Sweeties, Pies and Ginger

Karen and I went to the office of Births, Marriages and Deaths today to give notice of our impending marriage. We had to answer a few questions about each other and yes, of course I got Karen's age wrong, what a plonker. The upside is that we've got them booked for the 16th of July next year so we can go back an make a definite booking for Chilford Hall. Now I just need to sort out a band and a photographer and Karen will be happy.

Went to see two possible venues for the wedding reception this evening, Chilford Hall and The Mill at Stow cum Quy. To get to Chilford Hall on time I had to leave work a bit early and then race all the way through town and out the other side. It's quite a nice drive though, as you end up in the fields away from any habitation, so it's quite a nice location for a wedding.

We met Karen's parents there and were then given a tour of the two rooms that would be used, one for the ceremony and one for the wedding breakfast. Both are quite big, long thin rooms that will hold rather more people than we can afford to invite. They have character, being mainly wooden cladded and with the setting, it's a really nice venue.

After seeing Chilford Hall and discussing all the ins and outs we headed off to The Mill at Quy. It was like chalk and cheese and I think we'd all made up our minds after walking into the place that we weren't going to have the reception there. The waterwheel room, where the ceremony is held, is quite nice as you can see the wheel through a big glass window. However, it's a tiny space with a low ceiling and just felt all cramped and they didn't even have all the tables out, so I hate to think what it would look like for a wedding.

I think the problem with The Mill, is that it's a small location, the wheel room is small, the room for the reception is small, I couldn't see us having a Ceilidh there, as there just wouldn't be enough room. After discussing various bits with the wedding advisor, we retired outside for a quick pint and a chat about what we were going to do next.

After about 30 seconds of talking it was clear that Chilford Hall was the preferred venue and as long as the registrars have the date we want free, then that's where it's going to be. So the next step is going to see the registrar on the 28th of August and then booking Chilford Hall later the same day.

We got a cal from Karen's Parents the other night saying that we should also go and see the University Centre in Cambridge as one of the venues. So over lunch time Karen, her Mum and myself all went out to have a look. I don't think any of us we're really that impressed by the place, although the rooms were of an okay size. Personally I though it looked a bit old and tacky with all the visible concrete, it looks like a throw back to the 1970's or there abouts. Also considering what we would be paying for wouldn't include the ceremony and other stuff, it scores really low in my book. So this evening we're off to Chilford Hall and The Mill at Quy, hopefully they'll both be better.

Went out on the bike last night, just felt a bit fed up when I got home from work and though it would cheer me up. So I left Cottenham and headed North to Wilburton and then turned left down to Aldreth. It had all been going well up to this point and the only reason I’d gone down the Aldreth is I’d never been there before and wanted to see what it was like.

Aldreth is small, is what it’s like and once you’ve blasted through it you end up spat out onto a single track farm road. This wouldn’t be so bad if the quality of the road was okay, but it was terrible. It reminded me of the Paris-Roubaix World Cup cycle race that is dubbed the “Hell of the North”, as they cycle along single track cobbled farm roads.

What I could see was quite scenic, although it was all a bit shoogly as I was being bounced all over the place by the holes in the road. I’m just really glad that I’d pumped up my tyres to 120psi and that it wasn’t raining. As nice as it was I don’t think I’ll take that detour again and I’ll just head for Willingham.

So once I was back on the main road I headed for Willingham and then Rampton, before coming full circle back into Cottenham. I was totally knackered by the time I got back and my arse was in agony from my new saddle. I think I’m going to have to adjust it all before I go out on it again, I’m not sure if the new saddle has slightly increased the height of my riding position or not. The new helmet was great though, as you could really feel the air flow over your head, something, my old helmet actively discouraged.

I’ve not been sleeping that well over the last few nights, I’m not sure if it’s just the heat or if something else is involved as well, but I keep waking up in the middle of nightmares. The other night an intruder got into the bedroom and tried to get into bed with us, I fought him off. The night before that I was having sex with Sarah Jessica Parker, I mean come on, she a dog! Last night I can’t even remember what I was dreaming, but I ended up flying out of bed to get away from something. I hope the weather cools down soon so I can get some decent sleep...

Went out to see Karen's Parents this morning to discuss the engagement and the embryonic wedding plans. In the last week Karen's sent off for a load of brochures for venues and had sort of been leaning towards The Mill at Stow cum Quy. Karen's Parents had also sent off for brochures and we're leaning towards The Officers Mess at Duxford, I must admit that the brochure made the place look really good.

After a lively discussion we ended up with a short list of three venues to go and look at, The Mill at Quy, the Officers Mess at Duxford and Chilford Hall. Unfortunately the Officers Mess at Duxford isn't taking books for after March next year, due to renovations, so we're not even sure we'll be able to book it for when we want anyway.

Lost of things were discussed and brought up, mainly the subject of better wine, I'm not bothered as long as I get a cask or two of real ale! So after all the discussion a few glasses of champagne for everyone and a raspberry wheat beer for me, we had to be off. Luckily for use The Mill at Quy is on the way home so we popped in to make an appointment for later in the week.

While we were there we had a quick drink so we could have a quick look around. The main thing we learned from the odd glance here and there is that it's not very big. What we took to be the dance floor area certainly wouldn't be big enough for a Ceilidh. So were going to have to aks when we go to see them properly on Tuesday evening.

My new mobile phone turned up today, thanks to the insurance company. I had to pay a small upgrade fee to get a better phone as I'd decided that I didn't want a Nokia 3310e any more as it's quite an old phone. So I plumped for a Nokia 3510i, which has got loads of stuff on it I'll never use, but at least it's slightly more up to date.

We had friends round last night, so after a curry and some drinking we ended up getting to bed in the wee small hours of the morning. Since it's been so hot, we've had to sleep with all the windows wide open in the vain hope of getting a bit of a breeze. This also means that you can hear any wildlife that happens to be in the neighbourhood and last night it was a rather noisy owl. I love owls, I think they amazing creatures, so it was quite cool to hear this one squawking away from a perch nearby.

Work very kindly gave us all the afternoon off yesterday to go punting and have a bbq. So while everyone else was cooped up in stuffy offices we were punting our way down the Cam in ridiculously high temperatures. It all ended in disaster though as I fell in while punting and lost my glasses and knackered my mobile phone.

Just to make sure I didn't get Weil's Disease I then drank far, far, far too much alcohol and am really suffering today as a result. It was really quite nice to get out of the office yesterday and one local weather station had the temperature at 38.3 degrees Celsius, that's 100.94 degrees Fahrenheit!

Today's job, apart from trying not to be sick, is to call the insurance company so I can get a new set of glasses and a new phone.

I've been using some of the money I was given when I was made redundant from Accelrys to buy some new bits for my bike. I fitted a new saddle the other weekend, one of these fancy ones with the cut out bits to relive the pressure on your bits. I bought a new pair of shorts, although they are way too warm to wear in the current heat wave.

I decided that a new helmet would also be a good idea since my old one was over 7 years old and have been bashed around, so I've now got a fancy new one with loads of ventilation. I even spent a short period this evening fitting new inner tubes and Continental Grand Prix tyres to both wheels, this only leave a set of new brake blocks and I'm ready to roll.

So why have I been doing all of this when I haven't been on the bike in anger since last year? I decided that it was about time I cycled to and from work again, as well as going for recreational cycles in the evening or at weekends. I like my bike, it looks mean, I should really use it more and besides a bit of exercise would probably help me physically.

So if you're a car driver in the Cambridge area you'd better beware, cross me when I'm on my bike and you're insurance company will gladly up your premiums.

I proposed to Karen yesterday and she said yes! :-)