courses were mostly seafood - the ones I can remember were roast pork, abalone with mushrooms, lobster (my favourite, athough messy), trout, crab's claws (very nice), duck and yam pancake, squid, shark's fin soup and dried scallop with turnip. I don't know why it was mainly seafood - Hong Kong specialities, perhaps? Ting's best man surprised the Chinese guests in mid-feast by making a speech and showing humorous slides from Ting's life story - apparently it's not part of Chinese wedding tradition.
Later Emma changed into a stunning traditional Chinese wedding dress, made with red silk and embroidered with dragons. We had to leave a little early as we had to give Noriko and two other guests a lift back to the station, but Emma cut us some wedding cake to take away and we said goodbye to her and Ting, wishing them a fantastic time on their honeymoon in Florida.
Photos in Valerie's Gallery soon!
Patrick and I were witnesses, so we had to sit quite near the front. It did bring back a few sad memories of my own wedding day of course, even though I was happy for Emma and Ting - an odd mix of emotions. I'm just a hopeless romantic just as it says on my profile.
After the simple registry-office ceremony we were invited outside for some sushi and buck's fizz or orange juice. But as soon as the guests started relaxing and chatting to each other the photographer appeared on the roof and started rearranging us in a more asthetically pleasing way (although we had to pretend to still be chatting)! The photography seemed to take forever, but the grounds of Chilworth Manor were beautiful to look at, and Patrick and I had fun explaining the culture of Georgian English nobility to Noriko. Then it was all single girls to the fore for the Throwing of the Bouquet shot - Patrick laughed as I selected a prime position and posed like a goalie taking a penalty shootout! I managed to catch it quite easily - Emma seemed to have been aiming it straight at me. Don't know what Kevin will say when he sees it though LOL.
Next it was off to Kam's Palace for a ten course Chinese banquet. We all signed a piece of red silk with our best wishes for the couple, which is part of the Chinese wedding tradition, then found our tables. Ting and Emma had generously provided beer, wine and soft drinks. The courses were mostly seafood - the ones I can remember were roast pork, abalone with mushrooms, lobster (my favourite, athough messy), trout, crab's claws (very nice), duck and yam pancake, squid, shark's fin soup and dried scallop with turnip. I don't know why it was mainly seafood - Hong Kong specialities, perhaps? Ting's best man surprised the Chinese guests in mid-feast by making a speech and showing humorous slides from Ting's life story - apparently it's not part of Chinese wedding tradition.
Later Emma changed into a stunning traditional Chinese wedding dress, made with red silk and embroidered with dragons. We had to leave a little early as we had to give Noriko and two other guests a lift back to the station, but Emma cut us some wedding cake to take away and we said goodbye to her and Ting, wishing them a fantastic time on their honeymoon in Florida.
Photos in Valerie's Gallery soon!
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Girly Day at the Spa
Spent the weekend at Patrick's flat in Bath, with my sister Shirley joining us at Saturday lunchtime. We then gathered our swimming cossies and towels and headed off to the new spa in Bath, Thermae
Unfortunately the slightly cheaper Cross Bath was full, but we managed to get into the main spa with the rooftop pool. The views from this were beautiful - really good view of the city and the hills surrounding Bath. I cursed leaving my glasses in the locker! We did rather wish we'd brought bath robes and flip flops with us, as we got out from this 35 C (naturally) heated pool and got caught by the Autumn breeze, before padding soggily down the stairs to the steam rooms.
The steam rooms too were a wonderful experience - there are four, and the steam is scented with different essential oils in each room. We guessed eucalyptus, jasmine, pine and peppermint! We did not stay long in each as we are fainty types and found the steam a bit stifling, cooling ourselves down in between steam doses in the large central shower.
Lastly we made our way to the indoor Minerva pool - very modern, despite the Roman name. We had ago in the very gentle Jacuzzi before discovering the Lazy River, a current that pulls you round the edge of the pool. Great fun, we went round and round and round in it! One woman tried to swim against the current, she made very slow progress but no doubt it helped her fitness levels.
We loved it, and our skin felt lovely and smooth afterwards thanks to the natural Bath mineral water. A great idea, even if it was built SOMEWHAT over budget!
Patrick arrived back from the rugby somewhat overexcited - turned out Bath had narrowly avoided defeat, as Sale had missed a penalty just before the ball went out of play at the end of the match. Think our girly spa day was much more relaxing! Patrick had obviously enjoyed the rugby though.
Next day we visited Bradford-upon-Avon, a very pretty town but shhh, don't tel the developers! The Tithe Barn, canal/river area and Saxon church were particularly lovely. Near the Tithe Barn were also some lovely shops and galleries, one with displays from female artists, lending more girliness to the weekend! Patrick is quite easygoing though, he didn't mind us sisters doing our girly-things as well.
We had a good pint of Wadworth Malt and Hops at the Dandy Lion, also nice Sunday lunch.
Another superb weekend - didn't last long enough!
Unfortunately the slightly cheaper Cross Bath was full, but we managed to get into the main spa with the rooftop pool. The views from this were beautiful - really good view of the city and the hills surrounding Bath. I cursed leaving my glasses in the locker! We did rather wish we'd brought bath robes and flip flops with us, as we got out from this 35 C (naturally) heated pool and got caught by the Autumn breeze, before padding soggily down the stairs to the steam rooms.
The steam rooms too were a wonderful experience - there are four, and the steam is scented with different essential oils in each room. We guessed eucalyptus, jasmine, pine and peppermint! We did not stay long in each as we are fainty types and found the steam a bit stifling, cooling ourselves down in between steam doses in the large central shower.
Lastly we made our way to the indoor Minerva pool - very modern, despite the Roman name. We had ago in the very gentle Jacuzzi before discovering the Lazy River, a current that pulls you round the edge of the pool. Great fun, we went round and round and round in it! One woman tried to swim against the current, she made very slow progress but no doubt it helped her fitness levels.
We loved it, and our skin felt lovely and smooth afterwards thanks to the natural Bath mineral water. A great idea, even if it was built SOMEWHAT over budget!
Patrick arrived back from the rugby somewhat overexcited - turned out Bath had narrowly avoided defeat, as Sale had missed a penalty just before the ball went out of play at the end of the match. Think our girly spa day was much more relaxing! Patrick had obviously enjoyed the rugby though.
Next day we visited Bradford-upon-Avon, a very pretty town but shhh, don't tel the developers! The Tithe Barn, canal/river area and Saxon church were particularly lovely. Near the Tithe Barn were also some lovely shops and galleries, one with displays from female artists, lending more girliness to the weekend! Patrick is quite easygoing though, he didn't mind us sisters doing our girly-things as well.
We had a good pint of Wadworth Malt and Hops at the Dandy Lion, also nice Sunday lunch.
Another superb weekend - didn't last long enough!
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