More wedding ...

Us with our mums


Us with friends


Us with family


Us with our dads


All of the men looking smart

Has it really been 10 days since I got married? Time really flies when
you're busy. Theresa and I are still really happy and still reliving our
wedding day regularly. We're collating the photos at the moment and here are
a couple more for those who are interested.

The wedding

Well, I'm now married. Last Friday was one of the most magical days of my life. Theresa and I had planned the day quite carefully, and it went even better then either of us could have hoped I think. Looking back on it there's nothing that I wish we'd done, nothing that I wish we hadn't. Our guests were great, the venue was perfect and it all ended before people got too tired. While this may sounds crass, it was the happiest day of my life and I would like everyone to know it!! And looking into the eyes of my (now) wife and telling her I will love her, hold her and keep her for the rest of my life was one of the most powerful moments ever for me.

There were 33 of us at the wedding, a mixture of friends and family on both sides. We go married in Galstonbury Town Hall, in the South-West of England, and then moved to a restaurant in the countryside that Theresa and I both love very much. We stayed in the restaurant all afternoon and had the place pretty much to ourselves. The afternoon was spent eating and drinking, and chilling quite a bit too. Which is how Theresa and I wanted the day and how we pretty much are as well.



As if it was planned the sun broke through the clouds just as we finished the ceremony. And then came out once again when we took a break from the lunch in the afternoon.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who came, and I'm sorry that we couldn't have all of our friends with us on the day. Everyone who was there and everyone who was thinking of us made it so special.

A few points about the day:

- Theresa looked gorgeous in her dress, and pulled off being 7 months pregnant as well!
- We did individual menu on each place with each persons name on it. It really helped the restaurant and the guests who didn't know each other.
- We mixed all of the guests up so they weren't sitting in couples. Many new friends were made and we noticed people come out of their shells as a result.
- No single cake, but individual cup cakes with each guests initials on them. We then went round at the end of the afternoon giving each person their cake in a samll box. It gave us a chance to formally say 'bye'.
- Proper restaurant rather than brought in catering. So much better quality and quantity!

Thank you again to everyone. Now just got to get used to wearing a ring on my finger!!

Long overdue appearance...

First of all HUGE apologies for my really long absence. I hope you are all very well. I am working through your blogs to see what you’ve all been up to. Rest assured that you have been in my thoughts, despite my absence.

So what’s new? The last few weeks have been among the busiest I can remember. Almost everything that can be changed has been changed since late January!! So where to start?



Theresa is doing very well. She is now getting bigger by the day, but everything is still going well. She’s had a couple of minor illnesses, but for the most part is living a reasonably normal life. She is more tired and is more out of breath (normal by all accounts), but is still only eating for one and not two. I am making up the deficit I reckon!! All of the midwife checks have gone well, and everything seems very well with Megan. She is proving to be a very active child and seems to be continually kicking and moving around. Not sure what this will mean for when she’s born, but we’ll see. It’s quite reassuring to feel her moving around though, especially during the times when Theresa has been unwell.

Next up is that I’ve left Publishing and moved to an advertising company. I don’t want to say much about the leaving period except that it proved very tiring and got quite messy towards the end. Which was a great shame because most of my memories from there are good. But now I’m into the next phase of my career and everything seems to be going really well. There is a lot to do, but it’s proving to be an interesting challenge so far. The people are cool, the company seems spot on and watch this space. I was talking to my colleagues today about blogging and threatened to put some of them online….... but maybe I'll save that for a special post.

The wedding plans are about to come to fruition. IT’S THIS FRIDAY!!!!! Everything has been sorted and it’s just a case of turning up really now. I’m really excited about it and I think it’s going to rank as one of the best days of my life. It will be quite a small family and very close friends affair, but I prefer that. With Theresa being 7 months pregnant now we probably can’t do too long a day anyway. I’ll put a post on after our honeymoon next week. We’re off to West Wales to a secluded caban (spelt that way) near a remote bay. Hopefully we’ll get to see Whales and Dolphins, and will be able to just chill. It’s only for four days, but will be such a great tonic.

The house and garden are coming along well. All of the preparations for Megan are pretty much done and we’ve been concentrating on the garden. At the moments we’re very much in the planting phase, but even I can start to see how different and colourful it will be. With Spring hopefully just around the corner I really can’t wait. The decking is already proving it’s worth and we’ve enjoyed a couple of breakfasts on it already. We’ve got the furniture, heater, etc.. and a BBQ arrived the other day (thanks Alf and Marny) which just needs assembling and then we’re go!! I’m already dreaming of the lazy Summer evenings spent chilling on the decking while watching the sun go down. With the sweet smell of flowers and shrubs wafting up from the garden, and mingling with home grown vegetables and cooking on our BBQ. The plan is for the decking to become our dining room for 6 months of the year. I just need the air temperature to rise above 2 Celcius now!!!



