Keeping You Up With The Joneses

Sunday, 9 November 2008

Lauren Young's Christening - October 2008

We headed up to Chatteris, Cambridgeshire the last weekend of October to attend the Christening of Lauren Young. Lauren is Ben's cousin, Donna's daughter. Donna and Mark had asked Ben and I to be Godparents to Lauren, and we were very honoured to be asked. It was a lovely weekend in which we were able to celebrate Lauren's Christening, as well as Donna and Mark's 2nd wedding anniversary and Ben's 2 years in the UK!

Lauren all rugged up for a walk around Ely after lunch, the Ely Cathedral

Ely Cathedral with a lovely rural park.

Lauren charming the camera!!

Lauren in her Christening dress and with Dad Mark.

Lauren a lot happier after the Christening, grand-dad Colin taking some photos.

Lauren exploring the church, with Mum Donna, and with Uncle Andy and Cousin Ellen

Ellen, Uncle Andy and Lauren, Uncle Andy welcoming everyone to the lunch, and Mum Donna with the cake!

Lauren's cake, Godparent Inge cutting the cake, Lauren having some fun and the church at Chatteris.

Last Night of the BBC Proms - September 2008

Ben made a huge sacrifice by getting us tickets for the Last Night of the Proms in the Park! It was an unusually sunny and warm day, so a perfect day for a picnic. We arrived when the gates opened and with the thousands of other people found a place to sit and relax before the evening started. It was such a great way to spend the afternoon, especially as the weather was so good, and I had lots of fun singing along to all the songs!! Will try and do it again next year.

Enjoying the sunshine & the thousands of people having a picnic and showing their patriotism!

The massive stage, a pink Union Jack, and enjoying the wine!

Amazingly we're still wearing our sunglasses, Ben had to take this photo as one of his footy mates is called 'Worker', me singing along and the crowd getting louder.

Everybody dancing along to Bjorn Again!

Ben had to take a photo of the clear blue sky, and the beautiful light as the sun set.

Jose Careras singing and the fireworks at the end of the night!

Saturday, 8 November 2008

Brad & Chrissy's Wedding - Scotland - 3 September 2008

Brad and Chrissy's wedding was at Dundas Castle in Edinburgh. We had such a fantastic time there with the friends and family that had travelled from the US and Australia. The whole day reflected what was important to Brad and Chrissy, their family, friends, each other and laughter. I got to catch up with some of the girls from the New York hen's weekend and it was wonderful to meet the families on both sides.

Inge, Brad and Viv infront of Dundas Castle, the Keep where the ceremony was & the dark clouds failed to put a damper on the occasion!

Chrissy's beautiful dress was her mother's which had been made 57 years earlier! Chrissy getting ready, the boys taking their time relaxing and the amazing wedding cake!

Chrissy's Mum Mabel and her sister Yvonne helping her get ready. Chrissy having some pre-wedding photos with her family, sister Yvonne, brother Bubba, Dad Maccy and Mum Mabel.

Chrissy being walked down the aisle, Yvonne doing a reading, and the happy couple now married!

Bubba getting into the spirit, the happy couple arriving at the reception and Brad trying to cut the cake with the sword!!

Ben and Dazza, Yvonne and Inge, Jennifer and Kathryn giving their speech, Dazza displaying the tie he had to borrow from Ben after he couldn't tie his bow-tie!

Fireworks that had been organised, the first dance for the happy couple, and for the other happy couple, and Chrissy having some fun after all the stresses of organising a wedding!!

Everyone letting their hair down and enjoying the night. (LtoR: Chrissy, Keely & Brad, Chrissy & Ben, Inge, Jennifer, Chrissy & Keely, Nicole & Ben)

Dazza and Fran, the couple partying hard and Ben and Inge.

Manchester - August 2008

Ben and I had planned to go up to Manchester to watch his beloved Fulham play Manchester United at the legendary Old Trafford stadium. Unfortunately the game was postponed, but we decided to head up there anyway and had a great weekend. Manchester is a fun place and we had fun exploring the city, doing some shopping and sampling the restaurants and bars! Highlights include the bad traffic on the way up due to the filming of Top Gear! Me forgetting to take any trousers other than the yoga pants I had on, so on the first night heading out in the yoga pants with my Jimmy Choos! Going on the Manchester Eye! And indoor skiing at the Chill Factore!

Relaxing in the Level 21 bar in the Hilton, me laughing about the yoga pants with the Choos!

The Manchester Eye

Another fun night out in Manchester

The indoor ski slope

Positano, Amalfi Coast - August 2008

For the August Bank Holiday we headed to Positano for some much needed sun and beach time! The Summer in England had again been rather miserable, so it was wonderful to arrive on the Amalfi Coast to 30 degree weather and bright blue skies.

Ben and I spent most of our time either lounging on the beach or by the pool on our hotel's rooftop! We ventured out one day for a very strenuous (not!) boat trip along the coast to Amalfi, where a compulsory visit to the Emerald Grotto was included! It was a weekend of true indulgence as we treated ourselves to a dinner at the Michelin starred restaurant high up on the cliff, where the dessert was worthy of a photograph, and also managed to buy two new paintings from one of the many art galleries. Both paintings are by Italian artists.

We'll definitely be heading back there one day!

The view from our hotel room, getting some desperately needed sun & relaxing on the balcony!

Positano at night & from the sea, the cliff that the Michelin star restaurant is on!

The Emerald Grotto, Amalfi & Ben & I starting to get a bit of colour!

The amazing dessert and the end product!

Relaxing by the pool and soaking up the final rays before heading back to the rain!!

Memorial to Owen Hartley Jones

After finding the tumor in his lung in France, Owen lost his struggle with the cancer on the 18 July 2007 having been able to say goodbye to all of his family and friends. Ben went home for the funeral, which I know his Dad and Aunty Helen really appreciated. We all loved Owen so much and will miss him dearly.

Owen Hartley Jones
24.11.1941 - 18.7.2008

Dusk
Now is the healing, quiet hour that fills
This gay, green world with peace and grateful rest.
Where lately over opalescent hills
The blood of slain Day reddened all the west,
Now comes at Night's behest,
A glow that over all the forest spills,
As with the gold of promised daffodils.
Of all hours this is best.

"The Sentimental Bloke" - C.J. Dennis

Chrissy's Hen's Weekend in NY - July 2008

My next trip was to New York with our friend Chrissy for her Hen's weekend! Chrissy is from South Carolina, so her friends from back home organised for a great weekend in New York. The weekend consisted of dinner, Broadway shows, cocktail bars and lots and lots of shopping!!!! Thankfully then the exchange rate was still very good, so we were able to do a lot!