The blog is moving....

Hello friends! I realize I have been a horrible blogger over the last 3 months, but in my defense I have had a really good excuse...I ran out of space!! This happend once before and the problem just went away after so much time, but I don't think that will be the case this time. I have created a new blog, which will really just be a continuation of this one. On the new blog, there will be a link back to this blog so that you can reference it at any point in time. I hope this does not create any problems, but please let me know if you encounter any issues!!

The new blog address is www.thetravelingbranfords.blogspot.com

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles in London

On Wednesday, June 8, Kevin and I flew to London (well attempted to that is). We flew from Colorado Springs to Dallas and then Dallas to London. In Colorado Springs, everything seemed great…we boarded the plane on time, pulled away for the gate on time, and then taxied out on the runway. We sat on the runway for an unusually long time, and the pilot eventually came on the intercom to announce a maintenance issue with the engine. We had to go back to the gate and wait on the plane, while the problem was addressed. Our layover in Dallas was an hour and a half and at this point we were sure we wouldn’t make our connection. The maintenance issue was fixed faster than any of us anticipated and we were on our way just an hour and a half after the scheduled time. The pilot made up some time in the air and we landed at 5:30pm in Dallas (our flight to London left Dallas at 6:05). At this point, we thought we just might make our flight, so we ran from Terminal A to Terminal D (and took the skytram). We got to the gate and the agent told us we missed boarding by 5 mintues! So close!! He tried to rebook us on an American flight later that evening but nothing was available. So we were rebooked on the same flight, just one day later. Because we missed our connection due to a maintenance issue, American Airlines was required to put us up in a hotel room that evening. We stayed at the Wingate hotel in Dallas, ate dinner and consumed drinks at the Westin, and crashed early.

On Thursday, we ate breakfast at Denny’s and bummed internet off our hotel until about 3:30pm. Then we took the hotel shuttle to the airport, checked-in (without bags – they kept our luggage overnight), proceeded directly to the pub and waited for our flight to board. Fortunately there were no more issues with our travels, until we landed. As I mentioned before, we never re-claimed our luggage in Dallas, so I was pretty sure our luggage would not come out on the carousel when we landed in London…I was correct! We went to file a lost bag report and the agent said he had good news for us…our bags were in London already (they came in the day before on a different flight) but they were at Terminal 3 and we were at Terminal 5. He gave us the option to go pick our bags up or have them delivered, and we definitely chose the first option. We took the Heathrow Express to Terminal 3, called American Airlines to come and bring Kevin back through security, and after a fire evacuation, we collected our bags! What a crazy 2 days!

We took the Tube from Heathrow to Kings Cross Station and hailed a taxi (in the rain) to our hotel. We were able to check-in around 12:30 and we proceeded directly to the room to take a nap. We slept for about 4 hours and then went out in the neighborhood surrounding our hotel for dinner. We found this little Thai restaurant that had fantastic food and ate early enough that we beat the normal dinner crowd. We walked back to the hotel to grab our Oyster Cards and then decided to go pub hopping on a Friday night in London! It was great! We took the tube to Covent Garden Station and walked over to a pub we went to last summer, The Shakespeare’s Head. Every pub we passed on the way was overflowing with people onto the sidewalks….it was very fun to observe. We had a few pints at The Shakespeare’s Head and then walked over to Leichester Square to do some more people watching, and find another pub. We each had one more pint and then went back to the hotel (so we didn’t miss the last train back).

My first pint of Strongbow in London (this year).

You gotta have one of these photos! Don't mind the trash in front of me!

On Saturday, we went to work. We stayed at a new hotel this time, so the closest rail station to us was Kings Cross (whereas we normally take a train from Waterloo). I thought it would be easier to take a train directly from Kings Cross instead of taking the tube to Waterloo and then getting on the train there. Bad idea!! We talked to someone at the ticket counter and they told us the cheapest way to get to Southampton was through the Victoria Station, so we bought the tickets. As soon as we purchased the tickets we realized the one way trip down there would take us 2 and a half hours, as opposed to 1 hour and 15 minutes from Waterloo….we doubled our round trip time because I was trying to save time….whoops! We got to Victoria Station and ran to catch the train that would get us there an hour earlier than what was quoted at the counter, and we made it! The ride there still took 2 and a half hours, but we got there an hour earlier that planned! We got on the ship and had no problems. We just had enough time to finish before the rain came and we basically got kicked off before the ship sailed. We certainly learned our lesson! We both napped on the 2 and a half hour ride back to London, went to the hotel to change and write some wedding thank you cards, and then went back out to the pubs! We didn’t leave our hotel until about 10pm, so most of the pubs were not serving food anymore…instead we found this great Indian Restaurant and indulged in more delicious food!! We went across the street to the Prince of Wales Pub, had a pint, and then had to hop back on the train at midnight. It was a long day!

