Lola's graduation day

A very special day
On 27 June 2014 Lola graduated with a BA Hons in Animation Production from The University of the Arts, Bournemouth. 

It was a very proud day for the whole family. Lola worked so hard and had a lot of things to contend with during her time at university, but she never gave up and getting her degree was a fantastic achievement.

Lola in the Pavilion

Lola outside the Pavilion

A family affair
We all went along as a family to support her, including Calum who took the day off work. The ceremony was held at the Pavilion - a very grandiose setting - and the whole ceremony was very moving. When Lola walked across the stage to receive her degree, I couldn't have been more proud. It was the culmination of so many hopes and dreams and she deserved her special moment.

Lola receives her degree from the Vice Chancellor

Calum, Lola, Joe and I pose for a family portrait

On the beach

The weather was kind to us and it was a beautiful warm and sunny day. It was perfect for the reception which was held in a marquee on Bournemouth beach. You could see and hear the sea which all added to the atmosphere.

Lola in my vintage dress

Lola and her uni friends

A celebration dinner

After the day's festivities, we went out for a fabulous meal at The Green House Hotel. The food was exquisite - and the cocktails delicious. It was a wonderful end to a wonderful day and one that we will never forget. 

Lola and I enjoy a cocktail

Calum and Lola in the bar

So, congratulations Lola. You've earned your success and we couldn't be more thrilled for you. We're so grateful we were able to celebrate your graduation with you.

Calum's graduation day

The entrance to the awards

On 16 July 2013 Calum graduated from Ravensbourne, a specialist college for the creative arts, with a BA Hons degree in Graphic Design. Joe, Calum, Lola and I went to London for the ceremony which was held at the O2 on the Greenwich Peninsula, opposite the college. Being in such a glamorous venue gave the event an added sense of occasion. We arrived in plenty of time to get a good seat and secure a good view of the stage.

 The stage is set

There was a real buzz in as all the friends and families of the graduands (students who are about to graduate) took their places to wait for the ceremony to begin. Calum had to collect his gown and mortar board and met us in the auditorium before going downstairs to go on stage. He looked very smart.

 Me and Calum in the auditorium at the O2 arena

 Calum and Lola in the auditorium at the O2 arena

Hearing about all the achievements of the students was very moving and, of course, I felt a lump in my throat when Calum went on stage. He'd worked so hard to get his degree and it was wonderful to see him receive the recognition he deserved. After the ceremony was over, we all filed out into the main area of the O2. Everyone was taking photos, including us!

 Joe and Calum at the O2

 Me, Calum and Lola at the O2

After the ceremony we went to Ravensbourne for the reception. I'd never been inside the building - I'd only seen it from the outside - so I was very interested to see the state-of-the-art interior. It didn't disappoint.

It was great to meet Calum's tutors too. They were a lovely bunch of people who, as well as being very creative, also had a good sense of humour. They obviously thought highly of Calum and were pleased with what he had achieved.

Calum and his tutors

The reception was very enjoyable and the champagne flowed. Lola and I enjoyed a few glasses.

Me and Lola enjoying a glass of bubbly

After the reception, we went for a meal at Balthazar's in Covent Garden, the London version of the fabulous New York restaurant we'd visited for his 18th birthday. It was great and the food was fantastic, although the service was a little erratic at times. When I complained, they gave us free desserts which was a bonus.

Calum and Lola at Balthazar's

Calum enjoys his meal.

When Calum received his pudding, it came with 'Congratulations' written on the plate. It was a very nice touch and one that Calum appreciated. A lovely end to an amazing day. Congratulations Calum. So proud of you.

Calum's celebratory pudding

Lola's Turkish birthday

Poolside presents

On 27 July 2013, we celebrated Lola's 20th birthday in Turkey. We were all groggy first thing, having only arrived at the Binlik Hotel in Dalyan in the early hours of the morning. A post-breakfast nap helped revive us and by lunchtime we were ready to start celebrating, so we ordered some drinks and opened Lola's presents sitting by the pool. It was a great way to start the holiday.

Joe, Calum, me and Lola by the pool.

Me and Lola and a big pile of birthday presents.

Lola's presents - unwrapped.

A trip to the market

After opening Lola's presents, we strolled into Dalyan and went to the Saturday market. It was lively and colourful and full of 'genuine' fakes, but that didn't include the tea which we sampled from a nice stallholder. We also bought lots of authentic Turkish Delight.

 Lola and I sample Turkish fruit tea at the colourful market.

Pre-dinner cocktails

Before we went out for Lola's birthday meal, we had cocktails at the bar. That put us in the party mood!

 Joe enjoys a birthday cocktail.

 The birthday girl enjoys a cocktail too.

 I chose a passion fruit cocktail.

Birthday dinner at the Chef

We booked a table at a restaurant recommended by our holiday rep and it turned out to be a good choice. They specialised in Mexican rather than Turkish food, so that's what we had. It was delicious and the portions were huge which pleased Calum. 

Unbeknown to Lola, we'd organised for her birthday to be announced so she was given a special cocktail, complete with sparkler, and the staff sang Happy Birthday to her. She was a bit embarrassed at first but took it in good spirit, especially when everyone in the restaurant joined in singing Happy Birthday. It was all good fun and certainly made the evening more memorable.

