Hotel living

I'm starting to feel at home in my little skyscraper.

The lady in the gym tells me off whenever I miss a day - which is every time I see her, seeing as I only go every other day.

The nice people at breakfast know my room number, and lay out two white coffees as soon as we arrive.

I ventured down to the lobby in my PJs when I needed

Losing touch with reality

Well - fewer than two weeks in and it's already happening- I am losing touch with reality.
Today I went to the Qatar Motor Show. I walked in as someone who was thinking about getting a cheap car out of necessity, I walked out as someone who thought they could justify buying one of

Doha sports correspondent

Tonight we went to see the semi finals of the Asian Cup - Uzbekistan being humped by Australia. It was at the new Khalifa stadium - which is beautiful. In both the stadiums we've been to they've had very strict seating plans - you can only enter through a certain gate, then you have to go to your allocated bay - but once you get to the correct section of the correct stand the 'spectator services' team totally lose interest and tell

Doing Doha

OK – so we’ve been here for a week now and I’ve settled into a routine of sorts. *Here it is:

0545            Alarm goes off

0600            Get up – get ready for work

0640            Have breakfast of cereal, coffee and juice in hotel restaurant

0700            Driver picks us up from hotel

Come on South Korea!

Well – we’ve just returned from watching Iran v South Korea in the quarter finals of the Asian Cup at Qatar Sports Club stadium. If you were watching it on TV, you might have seen me – I was the one sitting in amongst a load of South Koreans, chanting sounds that resembled Korean songs at the top of my voice. It was

We don't go far in Doha

We’re on day three and so far N and I haven’t had the courage, or energy, to venture far. Up to now we had been keeping to a triangle of three buildings, all within 100 yards of each other: work-hotel-shopping mall. But in a shock move, this evening we branched out and went for dinner at the hotel next door. I

We've arrived!

Well, we arrived in Doha safely yesterday and it’s been pouring with rain from the second we set foot on the tarmac. I’m told this is the first rain Qatar’s had in about a year, so I’m thrilled to have been able to bring it over with me.

The ludicrously good treatment has started already, with a BMW and driver waiting for us at the airport,

Get married - honestly, it's great fun.

Well, that was simply the best day of my life. I loved every second of it. There’s so much to report, but I’m supposed to be packing for Qatar as we fly at 8am tomorrow morning, so I’d better do that first and report properly later. But a few highlights that stick in my mind:

• The fantastic registrar, who made sure the ceremony was totally relaxed and great fun.
• Ellie and Kath playing us in with their beautiful string duo.
• The smiles from the people of Oxford as we had our photos taken around the town after the ceremony.
• The funny funny speeches.
• Walking into the reception hall and finding a friend who’d travelled all the way from Germany, balancing on a chair hooking fairy lights up with the end of a broom, while another

Last day of single life

Well, I’m getting there. I still have a long list of things to do, and an even longer list of people to pay, but I’m feeling that sense of resigned fatalism, which I’m sure all brides get the day before they marry. Sure N’s ring still hasn’t arrived from Germany, I’ve still not organised any transport for anyone and the last time I saw my wedding dress I was handing

The proposal!

N proposed last night. There was champagne, him on one knee, I cried. We've set the date for this Saturday.

He didn't present me with the ring though, because he's hidden that away after i spent too many hours staring at it.

Rip and tuck

Well that’s just typical. After a decade long hunt for the perfect bikini wax, I have finally found it, in London, six days before I move away.

Up until now I’ve been going to a place in Acton for my monthly dose of humiliation. Not only are they fabulously cheap, but they throw in a whole host of thinly veiled insults and criticism – for free. Not only do I have to deal with the pain and mortification of the deed itself, but the beautician also tells me every

High achieving

Today I was like a machine: diverting post, getting spare keys cut, cancelling Sky, Virgin broadband, TV licence… Rather unexpectedly the call centre people I spoke to were delightful. There’s a lovely little call centre somewhere in Scotland full of very helpful and jolly people who are just thrilled about my adventure. I salute you helpful and jolly call centre people. 

I’m pleased to report that the exercise regime finally started today. I told my trainer in the gym that I

Now THAT's what I call wedding music - 2011!

As compiled by my best friend and I today - in no particular order:

Rolling Stones
Prince
Signed sealed delivered - Stevie Wonder
Duran Duran
Bowie (incl Let's dance)
Temptation - Heaven 17
You can call me Al - Paul Simon
Just can't get enough - Depeche Mode
Blue Monday - New Order
Clint Eastwood/Dare - Gorillaz

Wedding world

Rings purchased, caterers catering, sisters decorating, photographer photographing, wedding band tuning up….one week to go and all’s well in wedding world.

N and I spent the afternoon doing test shots on the South Bank with our lovely photographer. N did his surly, ‘I don’t want to have my photo taken’ scowl – I did a cheesy grin. Then we went to Liberty and bought the over budget wedding ring I’d been 

Bad dreams

Last night I dreamt that Allison Janney (the stepmother in Juno) was our registrar. Half way through the ceremony she said she needed to take a quick break and disappeared into a side room. We waited and waited but she didn’t return. After a couple of hours we spotted her all dolled up,

Royal couple stole my wedding

The community centre confirmed! We have a venue! We’re now full steam ahead with arrangements.

This excitement only tempered by the discovery that the royal couple seem to have stolen many of my wedding ideas. The low key arrival at the ceremony? Champagne and canapés*? Buffet style reception? RAF fly past? Come on royals, have a bit of imagination.  

*Alright – cava and kettle chips

The highs and lows of wedding planning

Well – I apologise for not writing sooner. The truth is you see, that I have SO MUCH to report, I haven’t had time to write. But now I’ve settled down with a glass of pinot noir nestling in my hand, and a lamb rogan josh bubbling on the hob, I’ll fill you in.

I’m afraid we have to start on a downer, because that’s how my day started yesterday. I woke up to a killer sore throat and the news that the community centre we had hoped to hire for our reception venue is

ARRGGHHHH! LISTS!

After two weeks of almost non stop dress shopping, I am still no closer to deciding what I’m going to wear. If anything, I’m more confused than ever. N, on the other hand, has bought his suit. After one shopping trip. In one shop. In the same shopping trip he also managed to choose and order his wedding ring. That’s him pretty much sorted.

In contrast, I seem to be spiralling out of control. I think my problem is I make too many lists. Lists should be de-stressing – a way to bring order to brain mess. But perhaps there comes a point when the

Packing

Today I have bought a huge suitcase and started packing. N thinks it’s too early to start packing, but I say you might as well start when the mood takes you. It wasn’t long before I needed something from the bottom of my suitcase and had to unpack everything again, which bolstered N’s theory slightly, but he’s not in a position to give advice about suitcase packing. He once packed for a five day holiday entirely from the dirty washing basket (he can’t explain why). It took us four days to find a laundrette.

Running regime starts tomorrow.

Dress confusion

I whittled down the six dresses to four. Then my sister, best friend, mother and nephew were treated to a wedding dress fashion show and invited to vote on the four finalists. That’s when the trouble started. My sister and best friend voted for number four, my mum and nephew went for number three, while number two got two special mentions. I want to disregard my nephew’s vote, he is five years old after all – but what if he’s the next Alexander McQueen? What if I’m disregarding the sartorial advice of the next design sensation? He also claimed that my three month old niece preferred number two – but I’m pretty certain he made that up.