What a weekend.
Saturday
Under the large Oak tree at Holmsted Manor, Sussex, I witnessed my wonderful friend Adam marry his beautiful bride Victoria. It was a stunning wedding and the weather held up it's side of things by remaining dry and bright, on the occasion a little chilly.
Beautifully presented cream tea awaited the eager guests after a variety of photographic manoeuvres - women, heels and grass.
This was also an excellent evening for GB's Athletics team. In between Athletics, I definitely dipped into a casual episode of Miss Marple and had a cheeky debate with the lad in the chippy about battered sausages (that sounds rude, but it wasn't).
A most excellent evening.
Sunday
Woods, Dens, Mask-making, Tree Houses and flat tyres.
So Mel's boi is a proper lad. He builds dens and sleeps in the forest and runs adventure days in the woods. It's pretty awesome / exciting / wish I'd had something like that when I was young ...
Mel and I gave Tom a hand with a group of young people that came along - we made masks out of green/brown/orange paints, ferns, sticks, pine cones (the conical fruit of the pine tree - thanks Dad) etc - things that the kids could find in the woods around them.
Then we went hunting for 'the nasty king' - Mel and I went 'blind' and the kids had to find us bilberries to help protect our sight. It was most wonderful.
Then.
Mel.
New car - Frank.
Alloy Wheels.
Driving round the corner, Natasha Bedingfield blaring, Mel was faced with a stand off against another car - an Audi. The Audi refused to move.
Mel had to swerve up onto the kerb. The tyre could not handle it.
*Tsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss......*
Thankfully, God sent a cheeky angelic presence in the form of a middle aged man called Nigel, who used to be a mechanic.
I mean, obviously, we could have handled it. But Nige was more than competent. Legend.
TO LONDON.
*Boom, Phe, Te, Boom, Boom, Phe, Khe, Chi* (It's not easy to beatbox in words)
On route to the Beatboxing Championships in Islington, we swung by Camden for some delicious Mexican food - which went all over my white dress. Thanks - great work.
Anyway, much dancing, beatboxing and showing off later - a massive group of people, both skilled with beats and not so, were hanging out around Spoons in Islington till around 12.20 in the morning.
When finally Mel and Tom realised we needed to leave so as not to miss the last train, we had definitely missed the last train. So got a train to Woking and then had to taxi. Home by 2. Mental.
Taxi driver, swine ... When Tom paid him, another note had snuck its way within the note he handed him. And he didn't say anything. Rude.
Monday
After the train mishap, we had what should have been a delightful lie-in, except for the living alarm-clock that belongs to the neighbours. Cockerel.
Garage, Town, Cream Tea, Sainsbury's ... HOME to BAKE cookies.
Turns out, although I know I can't cook, I've known for a long time. I, however, continue to believe that I will be able to at some point - and seek the wise teachings of others. Unhelpful to my cooking journey, Mel's ability to bake cookies is as shot as mine. I ended up with cherry and almond 'cookies' ... and sort of lemon cake/cookies. I mean, they tasted delish, obv. But turns out I need to do some work on my skills.
Hannah, Mel's housemate, introduced me to her blog and twitter - she is flipping hilarious: http://braingoround.blogspot.co.uk/ we debated about the quality of Rhyming poetry ... and told stories.
Pub Quiz - TEQUILA.
Tuesday
Oxford.
So, drove to Sam's for about 2 - where we chilled out with some Olympics and played some Basketball. I say we ... I definitely chilled out with some Olympics - but not so sure how much of the Basketball I actually took part in. I sort of stood there and caught the ball and passed it back ... tried to mark Sam, but I am 5'2 and he's 6'1 ... 'nuf said.
A dinner of poached fish, curried rice, raisins and egg ... it has a name apparently, I don't know what it was. It was the most unusual dish I might have ever eaten - and I've been around (lolz). Really nice though.
Casual stroll to the nearby pub where beer was drank and conversations were had.
Rain. I love the rain.
Wednesday
After a morning of great conversation and coffee - I stole Bon Iver's album, Sam moved the bird in my car (a hilarious in-joke from Easter) and I drove home. WITHOUT NAVIGATION. Check me. I drove home. Without. Help.
Freaking YES.
I want to write about how lucky I am, what a great time I had, but these seem so cliche and not even close to how I would want to say it.
So, I will leave this post here. Happy and contented with my 4 day southern excursion.
