A Wonderful Wedding In The Midlands

We had a great couple of days last week in Rochester looking after our lovely little granddaughter. On Thursday we took her to the National Trust's fabulous Sissinghurst Castle in Kent.

She's showing a keen interest in flowers. Perhaps she'll take after Marion and share her love of gardening when she grows up.

We had to return to Framlingham in the early evening on Thursday to get ready for our biggest social event of the year to date - the wedding of our dear friends David and Janet Wareing's son William to his lovely bride Sophie. I met Dave when we were both eleven and we've now been friends for fifty years.

The wedding was held in Sophie's neighbourhood church in Four Oaks with a reception at the grand and magnificent Ettington Park hotel near Stratford Upon Avon.

After a super informal meal at a nearby pub on Friday night we were whisked away to the church on Saturday morning in this fully restored old Leyland bus. It was a totally authentic bus ride complete with a uniformed bus conductor and his vintage ticket machine. 

William And Sophie Leave The Church

The charming ceremony conducted by an Evertonian vicar included a beautiful poem about togetherness by A A Milne called Us Two. We used to read Milne to our children when they were small but I was not to familiar with this one and can strongly recommend it (see full text at the end of this blog post)- it was perfect for a wedding and was read brilliantly by Sophie's sister.

After the ceremony it was time to jump back on the bus for the ninety minute return journey to the hotel.

While the newly weds were involved with their photographer we guests enjoyed champagne and canapés on the terrace outside the hotel. The weather stayed dry and it was the perfect opportunity to catch up with old friends and David and Janet's family.

Dave And Janet Looking Immaculate As Always

We Were (Unintentionally) Colour Co-Ordinated In Pink And Grey 

The Groom's Uncle Tony And His Lovely Daughter Rachel

Friends Richard And Diana

Here is William with his fabulous sister Lizzie who brought tears to the congregation's eyes and a round of rapturous applause for her amazing rendition of a Welsh hymn.

Further applause followed during the reception when to everyone (including the happy couple's) surprise the waiters began to argue amongst themselves before putting on a hilarious act including some outstanding tenor singing of several famous arias to the delight of the diners. 

They turned out to be "The Three Waiters" - hilarious as well as tremendous singers - check them out on Google. 

More entertainment followed with some great speeches before a disco and another surprise when tribute act The Cavern Beatles wowed the guests with two perfect sets of Beatles' songs that had us all on our feet.

The hotel is reputed to be the most haunted in the country but the only spooky figures I spotted were these three including Dave's old friend David Sykes who we were delighted to catch up with after missing seeing him for years.

We didn't manage to make it to the end of the disco as we needed an early start to head back to Framlingham in time for the closing show this season of our excellent pop up cinema Little Lightning. I'll tell you more about it in the next blog but, after a huge thank you to the bride's parents Derek and Denise for inviting us to their memorable event and the very best wishes to Will and Sophie, I'll leave you today with that moving Milne poem.  

Wherever I am, there's always Pooh, 

There's always Pooh and Me. 

Whatever I do, he wants to do, 

"Where are you going today?" says Pooh: 

"Well, that's very odd 'cos I was too. 

Let's go together," says Pooh, says he. 

"Let's go together," says Pooh. 

"What's twice eleven?" I said to Pooh. 

("Twice what?" said Pooh to Me.) 

"I think it ought to be twenty-two." 

"Just what I think myself," said Pooh. 

"It wasn't an easy sum to do, 

But that's what it is," said Pooh, said he. 

"That's what it is," said Pooh. 

"Let's look for dragons," I said to Pooh. 

"Yes, let's," said Pooh to Me. 

We crossed the river and found a few- 

"Yes, those are dragons all right," said Pooh. 

"As soon as I saw their beaks I knew. 

That's what they are," said Pooh, said he. 

"That's what they are," said Pooh. 

"Let's frighten the dragons," I said to Pooh. 

"That's right," said Pooh to Me. 

"I'm not afraid," I said to Pooh, 

And I held his paw and I shouted "Shoo! 

Silly old dragons!"- and off they flew. 

"I wasn't afraid," said Pooh, said he, 

"I'm never afraid with you." 

So wherever I am, there's always Pooh, 

There's always Pooh and Me. 

