(no subject)

I really meant to follow that up with a proper account of the days surrounding the wedding, but I think I'll just do a quick run-down:

Friday 16th: All but one relative arrived in Cambridge, in three groups - my immediate family, and the two sides of Nattie's family (German on the paternal side, Japanese and American on the maternal side). Nattie and I managed to bring together my folks and the Germans for a curry.

Sunday 18th: My folks stopped by before going home so that we could give them cake and some gifts from Nattie's uncle Masakazu. The Germans left most of their luggage with us before going to London (next stop on their tour). We went to town and discovered Fopp, which sells far too many CDs, books and DVDs at low prices. Had a nice late lunch at Cafe Rogue, at Nattie's suggestion (and I thought she had vowed never to go there again because it was so noisy the first time).

Monday 19th: The maternal side of Nattie's relatives visited us, had tea, and picked blackberries. We said goodbye to her uncle and cousin, returning to London and then Japan. We then took some scarily large wads of cash to the bank. Finally we took her mum and stepdad to the local curry house, which I think was a moderate success.

Tuesday 20th: A free day, at last.

Wednesday 21st: The Germans returned and attempted to visit the National Stud in Newmarket with us. Having missed the second and last tour of the day, we returned to Cambridge and resorted to (1) late lunch (2) looking at Kings College Chapel (3) punting (generally a good way to use an hour or so). In the evening we directed them to the lovely Burleigh Arms for dinner and to Tesco for random shopping before sending them off westward.

Thursday 22nd: I went into London for a second interview with Symbian (following a positive phone interview). It seemed to go fairly well but not brilliantly. Nattie also came into London and we then met up with a.f.pers to get Neil Gaiman books and have them signed by the author.

Friday 23rd: Various chores such as shopping. The pimp (recruitment agent) told me the people at Symbian liked me and wanted to give me a contract, or a job if their internal bureaucracy would allow it.

Saturday 24th: Not a lot, until Peter and Julie's wedding reception. Which we seemed to have been invited to much later than everyone else. Hmm. It was very strange to see dozens of a.f.pers swarming around in suits.

Sunday 25th: Nope, can't remember.

Monday 26th: The Germans returned again in the evening, and found their own way to the Burleigh, where we met them after dinner. Nattie's Dad recapped their tour.

Tuesday 27th: Saw the Germans off at the railway station. Much Tschuessing and Danke schoening. Pimp phoned to tell me Symbian still couldn't make up its mind what to do. Finally booked our honeymoon on Jersey. Made won tons, though they were a bit mis-shapen because I couldn't find won ton wrappers at the Chinese food shop and had to make do with halving spring roll wrappers.

Wednesday 28th: Not a lot happened. So far as I can remember. Must have been doing something, though.

Thursday 29th: Pimp tells me it'll a three-month contract with Symbian. More details to follow. Must set up a company or use an umbrella company to contract me out to them. I choose the latter, to avoid a lot of time and paperwork.

Friday 30th: Nattie went off for an interview with APU for the MA course she's going for. Apparently this went well. I went off to London to read and sign contracts, only to be phoned by pimp near the station to tell me Symbian hadn't yet sent a written Purchase Order to the agency and so the contract couldn't be made yet. Foo. Hopefully Symbian, the agency and the umbrella company will sort things out between them while we're away in Jersey, so I can read the actual contract(s) next Sunday, sign it/them on Monday and start work that day. Shan't be getting the season ticket quite yet though.