Anniversary Presents 2009

Given that it�s out 25th, we splashed out a bit this year!

Ann, from me�

• Daniel Craig tea-towel (but I still don�t understand why!)
• Six bottles of �Lustau Pedro Ximenez� Dessert Wines
• DVD - Pride and Prejudice (Blu-Ray)
• DVD - Ice Age 3 (Blu-Ray)
• DVD - Pretty Woman (Blu-Ray)
• Matt calendar 2010
• Diamond and Sapphire white-gold ring

Me from Ann�

• Silver Rado watch

From Rosi and David

• Smokey brown vase

From Paul and Karen

• Bottle of Champagne

The Power of a Pizza - 25 today�

Yes, today's the day. Who would have thought that after a simple pizza in romantic Romford (December 14 1984), we'd be here, now, celebrating 25 years together?

We're off to The Wheatsheaf in Titchmarsh tonight to celebrate!

The place was quite quiet when we arrived and we started off with a drink from the Bar. After snuggling down on one of their sofas and finishing our drinks, we were shown through to our table. The meal was, as always, really good. I had the pate to start; Ann had goat�s cheese. We followed that with Fish and chips for Ann and duck with red cabbage for me. We just about had room for a pud � Eton mess for me, whilst Ann tucked into bread and butter pudding. Were too stuffed even for a coffee!


During the meal, I got a text from Rosi and they popped round when we got back about 9.30. They�d bought us a beautiful vase.

Thanks Rosi and David � it�s really nice and will suit the lounge perfectly.

The Party Season Begins...

We drove over the Leicester to pick-up Ann's 25th Anniversary present - jewellery!! However on impulse, we decided not to go back to Goldsmith's where we'd seen some nice stuff last week - instead we dropped into George Tarratt just down the road from Ann's office as they had a much better range (with some eye-watering prices to match!!!) Job done, the item is on order and should be ready for collection next Thursday.

We got back about noon and planned to spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and getting into the party spirit! It wasn't to be!!! Ann contacted the Vet's to arrange a date to get the cats in for their annual injections, but apparently they come in two parts..and the deadline for 'part 1' was today..this afternoon...right now...in fact they close in 45 minutes!

So, we quickly assembled the cats and placed them in their cat-carriers (more like a battle actually) and drove to the Vet's. Wow! was it busy, full mostly of dogs and one particularly 'yappy' type whose loud 'yap' cut through the air with the ferocity of a loud yappy dog - pass the Anadin purleazze! Unluckily for our eardrums, we must have waited a good 45 minutes, but at least 'yappy' went in before us.

On being seen, the Vet got off to a brisk and well practised routine. Biscuit eventually swallowed the worming tablet after a bit of a struggle, and a bit of foaming at the mouth, but Bob-Bon was having none of it. The Vet decided (in the interest of personal safety) to give her the liquid-on-the-back-of-the-neck version. All done, phew!!! but they're back in two weeks for 'part 2'. I can't wait..!

Onto more pleasant things then. Tonight, it's Julie T's surprise 50th birthday party at the Thornhill Arms. We've only been there once before - back in May 2007 with David and Val, for a meal, so we weren't sure what the function room would be like. We picked up Rosi, David and Rhiannon and took the short drive to the pub arriving around 7pm as planned. (I realised then, that I'd for gotten the camera! Doh!!!) It was raining quite heavily and parking was pretty challenging! Jo and Eileen (Tom's parents) were already there and we all soon settled down in the room that would hold about 80 or so people. Friends gradually arrived and it soon filled up. At around 7.40 Julie and Tom arrived, and although I couldn't actually see Julie's face - I'm told she looked shocked and speechless - and the latter, was apparently, very a very unusual situation!!!!

All-in-all it was a good very good great do. There a was a brilliant party atmosphere and the band that Nick plays bass for - The Felt Tip Thieves did a good gig. Their sound has matured since we saw them last in Kettering in October 2008 at Sopranos. The food was good too!

Tom had done a great job of keeping it all quiet for this long - well done mate!

We left after the Band had finished, dropped off Rhiannon and collapsed into bed around 11.45.

Continuing in the party spirit, tomorrow, we're round to Paul R's for an afternoon of drinking and gossiping as part of the celebration for his 50th birthday!

Anniversary Weekend in Manchester - Sunday

Our 24th Anniversary today! As we're leaving early today we exchanged our presents last night.

At last, it's stopped raining!

We decided to go for an earlier train back to Rugby, so instead of getting the 11am, we aimed for the 9.30 out of Manchester Piccadilly. This was a good connection as we were back in Rugby by around 11.30.

