Hope you’re all ok. I’m amazed I haven’t been blown away yet, it’s so windy here! Just a quick note to introduce you to a new jewellery website, www.daysiechain.co.uk that a friend of mine has just launched. Everything on there is handmade and one of a kind. There are a few really pretty things on there and she’ll even take requests if you have a few ideas of your own!

It’s well worth a look!

Ttfn

xxxx

Seems we are all getting too busy to think about blogging! Again, months have past since the last time I told you anything new so here goes…

Just trying to think of things that have happened since I last posted and then putting them in chronological order is far too difficult for my cold-filled head to deal with so I’m just going to write things as they come to me! This week, I’ve been ill and I’m really hoping that’s me done for the winter. Wishful thinking, maybe? But the week did start well. On Monday, while I was at work, about 4:45pm, I had a phone call from a colleague’s boyfriend asking me what I was doing later that evening and offering me two tickets to the O2 arena to see Djokovic vs Berdych at the ATP World Tour Finals!! (tennis). So we (my brother in law came with me as Damian isn’t too bothered about tennis) just about managed to get there in time and it was brilliant! It’s completely different to Wimbledon which I think is a unique tournament anyway. Although I have seen it on tv before, it’s really weird sitting there live while they play pop songs during warm up and change of ends. But getting the chance to go (and for free!) was brilliant as only the best 8 players in the world even enter the tournament so you’re pretty much guaranteed a good match.

Another ‘first’ will be next week as I’m going to one of Raymond Blanc’s restaurants, Brasserie Blanc in Oxford next Friday! I’m very much looking forward to it. It’s not quite as refined as ‘Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons’ but I’m still very excited. We’ve already chosen our menu and I’ve opted for the most traditional French cuisine I could find! Boeuf Bourguignon here I come!  Wow, a lot of exclamation marks in this paragraph!

Damian has booked for us to go to Barcelona for our anniversary next year! I can’t wait! It’s only for two nights but a little weekend away will be really lovely- yay for Groupon getaways! At least this way, I don’t have to think about what to buy him. Looking forward to trying real Spanish tapas bars and sight-seeing. It will be a pretty crammed itinerary as we won’t be there for long but hopefully, it will be long enough to see some of the city at least. I’ve wanted to go since reading ‘The Shadow of the Wind’ but have been warned about pick pockets in Las Ramblas- so hold on to your handbags!

In other news…we have signed the lease for our house for the third year. We still can’t really afford the deposit for a mortgage so we’re continuing to rent but we’re happy where we are at the moment and will just have to wait and see what happens. Damian is hoping for a sizable end of year bonus so maybe that could help!

We’re already planning another trip to Poland. We have recently found out that our friends there (Damian’s best friend growing up and his wife) are expecting a baby next summer so we’re hoping to go out late summer time to visit. I was hoping they might come to England next year but the baby’s thrown all our plans out the window! Still, it’s happy news.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten several things but that means I’ll have to blog again and not leave it so long!

P.S: Any wedding gossip from all you loved up couples?!

P.P.S: Anyone watching Strictly (I’m looking at your Jemima!) and if so, who are you backing to win?

Robyn

xxxxxx

Damian and I celebrate our first wedding anniversary this weekend. We are going back to the hotel where we had our reception, for a meal, which I’m looking forward to very much as I was too ill last time to enjoy it! Can’t wait to have a quiet weekend together, exchange presents and enjoy each other’s company.

We have also booked a holiday in June. We’re off to Poland! We will be staying in the same town where Damian grew up with some friends. They live in a log cabin outside of town so I’m looking forward to campfires and barbeques. Damian is very excited to be going back and showing me his home town and I am looking forward to seeing all the places he’s spoken about. There are also lots of people to meet. Damian’s best friend growing up in Poland has also married and he has not met his wife and I haven’t met any of his friends out there.

As with previous years, I entered the public ballot to win tickets for Wimbledon at the end of last year. I recently had a letter back from them and unbelievably, we were offered tickets to see the men’s final!! We’ve booked and paid for them now and I’m so excited! Everyone is very jealous and I’ve had lots of offers from friends and family wanting the second ticket but will be going with Damo. We may have dinner there but we haven’t decided yet (it’s costing us a fair bit already, as you can imagine!) We couldn’t have said no though as it’s probably once in a lifetime and I will hopefully get to see two of my favourite players!!

