The Wedding - Guests

There were many, many guests.    Family members of course, plus friends of Patrick and Donna.    We only have a few photographs of guests, due to being too busy being the parents of the bride.   It is very unusual of me not to be out there snapping pictures of people, I know. But this time I failed to do so.   Walter took the few photographs that we do have, at this point in time.

Aaron, Kylie, Mia and Abi, plus me in the front row, all waiting for the bridal party to arrive.   Great excitement.

Steve and Jackson looking very smart, and relaxed too.

Scott's friends, James and Michael, with Elliot behind them.    James does look a little unsure.

The line up!  Patrick's friends, all with a part to play in the wedding celebrations.   They were fantastic at organising everyone, and keeping events going at a good pace.

Donna, with her two friends, Sue and Jan.    Jan was the chief organiser and advisor for Donna, a part that both Donna and I very much appreciated.

Everyone sitting at the table, and waiting on their turn to go the buffet, which was in the next room.  A hog roast, and salads.

One of the toasts, I think.

The top table, with Scott in a pensive mood, just before he was to make his speech.

Patrick and Donna cutting the cake.    The cakes were made by the mother of one of Patrick's friends.   Beautifully iced and delicious too.

It was really great to catch up with all Donna's friends, and meet Patrick's family and friends.     A very happy occasion for everyone, as well as for Patrick and Donna of course.

The Wedding - Family

Patrick's family were out in full force, from Scotland and from Wales.    And our family were there too, from England and the Netherlands.    It would have been great to have Darren there too, and of course all our other family members from Australia and New Zealand.  But those countries are a great distance away.   Thank goodness we have the  internet, which is a great way of sharing experiences.  

Donna and Emma, two beautiful sisters.   

Emma, sharing lots of smiles with Kylie and Mary.    Mary is Patrick's mother.    Mary wore a very elegant green dress and Kylie wore an equally elegant gold dress.

The bride with her attendants, Rose, Molly, Lucy and Emma.   Donna's dress was ivory, and the bridesmaids dresses were a shimmery blue.   Lucy and Molly had white net over their skirts.   The bouquets were made with fresh roses.

Donna and Patrick, with Scott and Lucy and Patrick's daughter, Molly.     I love this photograph.

Walter and I, dressed for the occasion.   Walter, looking very dapper in his suit, and me, looking the part, as mother of the bride, in my clingy dark pink dress.   I might add here that my lipstick and nail polish also matched the dress.

The cutest little bridesmaid.    Molly.

Aaron and Kylie, getting a family photograph taken with Raphy, Mia and Abi.  

Emma and Steve, getting their family photo taken, with Jackson and Isabel.

Cousins together.    Lucy posing with Mia.    Raphy was determined that he would not get his photograph taken.   He enjoyed running up and down the slopes and falling over, so that his new outfit was soon covered in grass stains.   Typical boy.

Scott looking a little tense at this stage.   He was about to give his speech, which he did, very eloquently.   It was a lovely speech as well.

Patrick and Donna with Patrick's family.    A large one like ours, only Patrick has four siblings, whereas Donna has three siblings.

Our family, minus Darren of course.

Darren was in Australia, but kept in contact with us.   We missed you Darren, and Jay and Jespa, and Billie Joe too.

The Wedding - Setting

Pendley Manor, Tring.   

A Victorian manor house set in large gardens, in the green and luxuriant area of Hertfordshire.   Tring and the surrounding areas are very picturesque, with rolling hills, trees and old cottages.   And the pace of life is considerably less than where we live in North Kent/South East London.

The front of the manor house, which of course is now a very large hotel which easily catered for two weddings last Friday.   We were not even aware of the second wedding.   It also caters for conferences and spa weekends.   The grounds are used for events too, with marques set up, and portaloos camouflaged very nicely amongst the trees.  The  annual August Shakespeare festival was in full swing while we were there.

The rooms were sumptuous but a little on the jaded and faded side.   They reminded me of the hotel rooms in old Singapore.   A former glory gone to seed a little. 

The front of the hotel.    Very impressive.   'The Bridal Suite' on the second floor, with bay window, on the right in the picture.   A large very sunny room, but the windows of this room did not open, and there was no airconditioning.  A very hot room in which to prepare for the wedding.  It contained the bride, four bridesmaids and all their attendants for three hours on Friday afternoon.    However, they all emerged looking poised and elegant.    