"What would I do?" I said to Pooh, 

"If it wasn't for you," 

and Pooh said: "True, 

It isn't much fun for One, but Two, 

Can stick together, says Pooh, says he. 

"That's how it is," says Pooh.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Give Me Your Tomorrow

by John Brassey

Giveaway ends October 10, 2014.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

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A Welcome Visitor

My mum's staying with us this week so we've taken advantage of the fine weather and done a bit of sightseeing. On Monday we headed towards Bury St Edmunds and had a look around Ickworth, the National Trust's showpiece Suffolk property. It was our first visit to the house and we were very impressed. 

Although Mum is very sprightly for 88, walking around the grounds would have been a bit too much for her so it was good when a bloke pulled up alongside us in a motorised trailer and offered to give us a quick tour. He drove us through the parkland and then dropped us back right at the car - excellent service.

And speaking of excellent service, I must mention Luke of Framlingham Greengrocers. When we went into the shop for the first time since getting back from Scotland he told us that he had charged us for the previous customer's grapes about three weeks earlier and insisted on refunding us. We buy almost all of our fruit and veg in his shop and his prices are so reasonable that we hadn't even noticed the overcharging - thanks for your honesty and the complementary bananas Luke.

Mum treated us to a very good meal at The Crown on Monday evening. Marion had a lovely truffle macaroni cheese and my liver starter and pork chop main course were delicious. Mum and Marion both said that soup was perfect and Mum's fish and chips were good too although the portion would easily have served three. 

It's a pity Mum didn't arrive in time to have a look at the Framlingham Show. It was another good show this year with plenty of different things to look at. We heard a talk on wine tasting and a talk on antiques. We missed the sheep racing but were very impressed with the prize specimens on display. Today it's time for a bit more Suffolk sightseeing for Mum before we take her down to see the family in Rochester and then on to Gatwick where she's jetting off to see my sister in Spain.

3D or Not 3D That Is The Question

It's Orange Wednesday and a chance for us to get back into the swing of our regular film going after four weeks absence from the silver screen. There's not a great deal that appeals at the local Vue but we decided to go and see "Pirates of the Caribbean 4" as we had read that, although the film was not up to much, the 3D was good. So I duly booked for the 6.20 p.m showing and we turned up on time. As I handed in the tickets I waited for the 3D glasses only to be told that I had booked a 2D performance (I was unaware that it was showing in anything other than 3D). Fortunately, possibly down to our being regulars, the manager agreed to a swap for the 8.30 3D showing so there's time for a quick blog and then back to Vue. 

We would have gone to the cinema in Ile De Re but sadly it had closed recently so we were unable to experience the no doubt fascinating delights that this picture house had to offer.

It's been a busy day with us both spending an hour at the gym this morning and then taking Marion's mum Flo to the local National Trust property Rufford Old Hall along with friends Enid and Joyce before heading to the cinema (and back). The property is an interesting old place with a fabulous timber framed great hall and a very rare carved screen as shown below. Flo didn't seem particularly impressed but we all enjoyed a high tea at the cafe. This was a quite significant spread and we fortunately ordered four between five of us and still had to ask for a couple of doggie bags for Flo, Enid and Joyce who should tonight be enjoying a scone, a cheese sandwich and cupcake with their cup of tea. 

Part of the ancient carved screen at Rufford Old Hall

As we're not expecting a great deal from the Johnny Depp extravaganza tonight we've also booked to see "Win Win" at FACT in Liverpool tomorrow. I don't know a great deal about this film other than it was a success at Sundance in 2011 and we have enjoyed most of the hits from that festival that we have seen. It was also directed by Thomas McCarthy who made the brilliant "The Station Agent" which is in itself sufficient incentive to see it. Apart from that I am also pretty sure that it won't turn up at Vue in Southport so a trip to Liverpool One and a bit of shopping before the 6.15 screening should make for a pleasant day.

We've not a lot on then until Sunday when we are off to the fabulous Gresgarth Hall Gardens near Caton on the edge of the Trough of Bowland which open to the public on a few Sundays throughout the year. This is a gardener's paradise - a quite stunning setting. Let's hope that the weather doesn't ruin it as the forecast is not looking too good.


I'll let you know how we found "Pirates" and "Win Win" on the next blog.