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Published: August 7th 2011
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Although the wedding was the main reason for us all flying over to the UK recently we were very fortunate to see many of our friends and family. With a detailed itinerary and a reliable hired car, infect we had two at one point, we were able to travel a fair few miles, up and down the M4 and the B400!
HIlary managed to reunite with colleagues from Priors Court School and enjoyed an evening catching up all the news and changes at the school. She also managed a visit to the school with two colleagues from her school in Brisbane who were eager to see why she went into shock mode when she started to work at Red Hill Special School after experiencing all the facilities and space at Priors Court.
Hilary managed to meet up with most of our village friends at a garden party celebration and Dominic enjoyed meeting up with old friends from John O'Gaunt and ST Barts. It was lovely to see them all so happy and enjoying themselves and goodness how they have all grown! Dominic was able to set up digs with Jacky, Paul, Alex and Harry Gell his best friend and
enjoyed a day visit to London and a flight on the London Eye amongst many over outings. Seb was reunited with his mates from school and camped out on different floors for the duration of his stay and occasionally linked up with us when we had family gatherings.
Tristan, Cieran and Kevin arrived the week of the wedding and so only had a short stay this time but still managed to fit in a lot of visits and meals etc out with friends and caught up on the goings on in and around Newbury. We visited our lovely friend Brendan and was so pleased to see how happy and well adjusted he had become and an even more accomplished guitarist than ever.
There were opportunities to link up with Beccy for lunch and enjoy chatting to Georgia and Tom who were at home at the time, as well as catching up with Ellie and Derek, and hearing about their adventures after leaving us in Brisbane and travelling around Australia and beyond along with Mary and David good friends from New Malden.
It was also a great opportunity to have a family meal with the Murphy and Tickner
families, all 13 of us and ironically listen to Nicola telling us that her first teaching appointment is at exactly the same school Hilary started her teaching career many years ago! What a small world?
A surprise drive down to Swansea to see Alex and Anne prior to the wedding meant that Hilary could share in the excitement and plans for the big day but also go for a lovely walk along the cliffs along the coastline and picnic overlooking the sea. Some quality time with them both, lovely.
Hilary was also able to make many trips to see her parents in Winchester over a period of three weeks which gave her the opportunity to sit and talk and share past happy memories, with the use of photograph albums and visiting friends they were able to reminisce and enjoy trips out for lunch with Jon, Glyn and friends from Kingston days, Pauline and Michael Turner. We also had a couple of opportunities to take the boys down to see Jean and Keith and chat with them over a Sainsbury's take away in the conservatory. Even Alex and Anne managed a visit after the wedding to share some cake
and video footage of their special day and to talk about the honeymoon trip to Sri Lanka and The Maldives. It was a very special moment.
BBQs in the garden in Windsor with Jon Lou and Issy, sleeping in a hammock, and enjoying drinking coffee whilst watching Changing the Guards outside Windsor Castle was just a few of the happy memories remembered when staying with Hilary's brother. It was also a wonderful opportunity to visit Isabel's school and do some shopping in the town and spend some quality time with her family and enjoy Lou's great cooking!.
The boys enjoyed a Stag Day cross country trail biking in thick mud and attempting Ewan and Charlie stunts without falling off too often. A great day was had by all followed by a boys meal out and a visit to a Newbury night club, it was lovely that the brothers were able to all be together, just a shame Dominic missed out by 6 weeks in the evening drinking party as he was not yet 18!
The day before the wedding was spent getting to know our new extended family, The Goldsacks and unite our talents and man power
to attend the Church rehearsal and then the decoration of the barn in readiness for the reception after the wedding ceremony. It was so lovely to be part of the organising and wedding preparation especially with Libby and Tim who we feel we know so well already and so the atmosphere was relaxed and jolly despite the pressure to get everything done in time.
How much more could be packed into a visit? Perhaps a trip to Pinewood and a judo training session as well as visiting Godchildren and where else can you pop into Newbury High Street for a quick visit and stay 4 hours after bumping into friends and chatting and stopping for coffee and cake to catch up on their news and admire new babies! We certainly miss you all.
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