It was a sad day last week when I sold Lolita the Smart car. I sold her on Ebay in one day (!) to a guy in Malta. He is exporting her as we speak and I’m sure she will have a great life out there in the sun. I was quite sad saying goodbye because she has lived many many adventures with me. And she will always have a special place in my heart. But things have to move on and we’ve bought a Skoda estate to allow for Megan and her stuff. And so far the new Stancombe family vehicle has proven a delight. Very comfortable, sporty and remarkably economical as well.

Again I’m sorry for the absence and I will try harder. Think of us on Friday (24/03) at 11.30 GMT as Theresa and I get married. And I’ll try and put more updates on very soon.

The year so far

Hope everyone is well. My apologies for the long period of inactivity, but 2006 has been mental so far!! I knew this year was going to be full-on, but I had no idea everything planned (and more!) would happen in the first month.

So here goes ...


The big news is that I have found out I am having a daughter in June. The scan picture above was taken in mid-January. And we have decided to call her Megan. Mother and daughter are doing well and the scan showed baby to be healthy, very active and have long legs. And I'm really excited about having a little girl. I gather they are angels for the first 10 years and then the problems start (boyfriends primarily!!), but I can live with that. The main thing is that she appears to be healthy and growing alarmingly fast! I am still completely overwhelmed to be having a child, and in a really really good way. I am enjoying life with just Theresa and I, but I have no fears for when Megan arrives. In the sense that baby will disrupt things or change the adults' relationship in any bad way. I think we will get another travelling companion and a friend.


The redevelopment of Casa de Stancombe continues apace with some awesome decking having been built out the back of the house. Although it's a bit chilly to be out there at the moment I am really happy with the work. It's pretty huge, but should provide an adequate playpen for Stancombe junior when she arrives. And I can smell the BBQ's already!! Cocktails at mine once the temperature rises, everyone?

Next up is just the garden to finish ...

In other news I have decided to move jobs. I haven't been too happy in my current company for a while now and an opportunity has presented itself in a related (although not publishing) industry. After several interviews they decided to offer me the job at the start of this week. I'm really pleased because it is a bigger company and will provide a lot more stability in my and my family's life.

Finally Theresa and my wedding has been arranged for the end of March this year. We're going to get married in a town called Glastonbury in Somerset, which is close to where I come from. It's quite a mystical place and has huge amounts of history. Our wedding will be conventional, but it's wonderful to be allowed to get married somewhere with an inspiring aura to it and a lengthy history.

... and deep breath out.......

Happy New Year

I would like to wish everyone a very happy new year and all the best for 2006. I hope you all have a fantastic year with many high moments and many great adventures. I'm looking forward to seeing what you all get up to in the coming months.



These pictures are of the fireworks display that we had in London last night.

Richard Burns 1971 - 2005

Today marks the memorial service for rally driver Richard Burns who died from a brain tumour on November 25, aged only 34. He is (so far) the only Englishman to win the World Rally Championship and was one of the best drivers to ever have come out of the UK. As well as being a talented driver he was a true gentleman and brought a lot of dignity to his sport.

After collapsing while on the way to a rally he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He has spent the last two years fighting this terrible illness and the early signs were that he was winning the fight. Unfortunately things took a turn for the worse recently, unbeknownst to most people inside and outside the sport. And then he tragically died on November 25 this year, four years to the day from when he won the World Championship.

Richard Burns, gone but never forgotten....

Happy Christmas everybody

I may not be in a position to post until after Christmas now so I would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope it is relaxing, peaceful and full of cheer.

Visit to Paris

Theresa and I were in Paris last week-end on a quick sighseeing and shopping trip before Christmas. It was her first visit and my first since 1986! And I don't remember too much of that trip so it was quite enlightening this time round. And what a beautiful city! The buildings are so old and yet in such wonderful condition. and the city was a lot more chilled than I'd have thought. There was also a very nice artistic vibe about the place.

We certainly didn't see everything, or even try to, but we've both got the taste to go back I think. The weather was OK, the food and drink were superb (real Petit Pain au Chocolat in the morning - yum!) and the city was small enough to feel cosy.

Here are some pics for those who haven't been....



A view of the Eiffel Tower from the Champ de Mars



Theresa under the arches of the Eiffel Tower. Because it's Christmas they've put lights all over the spans. These lights flash on the hour, every hour. You can see the lights going on this photo



Theresa at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Despite being 1000ft up it's not as scary as you'd think.



