day 14 - exhausting trip to the seaside

What an amazing day we had! We've decided that after much debate we will get married in 2010 - seems long enough away to be able to save and be at a happy weight - there is no way I'm getting married fat! Since we are a non traditional family we wanted to do something a bit different and anyway we aren't allowed to get married in a church - (I'm not going to get started on how I feel about that) Last year we checked out Chester Zoo as a wedding venue and it was amazing for the ceremony and the reception but just way out of our budget unless something drastic happens like the lotto or Mum meeting a millionaire. Since Kel's favourite place in the world is Anglesey we went on a day trip checking out all the locations licensed for civil partnership on the island.

Plas Newydd came out on top by a mile. Its only available for the ceremony which means finding somewhere else for the reception but its gorgeous and was Kels late Mum's favourite spot on the island. We went everywhere and except for Treysgawen Hall everywhere else is just a normal hotel/restaurant which could be anywhere really.

As we were walking out of the last hotel a car pulled up to us and beeped - it was our closest friend M who lives in London and 2 other really good mates LB and N - incredible! No-one even knew we were on Anglesey - it was just a total extremely happy co-incidence! They we're going to N's house which happened to be right next door the hotel we were standing outside of to eat a chippy takeaway. By this point we'd been on our day out for about 10 hours with just a breakfast shake in Plas Newydd car park so we bravely sat and 'enjoyed' our second shake while they polished off fish chips and peas lol I've got to say I was mightily impressed with myself for not having any problem at all.

On the way home though we both started to have a headache and feel a bit queasy. We had only had 2 shakes and about 2 litres of water all day. We stopped off at a services along the way coz Kel was bushed - hardly surprising since she'd been driving all the way there, all round Anglesey and all the way back home! We had a black coffee each and looked through the food menu imaging what kind of food we will eat when were out of 'rehab'! It wasn't as torturous as it sounds - I really enjoyed it actually!

We finally made it home feeling really exhausted and lightheaded. Its by far the busiest day we have had whilst on the Cambridge diet and its difficult to 'eat' when you need to when you are on the road. It would have been lovely when we stopped off at the services to have been able to have a soup but I don't know how you would do that. Anyway we polished off our soup immediately then stayed up for far too long discussing how the hell you work out who goes up the aisle and in what order when there are 2 brides, only 1 parent each and a son between them!!! mind boggling stuff!

Back in Blighty!

rundown of Lew's 12Th Birthday Anglesey Camping Holiday

• Thursday night - stopped on way to have a subway meatball marinara because we'd always wanted one and this would be our last chance!! OMG sooo delicious. Arrived Moelfre put tent up - got a bit wet but not too bad. I love camping - love our king size airbed and the fresh air. Love sitting outside the tent on posh plastic chairs and drinking wine.


• Friday - visited Penrhyn castle Kel's fav place - lew and I loved it. Best Bits - the audio tour, the Folly by the pet cemetery, the bog garden and the afternoon cream tea! Later went to benllech beach had doughnuts and watched lew throw himself in and out of the sea - it looked freezing! Had fish and chips at the tent - perfect!
  


• Saturday - OMG what happened to the weather?? It was like camping from hell - mad mad wind blew the tent in on itself and lashed rain everywhere. Tried to stay inside the tent holding up the sides (hilarious) but gave up because getting drenched so sat in car watching all hell break loose on campsite! By mid morning we realised that no way could any of the beds dry off in time even if we could put up with the top of the tent blowing in right down to the floor! Put the tents down in the p*ssing down rain - never been wetter in our lives! We couldn't stop laughing - Kel couldn't see at all - glasses no good in sooo much rain! Our motto (stolen from Run's House) Team work makes the dream work has never been truer - how we don't fall out and argue is amazing lol

Drove off Anglesey hoping weather might be a bit better - we were wrong! Found a B&B in Caenarvon for £30 for a family room for the night. Checked out Dinas Dinlle beach where Kel used to stay when very young and on way back had stunning home made burgers in an expensive pub!

Money becoming scarce!

• Sunday - Lew opened all his pressies - very happy boy! Had amazing cooked breakfast then had lovely time at Caernarfon Castle - lew enjoyed himself once he was persuaded to be a bit independent. I Got very scared being so huge inside very tiny narrow stairwells and terrified coming back down the turrets. Thought about coming back next year when been on the Cambridge diet would be a good idea - would probably notice a big difference in experience. Went back to the Island in the afternoon so Lew could spend more time on the beach - fab day for all of us very chilled. Made our way home around 6 but decided to use the old historic route through the mountains instead of the boring A55 .

• Got home quite late - had very last Chinese meal and last fag before life changes tomorrow! feeling very nervous as well as excited! Bring it on!
  The good life here we come!