Saturday
Under the large Oak tree at Holmsted Manor, Sussex, I witnessed my wonderful friend Adam marry his beautiful bride Victoria. It was a stunning wedding and the weather held up it's side of things by remaining dry and bright, on the occasion a little chilly.
Beautifully presented cream tea awaited the eager guests after a variety of photographic manoeuvres - women, heels and grass.
This was also an excellent evening for GB's Athletics team. In between Athletics, I definitely dipped into a casual episode of Miss Marple and had a cheeky debate with the lad in the chippy about battered sausages (that sounds rude, but it wasn't).
A most excellent evening.
Sunday
Woods, Dens, Mask-making, Tree Houses and flat tyres.
So Mel's boi is a proper lad. He builds dens and sleeps in the forest and runs adventure days in the woods. It's pretty awesome / exciting / wish I'd had something like that when I was young ...
Mel and I gave Tom a hand with a group of young people that came along - we made masks out of green/brown/orange paints, ferns, sticks, pine cones (the conical fruit of the pine tree - thanks Dad) etc - things that the kids could find in the woods around them.
Then we went hunting for 'the nasty king' - Mel and I went 'blind' and the kids had to find us bilberries to help protect our sight. It was most wonderful.
Then.
Mel.
New car - Frank.
Alloy Wheels.
Driving round the corner, Natasha Bedingfield blaring, Mel was faced with a stand off against another car - an Audi. The Audi refused to move.
Mel had to swerve up onto the kerb. The tyre could not handle it.
*Tsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss......*
Thankfully, God sent a cheeky angelic presence in the form of a middle aged man called Nigel, who used to be a mechanic.
I mean, obviously, we could have handled it. But Nige was more than competent. Legend.
TO LONDON.
*Boom, Phe, Te, Boom, Boom, Phe, Khe, Chi* (It's not easy to beatbox in words)
On route to the Beatboxing Championships in Islington, we swung by Camden for some delicious Mexican food - which went all over my white dress. Thanks - great work.
Anyway, much dancing, beatboxing and showing off later - a massive group of people, both skilled with beats and not so, were hanging out around Spoons in Islington till around 12.20 in the morning.
When finally Mel and Tom realised we needed to leave so as not to miss the last train, we had definitely missed the last train. So got a train to Woking and then had to taxi. Home by 2. Mental.
Taxi driver, swine ... When Tom paid him, another note had snuck its way within the note he handed him. And he didn't say anything. Rude.
Monday
After the train mishap, we had what should have been a delightful lie-in, except for the living alarm-clock that belongs to the neighbours. Cockerel.
Garage, Town, Cream Tea, Sainsbury's ... HOME to BAKE cookies.
Turns out, although I know I can't cook, I've known for a long time. I, however, continue to believe that I will be able to at some point - and seek the wise teachings of others. Unhelpful to my cooking journey, Mel's ability to bake cookies is as shot as mine. I ended up with cherry and almond 'cookies' ... and sort of lemon cake/cookies. I mean, they tasted delish, obv. But turns out I need to do some work on my skills.
Hannah, Mel's housemate, introduced me to her blog and twitter - she is flipping hilarious: http://braingoround.blogspot.co.uk/ we debated about the quality of Rhyming poetry ... and told stories.
Pub Quiz - TEQUILA.
Tuesday
Oxford.
So, drove to Sam's for about 2 - where we chilled out with some Olympics and played some Basketball. I say we ... I definitely chilled out with some Olympics - but not so sure how much of the Basketball I actually took part in. I sort of stood there and caught the ball and passed it back ... tried to mark Sam, but I am 5'2 and he's 6'1 ... 'nuf said.
A dinner of poached fish, curried rice, raisins and egg ... it has a name apparently, I don't know what it was. It was the most unusual dish I might have ever eaten - and I've been around (lolz). Really nice though.
Casual stroll to the nearby pub where beer was drank and conversations were had.
Rain. I love the rain.
Wednesday
After a morning of great conversation and coffee - I stole Bon Iver's album, Sam moved the bird in my car (a hilarious in-joke from Easter) and I drove home. WITHOUT NAVIGATION. Check me. I drove home. Without. Help.
Freaking YES.
I want to write about how lucky I am, what a great time I had, but these seem so cliche and not even close to how I would want to say it.
So, I will leave this post here. Happy and contented with my 4 day southern excursion.
Hurray! It really was that fun! Happy I got a mention I feel honoured! Come back sooooon!xxx
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