7/9/2020 1 Comment COVID-19 restricted catchup...** I started this update with very good intentions, but time constraints, work loads and demands on personal time have taken their toll on the quality and wordplay that I would like. Many apologies for this, but I hope it will provide a coherent time line of goings-on. ** A long time since the last update, but we have been V-E-R-Y busy. Both Jenny and I have been working since 1 June. Lately, the Canon Europe and Canon UK offices are slowly opening up - staff are expected to work 2 days a week in the office while restrictions are lifting. The Postroom was busy before, so we are under the cosh a little at the moment. Jen is providing more "normal" meals - rather than packed lunches for more children (with less staff hours), so we are both up against it at the moment. Any way, just what has been going on ? We had a couple of visits to Wisley on 27 June and 26 July. One of our favourite places and the gardens always provides a lovely distraction. < more 27 June here > < more 26 July here > . The big one (of course) was our wedding. Plans had been in place for a while, but the Coronavirus situation and restrictions did their best to snooker them. We weren’t sure it could even go ahead until about three weeks before, regardless of it’s form. The Mansion House Registry Office in Leatherhead would normally hold 45 or so, which meant plenty of room for our originally invited 35-ish guests. Pre-opening advice was that following a COVID-19 review, to maintain social distancing and “COVID-19 Security”, maximum capacity would be 10 (including dignitaries and the bride and groom), so the guest list would need to be looked at IF the wedding was allowed to take place. We sent appropriate messages warning guests that we might have to either cut down the guests at the ceremony drastically or as a last option worst case, postpone until the Registry Office re-opened for business. Everyone took this pretty well, the 6 guests who would receive their “Golden Ticket” would be Jenny’s Mum and Layla, my sons James and Chris and Jen’s sister Sarah. The sixth place was taken of necessity by my friend and colleague from Canon, Dave Parry who had kindly agreed to revert to his old job for the day and take some photos of proceedings. Boris and the government granted permission for small weddings to recommence a couple of weeks before our date, so with a sigh of relief, we were able to plan the day and subsequent garden based reception in earnest. Dave suggested that we take formal photos at the venue and in the grounds, together with the now permitted video of the event itself. We decided that a meet up somewhere else on the way back to Reigate would enable some other slightly less central players to get into some photos and enjoy them. In the end, (actually while Jenny and I were having our pre-ceremony interview), James or Chris suggested a stop at Reigate Heath for some less formal "formal" photos with other family members. A great day ! We are so happy it could go ahead. The weather was very kind - warm but not as hot as the previous few days. Brilliant. <more Photos here> On 4 August, we headed North for a COVID-19 restricted day out at Whipsnade Zoo. There was a strange feeling, as visitor numbers were very limited. We had a great day as usual, and a nice picnic. <more Whipsnade photos here> A couple of days later, we used our membership of the National Trust and visited Scotney Castle. It is relatively local, pretty and small. Picnic again !! <more here > Taking advantage of Layla's summer stay with her Dad, Jenny and I spent a few days in Staffordshire. We visited family, graves, ruins and had a great time chilling before our next holiday break. <more of Staffordshire here> And then it was off to Yorshire for a family break. We were based near Filey, which was pretty good to pop to Bridlington, Scarborough and Whitby. I had never really done the beach thing while visiting the North York Moors, but it was a great week. <more of Yorkshire here> All of which ends with a couple more visits to the beautiful RHS Gardens at Wisley on <30 August> and <26 September>. ...and the house ?
Well, we have managed to exchange contracts at last, completion and moving date SHOULD be the 18 November. ...more about that later. Until next time, Dear Reader Take Care and Stay Safe
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