Like mountains, our relationship has provided many different views, and a few ups and downs, and since we first met. That was August 2002 in New Orleans, at the 4th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences. Jasmijn gave a talk and Andrew was in the audience, pleasantly surprised to find out Jasmijn was not a boring middle-aged lady as he had very foolishly presumed, on the basis of previous international email discussions about alternatives to educational animal use. They stayed in touch and Jasmijn then spent 10 days with Andrew in December 2002. Many years of fun and adventures followed that took us to various cities in the US, Netherlands, England, islands in the Caribbean, New Zealand and back to the UK in 2018.

In that time we hiked many regions of the UK and beyond; sharing a great passion for outdoor wild places. (In 2011, Jasmijn joined Andrew on running adventures, and later on some dancing adventures). One area that holds a special place in our hearts is Snowdonia, North Wales. It is the closest mountainous region to London, Birmingham (and Winchester), and by 2018 Andrew reckoned he’d climbed Snowdon about 13 times (Jasmijn around seven). It’s an awesome hike and view from the top, particularly on a good day. The masses try their luck, sometimes in flip flops or other useless footwear or inadequate clothing, and while thousands of people, including children and the elderly successfully complete the hike to the highest mountain in Wales, it’s not completely for the faint-hearted, even if you stick to the Miners or Pyg Track. The Crib Gogh ridge is a breath-taking, heart-stopping and awe-inspiring knife-edged arête, which is considered a ‘scramble’ in summer. The other half of the ‘horse shoe’ ridge is not bad either, and a much quieter route as it’s less well known. Join us on 21 July and you’ll find out why we chose Snowdonia and Château Rhianfa as our wedding location!

PS: As it is Wales, there may be rain or clouds. We’ll still have fun regardless!

PPS: If you can’t make it in July, we may be able to celebrate our wedding again in locations such as London, The Netherlands and Australia 😉 Albeit more low key, and probably without mountains or castles… (but you never know!)