Guildford Evening

Saturday 9 March 2013

In the evening we went for Tapas, rather overwhelming the restaurant.

 New faces: Dad and Jane in the foreground, Sasha and Judith either side of Dave on the right, Helene and Stammy on the left behind Jono

 And at the other end, Phillie, Oliver, Elizabeth on the left,
Isabella between George and Richie on the right

Lovely, overexcited London friends!

This is where we had a go at Greek dancing - slightly inappropriate in a Spanish restaurant

Before returning to Jono's to find Helene had baked a cake and Isabella had iced it - how marvellous!  Helene gave me a tune-playing trowel to cut it with, which was slightly disconcerting.

Even Mum seemed to be enjoying herself, especially once the music started.  Stammy played piano, Sasha and Phillie sang, Dave and Richie played guitar - what an exceptionally talented lot!

We had a wonderful time - thank you to everyone who made the effort to join us in Redcar, Coldstream and Guildford

Guildford Morning

Saturday 9 March 2013

Collecting Richie, we drove the penultimate stretch to Guildford, to stay with Jono and his family, meet up with Dad and Jane, cousin Judith, George and his girlfriend Phillie, and see some London friends: Sasha, Stamatia and Charlie.

Saturday morning, invited ourselves to breakfast at Dad's hotel, which had this amazing screen shot of an open fire in this little box in reception - surely counts as misapplied technology?

Richie getting very enthusiastic about Anthropology

Meeting up with George and Phillie.  Dave trying to dodge out of the shot, which is a pity.  This is when we were (unsuccessfully) trawling Guildford for the Everton match, to keep George happy.

Canterbury Trails

Friday 8 March 2013

Off again, this time to Canterbury to check out Richie's campus and digs.  He seems to be having trouble with his room mates!

London Eco Interlude

6 to 7 March 2013

Next day we headed south.  The weather was worsening, and we drove through fog for a lot of the way back to Derby, where we stayed the night and left early for the scary drive into London.

Arrived, safe and sound.  Dave on the balcony overlooking the foggy Thames, with tea and gluten-free Jaffa cakes (what joy).

 

 The only shot I took of the flat Nick and Mike arranged for us in London - there's a huge window behind those curtains.  A very nice space for a couple of days, and a chance for Dave to catch up with his guitar practice

 Thames transport to the Ecobuild conference, which was one of the main reasons we had decided to come to the UK at this time, in the first place.

 Straw bale building and Earth plaster demonstrations at Ecobuild.  We are still considering strawbale for our northern walls, it makes sense, if we can only get hold of reasonable build-quality bales.

 

Dave tries out a tiny electric Renault - more roomy than it looks

Later that day

4 March 2013

I suppose if most of your close relatives are male, and the after-wedding drinks are in a pub, it is almost inevitable that games of pool and darts will be played.  It's not exactly what I expected of my wedding night!  (And a bit risky, given how close the dartboard was to the pool table.)  However, many thanks to the Besom Inn Coldstream for their hospitality and friendliness all that day and for allowing us to colonise the pool room as we did.

with Nick, hot on the heels of the perfect shot, unable to stop shooting the wedding video.

And a bit later again, back at the Calico, for an impromptu jam session, Dave and Rob playing together while some of us danced, followed by Richie and his backing singers.

Unfortunately, around about now, an unnoticed greasy fingerprint found its way onto my camera lens, so that for a few days all my pictures have a rather misty quality!

Wedding Daze

Monday 4 March 2013

Wedding Day - Dave and Rob spent some time together, while I went to have my hair fluffed - it turned out that Coldstream is largely closed on a Monday, and the hairdresser (Matthew, at Athena) had opened specially, which was very nice of him.

Linda and Ian arrived from Redcar, bringing Clare and baby Leo, so we were all present and correct.  My half-sisters Annie and Alice were willing to be bridesmaids, and as this only really required them to go shopping for booze from the co-op for the evening, they were more than happy to oblige.

 Linda & Ian talking to Mum

George with Alice and Annie

At the ceremony - the moment that says it all 

(caption for Dave, please)

 The very lovely Marriage Room in Coldstream

 Lesley Stone, Registrar par extraordinaire,
who did such a good job all through to make it a fantastic experience

Our wonderful witnesses, who did a great job with the readings, Julie and Arthur.

Dave getting a little emotional -
mostly as a reaction to his Eric Clapton reading from 'Wonderful Tonight'

The gang's all here 

(except Linda, who wouldn't stop taking photos long enough to be in one!)

Coldstream, warm hearts

Sunday 3 March 2013

Loading Rob, Tanya, lots of wedding baggage, and two guitars into our little rental, we drove on up to Coldstream, the nice weather continuing.  Found our rooms at the Castle Hotel - which were very nice, and easily accessible by the side door to the car park, and had this lovely bridal print by Chagall on the wall.

 

My family were set up in the four-bed self catered Calico apartment in the High Street, so we had a gathering place, but before long, inevitably, we found ourselves in the pub.

And later on, with everyone gathered together, in an Indian restaurant.

Oyster party

Saturday 2 March 2013

Not a Stag do, not a Hen party, just drinks with friends.  Dave slept for most of Friday and Saturday morning, and was recovered enough by the evening to go to his own pre-wedding bash.  Lots of Lifeboatmen, family and even my cousin Amanda all the way from Cirencester, via Penrith, having driven over the Pennines in her longest solo flight since passing the test last year.

Ooops!  Must be time to go home ...