One of the other famous landmarks - the Arc de Triomphe



The happy couple in front of the Arc de Triomphe



The Place de la Concorde, at the other end of the Champs Elysee, with an Egyptian obelisk 'acquired' by France a century ago



In front of the Notre Dame cathedral



One of the stained glass windows in the Notre Dame



The best Christmas tree in Paris, in front of the Notre Dame. Huge balls ...



The biggest painting I've ever seen!! Theresa is in front to give an idea of scale. it is of paris at the turn of the century and is in the Musee d'Orsay



Me in front of a Monet, the first I've been up close to in real life

A chilli situation

I was sent this. don't know if it's true, but made me cry in sympathy. I'm not the best with hot food so can totally empathise with judge number 3.


The notes are from an inexperienced Chili taster named Frank, who was visiting from Canada.
Frank: "Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chilli cook-off.The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in.
I was assured by the other two judges (Native Texans) that the chilli wouldn't be all that spicy and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted".

Here are the scorecards from the advent: (Frank is Judge #3)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chili # 1 Mike's Maniac Mobster Monster Chili
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.
Judge # 2 -- Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.
Judge # 3 -- (Frank) Holy **** , what the hell is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the flames out. I hope that's the worst one. These Texans are crazy.
~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chili # 2 Arthur's Afterburner Chili
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.
Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.
Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure what
I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chili # 3 Fred's Famous Burn Down the Barn Chili
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick. Needs more beans.
Judge # 2 -- A beanless chili, a bit salty, good use of peppers.
Judge # 3 -- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill.
My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano.
Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest.
I'm getting s**t- faced from all of the beer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chili # 4 Bubba's Black Magic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice.Disappointing.
Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili..
Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue,but was unable to taste it.
Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the barmaid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. That 300-lb bit*h is starting to look HOT...just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chili # 5 Linda's Legal Lip Remover
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground,adding considerable kick. Very impressive.
Judge # 2 -- Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the cayenne peppers make a strong statement.
Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili
had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off.
It really pisses me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Scr*w those rednecks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chili # 6 Vera's Very Vegetarian Variety
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Judge # 1 -- Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers.
Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, and garlic.Superb.
Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulphuric flames.
I sh*t myself when I farted and I'm worried it will eat through the chair.
No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that Sally. She must be kinkier than I thought. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my a**hole with a snow cone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chili # 7 Susan's Screaming Sensation Chili
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.
Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chilli peppers at the last moment. **I should take note that I am worried about Judge # 3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably.
Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava like sh*t to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've decided to stop breathing, it's too painful. Scr*w it; I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chili # 8 Tommy's Toe-Nail Curling Chili
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence.
Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balance chili. Neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself.
Not sure if he's going to make it. Poor fella, wonder how he'd have reacted to really hot chili!!!

A proper post to follow soon.

When cars mate ...

When a Ford Escort took a shine to Lolita and tried to mate....

Thanks Steve! Lol

Munich Christmas Market

Once again it is nearly Christmas. The days get darker, the nights get colder and McDonalds starts playing shite Christmas pop songs. Unlike previous years I am going to have a Chritsmas tree and maybe even a glass of mulled wine nearer the day. Not being alone in the house makes me feel more snuggly and much more up for Christmas.

I was out in Munich this week for probably the final time of 2005 (smiling) so took the opportunity to go to the annual Christmas market. One thing I will give Bavaria is that they do Christmas very well. It helps that there's often snow about, but you do feel very in the spirit of the moment. The markets are all nice and not tacky like we have in london. The lights are tasteful, the decorations sober(-ish) and the main tree in the square is HUGE!!

I have some news.....

I've been itching to make this announcement for a while now, but had to hold off for reasons which will become apparent. I know I've been a bit distant in the last few weeks, but this might also go some way to explain it.

Oh, hell, can't hold back anymore......

I'M GOING TO BE A FATHER!!!!!

Theresa and I found out a little while ago that she is pregnant and we went and had the scan at the end of last week. It is always a worry until the first scan but, thankfully, all is well and the doctor said the baby is really healthy and very active. And there is only one child. Which is good. Lol! Baby is due on June 8 2006 (at the moment). Mummy is doing very well, although a little more tired than before, and so far has not suffered much sickness or problems. We are both really, really chuffed and have found the whole experience so far quite overwhelming, and in a really good way. Our families are also over the moon about it, and it is really bringing both our families together in an amazing way.



I have to say that an event like this completely changes your perspective on things. It was a bit of a surprise for both of us, but a really good one as well. Now thoughts are turning to things such as 'I need to get a bigger car', 'the spare room will need to be decorated - pink or blue?', 'where the hell is all the baby stuff going to be stored', and so on. All fun though.

