Congratulations MVL et al...

...baby Oliver born healthy and plump yesterday at 1130hrs... :)

King Charles Hotel, Gillingham - Review

So, clutching our wedding invite we set course for Kent early on Saturday evening...we had booked a cabin at the King Charles Hotel (the pictures on their website are hilarious fantasy), Chatham (about 2 minutes from Fort Amhurst, where the reception was to be held), pictured above (in reality), it turned out to be a charming, sympathetic conversion of an old naval military facility, lovingly decorated by local artists and set in a stunning location (as you can see)...the room came complete with authentic capstan full strength aroma (despite booking non-smoking), and the shower was equipped with a handy auto-on feature when running the bath, to really capure that feeling of adventure on the high seas as you wade across the bathroom floor trying to shield your wedding outfit from the forceful spray...

The reception, in contrast, was in the lovely grounds of Fort Amhurst (here is a view of the town from the ramparts)...

...and a view of the festivities from the same location...

- the food was really good, a selection of BBQ'd burgers, kebabs and wraps, veggies well catered for also, then drinks until the sun was well below the horizon and disco action late into the night, a very pleasant affair spent in the company of some genuinely interesting and friendly folk -

In the morning we were woken early by the noisy natives setting up a massive car boot sale right outside our cabin window, so we gave up trying to sleep, got up and went down for breakfast (which was included in the price) -

We asked for one Full English and one vegetarian breakfast, and I think the chef must have been having an off day...the vegetarian breakfast had an enormous block of cheese on the side...how I kept a straight face when the waitress brought it to the table I really cannot say-

So, we took a quick walk around the boot sale (got a DVD), then hopped in the car and Tomtom brought us home...wedding good, hotel bad... ;)

Friday update - Brighton Uni - Graduation 2006 pics

So, set the wayback machine for Friday! We went for lunch before Kipperfrog's graduation and were amused to see this sign at the entrance to the pub...(Badgers Retreat, just east of Brighton)...being both rather presumptuous and also spelled wronlgy, which ever way you read it... ;)

...anyway, as we had driven down to Brighton so the temperature reported on the car thermometer had climbed...by the time we got down there it was roasting, the view from the pub beer garden overlooking the channel illustrates this nicely, it's almost impossible to separate sea from sky in the humid haze...

...had some nice beer...

...followed by some great food (minted lamb burger for me!) with bountious condiments -

- then zoomed into town (snapping someone coming the other way) -

- and parked up in the main station carpark (about ten minutes after Kipperfrog had intended to be actually at the dome thanks to how busy it was everywhere) -

- so with a little haste, through the station, into a cab and thus -

- swiftly into the queue (not in so much need to hurry then!), which was very fast moving indeed, taking us into reception -

- fitting (gown and hat), and then into the dome proper for processing ;) -

- by the likes of Sir David Attenborough (et al) -

- then back to mine for home made pasta... ;)

Full stream here...

Kipperfrog's graduation done!

Kipperfrog's graduation done!
Originally uploaded by finkangel.

Complete with a handshake from Richard Attenborough... ;) Got some pics and video for later... ;)