I think it's about time I write a blog about last week...

My New Surf Board

The weekend was great and I got to see both sisters (and Amy has been away in Australia for the last blah) and my nephew Thomas which is always nice. We went down to my sister's house near Hayle and had a fantastic BBQ involving lots of fish wrapped in wet newspaper on a fire. Delicious it was.

Also, whilst we were down there I finally bought myself a new surfboard that I have been wanting for ages. I even took it out to try it but I was informed the surf was best on the south coast and went to Praa Sands where I was unable to catch anything as it was really dumpy and big. So it was a bit of a non-event. I look forward to actually using it this weekend.

This week was fairly uneventful although I seemed very busy. We looked at a lot of houses, but nothing really grabbed us. Also the nice house we liked in Exminster sold which was a bit gutting...

Still positive outlook and all. So, today Mike was down and Rosie had gone to Plymouth to see Hannah and Kathryn so we went round Exeter looking for place to Free-run in. Although, we don't actually do any running the actual fun bits are fun...

You know what I mean...

When Rosie gets back tomorrow in the morning we will go surfing and my new board will get tested!

Me and Will at Wagamama's

This entry is going to cover this week as I am rubbish and can't ever write this during the week. So, we saw a couple of houses this week, including a fantastic place in Exminster which we really like. It has a really nice dining room, open to kitchen. It's really taken us in, so we are going to look at loads next week to make sure this one is as nice as we want.

Only one viewing of our flat though, so we have to hope things pick up in that department.

Wednesday night we went out to Wagamama's (again) with Will and Louise, I don't think we'll ever tire of that place!

Friday we saw another place in Exminster but it wasn't quite the same...

So it may have taken me a while to write a blog for this weekend. It will take me even longer to get the pictures up in a gallery I'm sure...

Cutting the Cake

So the weekend was pretty good. We drove up to Cardiff on Thursday night, and managed to get totally lost - making a track record of about nil for two in not getting lost when driving to somewhere in Cardiff - but finally arrived at the Travelodge to be greeted by good friends with beer. So that was OK.

The day of the wedding went well with a good lie in in the morning, followed by leisurely get dressed and head into Cardiff (where we managed to get where we where going and park easily!) 30 minutes early so stopped for a quick drink in the pub round the corner from the Hall. The service was very pretty and all went smoothly, and afterwards Marno and Sam departed in a beautiful old-school Bentley.

As a group we decided to go for another drink before heading to the reception, and so went back to the pub. Then we went over to the Miskin Manor, where the reception was being held. A few photos later and the dinner was on. The speeches went down particularly well, with Marno making some inadvertently funny comments (including about his dead pets) and the Best Man Mark who had obviously done his homework.

Noj at the wedding

Much fun was then had late into the evening.

Saturday then felt much like a Sunday. We came home in the afternoon and chilled out, going for a nice pub dinner at the Imperial in Exeter where you can sit outside in the sun and bask.

Sunday therefore came as a bit of a bonus, and we went for a walk around the Teign valley which was beautiful and much of it was in woodland and therefore reasonably cool. And that's it. I spent the rest of Sunday trying to finish off the Photo Disc for the Polar Race which I have been trying to do for ages. Still tonight it is finished and I have been going through the long process of burning the discs (much thanks to my new HTPC which can burn discs about 4x faster than my laptop). Just have to design the cover and I can start posting them.

Rosie Haircut

As Marno's wedding is tomorrow, we both had our hair cut last night. Louise, our fantastic friend and hairdresser - or should that read fantastic hairdresser and friend - has done a great job as the picture shows (well, it will when I upload it...).

Other exicting happening this week include putting our house on the market! Yes, we are selling up so get ready for all the diasters that follow. Of course, we hope they're won't be any but moving is always interesting. Still the estate agents are actually really nice and friendly and so we hope the process won't be to painful. I just hope we find a nice place to move into.

Soup!

Ah, yes - another picture opportunity in the food gallery! I made soup this week - a fantastic butternut squash, carrot and coriander soup. Very orange, but very tasty. A little too strong for Rosie's taste though so I got to eat the whole lot myself! Bonus.

Also the new PBSC t-shirts I ordered arrived today, and they are slightly bigger than anticipated - despite the careful measuring King and I did. In fact, given that these are supposedly "medium" it makes me wonder how they can afford the material for a Large, or even worse X-Large. Still Rosie's seems reasonable. Maybe I'll have to order some more.

I made it back to Exeter for about 19:30 on Saturday, and Rosie and I went for a nice Wagamama's despite the fact I had been to a fantastic Sichaun restaurant at lunchtime...

Sichaun Hotpot

I did take it easy in the evening though, lunch was pretty filling. When we finally got ourselves together we contacted Jon and Mark who fortunately able to come for lunch on short notice. Tim had recommended the Sichaun hotpot, with it's large amounts of Sichaun pepper, known for it's mouth numbing effects. So we arrived at Bar Shu and were seated. However the waiter soon arrived to tell us that the small room we were in was "not suitable" for the hotpot - something that seemed slightly worrying at the time, especially given Tim's predeliction for immensely hot food. So we moved upstairs and the food was amazing. The hotpot (as pictured) was two chicken broths, but one with masses of chilli and Sichaun pepper. Then we had loads of other bits and bobs to dunk in to cook in the broth, like beef, noodles, mushrooms, prawns and tripe. It was brilliant and we made a right mess.

So then I drove home, and we had a restful evening as we where both knackered. Today has been mostly house cleaning as the estate agents are coming over tomorrow evening to measure up and photograph our house to put it on the market.

This week has been a bit hectic.

Monday was Bank holiday, Rosie had left for her school trip, and as Bank Holiday I felt entitled to just relax. Then Tuesday was busy, with the computer and getting stuff ready for the trip to Hull. Then we drove up to Hull on Wednesday, which meant a few compulsory pints with Charlie and Dave. Thursday was a PRINCE2 overview course, one day dedicated to Project Management, followed by another driv back home, to arrive in Exeter about 21:30. Then Friday, up a sort everything out before driving into East London to Tim's flat.

My misconception that the M3 turns into the A3 cost me some time, and I had to re-route my route, then again as despite the website showing it to be fine, the congestion charge is in effect if you cross Tower Bridge. SO I finally make it just after Tim has had to leave to meet his Dad for the evening.

So I make my way into town to the Travellers Club in Pall Mall. And very nice it was too. The dinner was very good and it ws lovely to see all the familiar faces of the racers again. It did kind of just fizzle out as the dinner was over and then prizes given. People going their separate ways, either out further or home. So I decided it might be good to try and make my way back to Tim's which was a nightmare as I had no cash for the bus, and when I finally found a machine that would give me some, of course thebus driver wouldn't take a 20. So I had to find a shop to get some change, then wait for the next no 8 bus.

I made it back though, and this morning is beautiful and we're about to head into town for some lunch before I take the long drive back down to Exeter and to my lovely Rosie who is just back after her trip!