Two Weddings and a pandemic.

[Pushka]

Those Japanese ceramics are widely available here as well. I love them. I have quite a few of the patterns in your photo. We have a cute shop in Manuka with a really good selection.

And how exciting about the cruise - when and on who?

They are wonderful aren't they.

Well, with daily testing likely not to change we ditched Viking. So it's a Celebrity one - so we can get lost on the ship and we booked a suite! Used UK booking site and weirdly it was $3000 cheaper than using Oz and Vacations to go quote plus we are protected by EU booking conditions as well. So Greek Islands and back to Turkey. Plus it fits in better with catching up with son and DIL in 12 months time. Sigh.

 

[love_the_life]

They are wonderful aren't they.

Well, with daily testing likely not to change we ditched Viking. So it's a Celebrity one - so we can get lost on the ship and we booked a suite! Used UK booking site and weirdly it was $3000 cheaper than using Oz and Vacations to go quote plus we are protected by EU booking conditions as well. So Greek Islands and back to Turkey. Plus it fits in better with catching up with son and DIL in 12 months time. Sigh.

Sounds wonderful - I have booked X through the UK in the past - and it was cheaper than anywhere else I had found. Also noticed there was a fare drop and they matched it for me as well. Unfortunately the good TA left the company and was replaced by a bleh one but still managed.

 

[Pushka]

Currently watching Trooping of the Colour.

Yesterday we drove up to Lincolnshire. By passed London and the traffic immense all heading off on the four day break. More semis than cars though.

One toll to pay. Oops we haven’t done that yet. .

Ohh a nice bridge to make up for the toll. Views over the Thames.



But nope.
It’s a tunnel for us.



Kept driving until a quick stop at the American Diner. And had the best Chocolate Milkshake ever. Worth the likely 3000 calories it was.



Found our way to the sons in laws as a first time meet and settled in for the night.

 

[Pushka]

Damn. The Test Cricket - UK v NZ is on and tv switched over.

Went to the local this morning. Fancy LPG bottles that were scarce during lockdown.



Love the alcohol shopping in the supermarket. This is ALDIs competitor.

 

[Pushka]

Think there’s going to be a wedding.
The Aussie Bar.


DIL loves baking and icing.

 

[RooFlyer]

The Aussie Bar.

Fosters? (Sorry )

 

[Pushka]

It was a themed wedding. Aussies V Brits. I went upmarket as Downton Abbey lady and MrP as a British cricketer replete with Ashes replica which was duly handed over during the speech to sons FIL who is a cricket tragic.

We didn’t drink much as we were both speaking which we did in tandem. Well, the last speech and lasted for almost half an hour and the people even the guys were laughing and crying and cheering. I think we might have nailed it.

The next morning now. And all very subdued here. . But MrP and I are blissfully non hungover.

 

[Pushka]

Fosters? (Sorry )

Hell no! Prosecco, spirits, and some Nancy beers they drink over here.

I’d brought over some Aussie things like Tim Tams. Cadbury Koalas. Twisties ( that exploded mid flight apparently), Haighs, Anzac Biscuits and made some lamingtons and fairy bread. I didn’t put all the tim tams outs but kept some as spares. Apparently everyone was fighting over them and didn’t realise there were more under the bar. . They’ve now disappeared with some late departures. Even the fairy bread disappeared.

 

[love_the_life]

Super - sounds like a wonderful day all round. And I am hanging out to see your Downtown Abbey look. Very swish I am sure. Cricketer is such a great choice for MrP.

 

[RooFlyer]

Hell no! Prosecco, spirits, and some Nancy beers they drink over here.

I’d brought over some Aussie things like Tim Tams. Cadbury Koalas. Twisties ( that exploded mid flight apparently), Haighs, Anzac Biscuits and made some lamingtons and fairy bread. I didn’t put all the tim tams outs but kept some as spares. Apparently everyone was fighting over them and didn’t realise there were more under the bar. . They’ve now disappeared with some late departures. Even the fairy bread disappeared.

