Beth's wedding

 

The final wedding was my friends Nick & Beth. I first met Beth in the loos at work crying her eyes out over her missing cat. Although the cat didn't come back (alas) and although there were many more tears (mostly from my side as I was dating some very unsuitable boys at this point) our friendship has lasted over the years. What I really admire about Beth is that she sees what she wants and goes and gets it. 

 

This can be quite intimidating at points but in Nick she has found a partner for the adventure, and this was to be a double celebration because Nick has just been offered (and has accepted) a job in Dubai. They fly out in August and will be very much missed. Highlights of the wedding (apart from the very fine bunting obviously)

were handwritten embarrassing stories on each table (one per guest, thanks Beth!) the fantastic summer theme (pims on arrival anyone?) and I've got to say it the grooms father who as well as being a thoroughly nice chap, works for the Times writing crosswords, and had written one for the day of  the wedding, with a secret Nick & Beth theme (he is here on the right)

Congratulations Nick & Beth!

 

Bunting - finished at last

So for the last week Jam & I have been working non stop on bunting for my friend Beth's wedding. Unfortunately I got really ill on Monday & Tuesday last week, so we were behind schedule with everything to do. You may remember the fabrics a pale pink, cream and mint green. Jam was an absolute star cutting out all the triangles and cutting the lengths of bias binding that we were attaching them to. Then all that was left to do is sew. The finished bunting was 100m in total in 5 & 10 m lengths. Here it all is on Tuesday morning waiting to be taken to work to give to the anxious bride

 

As an extra treat (and to make the bunting extra special) I added felt letters and hearts detailing the bride and grooms names.

Here it is in the only arrangement I could manage to fit it all in (it should say, and indeed does when laid out, Nick + Beth. Beth was really pleased with her deluxe bunting and plans to pin the embellished bit behind the top table at their wedding on Saturday. I can't wait to see it!  

Theo's Christening

You remember my friend Lisa? I made her a wedding dress, you can see that here if you missed it. Anyway Lisa moved back to Sweden pretty much straight after the wedding with her new husband and a year later the family expanded again with the introduction of Theo to the world.  I did the obvious thing and knitted Theo a monkey (who can be seen here).

 This weekend Lisa, Crispin & Theo returned to the UK to see Theo blessed a the same church his parents got married in (all together now awww). It was lovely to finally meet the little guy (although he was pretty tired after his big day) & lovely to catch up with Lisa & Crispin They are now settled in Sweden and we hope to go and see them all and the new house very soon.

Lea's wedding

So this weekend we attended the very lovely wedding of our friends Lea and Rich. The bride looked stunning in a gown trimmed with bright pink and the service was lovely, both parties having written theirh  own vows and Lea's sister reading out a poem written especially for the occasion.

 The awwws kept coming as Rich showed the video of when he proposed (in a karaoke bar in Tokyo to the sweet sounds of Snow Patrol 'just say yes' oh and she did) you can see the video here

congratulations both, I'm sure many years of wedded bliss will follow & thanks for inviting us to be part of your special day!

A Jam plan (or invasion)

So after a year and a bit together my beloved Jam has finally agreed to move into Mason du Rose! To say that I'm really excited would be an understatement but I'm a little scared as well (what if it doesn't work out? What if Jam can't sleep? What if I'm actually really annoying and he just hasn't realised it yet???). For the moment however the excitement is winning out. The date for the move has been set after we return from Ben's wedding in Korea, we've made a few provisional plans (such as we are going to move into what was formally Dave's room, but it will contain mostly Jam's stuff, he is busy fiddling about with layout plans at the moment but it seems it will contain many LED lights...) and I'm hoping that we'll get round to tackling a few of the rooms in need of a makeover (we've already started sprusing up the garden, and bought a new bookcase for the spare room (on which Mabel is currently residing, convinced she is a shelf cat). So here are a few him and me shots from around our house at the moment (Jam is practically living here already but it will be nice when its just the two of us, witchcat and the chickens).

Lunch at Hogwarts

As part of the literature festival Hogwarts (or as it is in real life Christchurch College) threw open its doors for families to enjoy its glorious surroundings.

As I am Harry Potter mad I couldn't pass up this opportunity so gathered up some family, (mine are ginned up enjoying the good life in Torquay (which seemed a bit far to come for lunch)) so I gathered James Dad and Stepmum instead.

 

James stepmum, the wonderful Kate, she paints and is doing an Open University degree in English at the moment (fantastic woman). 

 

Dinner was a choice of roast (I opted for the pork) served among the fantastic surroundings of the real Hogwarts. Dessert was rhubarb crumble and Custard. Here are Jam & I (Jam sulking slightly as I insisted in going in 'witches uniform' & sadly I was the only one). People of Oxfordshire we expect a better turn out next year, we are known for being eccentric you know!