The massive ship we worked on in Southampton! This isn't even the biggest in the fleet!

Platform 9 3/4 just outside Kings Cross Station. It has been temporarily moved during renovations. 

The London Underground has some of the longest escalators I have ever seen!

On Sunday, we ventured up to Stratford-upon-Avon and Atherstone where some of our family lives, and where my Dad lived as a child. My parents actually were up there visiting as well, so we were really excited to spend some time with them and other distant family! We took the Tube from Kings Cross to Marylebone, then a train to Banbury, then a bus to Leamington Spa, and then a train to Warwick Parkway, where my family picked us up (Mom, Dad, Vivien and Nick – our English cousins). It took us about 2 hours to get up there, but it was well worth the visit. Mom and Dad rented a car while they were visiting and it was the only car big enough to fit everyone (7 people), so we got to experience mom learning how to drive in England. I have to say she did quite well!!! We drove up to Atherstone and picked up Vivien’s mom, Hazel, and then went over to the cemetery where my great grandparents are buried. You may remember this post from the first time I visited London. My grandmother’s dying wish was to be buried or scattered where her parents were buried and that is exactly what we were able to do during this visit! It was so incredible to have the whole family there to take part making her last wish come true! Every time I spend time with Vivien and Hazel, I learn so much more about my grandmother and her side of the family. It’s always so nice to hear such positive recollections of her, since she was so depressed and demented for the last 5 years of her life. It was a great ending to that chapter of life! 

Just about to board the train up to Stratford-Upon-Avon

My Great-Grandparents headstone. 

It was a very gloomy day, but perfect for the occasion. From Left to Right: Kevin, Nick, Vivien, Hazel, Dad and Mom. 

Nona and Grandpa's ashes, finally were they belong! 

Hazel's husband Derrick's headstone in the same cemetary. He is greatly missed!

When we finished, it was time for a drink, so we went over to the Red Lion Hotel, which is a place my Dad remembers from his time spent here (the last time my Dad was in England was 35 years ago). The next stop was The Rose Inn where Hazel arranged for us to have a traditional English Sunday lunch. It was so delicious…almost like a traditional American Thanksgiving meal! We had roasted everything – turkey, chicken, beef, potatoes, peas and other veggies and traditional Yorkshire Pudding! SOOOO Good!! After lunch we went to meet Aunt Alice who is not actually a relative on my side, but was very good friends with my grandmother. It was so nice to meet her and hear some of her stories too! Our time was coming to an end, before Kevin and I had to get the last train back to London, so we stopped at one more pub in Stratford and then Nick took us to the train station. It was an absolutely incredible day and to share it with my Parents and family made it that much better! Kevin and I will definitely be spending some more time up in that area when we come back next year!! We got back to London at midnight and the underground stations were closed, so we hoped on a double-decker bus and made it back to the hotel around 12:30am. AMAZING DAY!

Drinks at the Red Lion Hotel. 

Such a neat experience to be there with my Dad! 

From Left to Right: Me, Kevin, Nick, Hazel, Dad, Vivien, Mom, and Aunt Alice

We didn’t leave the hotel until about 2pm on Monday, so our day was a little short, but still fun. We went to Knightsbridge and had some Italian food for lunch and then spent some time in Harrods. I went up to the bookshop and Kevin had a flight of wine in the wine shop. We had planned to go see the musical Les Miserable on the West End that evening, but when we went to get tickets at 5:30 on Monday night, the show was sold out! I guess we will know to plan better next time! We went back to the hotel to drop off the heavy books, and then went back to Picadilly Circus for some shopping, dinner, and pubs of course. It was a very low-key day, but a great way to end our time in London.

Outside of Harrods...this store is massive! An entire city block and 7 floors high!

In a pub

My new royal wedding ring! When in London....Act like royalty! I love it.

Introducing The New Mr. and Mrs. Branford!

