Matt’s Journal

The Date Has Been Set

Posted by Matt under Marriage

After days of visiting venues and assessing costs, our wedding reception venue has been booked. It was a toss-up between a location called Stockbrook Manor and the more local venue, the Lawns.

Here is a short overview of both:

Stockbrook Manor
“Set on the outer fringes of the picturesque village of Stock this Lutyen inspired manor house enjoys space and breathtaking views from every vista over the 27 hole championship golf course and Essex countryside.

This 200 acre estate provides a combination of an up to the minute members club, the best of today’s sporting and leisure facilities working in harmony with the more traditional banqueting suites enjoyed by wedding celebrations and the business client. All of this located in one of the most convenient locations in Britain.”

The Lawns
The Lawn is a home of history and happiness. The name derived from ‘clearing in a deer forest’ in which Henry VIII used to hunt - Ann Boleyn lived just down the road.

Today The Lawn is under the personal supervision of the Keddie Family. The Lawn, with its glorious gardens and parklands, has become the favoured centre for the events that really matter. Truly an oasis of calm in the pulsating South-East.

We decided that The Lawns would be a better venue, it was only a 5 minute drive from the prospective church we are looking to get married in and it means there isnt a massive shuffle of getting people to the venue. The date has been booked for the 6th August 2009, and while it seems so far away, it will go in no time!

So, that’s it, you are all more than welcome!

Updated Car Pictures

Posted by Matt under Car

I posted a while back about my new car but I didnt post many photos, here are some of the new ones I took this evening:

I’ll get some of the interior soon.

Change of Host

Posted by Matt under Blogging

You may have noticed yesterday that there were a few problems accessing the blog, this was because I was porting it over to another host, the host being the lovely Jason (JLP, Scrawny London Guy). The domain/nameservers took a while to propogate and play nice so that was the cause of the cPanel error you may have encountered.

The new host will be fantastically quicker for all and means I will make sure its used to the best of its ability.

The aftermath

Posted by Matt under Funny

The response myself and Katie received after news of our engagement has been nothing short of awesome, people have come from far and wide to congratulate me (as well as poke fun) whether it’s via text message or via the internet. Family members have sent cards, my father (whom I have havent spoken with in years) ignored my message and our respective families have been planning something, I can tell.

Here is some of the responses I have seen on Facebook:

“Congrats Buddy and obviously to the lucky (yet obviously patient) girl who tamed you! Going home this weekend so will give you a buzz then if you’re about!”
Tom

“lol! Not yet! matt will get married at least twice before i get married! and he’ll prob be on his 4 before you settled down! my moneys on martin!!! - matt if you read this only joking! ( but we did say that you will get married at least 5 time!!!)”
Richard

“Now then mate 2 fundamental questions…WHEN is the Stag Do, WHERE is the Stag Do!!!!!!!????????”
James

So as you can see, people love an engagement, whether it means they enjoy the Stag Do or they get to poke fun at me

Trouble and Strife

Posted by Matt under General

I wont go into detail, so:

Sat 9.34am - I ask my Katie’s father for permission for her hand in marriage.
Sat 10.01am - I am granted permission by a very proud father.
Sat 3.14pm - I comicly propose to Katie, she accepts.

Notes: Turns out Katie had a ring for me too, we had discussed it and she had ordered it in preparation!

I am now one half of a dynamic crime busting duo!

July Already?

Posted by Matt under Blogging

Blimey, that came apon us quickly!

The Wimbeldon Tennis Championships have started, mostly faltered into the second week, with Federer blasting his way through anything in his way. Thinking I had a good idea of tennis, I decided to start laying on some bets and chancing my arm at the predictions again. I signed up to Betfair, laid a few bets and watched them all come in! I managed to profit to the tune of £50 in the first few days, starting with and initial £10 deposit. Some of the more recent bets have been tougher to predict, so I have bought myself a book on Betfair betting so I can make a few extra pennies and hopefully not lose too many!