That's right folks, the lovely Rosie and I are engaged to be married.

Keep the 26th July free next summer.

You have been warned.

Chris, Rosie,

Congratulations.

Big big congrats to both of you!

I really hope to be there, but may not be able. It depends on whether Tizzy and I are accepted for the KPMG exchange to Perth. If so, then we will be in Australia by the 26th which is a big bummer.

Well done though fella (and lass).

CONGRATULATIONS MR & MRS TART!

Yes congratulations; the pressure of the Dartmouth Marriage Wall obviously got to you.


I wonder what sort of accessories Helmans sell...

Oh my, Well done you tasty sandwiches.

I have marked the date in my Calendar and shall be investigating non-white sauces over the coming months.

I wonder...what kind of wedding cake will you be having?

Thank you all


That doesn't sound at all right out of context, if you are in australia then I will be jealous!


Actually we already got a picture up there despite not being married (admittedly we put it there ourselves...)


Not wanting to commit ourselves at this early stage I can't tell you. A multi-level multi-fruit crumble sounded pretty good too me, but we'll see...

I really hope to be there, but may not be able. It depends on whether Tizzy and I are accepted for the KPMG exchange to Perth. If so, then we will be in Australia by the 26th which is a big bummer.



That is indeed the Bummer of the Summer....

How long would you get to go to Oz for though? Sounds like a lot of fun!

A different fruit for each level and a custard fountain on the side; I like your thinking.

I was actually angling for "Huge multi-level Tart" as an answer...

but a crumble custard exploding fountain thing will do nicely.
boom. mmmmm.

Three months. Bo!

Chris and Rosie - you are not the only engaged Festers.

I can report that a certain Mr Graham Bowles has also popped the question!

Mental.

More details to follow.

Congratulations to the future mr and mrs tart!!

Sorry for the lateness of this, i have been asleep for three months.

<p><strong>OK Punks, here's the score.<br />
Those of you in the Hotel are so far:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
<li>Mango+Sam</li>
<li>Pete+Jenny</li>
<li>Jonnyboy+Tizzy</li>
<li>Dannyboy</li>
<li>+1 more lucky punter</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>And those of you not but have expressed interest:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Loren+Ayesha</li>
<li>Drew+1 I forgot to ask the name of (sorry)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>And those of you I'm waiting to hear from:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Noj + miss jones (I think I sent the email to a defunct email address, but I'm still going to blame you...)</li>
<li>Ween + Emily (you're obviously just slack, or busy)</li>
<li>Sam (i emailed you on a hotmail address, maybe this was wrong?)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>SO, those of you in the Hotel don't need to hurry, <em>but those not should try and book accommodation asap as it will book up real quick.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>We reccommend the Tavistock Inn but they only have 3 double rooms left already:</strong></p>
<blockquote><a href='http://www.tavistockinn.co.uk/accommodation.htm'>http://www.tavistockinn.co.uk/accommodation.htm</a> - above a pub - can book one night only - 01822 615736 - not v plush but easy access to the hotel and got the bonus of not having to pay for 2 nights!!!</blockquote>
<p>
<strong>Others within walking distance of the Hotel but most will only go for 2 night bookings (e.g. friday/saturday):</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href='http://mallardsoftavistock.co.uk/'>http://mallardsoftavistock.co.uk/</a> - 4 rooms free (double or twin) 2 nights only -e.g. friday and saturday - close to hotel</li>
<li>April Cottage - 2 doubles and a twin/ 3 bed - close to hotel - 2 night stay - fri and sat night only - 01822 613280 - slightly scarey proprietor - close to hotel</li>
<li>Kingfisher cottage - not sure on availability - *Tel:* +44 (0)1822 613801 - v nice and close to hotel</li>
<li><a href='http://www.westward-tavistock.co.uk/'>http://www.westward-tavistock.co.uk/</a> - not sure on availability but will only accept 2 nights - close to the hotel -</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>apart from that:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p><a href='http://www.travelodge.co.uk/find_a_hotel/hotel/hotel_id/92/OkehamptonWhiddonDown'>http://www.travelodge.co.uk/find_a_hotel/hotel/hotel_id/92/OkehamptonWhiddonDown</a></p>
<p>okehampton traveloge - upside is thats its cheap and easy to access from
a30 - downside is that its 12 miles north to tavistock and you may be
hard pressed to get a taxi to take you back there after about 7 in the
evening!!! so someone would need to drive...</p>
</li>
</ul>

Ooh me please, me please!

for future reference tis samrossiter@gmail.com

Bosh

whats the ploy?
i'll try and get us in the tavistock inn place...

are we going for the friday and saturday night?
what time is kick off on saturday?
i'll book up asap

Firstly @sam, gmail, nice, I'll make a note of it.

