Evian-les-Bains

K and I have had a week in four star luxury staying at the Hilton in Evian-les-Bains (where the water comes from) in the French alps.  We drove down to Luton on Friday night and stayed overnight there (curry, obviously).  We were able to leave our car at the hotel for the week and get a cab to the airport - which is only 10 minutes from the middle of Luton so very convenient.  We flew to Geneva where we picked up our rental car (was hoping for a Twingo but got a Yaris) and drove the couple of hours to Evian.

It's a traditional spa town although the current Evian bottling plant has moved to Thonon (about 5 miles away).  It's been very grand in it's day and still boasts several large hotels and a casino.  Evian is on the southern shore of Lake Geneva (or Lac Leman as the French call it) and the alps form the backdrop to the town.  All-in-all there is some spectacular scenery.

October is in-between the main summer season and the winter ski season so everything was fairly quiet (which makes getting a table for dinner very easy) - we're easily pleased though and just enjoy mooching about having a look at different places.  Give us a bar and pack of cards and we're happy!

We had one day in Annecy which is an beautiful town that Keren knew from her time as a student in France.  Another couple of days walking and driving in the mountains around Thollon and Larringes.  A boat trip to Lausanne on the Swiss side of the lake where we visited the Olympic museum and the cathedral; and a day in Yvoire which is medieval village to the west of Evian.

It's a beautiful part of the world and a very relaxing place to spend some time.

Ryder Cup 2010

The Ryder Cup is with us again - surely every golf fan's favourite event.  A chance for little old Europe to take on the might of the US PGA.  Unfortunately (for me), Sky have the TV rights to the coverage but fortunately (for me) I have a very accomodating mate called Ross who doesn't mind me moving in to his house for the weekend!

The plan was to go over on Friday night and stay until Sunday but the atrocious weather at Celtic Manor meant the entire schedule was turned upside down.  Who'd have thought it?  Rain in October in South Wales!  In the end, I skipped Friday altogether and went over on Saturday and stayed until Sunday.  We watched a lot of golf, drank a fair amount of beer and enjoyed a good curry.  Oh, by the way, Europe stuffed the Yanks.  Sweet.

Dawn & Karl cutting their cake

This is a live post direct from the banks of the river Sincil. It's Saturday night and K and I are enjoying Dawn & Karl's wedding party. Will try to post a video of K dancing to YMCA.

Langley's Charity Quiz 2010

I was part of Danwood's crack team of general knowledge know-it-alls this week.  Every year Langley's Solicitors organise a charity quiz night for their clients and we have entered a team in each of the last four or five.

There were six on our team and we were delighted to eventually finish second to the team from Dynex.  That's the best ever performance by a Danwood team.  No prizes other than being able to wear a smug expression but that's enough.

Really well organised do as usual, and over £1000 was raised for the Alzheimer's Society.

Patricia and Steve's Wedding

What a terrific day we've had today.  Steven and Patricia tied the knot and Clint and I were very proud to be Steve's "best men" - as we said in the speech, Steve couldn't find one best man so he got two barely competent ones instead.

The day started when I picked Steve up at about 9:30 and we headed to Clint's.  Emma had knocked up a full cooked breakfast for us - even some Buck's Fizz.

Clint's car was be-ribboned and he drove Steve and I out to the Petwood Hotel in Woodhall Spa.  On arrival, we met the photographer and the videographer before getting changed into our finery.  Once we were dressed it was back outside into the beautiful gardens for some more photographs.  We found time for a quick pint just to steady the Groom's nerves!

 

We moved inside for the ceremony where a harpist was providing just the right background ambiance.  Patricia arrived late (as is her prerogative) but she looked stunning.  The civil ceremony was done really well, Steve's Mum and Dad both did readings and Clint and I even managed to hand over the rings on time.

After the ceremony, we moved back into the gardens for group photographs and a glass or two of Pimms.  The weather was superb all day and the beautiful gardens gave the photographer so many options.