The front garden.

The setting for the current Shakespeare play being held there, 'Much Ado about Nothing'.    A modern interpretation, from the look of props set out on the stage.   The bright red seating, unseen in this photograph, was on the left of the picture.

Walter, sitting and relaxing in the Shakespeare Bar.    A very comfortable room.

The dining area, which was later set up for the evening disco.    Jan organised the table settings, which included the runners, flowers, candles and glittering pieces.    It all looked very elegant.

Aaron, Steve and the children relaxed in the spa area during the afternoon.

A view off the hotel from the side garden.    The swimming pool and conference area are to the left of the hotel.

We really enjoyed our overnight stay in the hotel, and it was great to get up in the morning and talk to our fellow wedding guests while eating a very relaxed breakfast.

I hope you all noticed the very blue skies in the photographs!

Wedding Day

The 10th August.   The day dawned bright and sunny.    Most unusual weather for this wet summer, but a good omen for a wedding day.     This is the day that Donna and Patrick will get married.

The groom and the best man, looking very resplendent in their dress suits, as they share a joke, whilst waiting for the bride to arrive.    Now is the joke Irish, Welsh or Scottish?    But they look happy and relaxed and that is very important.

The nervous bride arrives, looking very beautiful in her spectacular wedding dress.   Scott also looking very smart in his dress suit, as he also nervously walks alongside his mother.  

The couple signing the register.    A very special moment.

A very happy couple.    Mr and Mrs Radcliffe.

A truly beautiful wedding ceremony.    

Women's Marathon, London 2012

This morning we set off, after checking the weather forecast, in brilliant sunshine, parked the car at Sidcup and caught the train into Charing Cross.    Our aim, to see the Women's Marathon, set amongst the famous streets of London.   Great excitement.    

But alas, when we arrived it was teeming with rain, and people too, of course.   Luckily I had my umbrella tucked away at the bottom of my handbag, not a normal habit, but acquired this year due to the persistent wet weather.   So we set off, close together, both holding the umbrella to keep it stable.

But first 'The Shard', a new building in London Bridge, which looks like a shard of glass, hence its name.   The rain spots are beginning to show on the window of the carriage.   

 The pedestrian bridge by Charing Cross Station.    Plenty of wet people, umbrellas, and sensible people with ponchos over their clothes.   We found out at this point there was no stopping on the bridge.

 So we made our way carefully down the stairs, with great co-ordination, and co-operation, taking place between Walter and me, with one small umbrella between us.    We arrived at the bottom of the stairs just in time to capture a glimpse of the cameras and umbrellas as the runners came past.

 We then continued on our way along the Embankment until we came to an area where the officials were letting people cross to the river side of the road, so we sprinted across, carefully holding the umbrella between us.   And we found a really good spot there, right beside the red telephone box.   Only one line of people in front of us. Brilliant.    Walter was left to hold the umbrella at this point.  I stood very close to him,  very romantic.

And we were rewarded with a great view of the runners as they came past.   And we could also see when they ran on the other side of the road too, as the Embankment was a two way track.    The runners came past on both sides of the road, two more times, which gave us six opportunities to see them, so the three hours went by very quickly.

 The Olympic officials (all volunteers), deep in discussion, about the current state of affairs, not known to us.    The uniforms are very well designed and attractive.   The deep purple tops, with bright red trims, really stand out, and of course the cream trousers and grey shoes finish the outfits off.    Each volunteer is equipped with a complete outfit, including a jacket, cap, umbrella and bag.   Adidas obviously won the contract, as their name is emblazoned on the clothes.  

This young man was amazing, as he tried to keep the crowd occupied while we were waiting for the runners to come back from the Tower Bridge circuit.    He got everyone involved in making Mexican Waves, and cheering, and singing.    It created such a positive atmosphere.   

 And here the runners come again, but first the open media truck, full of men with very large cameras.

 By the time the runners came past the third, and final time, they had spread out considerably.   There were four runners in the lead, and the next few runners were some minutes behind them, so you knew who would get the first four places.    As we know now, the race was won by an Ethiopian woman, Tiki Gelana.     The two runners below were quite a distance behind the first four runners, but they were still running well.

 And then it was all over.   We walked back in the sunshine along the park that runs beside the embankment.   We should have bought our packed lunch.   There were many empty seats.   And lovely sunshine.