Now, timings and whatnot, might be useful for you guys.

The wedding is at 3.30pm on the Saturday, so plenty of time for people to get down to Tavistock on the day. The hotel will allow check-in from 2pm, but they will have a girls and a boys room set aside from about 11 so people who arrive earlier can dump their stuff / shower / change in the morning.

They will also valet park your cars for you (only charge will be the car parking charge which is about 6.50 for the 24hours).

We only have the hotel fully for the Saturday night, although myself, King and my family will be around on the friday.

I can't think of anything else right now.

This may be a long long way out of date, but me and 'she-who-must-be-feared' are booked for inn-based shenanigans.

your rather questionable hair do? your kanye west-esque way of referring to yourself in the third person?

no?

i'm stumped then.

hoo ha!

No seriously i am also provisionally booked for the saturday at the place that was with the scary landperson (lady/man couldn't remember). April cottage i think it was called.

of course we are all 'land people' but not in the sense above, before i am ridiculed...

Loren, you are a genius.

I concur: I am agog.

Seeing as I've cottoned on so promptly, I am a bit fecjed for hotel accommodation. And why aren't you guys using the word feckjed anymore?

Right - I am going to try and work out a hotel booking in the vicinity. Is anyone as fecjed as me or is everyone in the same hotel and making me feel like a he-who-lives-in-Dubai-no-mates ? Bastuds. Anyhow - is anyone in another hotel and can they tell me which one it is. I don't think Jyoti can make it (will be back in Dubai probably) so it shall just be me. Anyone for sharing?!?!?!?!

On the travel front - jonnyboy, dannyboy or Loz - if you are driving do you have room for the Sammystar and/or myself?

In other words this msg says HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALP!

Er whatever happened to those details Mr Sampie? What the FECJ is going on?

Hello Govind- panic not - have you telephoned any of the b and b's we have listed? also there is the bedford hotel in tavistock you could try. The one issue you are going to come up against in Tav is that it is prime grockle territory at that time of the year so there is no cheap budget accommodation, however i dont think you'll have probs finding space for one? Also - if all else fails, there is a a travel lodge at Okehampton services (about 11 miles away and on the a30 road from exeter). It's cheap and has rooms free at present. The issue you have there is that you will have to pay for a taxi for the wedding and that means booking in advance as the fleet of 3 or so taxi's disappear into the night at about 11 o'clock taking pissed people home to some godforsaken place in the moor - other than that - you could smuggle yourself into the hotel and sleep under or in someone's bed!?

Thanks for that Rosie. I've just phoned the Tavistock Inn and they were like 'we have several BnB numbers handy for people like you'...so I have a few. This is the latest on the following. Can i be cheeky and please please please ask you to call The Westward to find out if there's anything for that weekend? I'd be utterly butterly grateful!

The Hollies - booked up
Kingfisher - twin GBP60
April Cottage - dbl GBP50 but booked up (perhaps a cancellation)
Westward (who aren't picking up) 01822615171
The Mallard -fully booked
Bedford Hotel - GBP70 with breakfast, 2 single rooms left

Does anyone need to share a room? HALP (again)!
Govi*

I'll be driving and can swing by Hertford or the nearby vicinity to collect passangers. I'm not driving into London though - fecjec that =)

Ill take you up on that ride offer mate (though not in the context you're thinking you filthy perv) - Ill train up to Hertford and hop into your car. I hope you dont mind hotboxing on the way. It'll remind you of Batten days with Wally and Naz in the back - hahahaha. Ok ok - Ill make an exception if there's any conscientious objectors on the way.

Got through to Westward and they're saying they only take a min of three night bookings at the height of the season!?!?!?!?!?!?! What the fecj?

Big kisses
Govi*

Poor Mr G, suffering at the hands of heartless b and b owners with a monopoly on the tourist market.
3 days booking means they have money confirmed for the whole weekend and they are more than likely to get the business as loads of people come through to have a peek at Sir Walter Raleigh's birth town - not much to see, but there you go!

We are sending invites out early may, so if anyone can't come along and they are in the hotel then we shall let ye know!

Dannyboy, I may be able to borrow the slightly roomier mini scenic (that the old man has) to make the journey. Myself and 'she who must be feared' (as noj would say) would be traversing up there on the saturday morning from hertford.

If you are thinking of combining monetary resources and breaking the evil oil cartel infidels then let me know.

that would leave a seat or two free as well.

On another note, will there be a gift list scenario?

Indeed yes; the bride and groom have registered a list with John Lewis and will be populating it in the near future; the reference will probably go out with he invitations...