Other exciting news- Damian has recently got a new job. He was headhunted from his previous job by an ex-colleague and now works for a small, but cosy, company in Chinner where he is the fifth member of staff. Quite a change from being in a huge international company!! He is still working with computers, partly doing support (as he was before) but now he is officially a software developer. He loves it! And he seems to really get on well with the people he works with- they took him out for a long lunch on his first day! 

Damian’s cousin is pregnant with her first child- the first addition to either of our (fairly immediate) families for over 10 years! His grandma made me laugh when we found out. She’s a very devout Polish Catholic and told me that she’d been praying for a baby in the family but for Damian and me instead!! -as he’s the eldest grandchild and married. Unfortunately for her, that’s not likely to happen in the very near future!

That’s about all from me at the moment. I’ve decided- everyone needs to make an effort to blog more!!

Hope you’re all ok anyway.

Robyn 

xx

As many of you already know, I bought a new car about a month ago (see previour blog). Because of this, I am trying to sell my old car. I doubt any of you will be interested but you might know someone who is. I’ll give you a few details here and then if you know of anyone, please pass on my phone number. Thank you!

• Red Vauxhall Corsa 1998/S-reg
• 1.4 petrol engine
• 87,000 miles
• Good first car
• MOT until January
• Recent problem with the engine over-heating but now resolved
• £650 ONO

We would be happy for people to come and have a look at it first/test drive especially as it’s a fairly old car now. We’re live in Wooburn Green, near Beaconsfield, if you’ve forgotton!

Many thanks!!

Robyn

xxx

I think the title of this post is quite self-explanatory! Damian and I had been discussing for a while about getting me a new car. We had some savings left from pre-wedding savings (how we managed that I will never know!) so we decided to spend it on something we could use for a long time so it didn’t get spent on mundane things- more of an ‘investment’. We’d been looking for a while at various websites to see what was available in our price range. I wanted a 5-door hatchback, nothing too big and quite economical. Damian wanted me to get a diesel because of fuel economy as I’m driving much further since we’ve been married. And we found a 5 door Ford Fiesta 04 plate from near Wembley. So I’m very happy . It’s very nippy and even though I’ve only had it a week, it’s proving quite economical. My electronic fuel gauge has 8 bars. On Saturday I did 100 miles and it only used ‘one bar’ of diesel!! It might be one of those ones that empties slowly to begin with and then speeds up towards the end of the tank but apparently I should get 60-70 MPG!! Huzzah! Plus it’s only done 27,000 which is pretty good for a 6 year old car so hopefully it’ll last me a good few years. Apart from a few scratches, it looks almost brand new so I’m chuffed.

Damian is also in the process of modifying his car- I’m surprised you can’t hear it from where you are!! He’s just had the exhaust replaced and is getting it re-mapped on Wednesday so it should have around 140 HP ish. He can’t afford an R32 (Golf) so he’s modifying his car to look/sound like one! He’s enjoying it and I’m letting him get it out of his system while he’s young!

Anyway, hugs all round.

Robyn

xx

The wedding was absolutely magical. The day went so fast but I enjoyed every second and did not stop smiling the entire day. The weather started off pretty lousy but by the time we actually got married, it had brightened up and we were able to have photos outside (when I get the link for the official photos, I’ll email it to anyone who’s interested). We have so many brilliant memories and I just wish we could do it all again.

The honeymoon was also fabulous. We had a great time exploring the little town where we were staying and the surrounding towns in both Spain and Portugal. As we were right on the coast, we ate lots of fresh fish (which was delicious) and walks along the sea front happened daily. It is weird living with someone new but it’s also exciting and we are having so much fun unwrapping presents and sorting out the home!

Sorry this has been short and sweet but time is of the essence!

Lots of love,

Robyn

xxxx

I thought it had been quite a while since I last blogged so…here it is!

Only four and a half months to go and I am so excited!! We are almost there with the main preparations. Two weeks ago we went to pick out the suits from the Moss Bros shop in Windsor and Damian looked so gorgeous I couldn’t stop smiling! We picked out grey suits which really suited him with an ivory waistcoat that has tiny little green flowers embroidered on it. Damo and the best man are having ivory cravats and handkerchiefs and the ushers and other men folk are having matching green. He’s also sorted out with Paolo (his hairdresser) how he’s going to have his hair already which kinda cracked me up considering I haven’t even decided on the final hair style yet!!