Not even some Rockford or Hill of Grace for "special friends" from under the table (the wines, not the friends ... )

 

[Pushka]

Super - sounds like a wonderful day all round. And I am hanging out to see your Downtown Abbey look. Very swish I am sure. Cricketer is such a great choice for MrP.

There were so many cricketers. I’m hoping the brides sister who is a photographer gets her act together. I know she took a fun picture of me hoisting up the dress to do a leap over the bar. Oh, and me presenting the bride with a set of handcuffs. But there were lots of cricketers.

 

[Pushka]

Not even some Rockford or Hill of Grace for "special friends" from under the table (the wines, not the friends ... )

Grooms parents have to be very careful in what they do. And it was mainly Prosecco and beer that went.

I wore this outfit exactly as here. Even the gloves The girls loved the dress and said it was a keeper. I’ll find MrP blazer that he wore with whites and a blue cap.

 

[Pushka]

And Ashes replica duly installed in sons FIL home.

 

[RooFlyer]

Bad link, @Pushka?

 

[Pushka]

Bad link, @Pushka?

Ashes? I just resized it so think ok now?

 

[RooFlyer]

And Ashes replica duly installed in sons FIL home.

But I think Australia holds the Ashes? Sure do at my place (the Epsom cup, too )

 

[Nukie]

Just love that dress! You must've looked superb. What a fun thing to do. Congratulations.

 

[Pushka]

We had the celebrant dressed as Amy Winehouse with full on red roses tattoo. And we were asked to sign the Celebration certificate which was a wonderful surprise for us. We were also asked to give a speech which we had prepared over a long period and practised. We did a tandem one and we interspersed the lines. We had laughs, tears and a pair of handcuffs handed over to the Bride (read the airport security thread) and the Ashes Urn to the FIL, and well, we did good.

Saturday we spent clearing everything else up. We'd spent the hour after everyone had gone to do a major clean up then sleep then the final clean up the next morning. Sunday morning (this morning) we had a wonderful brunch with our UK family, and their friends from South Africa (Durban) who just cracked us up with their dry humour and pragmatic manner. Then as the rain poured down (UK summer) and thanking the rain gods that the wedding weather had been fine. We hugged our son with one that needs to last for 12 months and our DIL and we were all teary and even the 13 year old 'dont touch' stepson came in for a hug.

Just watching Ed Sheeran perform Perfect at the pageant. Weirdly my iPhone kept playing Perfect at odd times over the weekend.

Will the Queen appear? Her Standard has just been raised. Yes.

Big weekend for us.

 

[Pushka]

So this morning came some lovely - thunderstorms and rain. Nice day to drive to Newcastle on Tyne. Around 3 slow hours.

Good day for it.







So much traffic returning South there was gridlock for miles.




Dust? How?




We passed so many Amazon trucks



And several of these massive distribution centres.

 

[Pushka]

We had a break just over half way. Had some coffee and crisps. See, I can speak English now. Headed back out and about to enter the M1 again and saw the oil light flashing. What? In a rental having only driven maybe 300 miles?

We had just passed the fuel station so we returned and a really good attendant helped us with which oil. £25. The dipstick showed minimal oil. It took the whole bottle. We kept the receipt and will demand a 'please explain' when we return the car. And a refund.

Arrived into Newcastle on Tyne around 4pm and saw the last of the Platinum Pageant which was fabulous. Had booked in for pizza downstairs as the hotel said they were busy and went for a drink in the attached pub. Very nice. coughstar Martini and beer.



Pizza Bar supposed to have a good reputation according to the internets. Hmmm.

We had the menu for some time and orders finally taken. But wait, two of the entrees were no longer available and they had no sweets, we were told just after I'd said we save space for sweets. Good thing might have been to tell us before examining the menu.



Pizzas quite good and very spicy





Early night tonight after several midnight nights. Off to Edinburgh tomorrow. And BBC just had an excellent two hour recap of the last four days. Rather excellent.