Journal
General journal/diary entries
Wedding Venue plans
Pete and I have sorted out a rough guest list and it looks like we’ll be keeping it small with about 30-40 guests, maybe even as few as 25.
We’ve looked online at a few venues, but really we need to start contacting places for proper quotes and venue details. I emailed The Chapel on The Hill (where by brother was married) this morning for photographs and prices as they don’t seem to have a very good website set up. On the weekend we looked at Crinkey Bottom across the road from Pete’s folks house, and I must say it looks lovely. We’ve been there many times for wine tasting evenings, and they have now also built a bridged island on the lake for wedding ceremonies, and it’s truly beautiful.
The thatched reception room also looks truly gorgeous decked out for a wedding, so they are definitely a serious contender :)?
Shoulder Tattoo Expansion
Today I had my shoulder tattoo expanded 🙂 I’m very very happy with the result.
Done by César De Cesaro @ Body Garden Tattoo, Birmingham, UK
http://www.unmasquerade.com/wp-login.php
Slipping in public, Sean Locke, Karaoke @ Janine’s
Friday night we went to see a comedian in Wolverhampton. We had front row seats for Sean Locke’s Lockipedia Tour. We were making our was to our seats when I slipped on our way down the centre isle. It happened really really quickly, one moment I was walking, and the next thing I was on the floor. I think it was polish on the floor I slipped on because I didn’t twist my ankle or anything, my feet just went sideways from under me. Thankfully it was near the back so not very many people saw, but those nearby turned in their seats. A few girls asked if I was ok, while I was still processing what had just happened and started getting to my feet. Very embarrassing! A member of staff was next to me like a shot and insisted I go with her to their little emergency room to be checked by on site paramedics and so they could log it in their accident book. I fell pretty hard, landing on my right side. I bashed my elbow and hip quite hard, but currently no bruising has appeared, just all the muscles down my right side are strained so it feels like I’ve done a 1000 pushups with one arm.
We went on to enjoy the show though and had some good laughs. Not the very best comedian we have seen. There were some parts that were hilarious, and other bits that I just didn’t find funny. But all in all it was a good night out.
Saturday night we went around to my cousin Janine’s for supper and drink. We had a right laugh and ended up singing Karaoke through Virgin Media. It was great. When we got home Pete and I discovered we also have access to karaoke through Our Virgin Media box too! 🙂
Wedding Date is Set!!
Pete and I have set a date!
(¯`·._.· 22 September 2012 ·._.·´¯)
It’s small but important progress. Now we can seriously start looking at venues and booking things.
Smiling Dream, Secret Agent Training, Dinner with Pete
A strange day at work today. I had a dream that I was walking down a road and there was a guy that I knew in my dream (not in real life though) and he was saying I should smile, as I used to smile all the time and now I don’t. It got me thinking that that is actually true. I need to smile all the time again, and be the positive person I used to be before the real world disillusioned me.
The x* guys were doing a training exercise at our offices again today. They are basically high level private security guys that protect high profile people, that come to carry out fictitious security scenarios, and train and survey as if it were a real situation. They are basically guys in suits and ear pieces, that walk around looking at the building, taking photos and analyze security risks; and pretending they have to protect our boss from an imminent threat. It’s always quite strange and secretive when they come. They come here because one of the senior trainers is friends with our boss.
(* it’s a secret!)
Pete emailed me asking if I wanted to go out for dinner with him tonight. I’m looking forward to that 🙂
Photos from Ted
My Uncle Ted visited on the weekend just gone. He was down to help Janine and Lorraine start sorting out affairs for my Aunty Sandra’s house. He stopped in for a visit with us on Sunday and brought me a gift. Prints of old retouched portraits of my Sas Grandparents and all 4 of my Great Grandparents also on my Dad’s side. I was really touched that he did that for me. I’ve never seem photos of my Great Grandparents before so it was very interesting to me. I should try do some research and see if I can find out their names.
Aunty Tracey’s Wedding
I realised what with the excitement of my Niece Macayla arriving, that I had forgot to journal about my Aunt Tracey’s wedding on Friday 24 September.
We had a truly wonderful day! It was chiller that we would have hoped, but the rain stayed away the whole day so we can’t complain too much. The ceremony was at the Stafford Register Office. A really nice building, fitted with dark wood panneling, that felt old and prestigious, yet warm and cosy. Uncle Kevin was the best man and jokingly changed the wedding rings on the ring cushion to pull rings from beer cans. It was a good ceremony with lots of giggles and a few tears. The reception was at Lea Hall in Rugelely. We ate quite early then everyone left for a relax before returning for the evening party. And Party we did. I had such a lovely day with family, laughing drinking and dancing, it was really special.
Nostalgia of the Changing Seasons
Today is the first wintery feeling day. 2 Weeks ago was the first day I felt the shift from summer to autumn, but today it’s definitely wintery. I was breathing thick mist on my way to work this morning.
When I feel the shift in the changing seasons I always feel strange. It almost feels like a deep sense of nostalgia. As soon as you feel the change it’s like a rush of memories from winters or summers past. I used to get the same feeling in South Africa with the changing seasons, but it’s much much stronger here in England. It’s quite a hard feeling to describe really, it’s a rather intense emotional one, but deeply rooted to the seasons and climate. And a nice feeling too. Isn’t it strange? I feel like a bit of a hippy going on about it like this really.
Today this feeling reminds me of going to House-sit for Pete’s cousin Bergitte in Whitchurch. They usually go away in November and we’ve looked after their house for the last 2 years. I wonder if they will this year. Red wine, low light and a log fire. It’s sheer heaven!
Macayla is Born!!
Last night my niece Macayla was born!!
Yes, I am finally an Aunty 🙂 My Brother’s wife, Haylie had originally been booked in for a C Section on 18th October, but little Mac decided she didn’t want to wait that long and Haylie’s waters broke last night. My brother txt me at 21:32 last night with a photo of Haylie to say they were at the hospital and were having the baby tonight. Obviously I was surprised as we didn’t expect her this soon, but she was delivered by C Section 2 hours later! My Mum phoned me immediately to tell me I am an Aunty, and we both just cried for joy 🙂 She’s 3.1 Kgs and perfectly healthy. I’m so, so, so happy. Words just can’t express it. It’s times like this I really hate being so very far away. I wish I was there to give her a kiss myself, but I’ll have to rely on photos, txts, emails and facebook for now.