The girls’ dresses have been ordered and we all have our first fittings in January sometime. We have found someone to do the cake. She’s a friend of a friend and she does the most divine chocolate cakes ever!! We will be going later on in the year to discuss exactly how we want it but I’m going to ask for chocolate sponge (Damo hates fruit cake) covered in vertical curls of milk chocolate. 5 years ago, a friend of mine (the girl who is also doing my hair and make-up) had a similar design in white chocolate. We want milk chocolate so the ivory flowers we put on it will stand out and look really prettiful .

Also went to see the florist on Saturday (again, friend of a friend) who does stunning arrangements and bouquets so again, really excited. We are having plain ivory and white flowers and possibly (if she can find any at the wholesalers at the time) a really pale pink rose as well to add a bit of colour. And lots of greenery!! I’ve asked for a traditional open posy style bouquet so it looks a bit ‘rustic’. And because I want the flowers to really smell nice as well I’ve asked for herbs and eucalyptus to be incorporated into them. Only problem is- we’re getting married 2 days before Mothers’ Day so the cost of flowers will be pretty astronomical!! Ho hum. If anyone is interested, our main flowers are: roses (obviously…my personal favourite especially for weddings!), tulips (another personal favourite of mine and it means Spring is here!), freesias  (nice and smelly!) . For the larger arrangements we’re also having casablanca lillies (the pure white ones). And I’m so excited about the 12ft garland we’re going to have on the top table!!

We’re currently trying to sort out the invitations which are really expensive! Luckily, we know someone that used to help run a bespoke invitation business so we can hopefully get some discount!

In other exciting news, Damian and I have started ballroom dance lessons! We’ve only had one lesson so far, when we started the waltz. I don’t know if you’ll agree Mima but it’s a lot harder than it looks! Keeping legs slightly bent, good hold, without your bum sticking out and walking back far enough so Damo doesn’t step on you is actually near on impossible!! But I should take heart in the fact that we’ve only been doing it one week and can only get better!! And much as I hate to admit it, we’re a lot better when I stop trying to tell Damian what to do and just let him lead (he’s actually pretty good).

I could go on all day but I won’t! However, it is a bit frightening how the wedding (and related topics) is quickly becoming my only subject for conversation. But then again, I’m enjoying it while I can!

Keep smiling

Robyn

xxx

I also found an old blouse that everyone signed on the last day of school. It was quite amusing to read the upside scrawls in black marker pen. Anyway, it came to my attention that Freddie has written ‘koink’ on it about 10 times!! Does anyone know what I’m talking about?

So…the debate continues…

KOINK OR SPOINK?!?

Yes, the date has finally be set: 12th March 2010!!

I’m very excited, as you can imagine, although I’m already panicking that there will not be enough time to get everything organised. We went to the venue on Saturday and confirmed that we will have our reception at Pendley Manor Hotel in Tring.  It has beautiful grounds and some really lovely features inside including a rustic old fireplace and a great staircase as you go in the entrance. We just need to check the availibility of our ceremony venue officially (we have to reply in writing) and then we can really start planning!

There really is much to think about though and that’s despite the fact that we’re making an effort to keep everything simple with just close friend s and family being invited.

Anyway, no time to lose!!

Hugs to you all

xxxxx

I’ll get straight into it! Last Saturday night I met Vincent and Flavia from Strictly!!

I’ll tell you how it came about. Opposite where I work there was a tiny little shop called Dancers Boutique. They have since moved to a bigger premises literally two shops down from where they were. Well it was their grand opening on Saturday. My sister had been invited to it as she buys quite a lot of ballet stuff there for her daughter but she didn’t want to go and gave me the invitation instead. I took Fee along with me too. 

There were quite a few people there and it was quite packed in the shop. We were only allowed to be in there for 15 minutes but that was enough time to have a bit of a chat, get a picture with them and a kiss from Vincent!! (I can almost see Jemima cringing as I write this ). They weren’t allowed to give out autographs but we each got a (copied) signed photo which was quite nice.

I’m at work atm but when I get home, if I can figure out how to, I’ll upload the picture so you can all see.

That’s my claim to fame over anyway!