 Lola and Calum and the Chef restaurant where we went for Lola's birthday dinner.

 Me and Joe at the restaurant.

 Lola gets a surprise birthday cocktail.

Lola also gets serenaded by the restaurant staff.

Madrid to London

Old friends

A visit from on old friend is always a pleasure. Joe and I have known Sue for over 30 years and hadn't seen her for over 10. So when she said she was coming to London and wanted to meet up, we were delighted. 

Sue has lived in Madrid for over 20 years but we originally met her when we all worked together in London at a sports promotion agency called McLaren Purvis Palmer. It was in Upper Street in Islington which was a great location and we had a lot of good times together. The office is now a posh Space NK Apothecary. So when we were deciding where to meet, Islington seemed like the perfect choice. 

Sue and I at Camden Passage in Islington

Antiques and retro clothes

Camden Passage has a fabulous antiques market where you can also find all kinds of bric a brac and wonderful retro clothes. We had a good look round, talking non-stop as we tried to catch up on each other's news - and there was plenty of it! 

Sue and Joe outside a shop at Camden Passage

Sue and Joe at Camden Passage market

French food

After looking round the market, we we walked along Upper Street and went to Joe's and my favourite French restaurant, Le Petite Auberge. As always the food was fantastic and we all enjoyed it. It was great to spend time with Sue and we've promised not to leave it so long until the next time we meet up. I feel a trip to Madrid coming ...

Sue and me at La Petite Auberge.

Sue and me in Upper Street

Calum turns 22

A day out in London

On 2 October 2012 Calum turned 22. We spent the day in London. I took the day off work and travelled down with Calum in the morning and we met up later with Joe to go out for a meal in Covent Garden. 

Calum in London

Exhibition at The Barbican

Calum and I went for a stroll and then went to see a wonderful photographic exhibition from the 60s and 70s at The Barbican called 'Everything was Moving'. It was thought-provoking and wonderfully evocative, telling a very powerful narrative about the social history of the times which featured some hugely significant political and social change, especially related to the treatment of racial minorities.

Burgers and beer

Calum had to go off to college so I took the opportunity to go to Covent Garden and take in the atmosphere and browse round the shops. It's one of my favourite places in London. I met Joe off the train at Kings Cross and we went back to Covent Garden where we had a look round before meeting Calum at The Roadhouse, a 1950s style diner that looked like good fun. It was - and very reasonable too as we got there for Happy Hour!

 Joe and Calum at The Roadhouse cafe

 Me and Calum at The Roadhouse

 Me, Joe and Calum at The Roadhouse

We all had burgers and beer which we really enjoyed. Calum was especially pleased with the size of his burger. The people were very friendly and the waiting staff very attentive. Even though we were full when we caught the train home, somehow we still managed to find room for birthday cake. It was a great day and and a great way to celebrate Calum's birthday. 

The birthday boy with his beer and massive burger

Me with Calum and his birthday cake

Silver Wedding Anniversary

Mr and Mrs - still smiling after 25 years

Staying married to someone for 25 years is a cause for celebration. On 5 September 1987 Joe and I got married at All Saints Church in Peterborough and it was one of the best days of my life (the birth of my children being the others).

Staying happily married to someone for 25 years is even more cause for celebration. It doesn't mean you haven't had your ups and downs. Those are natural. But it does mean you've come a long way as a couple. And that's definitely not a given.

What is a given is that when you wake up and realise you've been married for 25 years, you wonder where the years went and how you got to this place that 25 years ago had seemed so far away. 

And yet, here it is, your silver wedding anniversary. 

So Joe and I decided that we had to do something really special to mark the occasion - and that meant going back to our wedding hotel, the Haycock Hotel in the gloriously named Wansford-in-England. We had our reception there in the marquee which, sadly, no longer exists and everything about the day was perfect.

The Haycock Hotel

We booked the same room we had on our wedding night. It boasts a magnificent four-poster bed and Queen Victoria once stayed there. Of course, it had been redecorated since 1987, but the room was essentially the same and walking into it brought loads of memories flooding back.

The beautiful four poster bed

Me on the four poster bed 

We were lucky with the weather. It was hot and sunny, just like it had been on our wedding day. Except that it had rained in the morning and I'd cried. The sun came out just in time for us to go to the church. It stayed out all day and into the evening. 

We booked dinner at the hotel and had a bottle of celebratory champagne before going down to the restaurant. The hotel gave us an ice bucket to put it in. It tasted heavenly and put us in a good mood. 

Champagne on ice

We dressed for dinner - and that was part of the fun. I wore a gold beaded dress with gold accessories and Joe looked very smart in a black linen jacket which he wore with a vintage tie.

Me and Joe dressed for dinner

We had the perfect table, set in the corner of the restaurant overlooking the garden. Our waiter, who came from Bulgaria, was very attentive and looked after us all evening. He gave us a complimentary bottle of wine which was an added bonus. 

The food was delicious and the atmosphere of the restaurant was cosy and romantic. There was a another couple there celebrating their first anniversary. We congratulated each other. It was a wonderful end to a wonderful day and I felt very lucky to have such a wonderful marriage.  

Joe and I in the hotel restaurant

So Happy Silver Wedding Anniversary Joe - and thanks for a fabulous 25 years.