A few awesome things...
Honestly. We don't expect any gifts - making the effort to come and spend some time with us in Poland really means a huge amount to us and is something we really value. So please - don't feel you have to buy us anything.
Some of you are more stubborn - and to paraphrase my great uncle Lyle (who unfortunately won't be able to join us) - "if we buy something it might as well be something you're not just going to take to the charity shop". Several of the items are also from Trouva (Glen's company) - so as Chris says - it's kind of like buying something for charity!
Click here to jump straight to the list (there's another link at the bottom)
A new home!
An important step in our relationship will be buying our first home together. We have settled on a Vaude Power Lizard - it's a spacious one bed studio with great ventilation and awesome views. No central heating or dishwasher though :-( it does weigh around 1.4kg though which is probably more important for the honeymoon.
Corky Carafe
At some point we should probably stop serving guests water in a Nalgene hiking bottle. To be fair we did have a nice Chemex but Ania dropped it.
Elephant corkscrew
Its an elephant corkscrew. Need I say more?
Toaster
On holiday in Spain Glen had a stale sandwich that he wanted to toast in attempt to make slightly more edible. In a fit of genius he realised if he put the toaster on its side he could put his sandwich in and all the contents wouldn’t fall out. Proudly, he turned to Ania to show his achievements exclaiming ‘and this is why they pay me the big bucks’. Wondering why Ania looked slightly surprised he turned back to see a toaster engulfed in flames.
You will notice this one has a sandwich toasting facility.
Navigation course
Ania has developed a fool-proof navigation method. Upon leaving a store, observe which way Glen turns and go the other way. Perhaps some professional tuition at Plas y Brenin will help.
Volleyball
This one is critical. PLEASE someone choose this one! We’re going to bring our volleyball net to the wedding but don't actually have a ball. If you select this one please don't give us money for a ball - we actually need you to buy the ball and bring it to the wedding (with a way of pumping it up).
(Glen is quite pleased that he’s figured out how to move things from his to to-do list to the wedding list)
Climbing helmet
Ania is rather jealous of the shiny new helmet Glen got for Christmas and Glen thinks a helmet will be a worthwhile investment to protect Ania’s head when she bangs her head against the wall for the tenth time because Glen hasn’t cleared up. Again.
Cast Iron casserole
This cast iron casserole is made by Netherton Foundry in Shrophire (which they say was the industrial revolution's version of Silicon Valley). These haven't changed much in 300 years and I think this one should last about the same again.
Magnetic stone trivet
If we put the casserole on our glass table straight out of the oven it will probably shatter. And using an old copy of the Economist as a placemat just isn't very classy.
Mountain biking in Llandegla
Llandegla (pronounced Ckkhhlandegla) is a special place for Ania and Glen - mountain biking there was the destination of their first trip together (for the avoidance of doubt, Albert & Colin were also present at all times on the trip). Now Glen has been forced to sell his mountain bike (apparently 4 bikes in a studio flat is too many) - hire bikes are in order to recreate the magic.
And anyone is welcome to come up to North Wales and mountain bike with us - there's even free accommodation at my parents (sorry mum and dad - I haven't asked you yet - hopefully this is ok)
Lemon squeezer
Ania wants a lemon squeezer. I have no idea why, but I'm practising being married so I will just add it to the list and not ask.
Siluett Vase By SEA GLASBRUK
When Glen (rarely) buys flowers for Ania - currently they go in an empty Nutella jar. Give them a better home.
Thermarest sleeping mat
Help prevent marital disputes! Glen’s current camping sleeping mat has an annoying tendency to deflate in the middle of the night and he stubbornly refuses to buy a new one. Whilst the newly weds are supposed to get closer together - sharing a 40cm wide sleeping mat may be too much of a good thing.
8 piece China Set
We currently have a mish-mash of different bowls and pots and it will be great to upgrade to a matching set. Unfortunately only serves two - so nothing for the guests!
Fly to the honeymoon in an Airbus not a Tupolev...
So you may have heard we have a slightly oddball plan for the honeymoon which involves a wedding in Moscow, a wedding in Canada and a couple of weeks in Mexico in the middle. Turns out none of those places are nicely connected with each other. Fortunately we’ve found some not completely extortionate flights on a nice Russian Tupolev via Cuba. If you would sleep more comfortably knowing we were flying on an Airbus run by her majesty’s finest British Airways (who happen to be the next cheapest option) help us upgrade! EDIT: The Tupolev was built before computers so maybe is actually the more reliable choice if British Airways decide to switch off all their computers again...
A week to the wedding and disaster strikes!
The coffee grinder, the bringer of caffeine and happiness has died. Finito. Kaput. If you even vaguely know us you probably realise this is a big deal. To be honest it's been on the way out for a while - maybe it is just marking the end of one era and the beginning of the next!
