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Wedding
Saturday was my cousin Tracey's wedding, so we headed down to Sussex. The ceremony was held in the Meeting House, which is a multi-faith (though still predominantly Christian) place of worship on the campus of my alma mater, the University of Sussex. I was last there when I graduated in 1996, and whilst some things haven't changed (and in certain instaces, can't - parts of the campus, even though it was only built in the 60s, are Grade-1 listed), many others have. For a start, they charge for parking. Not on Saturdays, mercifully. There's also the new science park, which caused a bit of controversy whilst I was still there and they'd just started building it; I think over animal testing, or possibly over the way they were getting private finance in. Not to mention the joint medical school, with the Brighton (ex-Poly) University.
The Meeting House itself is right opposite what used to be MAPS (Maths and Physical Sciences) and what became SMS (School of Mathematical Sciences) in my final year. MAPS is where I attended most of my lectures. The last time I was in the Meeting House, however, I was being taught Tai Chi by the groundskeeper (who wasn't Scottish and wasn't called Willie). It's a round building with a vaguely conical top. In keeping with the architectural style of the rest of the campus, it's built in a fetching red-brick-and-concrete fashion. The main hall occupies the entire top floor, and is vaguely church-like. There's an organ at the back, and a small altar underneath a large metallic cross directly opposite. Most striking is the "natural" lighting of the place. It's a sort of a chequer-board pattern of concrete blocks and various colours of stained glass, filling the entire wall, floor to ceiling. Each of the windows is a little alcove, and many of the alcoves had been filled with tea-lights. We learned at the reception that one person alone had been responsible for setting out and lighting all the candles. Quite an effort. Acoustically, it's a fantastic space, best illustrated by the small gospel choir who knocked out a few soul classics (and Madness's It Must Be Love!) to great effect. Aliza was remarkably well-behaved throughout. It helped that my dad kept distracting her with his camera.
Most of the wedding party returned to the hotel for the reception in a hired bus. A few of us (those with babies!) were in our cars, though, and at this point I decided to give Alexis an impromptu look at another couple of bits of the campus. In other words, I went the wrong way trying to get out and had to find a place to turn round. Ahem. We still beat the bus back to the hotel, due to its top speed on the A23 only being about 60.
Reception lovely, blah blah. Aliza ate messily, but we at least think she ate. Speeches well-received etc. Much alcohol consumed. My dad swept one side of the room for every non-empty bottle of wine going, someone else the other. Of my family (me, Alexis, Aliza, both sisters and their respective partners, Mum, Dad), my parents were the last to leave. I last witnessed them getting on the dance floor as Going Underground came on the jukebox. This was a stroke of genius. No annoying DJ making everyone line up for Oops Upside Your Head. Although one of the CDs was a guest's requests CD, and someone from the groom's party had got William Shatner's version of Common People on it. It not as bad as I was expecting it to be.
Sleep, blah. Breakfast, blah. Handed an old PC over to my not-brother-in-law. Drove home, taking considerably less time about than getting there. I went down through the City and along the A3. It took ages. I came back all the way round the M25 then in on the M40/A40. An hour and a half all told.
Anyway, a number of people commented on my weight. They're right. My suit was doing a very bad job of convicing people that I fit into it. Of all the weight I lost a few years ago, the majority of it has come back on again. Needless to say I'm not happy about this. My intention is to do something about it starting this week. The first thing to be jettisoned is booze. More exercise too. Food-wise, is the difficult bit. More later, I really ought to have left for work ten minutes ago.
The Meeting House itself is right opposite what used to be MAPS (Maths and Physical Sciences) and what became SMS (School of Mathematical Sciences) in my final year. MAPS is where I attended most of my lectures. The last time I was in the Meeting House, however, I was being taught Tai Chi by the groundskeeper (who wasn't Scottish and wasn't called Willie). It's a round building with a vaguely conical top. In keeping with the architectural style of the rest of the campus, it's built in a fetching red-brick-and-concrete fashion. The main hall occupies the entire top floor, and is vaguely church-like. There's an organ at the back, and a small altar underneath a large metallic cross directly opposite. Most striking is the "natural" lighting of the place. It's a sort of a chequer-board pattern of concrete blocks and various colours of stained glass, filling the entire wall, floor to ceiling. Each of the windows is a little alcove, and many of the alcoves had been filled with tea-lights. We learned at the reception that one person alone had been responsible for setting out and lighting all the candles. Quite an effort. Acoustically, it's a fantastic space, best illustrated by the small gospel choir who knocked out a few soul classics (and Madness's It Must Be Love!) to great effect. Aliza was remarkably well-behaved throughout. It helped that my dad kept distracting her with his camera.
Most of the wedding party returned to the hotel for the reception in a hired bus. A few of us (those with babies!) were in our cars, though, and at this point I decided to give Alexis an impromptu look at another couple of bits of the campus. In other words, I went the wrong way trying to get out and had to find a place to turn round. Ahem. We still beat the bus back to the hotel, due to its top speed on the A23 only being about 60.
Reception lovely, blah blah. Aliza ate messily, but we at least think she ate. Speeches well-received etc. Much alcohol consumed. My dad swept one side of the room for every non-empty bottle of wine going, someone else the other. Of my family (me, Alexis, Aliza, both sisters and their respective partners, Mum, Dad), my parents were the last to leave. I last witnessed them getting on the dance floor as Going Underground came on the jukebox. This was a stroke of genius. No annoying DJ making everyone line up for Oops Upside Your Head. Although one of the CDs was a guest's requests CD, and someone from the groom's party had got William Shatner's version of Common People on it. It not as bad as I was expecting it to be.
Sleep, blah. Breakfast, blah. Handed an old PC over to my not-brother-in-law. Drove home, taking considerably less time about than getting there. I went down through the City and along the A3. It took ages. I came back all the way round the M25 then in on the M40/A40. An hour and a half all told.
Anyway, a number of people commented on my weight. They're right. My suit was doing a very bad job of convicing people that I fit into it. Of all the weight I lost a few years ago, the majority of it has come back on again. Needless to say I'm not happy about this. My intention is to do something about it starting this week. The first thing to be jettisoned is booze. More exercise too. Food-wise, is the difficult bit. More later, I really ought to have left for work ten minutes ago.