Life: Boscombe beach and lazing by a pool

I love visiting Caz at her home town of Ringwood, Hampshire.

It really is such a stunning area - it's like going on a mini holiday every time I go to see her.

I come from Warwickshire and often forget how much there is to do there. My visits home are so full of visiting family that I forget that Martin might like to visit Warwick Castle or do an open top bus tour of Stratford-Upon-Avon. Caz is the same about where she lives. She lives very close to Bournemoth and I'm always amazed at how infrequently she visits the beach as it just never occurs to her to go.

However, this time we were determined to play at being tourists and so a visit to the beach was definitely in order.

We started by visiting Boscombe beach. It's a very lovely coastline round these parts - gentle promenades, easily accessible beaches and a sea which is nice and close. I love going to Cornwall but boy is it a trek to the sea when the tide's out!

Although it was a warm day, the sea was still so cold. Caz wouldn't go in, but I ventured out as far as my waist. It was freeeeeeeeeezing!

'Yes, it's cold, very cold indeed'

reluctant photo subject

We walked along the promenade for a bit and I couldn't resist taking some snaps of the beach huts.

How cute was this one?

We decided to have lunch at Urban Reef overlooking the beach.

We started with their speciality lemonades based on a recommendation from the waiter - I chose seasonal berry, while Caz had a strawberry one. The strawberry one was particularly good.

I ate pulled pork with spiced apple chutney in a ciabatta. They were a bit stingy with the pork and it definitely wasn't pulled, more small chunks of pork, but it was yummy all the same.

Sorry it's already been partly eaten. I'm so greedy that I often dive in straightaway and only remember to take a photo when it's half eaten!

Caz enjoyed a beef and horseradish ciabatta. I wish I could like horseradish but I really dislike strong mustardy/wasabi type flavours.

Urban Reef is a great place to eat lunch - a stunning view and I really like the local produce it sells.

In the afternoon we went to visit one of Caz's friends and spent the afternoon swimming in their pool. The house was nestled in the New Forest and it was incredibly quiet and private. Absolute bliss.

view from the pool

Which is your favourite British beach? Have you ever visited the New Forest?

Life: Caz's graduation

My best friend Caz graduated last Friday.

We both met at university where we were studying the same course, Veterinary Medicine. I quickly realised that being a vet wasn't for me, and, after getting my first degree, decided to train as a science teacher. Caz, however, was a good vet and stuck it out. She qualified on Thursday after 6 long years. I couldn't have been more proud.

To celebrate Caz held a meal in the Wordsworth Room at our college for her family.

Caz picked out the most fabulous menu accompanied by some incredible wines: a Reisling and Pinot Noir.

For starter we had a pistachio and dukkah encrusted duck breast, cooked rare with an orange salad. This was followed by roast pork belly and seasonal vegetable. For pudding, we ate a syrup spnge pudding with praline ice cream. So incredibly delicious.

the menu

It as such a lovely occasion celebrating Caz's incredible achievement.  One of her best graduation presents was a pink stethoscope which had been engraved with 'Caroline Furry Fixer'.

Caz's actual veterinary school graduation was the following day. Martin and I used our free morning to wander around Cambridge.

Corpus Christi clock

We started at Queens, walked along King's Parade and ended up at Martin's former college, Trinity. Unfortunately, I was too hungry for my brunch to pay a visit to my college, St John's, so we soon ended up back at the Eagle pub.

Mathematical bridge, Queens

King's chapel

Martin's former college, Trinity

The Eagle is Cambridge's most famous pub. This is because Watson and Crick (discoverers of DNA) first ran in here on finding out about their ground breaking discovery.

I greedily chose a huge Ploughman's complete with cooked ham, Tawny Valley cheddar and stilton.

Before the ceremony, there was just enough time to visit Caz's horse, Sway.

Gorgeous Caz in her gown.

I was so happy when we bumped into our Director of Studies at St John's, Dr Williams.

It was such a lovely couple of days; a culmination of all of Caz's exceptionally hard work.