Jude and Ray: May 2006

WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MR AND MRS SMITH - we had an awesome day and evening - full pics and story to follow soon.
If you click on the pic it will enlarge.

Let the celebrations begin........

Well we have made two trips to Gatwick this weekend, collecting Jude's brother Wayne and sister-in-law Sandra plus Kathy and Michael, Jude's friends from Perth. Jude's niece and her family,Kirsty, Mike, Kyle and Ethan were very brave and hired a car and made their own way to Newhaven. They also had to remember to drive on the opposite side of the road as they are from Ohio, USA.We have all been at the farmhouse and having such a laugh. Kathy and Michael are staying at Jude's flat and while I write this are sound asleep in bed trying to recover from jetlag (It is 9pm Sunday night!).

Kia's first train trip.

Becky, Kia and Nanny Roo caught the train to Brighton to do some wedding shopping. We went by train as it was Kia's first trip on the 'choo choo!'

12 days to go...........

This morning I had a trial phone call with mum using the conference facility. This worked well and we could hear each other very clearly. Then I went and had the final fitting of my wedding dress which I was then able to bring home. If I do say so myself, I looked absolutely stunning!!!!! I bought my dress through a lady who runs her business from home. Check out her website Bride & Joy and if ever you need a wedding dress I couldn't recommend it highly enough. I then had to go into Lewes for a fitting of my Police uniform. I get 2 x trousers, 6x short sleeved shirts, 2 x clip on ties, 1 x belt and 1 x jumper. I look very sexy indeed - not! Ray and I then went to the Conquest Hospital when he was fitted for his CPAP machine- Continuous Positive Air Pressure - this is the treatment for his Sleep Apnoea . We will let you know if it works or not and we will also post a pic of what Ray looks like wearing the mask etc.

Kia and Ben share birthday celebrations

Kia celebrates her 1st birthday and shares the day with Uncle Ben who will be 19 on Monday.

Sssnnnnzzzzzzzzzzz..........

I am not asleep.

I am listening to

music with my eyes shut!!!

The Hen night..........

Here is the bride to
be with

her L plates.
A group of us went to
Piccolo's restaurant
in Brighton and
had a real laugh.

Seventeen days to go...............

Wow, so much has happened since our last entry - Jude has been offered and accepted a fantastic job with Sussex Police as a PCC Advisor/Investigator. This is at Headquarters in Lewes and the job starts with 6 weeks training on the 5th June. I have to wear a police uniform and go for a fitting on Monday. Ray loves a woman in uniform!!!
The next exciting thing is that we have found a house to move into as husband and wife! It is a fantastic bungalow and is still in Newhaven. It is the other side of the river and half way up a hill which gives wonderful views over the downs, Newhaven town and across to the English Channel. We hope to move in first week of June.

Mayday bank holiday.

Today we went to Eastbourne where we saw the classic car exhibition. You will see a picture of Jude standing next to her chosen wedding car with driver and 'something old' in the back seat! The weather had been awful in the morning with heavy rain and fog but as you can see from the picture of the Eastbourne coastline it improved dramatically. We also checked out and chose the band for the evening wedding celebration