Gov, sounds like Loz and/or Dannyboy have got transport covered, so my services will not be needed. It is likely in any case that I will be travelling part of the way down the day before for picnic type shenanigans and your hairy chest wig will just get in the way.

Can't wait to see you for hugs and kisses though, you dirty boy.

Tell me about it! Thanks hon - I've been stalking the poor lady (Maureen) at the Kingfisher and have pleaded for a room for the weekend! I provisionally have a twin bed booked then so if her son-in-law (yes it gets better) who is away in the States for three weeks doesn't object, I have the room and all I have to do is show up with some clothes on...which isn't always as easy as it sounds!

And Jonnyboy - don't worry - clothes won't be on for those hugs and kisses - fear not!

Mike's spot on.

In fact I'm thinking of hiring him as my official spokesperson.

For all of you who were holding your breath (man breath at fhat) I have finally worn down the unscrupulous BnB owners and bagged a place at the Kingfisher in Tavistock for Friday and Saturday night.

Should all go well nearer the time, I shall be prepared to strip naked on command, for how excited I am at this prospect.

Bring.It.On!

gOvi*

PS - It's a twin room so if anyone needs to share , I'm happy to offer the spare bed - spread the word!

for the musically talented of you

Our band is a "saxophone, keyboard, drums" combo, but have said that they'd be more than happy if anyone fancied joining in with a song or a strum or whatever. No pressure to anyone to join in but if you fancy, let us know so we can pass the info on the the band and we can fit you into the set.

Also if anyone has has good ideas for music that will fit into the style (or potentially be covered in the style) then bring em on.

I'm taking a swift pass on this one. Ain't no saxophone gonna do no justice to 'Born to Be Wild' or 'Wonderwall'. I think we'll let the professionals have the night this time Gadget!

gOvi*
PS - This is not to say that drunken attempts to accost the stage and/or the band won't occur.

due to some mandatory banditory...

i've had to book em and i into the travel lodge 12miles away. its only 15mins or whatever, and i doubt we'll be drinking much.

good news is that its a family room, with a sofa bed, so theres space for 1 if needs be...
providing of course you supply enough bribing funds, emily may consider not ripping your eyes out while you're asleep

as for the music...
em and i could rustle something up... any preferences?
im thinking a broken down acoustic rendition of van halen's erruption...
any thoughts?

I was thinking we should think of a song as completely inappropriate for a wedding as possible. Examples:

Everyday I love you less and less - Kaiser Chiefs
I still haven't found what I'm looking for - U2

Perhaps not though.

How about an acoustic version of Nothing Else Matters by Metallica? =) Would be interesting to see what interpretation Em can put on the vocals!

It has to be Muse's 'Feeling Good' rendition of Nina Simone. Em on vocals, Ween on guitar - how can you go wrong?

After receiving the funky invites today Rosie - I'm guessing this isn't you...

Funky Chicken Productions

Right

Who's heading down on the Friday afternoon/evening?

I am thinking this is wise given that we don't want a similar 'pegging it in there at the last minute a la Mango's wedding' scenario on the Saturday.

If so, where to stay, what to do etc

Thoughts

Hell no, their logo isnt a touch on mine!

If you want to stay somewhere of interest with things to do then stay in exeter - we can recommend places. If you want to be close to tavvy but in a cheaper location, then go for the travelodge at okehampton services. If you want to go cheap cheap and not pay anything, then stay at ours - so long as you leave it nice n clean!!!

Suzie and I are going to risk going down on saturday morning. We are hoping to have time to arrive at the B&B and get changed in time for the wedding.

Is that ludicrous, or do-able?

Depends on the traffic, im thinking you'll be coming down the a303, this could be a problem as its the first saturday of the summer holidays and the world and his wife will be on their way to sunny devon and cornwall in their caravans - for conversations on the types of queues you can get on the a303 in such scenarios consult King Michael. You'll be ok if you leave early, probably.

Aha! Show time!

I'm booked in at The Kingfisher from the Friday onwards. I have a twin sharing going if you want to share Sammystar.

And if you're going down on the Friday, me is hitchin a ride with you, if that's fine.

Govi*

PS - Gift list is open punks - get on there.

Yes yes yes. Only if I can stroke your chest wig as in days of yore.

Primarily for Ween and Em as you are stuck out of town.

My Aunt (Kathy Darwood) was booked into to Mallards (details earlier in post) for the Friday / Saturday but is now not. Anyone looking for accomodation could get in touch with them, as they likely have a double room free, or coming free very soon.

I have taken a half day off on the Friday. Gov am I still on for sharing with you that night? I dont have access to a car so it will be train or hitching a lift with someone else I'm afraid. Whos heading down on the Friday afternoon and can take pity on two wastrels (one hairy, one less so)?