We did it! We finally tied the knot! It took us 7 years to get to this point and it was better than I could have ever imagined! May 28, 2011 was the perfect day! Here is a re-cap of our special weekend:

Our rehearsal was on Friday morning at 11:00am followed by lunch at Paravicini’s in Old Colorado City. That evening we had a BBQ at our house as a thank-you to the people who traveled from out of state to celebrate with us and for those friends that live in town that had been such a big help before, during and after the wedding! It was a great way to spend a little extra time with the people we love so much! Around 11pm that night, my mom and cousin picked me up from the house and wisked me away to the Cliff House to stay the night before the big day. I had a really hard time sleeping that evening, but still felt pretty well rested on Saturday.

Our rehearsal at the Cliff House. 

The garden at the Cliff House.

The girls I used to cheer with! Me, Bear and her son Lucas, Meredith and her daughter Hadley, and Lindsay. It was so great to see them all!!

My great friend and usher, Nick.

My BFF Amy! What would I do without her!?!

My oldest/longest friend, Paul from New Orleans. I am SO glad he and his mom were able to come out for the wedding!

This party is about to get started...Kevin, Kevin, Sarah, Nick and Ryan. Awesome friends!

At 9am on Saturday morning I went to Veda Salon to get my hair and make-up done. My mom and Aunt were there, as well as my great friends Amy and Ashley. I had intense butterflys all day and had to keep telling myself this was really happening and it wasn’t just a dream or dress up! We got back to the hotel around noon, took a peak at the set-up for the ceremony and started getting dressed at 1:00pm. My mom, my cousin’s Wynn and Jackie, my Aunt Sheri, and my friends Amy and Ashley were all there to help me get dressed and keep me calm before I got to see my very handsome groom! I was dressed and ready to go around 1:40, just in time for the photographers to take me up to the honeymoon suite and take some photos. I finally got to see my handsome groom around 2:30 (we decided to take the majority of our photos before the ceremony) and we took photos together until about 3:30. I went back up to the dressing room, ate some quick snacks, freshened up my make-up, did a quick video interview, and was taken up to the ceremony at precisely 4:00pm. My heart was pounding as I was about to marry my best friend and all I could think about was not tripping over my dress and not crying. I remember seeing the cake centerpieces for our reception just before walking down the aisle, but most of what happened after that was a blur! I am so glad we have the ceremony on film! Our ceremony lasted about 30 minutes (we had some live choirs singing throughout), we took some last minute photos, signed our marriage license, and then joined our guests at the cocktail hour. Our reception began at 5:30pm, we ate dinner at 6 and then we danced until 11:00pm. I wont bore you with any other details, but I will tell you it was an incredible day!

Getting pretty.

Mom and Wynn helping me get dressed.

If  the shoe fits....

These are some of my favorite professional photos of the day....the slideshow at the very top of this post has many more for your viewing pleasure:

On Sunday morning, we went down for breakfast around 9:30 and ate with a few other guests from the wedding that stayed at the hotel that evening. We loaded up the car around 10:30 and brought everything back to the house, then got ready for our 2nd reception at Manitou Springs City Hall. Our wedding on Saturday was for our absolute closest friends and family (about 90), but there were still so many other people we wanted to celebrate with, so we continued the party onto Sunday. The reception began at 2:30 and lasted until about 6pm. We catered BBQ in from Front Range BBQ and also had a roast pig! It was delicious, at least the little bit that Kevin and I were able to eat. We went back to the house that evening around 7:30, opened a few gifts, spend some time with our great friends Molly and Carl (Carl was one of our Officiant’s) and then we were off to the Broadmoor Hotel for a 3 night honeymoon. It was an incredible weekend!

We are in Athens as I am posting this, and I don't have the photos from our Sunday reception with us...Please check back at a later date to view those photos! Thank you!

Our honeymoon:

First night in our West Tower Suite, complete with chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of champagne. Thank you Ann and Shauna!!

Lunch at the Golden Bee. 

On our balcony before our fabulous dinner at the Tavern. 

Our dinner at the Tavern.

Isn't he so handsome! I am one lucky WIFE!!

Our room service dinner on the patio. We were totally spoiled for 3 days!

I am beyond thrilled to be spending the rest of my life as Mrs. Branford and as Kevin's WIFE! The weekend was better than I could have ever imagined and I look forward to all our future may bring.