A short drive home followed by a marathon un-packing session!! :)

Anniversary Weekend in Manchester - Saturday

We woke to a cold, wet day. We tried the hotel's café for breakfast and it was pretty good. Banana and Honey smoothie, Danish pastries and pro-biotic yogurts rubbed shoulders with more traditional sausage and bacon baguettes and haddock and poached egg, toast and preserves. We had a bit of each!

We then headed into Manchester to finish the Christmas shopping...and to get some bits and pieces for ourselves. Considering there is a recession, you wouldn't have guessed it from the number of people shopping, especially in the Arndale Centre - it was packed!

At 10.30 we decided to take a break from the shopping and find the nearest cinema. Luckily the Odeon (it was just round the corner from where we were shopping in M and S). Wow! What a size!! I think it's the largest cinema we've ever been to in the UK. It had 20+ screens and was on three-floors.

We decided to see the 11.05 performance of 'INKHEART' starring Brendan Fraser, Andy Sirkis and Helen Mirren - mainly because we didn't have to wait long. What an excellent film! Great cast, good storyline and impressive special-effects without being over-the-top.

By the time the film finished (1.15) we were starving and headed for Wagamamas close-by. A great lunch!

After lunch, we picked up the final presents at WH Smiths - long queues! - and then trekked back to the hotel in the cold pouring rain to put our feet-up and read the papers. We got back around 3.30.

We opened the champagne at 5 and exchanged anniversary pressies (even though the actual date is tomorrow.

I got Ann:

• A pink necklace with a silver heart
• Edge of Darkness DVD
• Sacred Arias CD by Katherine Jenkins

Ann got me:

• Prince Caspian Blu-Ray DVD
• Foot moisturising lotion
  

We'd booked a table in the café/bar for 7pm and were eager to see if the food was as good as last night.

As it turned out, the food WAS as good, but the SERVICE became increasingly sloppy. They put it down to it being really busy, but we noticed that many of the tables were vacant!

We got back to our room around 8.30 and it a choice between The X-Factor Final or a newly restored episode of Dad's Army on the TV. Who do you think you are kidding..?

All-in-all, we've had a really good time here, but we've decided to get an earlier Train back tomorrow!

Anniversary Weekend in Manchester - Friday

On Sunday, it's our Anniversary and we're celebrating 24 years.

Part of the celebration was travelling up to Manchester (by train from Rugby) and checking into The ABode, a new 'boutique' style hotel very close to Manchester Piccadilly. We caught the 10.47 and arrived in Manchester at 1pm. After checking-in, we started to look around for the final Christmas Pressies. Manchester looks great for shopping!!! In spite of the yukky weather, we got a lot done - and we'll finish off tomorrow!

We headed back to the Hotel and put our feet-up and decided to try the Cafe-Bar for our evening meal. The food was good but not outstanding and there was initially a problem in finding us a table because the whole place had been handed-over to a private function

Our Anniversary - 23 years

It's our Anniversary today. 23 years this year!!!

Wed decided to eat in as we have a lot of preparation to do for tomorrow's party...

Pressies this year:

Ann
Tony Benn Tapes
Heart-shaped hot water bottle
Shrek III DVD
Pinky-red gemstone paper weight

Me
Bulgari toiletries set

..and as always some very romantic Anniversary Cards too...

A Lazy Sunday

I didn't get up until 8! Ann was up at 8.30. Closely followed by Nick and Celina. I guess we all drank too much and ate too much last night!!!

Excellent!

A full-English breakfast all round and then a slooow read of the Sunday papers. N and C left around 11ish.

I then spent an hour or so wrapping up Ann's Anniversary pressies and her Christmas pressies.

Ann caught up with the ironing and our Sky+ recordings.

25 Years Blog

Travelled to London today to meet Ann. The company has invited her to a small do, on-site, to celebrate her twenty-five years with them. Ann as presented with her Mont Blanc watch.

I met Marilyn from Stafford and Irene from Cymbran on our table with their repsective partners. I also got to meet JK - he's doing a wonderful job for the organisation and had really started to turn it round

Our Anniversary - 22 years

It's our Anniversary today. Hardly seems like 22 years! We reckon that's a good sign. :)

Ann cooked a slap-up steak meal at home followed by cheesecake. Delicious!!!

...and copious amounts of Champagne (hic!)

Nice pressys...

Ann
Bleak House DVD
Two Bottles of Pedro Ximenez Lustau San Emilio Sherry
Matt Annual 2006

Me
Clinique Day Moisturiser
Clinique Face Scrub

..and some very romantic Anniversary Cards too...

Wrapping Christmas presents (2)

Found some time today to wrap up Ann's pressies as well as most of our Anniversary pressies too!

I also got the Christmas pre-franked ready for the trek to the Post Office later this month.

Busy Busy! :)