More news as it happens, but I just wanted to post something about this.

PS: I apologise in advance if I fall into the trap of going on and on about baby stuff, but what the hell. And if anyone out there has any advice I would welcome it.

Bye to some old friends

I've just found out that some fellow bloggers who've been around for a while will be taking a time out from blogging for a while. I just want to say that I hope you guys get everything sorted that you need. I'll be thinking of you all. And, even if you don't blog again for a while, please stop by and let the rest of know that you're OK.

Car show and shopping

A gorgeous Ferrari 250 Spyder Calfornia - the first I've ever seen in real life

Theresa and I went to a car show at the week-end. Her first and my first for a while. there were cars on display (see above) including some exceptionally rare stuff. the main part of the afternoon was a live indoor car show with stuntmen, exotic cars and some British TV presenters (Clarkson and Hammond from Top Gear for those who know). The show lasted about 80 minutes and was pretty spectacular. I've been to things like this before, but I thought this was still pretty good value.


An extract from the show

There was also the first publis unveling of the new Jaguar XK sportscar. I can't stand Jaguars but this did look alright and sounded OK! (see above)


Keeping it real at the show



The day rounded off in at Harrods

We then finished the day off with tea at Harrods. Very Christmas and very British. And it tasted alright as well!! Is ayone else starting to get excited about Christmas yet?


Harrods with their Christmas lights on. London is looking beautiful now and very bright!

Cute picture

Fund this while surfing around randomly. No idea what they are, but thought they were quite cute.

A surral theatre experience

Emily (centre right) doing some dancing (sorry Em can't remember song). Was definitely one of the highlights in an otherwise very strange evening.

Apologie for the extended absences at the moment. I can't believe it has been nearly two weeks since a last post. How time flies wen you're busy unfortunately. I am finding it harder to make the time to post properly at the moment. I'm not really sure why, but I am sure it is just a phase and it will get better. For a while we had no internet at work which didn't help, but that is a bit of a crap excuse as well. And I'm finding when I get home that I have lots of jobs to do so by the time I get round to thinking about doing blogging or anything similar it is far too late and I need sleep. Personally I blame the rapidly approaching Christmas, but maybe I'm wrong. Lol!

So what's new? Theresa and I are decorating the house at the moment which is taking up plenty of her time. It is looking a lot better though, and I didn't fully appreciate how dreadful the wallpaper was until I now compare it to the new 'dawn mist' colour on the walls. It's a great neutral colour which means our pictures really stand out on the walls.

Other than work (too dull and time consuming to want to even think about), a highlight has been going to a theatre production on Hayling Island near Portsmouth, to see my 8 year-old niece performing. Hayling is a very small community on an island attached to mainland Britain. It's a bit League of Gentlemen at times, although lovely. And a huge contrast to Surrey where I live!! But I digress. This theatre was very small and the production was put on by the local dance society as far as I can make out. It comprised a mixture of adults and kids of all ages singing and dancing. For three hours.
Everyone was 'warning' me before not to laugh, but I didn't really take in what I was being told. The kids dancing were cute and for the most part pretty good. For a small community they had been taught well. The odd child that sang though was absolute torture. I have never in my life heard songs being dismembered so completely as during those 'performances'. It was like soeone scraping their nails down a blackboard, but worse! And then there were the adults. I thought it was the parents who were going on stage to have a go and join in. Which wuld have been forgiveable. But I later learnt that this lots practice regularly and this is their hobby. I wasn't expecting Broadway, but it was truly awful. In fact awful doesn't even come close! Eating my own feet would have been a more pleasurable experience in retrospect I think!!
What made the evening better/worse was that virtually the whole audience were sitting there in raptures. The only ones cringeing and trying not to giggle were my group. Fair enough for the parents supporting their kids, but not everyone else!! And luckily for the 'production' it was only friends and family there because I think there would have been a mass walk out or a stoning had anyone without a vested interest been there.

Now this all may seem a little harsh, but believe me when I say it was a truly exhausting experience. Watching the kids getting into it and having fun was cool. And I would completely encourage kids to try acting and dancing. But I think someone should regulate letting truly talentless adults out in public.

Can anyone empathise?

On a lighter note it's cool hanging out with family sometimes and being abale to go out with Theresa's nan, sister and the kids was wonderful. An average lunch was made hugely better by us all having a laugh and relaxing. Especially with nan who is the elder stateswoman of the family and a great person to be around. and she eats even more than me which I scarcely believe possible!


My honorary niece Emily (from play above) and I doing what we do best - eating ice cream. Happy memories.



