Postscript to a Golden Celebration.

John has now downloaded the photos he took over our truly magical Golden Weekend.  There is nothing really I can add to what has been said before about the trouble that all the family went to to make it such a memorable occasion for us - but I thought a few of our own pictures would complete the record of a very special time for us.

Max was so busy being Photographer in Chief that he missed out being 'taken' himself - so to put that right - here he is at the beginning when we had just arrived and champagne was being dispensed.

Here is Jonathan thinking up dastardly questions for the 'Mr. & Mrs.' session....

..and our Hostess delightfully 'done up' in gold.....

While her sister adjusted her camera .....

By the time Sean arrived so unexpectedly that evening, dear Max had taken a well earned rest,  but John managed to capture Sean for the record .....

(It looks as if we spent all our time in the kitchen, which of course we didn't - the Celebration Lunch being served in the spacious conservatory/dining room - but Kim's pictures have covered that.)

Here we are next morning - after the Lord Mayor's Show - though we did progress from just orange juice to the full English, which Martin effortlessly produced (well, it looked effortless!)

We LOVED the banner that Max and Vicki had so cleverly made, so this is a great picture ...

Here we are, about to do a Knees Up ....

And before we left for home they merrily bedecked our car with as many of the balloons and decorations as they could! ....

.... and I think this picture really sums up the spirit of the occasion ......

HUGELY grateful thanks to all of you - We love you all so much xxxxx
(including the much-missed family in Oz, who not only sent superb hand-crafted cards, little 'models' of the bride and groom (he complete with beard), a lovely wall hanging,and a silver heart charm for my bracelet, but also the promise of a return air-fare to visit them (we shall fight over who has it.... tee... hee..! )  THANK YOU LOTS. xx)

French Fragments from a 'Golden' Honeymoon.

Kim has done a wonderfully comprehensive Blog about the truly fabulous time she and the family gave us over the weekend of our Golden Wedding.    John took all our pictures, and hasn't yet downloaded them from his camera, so I am going to put the 'cart before the horse' and give a flavour of our sojourn in France which followed straight on from the 3-day celebrations, and hope to write up the rest later.

Kim and Martin very kindly loaned us their lovely French farmhouse, La Dancrerie, which is a real 'home from home' - enormously large for just two people, yet so comfortably furnished and welcoming that we really cosied up there, with glowing log fires in the evenings and the most comfortable of beds.  We couldn't have visited at a better time for all around the house spring flowers were out in abundance.   It is such a pity that Kim and the family were not there to see their jardin francais en printemps, so I here are a few pictures to give a flavour ......

Although it was only March, the weather was surprisingly good and we were out and about the whole time.   John was in his element, clicking his camera merrily and taking 'artistic' shots like this one...

I thought I'd give it a try, and attempted to capture the incoming tide at close quarters..... but I don't think I've quite got the knack!

However, I did enjoy studying the artwork of others....

Everywhere we went there seemed to be Mimosa in blossom - something I don't think I've ever seen in England .....

Here we are at Barneville, and you can just about make out the gold tinsel on the trailer hook, and the gold bow on the door handle - when we left Harewood House after the celebrations Golden Wedding Balloons, tinsel, and banners were draped around the car.   We took a bunch of the balloons with us on the ferry to Cherbourg, and got lots of comments and smiles from officials and passengers - and have left them fixed in the salon at La Dancrerie for others to enjoy.
(We decided not, after all, to buy this house delightfully situated on the plage.)

And here are two of our favourite places  -  Carteret where we had coffee (as we do on every visit) at the swanky hotel lit up in the background)....

....... and lovely, lovely Portbail, just a short trip from the farmhouse.....

The sunshine even accompanied us home (quite surprisingly for the time of year, as the sun got warmer we were even able to leave our coats off on our jaunts along the coast)  Here we are passing the Needles off the Isle of Wight - I was surprised how well this picture came out considering it was taken through the lounge-window on the Barfleur.

It was a superb holiday - we ate FAR too much delicious French bread and cheese, and consumed far more French vin and cidre than was good for us, but what a great time we had!    Thank you dearest Lampards for making this all possible (and if the Lampards Snr. read this, then thank you too for a really tasty lunch, and fun company chez 'Freddie's').

Let's hope it's 'au revoir', and not 'goodbye' .