No.8

I was 49 on Wednesday....Yes, I know...I don't look it. You have no idea how hard I work at keeping myself looking so fantastic , I am thinking of bringing out a book next year, for all of you who feel you need a role model. I think it will be called, 'How to love yourself the way you are while walking to the pool and eating a bag of walker's Sensations'...DVD to follow!
         For those of you who can't wait for the book, the basic secret is to maintain a perfect layer of curvaceousness that keeps the wrinkles at bay. This can only be maintained through a hugely disciplined routine of eating whatever I want while drinking a specific quantity of wine and occasional single malt. Gin can be added in the summer months. Walking the dog and swimming are token gestures to sporting activity and of course, living in the North East of Scotland where those things called  UV rays are rarely found, and allowed to do any aging.
       This week's wonderful couple are Jill and Mark have no fear of looking old yet, both from Banff,  they met at school and have been together now for 9 years, finally deciding to tie the knot at the Banff Springs.

                  They are one of the first couples to get married in the hotel since the new foyer has been built and what a great addition it makes with polished tiled floors and extra luxurious seating. Even a glass panelled fire set into one of the walls makes for a real feature and a cozy one at that.
        When we arrived a lot of the guests were already enjoying the extra space, having a drink and looking forward to the day beginning proper. We wandered through to the function suite and were taken back with how beautifully Jillian, the wedding co-ordinator, had the room laid out. The new taupe light fittings with glass droplets hanging from around the base, beautifully complimented the already tasteful interior. It's a good thing that a few of the old chandeliers got damaged when they were taken down during the festive season, or we wouldn't  have  had the pleasure of seeing how lovely the room can look.
    There are two 'other women' in my relationship with Robin. One is Jane, the local undertaker, who texts him at all hours of the day and whisks him away in her hearse on a regular basis. And there's Jillian.
     Jillain has been the wedding co-ordinator at the Springs for a long time now and knows how to run a tight ship, but also knows how to work really well with the couples she meets. Robin on the other hand is a challenge to any woman and I can only admire Jillian for putting up with him as he refuses to let the guests into the ceremony more than 2 minutes before any service and moves all the carefully placed furniure around to suit his needs while asking for glasses of water and newly pressed napkins!
       I was pleased that Jill had chosen her colours to match my nail varnish so the ties in the chair backs and I co-ordinated beautifully as I sat waiting for the guests to filter through.

 

 

      I was wearing one of my all time favourite dresses this week, that will have to be completely threadbare before I ever put it in a Red Cross bag or bin it.

              My sister Jenni had come over from France for my Dad's 80th on Tuesday ( yes, he looks fabulous too) and had had given me a brooch for my birthday that turned out to be a scarf ring. She had no idea how much I had been wanting one. When my other sister, Susan, gave me a navy pashmina that I had been wanting too, I was well chuffed, they completed my outfit perfectly. And so the dress lives to be worn to another wedding.

 

 

 

The ceremony was an emotional one with lots of tears, but even more laughter. Jill came in looking beautiful in a ruched chiffon dress, on Iain's arm, every inch the proud father, and even though she was overwhelmed with the ocassion, Mark broke the ice by giving her a hug that pulled her veil off the back of her head. She decided to do without it and handed it off to her Mum to take care of. We sang 'Hosanna' and 'The Northern lights of old Aberdeen' with much football fervour and after they both said 'I do' and signed the schedule, we gave a round of applause for the new Mr and Mrs Campbell.

         Mark and Jill headed off to Duff House, our local stately home, for photographs with Debbie the photographer and John who was videoing the day. John has a new video 'drone' that can fly and video from above, so we are all looking forward to seeing how he got on with his new toy. Michael, Mark's Dad, was telling me at the meal, that he and Iain were standing at a window in the house, looking out, when suddenly this thing came zooming up from outside like a little spaceship and videoed their startled faces!

            We sat in the bar, enjoying a glass of wine and watched the weather change dramatically. From sleet and rain to beaming sunshine all in the space of a few hours, creating the most beautiful rainbow out to sea. If there's one thing we do get with our North East weather it is an array of amazing rainbows and this one was just for Mark and Jill.

    We usually sit in the same seat when at the Springs, for the 'inbetween bit' and have had the pleasure of watching a house being built across the road over the last year. Finally it has been completed. It was great to sit with our wine and watch as the folks have finally moved in and made it their home.

     We were at the top table together for the meal, sitting next to Mike and Denise and really enjoyed their company. Denise's friend had made the cake  and her friend's son had dressed the tables with vases of pearls and balls of white roses. Very simple, yet just perfect.

 The speeches were emotional and heartfelt and all the boys did really well. Even Jill stood up at the end to give a huge thankyou to Jillian and all at the Springs for a wonderful meal and  all their hard work.

      For the evening Zigi and Toni were the entertainment and for those who have never experienced them, entertain is definitely the word. They are a great duo who sing and walk or dance through the guests, popping anyone who wants on mike, or even up for a dance. Ziggy is imensely athletic and never stops moving and has even been known to do cartwheels across the floor and dance on a table or two.

            With this is mind, we sat at the table furtherest away from any of this potentially embarrassing activity and enjoyed the company of Jim and Norma, friend of ours since they were Robin's 50th wedding a few years back. Jill and Mark came over for a quick hello while trying to get round all their guests. She lifted her dress to show me that she had changed from heels to her white blinged up Converses. Then decided to show us what was under Mark's kilt...thankfully he wasn't being a true Scotsman, but had 'Groom' written across his black boxers ( No photos were taken!)