A picture of my honorary big sister Helen looking funny. Promised I would post it so all comments about her are welcome. Lol!

Happy birthday Theresa

Theresa is 33 today so if anyone has a minute pop by her blog and wish her well. Click on the dots above to go to her. As you can see from these recent photos she's very excited about it being her birthday as well. And she is ageing gracefully.

Kew Gardens, London

Theresa and I went to the Royal Botanical Gardens at a place called Kew over the week-end. It's a beautiful set of gardens and a research centre located on the edge of London. At the moment there is a big glass exhibition by an artist called Dale Chihuly. His works are very organic looking and have been integrated into the plant areas spectacularly. In fact the day became more a 'hunt for the glass things' than a 'look for the rare trees'! All good fun though.


What made it even more spectacular was all of the trees turning as Autumn arrives. Stunning....


With the sun behind this glass 'sun' it looks pretty moody. This sructure is about 3m above theground and probably 2m across!


A gondola filled with glass shapes, floating on a lake with lots of glass balls in it. Garish, but also spectacular.


One of the many organic shapes in among the plants. Green is my favourite colour as well.

Nike 10k 2005 edition

After the excitement of a night run through central-London last November I once again signed up for doing the Nike backed 10km run in London. This year there were 40,000 people running in three parks at the same time on a beautiful Sunday morning. It was the biggest running event in the UK, bigger even than the London Marathon. So it's kind of cool to be involved. And this year Nike plan on staging several 5km races throughout the rest of the year so I might try and do a couple of them. The theme is 'I will run for a year'.


Red is the new fluoro yellow for 2005! Last year we glowed in the dark like fireflies, this year we were a quite tasteful red. This is us all running alongside the lake in Hyde Park, central London.


The 'action shot'. Me at the 6.5km mark and still going strong. My plan for this year was to take it steadily for the first 7km and then slowly increase the pace. And then go for it over the last km or so. I stuck to the plan and ran the best race of my life I think. I ran the whole way, finished in 1hr 5mins and wasn't sick at all. And this came after no real training at all, so doubly chuffed really.

A week in Barcelona ...

I've just got back from a week in my favourite city in the world - Barcelona. And what a fantastic few days. It was one of the most enjoyable holidays I've ever had, no exaggeration. And I'm actually not too angry or gutted to be back which I think shows how chilled I have got in the last few days.

Barcelona is a vibrant, cultural and welcoming city (for those who haven't been), and I find it a great place to go and unwind. There's an energy to the place which is very uplifting, probably due in part to the fact that it is a very young city and has a lot of travelers there most of the year. Most holidays I go and yet still think about work or somehow never manage to shed concerns or irritations. I can honestly say I only though about work properly on one occasion and that passed in short order. Everyday I woke up and was glad to be alive.

I went with my partner Theresa and we rented an apartment right in the middle of the old district in the centre of town. A few minutes walk from the beach in one direction, and only seconds from restaurants and bars. It's the first time I've rented an apartment in this way and it worked out so well. I normally stay in hotels or hotels. This way gave us the option to go back and chill when we wanted to, have a washing machine, proper kitchen, and several rooms to relax in. There were no worries about other people being around, cleaners coming in or anything like that.

Both of us have been to Barcelona before, but not for some years now so it was interesting to see what was new or changed since last time. We went out walking everyday and probably covered something like 150km on foot during the week. The blisters back that up, although it didn't feel like it at the time. When you're walking, chatting and enjoying the air the miles just seem to pass by. I'm still sifting through the photos and memories, but highlights included the Sagrada Familia cathedral currently under construction, the new Forum district being built from scratch and Parc Guell on the edge of town.

We also ate and drank out a lot. The culture there is very much eating tapas for a couple of hours over a good bottle of wine, and we enthusiastically joined in. We're both fans of this type of food and of Spanish wines so it was like heaven. I'm still learning about seafood, so it was great to have an abundance of fresh things to try. In the whole week I think we only had one bad meal, and that was mainly due to the poor service. I would class every other meal as excellent or better. Because we spent so much time out eating and drinking we never made it to any salsa clubs as we planned. No regrets about it, but I guess we'll just have to go back soon ..!



Because of our love of Spanish food and drink we went a bit mental and bought lots of Chorizo and wine. Both are so cheap in the markets there that it would have been wrong not to have indulged a bit. The eyes bigger than stomachs thing happened though and, after packing everything our hold luggage weighed 37kg/82lbs. Wasn't a problem for British Airways, but nearly pulled my arms out of my sockets! Will be worth the effort when we start to tuck into our first bottle of Faustino I over some cooked chorizo. Soon ....