Mick has asked me to write a little piece on my recent good fortune. I will begin on the 15th of February 2002, two months before I joined the marina with Allan. On this day I asked the love of my life, Karen, to marry me. Karen and I were standing in front of Notre Dame Cathedral after a moonlit walk down by the river when I proposed to her, fortunately for me she said yes. Which brings me to my news, on the 15th February 2003, we got married in the Little Haven Hotel in South Shields, a beautiful hotel on the mouth of the Tyne. The theme we chose for the wedding was James Bond so it was tuxedos for the boys and glitzy evening wear for the girls. To top of the evening we had a casino & live music.
The following morning Karen and I then disappeared off into the sunset for a romantic week for two in a small cottage near Port Patrick. There was only one thing that was a problem “getting to the cottage”, you may think how could that be a problem but let me just quote to you from the brochure:
“Directly accessible only by 4 wheel drive - down side of cliff - or on foot”
and
“Access is not for the fainthearted - you can drive along a rough track through fields to the cliff-top parking area and proceed on foot down a steep cliff path, although this is not an easy walk.”
also
“The track has a hairpin bend on a 45 degree gradient, but is comfortably handled with the correct vehicle and careful driving. Particular care should be taken on this track”
Fortunately, Karen had the great idea of hiring me a 4 wheel drive for my birthday on the 13th of February just before the wedding, But let me tell you they were not kidding about the drive down the cliff, it was terrifying, but not half as terrifying as the drive back up was.
Having said all that the cottage was fantastic and surprisingly enough very isolated, just what we wanted. I can strongly recommend it (www.morroch-bay.com)
Antony White (marina)