 Deck chairs?  I can never understand why people want to sit in a deckchair, mainly due to the fact that I can never get out out of them.    They are such undignified pieces of furniture.

 Then off to lunch at a pub opposite the National Portrait Gallery.   Very relaxing.  Good food too.

Trafalgar Square was really buzzing, but it was time to catch our train home.    A very quiet trip home, thankfully.

A thoroughly enjoyable day.   Very exciting.   And we were not disappointed, even though it rained heavily at the beginning and the end of the marathon.

Hyde Park

Thursday dawned relatively bright, and the weather forecast was reasonable.   A good day for capturing some of the Olympic atmosphere, in Hyde Park, where there is a BT Open Zone.   

We caught a train from St Mary's Cray to Victoria and then a double decker bus for the short distance to Hyde Park corner.   All very quiet on the roads, and on the bus.

 First stop the Australian War Memorial at Hyde Park corner.   This is new, but then maybe not, as I have not visited this area for some years.    Very impressive though, with its curved wall.

 There had been athletes practising the triathlon earlier that morning, and according to stewards it had been mayhem so relieved we were there later on in the morning.  However, we were also told that we could not take food or drinks into the BT Open Zone.  As we were loaded down with a picnic lunch we knew that we would have to wait until after lunch.   The problem was we were there to see the Open Zone, not to visit Hyde Park.

There were plenty of visitors to London, of all nationalities.    And the atmosphere was buzzing.   It was worth a visit to Hyde Park in order to sit on a bench and watch people walk by.    

After a visit to the playground, and a look at the Serpentine Lake, which is part of the Triathlon course, we noticed the large tent selling Olympic souvenirs, at a very high price of course.  But interesting to look at items people were buying.

 There was also a tent, where you could buy, and swap pins.   Very American apparently.

 We then found the Adidas Promotion Tent, which contained many activities.   Perfect for children, and adults too.   Emma and Isabel contemplating the obstacle course.

 Just how high can one jump.    I could hardly get my feet off the ground, but Scott nearly touched the top.

 Jackson practising standing on the winner's block, with boxing gloves and GB flag.   No Australian or German flag there.

 Isabel in action.

 Where else can you put your hand on a guard's back.  

 A group photo with one of the Olympic mascots, either Wenlock or Mandeville.   Fluffy copies of these mascots are available at inflated prices in the souvenir shops.   What happened to Paddington Bear, Rupert or Winnie?

 Coffee, and later lunch, on the lawn, in the sunshine too.   And we managed to eat all our food, and drink our water and soft drinks.    A very pleasant stop.

 I wonder if the high cost of the Olympic Games has resulted in not being able to afford ambulances any longer.   I do not fancy being taken to hospital on the back of a bicycle.   Actually these bicycles are used to give first aid in Hyde Park every day, not just during the Olympics.    Very innovative.

 At last we lined up, in a long queue, to gain entrance to the Hyde Park BP Open Zone.   No drinks, no food, no weapons.    Security was high.   Impressive.    No.    They took all the food and drinks off people, so that they would spend money once inside.   There was nothing inside, except huge screens, and literally dozens and dozens of food and drink outlets, all around the edge of the enclosed area.    It was all promoted by BT and Cadbury's who provided only a few exhibits.  

Yes there were large screens, about three of them, but the high security was a mystery, except to rip the  money off people, who decided to sit and watch the Olympics there.  

 In the BT building there was a hat display, showing some of the hats made for the Major of London's Hatwalk.    There are hats on many famous statues in London, all made by famous milliners.  

And finally a rest in the upstairs part of the BT building.   And free flags.

We walked back to Victoria Station, and went directly to McDonalds for revival drinks and ice creams, cheaper than at the BT Open Zone.   And home on a nearly empty train.

The atmosphere in Hyde Park was worth the visit, and we did watch a few minutes of the Olympics (standing up) showing on one of the big screens, but the BT Open Zone was a big disappointment, especially when you realised it was one big rip off.  

But Steve and Jackson are off to Wembley Stadium today to watch the football, and Emma, Steve, Jackson and Isabel are going to the Olympic Village to see BMX cycling.    Walter and I are going to see the women's marathon tomorrow, free, although we may have to carry a step ladder so that we can see over the heads of the spectators.   So still plenty to do and see.