Sad Day

Sad day today as it was Granddad's funeral.  Very nice service at the crem followed by a wake at the Wheatsheaf in Waddington and then the family went on to Mum's.  K and I gave a lift to Lucy, Will and Sarah and getting from the Wheatsheaf to Brant Road turned out to be quite an adventure.  It had been snowing for quite a while but we hadn't really realised just how heavy it was.  By the time it came for us to go to Mum's, it was very difficult to get down the hill.  We tried Waddington hill and Cross O'Cliff hill before eventually making it down Harmston... just.  It took us two hours to do about two miles and hundreds of people around Lincoln had similar stories.  We're just not used to heavy snow.

Weekend in Wokingham with Jo and Tony

Keren had booked us (and Jo & Tony) a weekend at St Anne's Manor, Wokingham - one of Hilton's country house hotels.  We drove down on the Friday night and met them for dinner and a few drinks in the bar.

On the Saturday the girls used the health club while Tony and I had a round of golf at the Downshire Golf Complex.  I carded a gross 93 which is my 13th round under 100 - I was quite pleased considering it's a course that I don't know.  We had a posh dinner in the main restaurant and then travelled home again on the Sunday.  All the food, the drink and the 4* accommodation set each couple back about £150 - I'm loving Keren's discount!

Best Golf Bloopers - love the guy at 4:19

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.