Wedding Plans, Exams and Holidays

In a week’s time, I’ll be in Nerja with Poppy and Harry. I wanted to make the most of a small window of opportunity between their end of year proms to take them away, before they both go on their own travels.  It might be the last time the three of us holiday together so it’ll be particularly special. We’re having four nights in the hotel in which we’ve stayed twice before. We love it there and we know we’ll hit the ground running the moment we arrive. To say we’re excited and ready for some sunshine is an understatement.

Exams

The last few weeks have been hectic. Poppy and Harry have had their heads down revising for A-levels and GCSEs respectively. The post-exam mood here has swung wildly from giddy relief to almost overwhelming despair. It hasn’t been easy to keep the status quo and keep their spirits buoyed, but the end is in sight. In a happy coincidence, they both finish on Monday. I planned to take them out to celebrate, but a brilliant work opportunity came my way. Instead, I’m travelling to London straight after my day in practice. I’m working with ZEISS on a campaign to raise awareness about UV damage and the eye. I’ll be in a radio studio all day Tuesday doing a series of live and pre-recorded interviews about this important topic. I do feel a little apprehensive because I haven’t done anything similar, but the overriding emotion is excitement. It’s a super opportunity and I feel honoured that they asked me. Once again, it’s something that wouldn’t have come my way if it wasn’t for my multi-faceted career as an optometrist and a blogger. I’ll do my best to share some pictures on Instagram stories and Facebook.

Holidays

Talking of opportunities, I’m going on a second holiday to Spain in July with Ian when both of my children are away. We’ve had a few weekends away on our own, but not an actual holiday. Ian’s life is somewhat peripatetic and he’s had an incredibly busy six months, so we’re looking forward to some uninterrupted time together. We chose both the hotel and the resort because they’re renowned for their food. There are several Michelin-starred restaurants in the area, so we intend to dine at some of those. And we might even have time to chat about a few more ideas for our wedding.

Wedding Plans

We’re getting married in the summer of 2021. We booked the venue for the ceremony a while ago and we looked at a potential venue for the reception last weekend. It is perfect for us and the type of wedding we have in mind; I think we’ll begin our married life there. We want to enjoy, and take our time with the rest of the plans, though I can’t deny that I do now look at things through the eyes of a bride-to-be. This mohair shawl for example, is perfect for a bride or bridesmaid. It’s a gift from my friends at Samuel Tweed; you might remember that I’m fond of their serapes. The shawl is smaller and lighter so is ideal for draping around the shoulders to add a little warmth without detracting from the dress. Actually though, it’s perfect for barbecues, British beaches, picnics, proms, days at the races and any other occasion.

These Samuel Tweed mohair shawls retail in a Paris bridal shop for  €200. They’ll reach exclusive bridal shops here in the UK in autumn, priced similarly. However, by way of a gentle introduction, anyone that reads my blog can get one for £80. An excellent price for such a high-end, luxurious item. Clutch bags are also made to order. Please email john@samueltweed.com for orders and enquiries.