Status-Q

Bill Thompson and Katie Thornburrow got married today. A most enjoyable event with, as those who know them will be unsurprised to hear, some unconventional twists. It was, for example, the first wedding I’ve been to which included a special screening of a Buster Keaton silent movie in the local cinema, accompanied by a quite brilliant live pianist.

John, Rory and I, of course, ran around snapping away, but I thought it was only appropriate to post a slightly unconventional wedding photo, so here’s Rory C-J capturing the happy couple in King’s Parade:

More pictures here.

My parents and I have just spent a little over a week in a delightful gîte in Mauvezin, in the Hautes-Pyrenees region of France. Our house was about half-way between the church and the castle.

Back home after a wonderful trip, but I still have a few more holiday snaps to get off my chest. I actually took this one from my hotel window (albeit with a fairly long lens).

I'm a hopeless surfer, but I really wish I'd had time to try those waves for myself...

'Marmotte' est mon nom, Here in France (where I'm from) Though you foreigners may spell it 'marmot'

But we aren't very taken With those who mistaken- ly call us groundhogs (which we are not)

Complete with fashionable headgear, knobbly knees, trusty hound, and Brompton (on kind loan from John)

Even mad dogs and Englishmen have been choosing early evening for cycling excursions here: it's been very hot over the last few days. Light showers have made for a more autumnal climate today, though, which makes a nice change.

You'll notice that, despite this being prime Tour-de-France country only a few miles from the Col de Tourmalet, my parents and I have somehow managed to cycle in the one flat valley in the area.

That's just for our warm-up training, of course...

...when we really should be going for a walk...