After the photos, we ushered everyone inside for the receiving line and the wedding breakfast.  Superb food - a great bit of beef - was followed by the speeches.  Pat and Steve did great speeches and lots of people said that they enjoyed Clint and my speech too - we certainly enjoyed delivering it and got some laughs (and a few gasps!).

After dinner the room was quickly turned around and the DJ and band took over.  The band were superb - they played covers representing all eras from the 60s to date.  Everything they played kept the dancefloor absolutely packed.

S & P had chosen a hog roast for the evening and crackling was delicious, mmmmmm pig fat.....

All round a brilliant day and now they're sunning themselves in the Maldives.

Harmstock 2010

Harmstock was just as good as always.  Lots of good beer, lots of good music, what more could you want - well a bit of proper August weather perhaps?  It was bloody freezing and blowing a gale.

K and I were joined by Pete, Ginny, Ted, Yvette, Steve, Nick, Jo, Tony, Andy and George (who was working).  My favourite tipple was the Beijing Black, a mild from the Potbelly Brewery in Kettering.

Macclesfield with Ian and Louise

It was off to visit Ian and Louise in Cheshire at the weekend.  I took the train from Saxilby International - it's a beautiful journey across the Peak District.  Keren was working in Macclesfield so she picked me up from the station.

The house is great and it was brilliant to see them, Louise's baby is due next week so we tried not to put her to too much effort!  Had a meal out and a couple of pints on the Friday night.  On Saturday we went for a walk in the countryside with Bailey the beagle before heading back East.

Really great to see them both and we won't leave such a long gap before the next visit.

The Blues Brothers aka Su's Brothers

Saturday night and it was off to Su and Quentin's in Amersham for Su's birthday party. It was an important birthday but I'm not going to tell you which one.

The family had organised a terrific party with food and wine and music - there was a stage and dancefloor set up in the garden and were entertained by a Blues Brothers tribute act.

Top quality evening - happy birthday Su!

Mandy & Stef's Wedding

Thursday night we headed down to Bedfordshire in anticipation of Mandy and Stef's wedding.  We had a great curry (everything half price for some random reason) then went for a couple of beers in a cracking little GBG pub called The Wellington - try it if you're in the area.

The wedding was on Friday, it was a really intimate ceremony in the Swiss Cottage at the Shuttleworth Collection, followed by a wedding breakfast at the Black Horse in Ireland (the village near Bedford, not the other one).  Only about 20 guests at the wedding and a very enjoyable afternoon which showed that you don't need to be elaborate and sometimes the simplest events are the best.

Dicko's Stag Do

It was to Bristol this weekend for Steve's stag do.  It's a city I really like so I was pleased when he picked it as a location.  There were 10 of us for the weekend - seven from Lincoln and we travelled down in a two car convoy.

After checking in at the Premier Inn, we headed into town for the evening.  Obviously we sampled quite a few of the city's top public houses and kebab emporia.

Saturday saw us breakfasting in Wetherspoons before travelling together by minibus to Max Events where Clint and I had organised an afternoon of activities.  First we had a go in hovercraft (click here to see the video), then it was archery before finishing with offroad buggies.  We found out that 'gimps were scary'.

Minibussed it back to town and in the evening we headed to the Grosvenor Casino for our own private poker game.  It was great way to spend the evening - the casino treated us like VIPs and I think everyone really enjoyed it.  At about midnight (after a couple of pubs) we headed to Reflex for some 80s nostalgia.  There was a stage with a pole and I don't think Steve left it alone all night!

Sunday morning meant another Wether-brekkie before we got back on the road North.  I couldn't believe how chipper Steve was considering the massive amount of mucky drinks that he consumed.  As it turns out, the depression didn't hit until Monday.

Very memorable weekend - no deaths, no injuries and I think everyone enjoyed it.  Roll on the wedding.