And now some pictures for those of you who are more visually-minded (or don’t speak English, or are just too lazy to read all the way through this entry).

Just back after four days in the south of France, where we enjoyed some truly superb weather and managed to sort out a lot of the final details around the wedding. The menu is chosen, the photographer is booked and briefed about what we’d like, we’ve seen the band and we’ve met with the DJ. Incidentally, apologies to anyone coming to the wedding – the DJ was a mandatory requirement of the Chateau (apparently he makes sure the place doesn’t get destroyed) and let’s just say that we don’t exactly share one another’s taste in music. I think we’ll sit Julien next to the DJ and hope for the best…

I also learned that the Mediterranean sun in the middle of the day is a little stronger than we’re used to in the UK. Which is why I mostly look like a lobster in these pictures.

There may be a million pictures of this view on my blog, but that doesn’t make it any less pleasant…

Aude clearly enjoys sitting in the summer sunshine. Much nicer than the cold, rainy weather in England…

Even the busy duties of planning a wedding can’t wipe the smile off Aude’s face!

Aude and her mother outside on the patio

Every family has one joker…

Clearly enjoying the fun…

The family in front of the pool

Aude about to go over the edge of the infinity pool…

This is why your mother always told you to put on sunscreen. What you can’t see in the photograph is that my nose is redder than Rudolph’s!

Back at work now, and the treadmill is turning just as fast as it ever was… I’d put my nose to the grindstone if it wasn’t so sunburnt!

Jerome and his girlfriend

Who said Easter is for kids? Someone’s obviously very pleased about her Easter bunnies!

There are some things that the French do really well. Dessert is one of them.

When Matthew was promised he could pose next to a bunny, he had the ‘Playboy’ variety in mind…

Family holidays and boredom are uneasy bedfellows. Which is why practical jokes were invented. Against the pleading of his girlfriend, and with the full encouragement of his mother and sister, the sleeping Jerome proved too tempting a target to resist. Sleeping Jerome + iced water = ???

The moment of the attack!

The aftermath!

Oh how we laughed. It’s worth every moment of the (almost certain) repercussions of the best man’s speech.

Now that I’ve had time to go through my photographs, I thought I would include a few of the Abbaye de la Celle in Brignoles, where we will stay after our wedding in September.

Our rather tired looking Renault Clio with missing door trim looked right at home next to the Ferrari in the parking lot. I had to point out to the porter that the Ferrari wasn’t ours…

Aude clearly approves of her surroundings!

Frankly, he looks as shocked at his own behaviour as we were… After a few drinks, I was tempted to challenge him to a duel — until Aude suggested that we might not be welcomed back afterwards.

Hostellerie de l’Abbaye de la Celle

Aude poses in front of the fountain

Photo opportunities abound. Matt in front of the same fountain.

The reception room inside the old abbey.

Matt & Aude in the gardens

Matt on the lawn outside the hotel room

Aude on the lawn outside the hotel room

The hotel comes complete with old world charm. Or should that be olde worlde charme?

More old world charm. Or someone’s spent too much time at Pottery Barn…

Easter morning and I couldn’t sleep, probably a result of overindulgence the night before and the silly round pillows that the French seem to insist on. So I headed out to explore the town before sunrise.

My favourite discovery was a road named ‘Grand Rue’ – an alleyway winding through the town that was no more than 1.5m wide.

We went to Easter Mass at the Abbaye de la Celle, just beside the hotel and where we be getting married in September. We learned a few things about the abbey – most importantly, bring a sweater! It’s very cold inside.

We also met with priest who will be marrying us. He’s quite young and seems very friendly – he spent seven years in Mexico and a year in the US, and he’s quite excited to do some of the service in English. I must admit, I was a little taken aback when this monk, wearing his grey wool habit, pulled out a Palm Pilot to verify dates. Never let it be said that the Catholic Church is backwards, at least not technologically.