Cousin Mark and Stacey get married!

Mark and Stacey got married on the 18th August in Peterborough. We were delighted to be invited and made a long weekend of it, leaving on Friday night and staying in a Travelodge on the Friday night and in the Marriott where the wedding took place on the Saturday. The Travelodge came a very distant second! They had put Emma's travel cot into some lady's room. Retrieving it earned the night porter and earful and left us standing sheepishly in the corridor holding a bewildered Emma at 10pm. Emma then refused to sleep in the cot and finally gave in to sleep around midnight in our bed, lying diagonally!

Once in the Marriott, the whole day went very well. The photos below come from mine and Mum's new camera. For a brilliant collection, visit Mark's brother-in-law, Chris' photos at his website. http://www.ccj.me.uk/chris/family/theblackburns/msbwedding/

I was videoing the service but managed to take some shots of the couple signing the register with their bridesmaids and best man & ushers.

Here are some pictures from outside in the garden after the ceremony.

My cousin Chrissie is expecting a baby!

Here are Jasper, Claudia & Peter all dressed up smartly!

Emma got lots of cousin love from Rosie! We shared a table with Duncan, Heather and their daughter, Eliza. She was 3 months older than Emma and was very good with her speaking. She could say the names of all the animals in her book!

Emma had a party pack from the married couple with lots of toys to keep her amused.


There was a lake full of enormous fish in the grounds.

Here are Mark and Stacey about to cut the cake.

In this picture is Mark's mum, Anne and Granny B as well as some of Stacey's relatives.

Here's Enid enjoying herself.


This is Emma helping to roll up the carpet.

We all had some fun on the dance floor, especially Rosie!

Then the Clan Shallcross enlisted the help of the key bearing Best Man, Will to ransack the bridal suite.

Whilst not completely ransacked, there may have been a penis shaped towel arrangement, the odd inflated condom and a fire extinguisher tucked up in the bed. Sorry Stacey!

My favourite moment was when Chrissie spotted us returning, giggling and full of mischief and said "Oh dear, it's a bad crew, up to no good!"

The evening continued with some inhalation of helium and then a rather late sit around having more drinks .

Helen thinks she may have chased Best Man Will around the car park persuading him to text a lady he had been chatting up. At one point a few chairs and Uncle Dave fell over in a wrestling match. Generally, a good night then!

Many thanks to Mark and Stacey, and everyone involved in organising such a wonderful wedding!

Farming Frolics!

Today was a grand day out with Becky & Joel Barnes. We set off in the morning to the Noah's Ark Zoo Farm. We arrived pretty close to lunchtime, and Emma was not amused. Here is a lovely picture of her displaying her displeasure!!



After lunch we looked around the zoo farm. We started with the chickens. We had bought some bags of feed. Unfortunately 2 chickens had a mild scuffle in front of Emma, but it made her cry. We stayed in the pen for a good while longer until she was happy again & hurling feed at the chucks.


We then moved on to the camels to feed them. They had very tickly soft mouths. Here is Becky & Joel outside their pen.

Emma and Joel reclining in their strollers.


There were some cute & speedy chip munks - they raced about like whirl winds! We went to look at the farm animals in the barn.



Emma really enjoyed the indoor barn & the outdoor pen with the pigs in.




We then went on the tractor for a farm ride. It was quite a bumpy ride, with non-existent suspension. We rattled about. Emma & Joel were not very sure if they enjoyed it, but they were very brave.




We then came back to our place for tea & the babies dinner. Here are the dynamic duo taking Emma's bus for a spin!


Here is Emma very close up - putting a gurt smudge on the lens. Thanks for that!!!