           We all got up to dance and then enjoyed a pie from Clark's the bakers. Jill and Mark had brought them in for everyone to enjoy with their evening teas and a slice of the delicious wedding cake. I mean what saturday night in Banff or Macduff isn't complete without a pie.

             We phoned Jan fron J.J's to take us home just after the pie's had settled. Poor Jan was just about to go to her bed, but out of the goodness of her heart she popped over ( not in her nightie, I may add) to get us home.

        We had such a lovely day and can see how much Jill and Mark not only love each other, but are surrounded by the love of family and friends, they are very blessed. As the words of their first dance said...... 'All of me, loves all of you, all your curves and imperfections'...here's to a future for Mr and Mrs Campbell loving each other just that way for the rest of their days.

 

 

No.7

This weekend's couple Ashley and Steven settled on the Maryculter House Hotel ( pronounced Mary cooter for you not-so-local folks) and the theme was Disney. How sweet I hear you say, but as I approached the seating plan, to see which table we would be at for the meal, the words 'Tower of terror' were above our names.

I was amazed how right they got it as that was exactly how I had been feeling when I heard that this was the venue. We have only been there once before and it will forever be the weekend known as 'Wedding-gate'.
    The Maryculter House Hotel is over an hour's drive from Macduff, so we decided, last year, when we got our invite, to book a room for the night, and make a weekend of it.
   It all started well. We had just got our new car, after our 'Happy' car had died on the Banff /Portsoy road a few months before, with a fatal timing belt snap. All was well with the world. We set off in plenty time, giving ourselves a bit of time to enjoy the room and have a cup of tea before getting ready for the wedding. We arrived and were unpacking our 'gear' when Robin's face went a whiter shade of pale,
   "I've forgotten my kilt".
      Now folks, this is when being married for 22 years comes into it's own....we panicked and started firing out all the possible options that didn't involve Robin standing in front of 100 people with just his boxers on his lower half. Can't go back, not enough time...can't go to Asda in Aberdeen and buy a suit... I mean, really! I hit on doing a Google for the nearest kilt shop and we found one with the help of the very kind receptionist that was 10 minutes away in Peterculter ( yes, pronounced Petercooter ). We phoned them and found they were about to shut, so shouted Robin's sizes and kilt type down the phone and drove off to pick it up. Phew...yes, you may think so.
   We got back to the hotel to get dressed and discovered that the zip on my dress was jammed, I mean, what are we meant to do, nip out for a new dress? No, I found that if I stretched up tall enough and Robin pulled hard enough it could be forced over my head and down my svelte figure ...I mean talk about team work.
   The day went well apart from one of the guests ( male I might add) taking a shine to Robin and stalking him throughout the evening, getting to the point where we had to retire early to our room as I was concerned about being threatened with not appreciating how good I had it with Robin as my husband!
     The next morning after a lovely breakfast we headed out to the car and found the back tyre was punctured( the result of going to pick the kilt up and turning the car near a building site). We almost laughed, but then, gave that a miss when we realised that our new car didn't have a spare tyre, just a foam kit to fill the punctured one with. We managed to follow the instructions and eventually headed home at 40 mph as you weren't allowed to go faster according to the instructions.
   Anyway..all in the past...all in the past...
              As we drove up to the Hotel this time, , down through the magnificent grounds, there were little bunny rabbits munching on the grass by the side of the drive ( we wondered later if they had brought them in as part of the Disney theme) and the sun was shining. We bravely parked in the same space as last year, confident that even if we did get a flat this time, I now have a 'real' spare tyre in my boot and AA membership, so we are prepared for anything.
   The Hotel is a beautiful turreted  old family home and has amazing grounds and a character filled library with stone walls, hanging tapestries, deer's heads and period furniture that is quite stunning, to sit in and relax at your leisure.
      Ashley and Steven live in Westhill, just up the road, but most of their family are local folk, so we knew  a few of the 120 faces as they started to drift in for the ceremony.
      Ashley had 4 bridesmaids who looked beautiful in tourquoise ( Cinderella) satin and as the bride was piped in on her Dad's arm to Highland Cathederal, she looked every inch the Disney princess in layers of white flowing tulle and with touches of silver and diamonte on her bodice.

   Robin did his usual, even comparing the names of the Grand National runners for the day with the forecast for Ashley and Steven's married life together. He guided them through the ceremony as we sang 'Happy' and 'Hey Baby', which got everyone up on their feet and singing along. They poured two colours of sand into a glass receptacle to symbolise the indelible mixing of their their lives and as they said their vows everyone clapped.A really 'Happy' occasion for all.
     While All the photos were being taken we all went through to the bar where there was a roulette wheel and a card table with 'fun' croupiers and everyone was given a token for '£200' to play. Also a magician who we have seen before and looks scarily like Brian Burnett from Radio Scotland, entertained the guests and made balloon swords, hats and flowers for all the kids. These eventually made their way on to the heads of a few older guests as the evening wore on.
        We sat at the 'Tower of Terror' table  with familiar faces. Gwen and I have known each other since our eldest girl's were babies and we were in a 'Mums' group. We would go and chat about our kids and enjoy the company and those are friendships that have lasted 21 years. It was great to have a catch up  and as the meal wore on Gwen confessed that she and Gary had once been wedding crashers themselves.
     They were to go to a friend's wedding in the church of a small village called Portessie ( pronounced Portessie). They came up to the church and had their photo's taken as they went in to sit on the bride's side. Only then did they look at the order of service and realise that the name of the bride wasn't the one that they were expecting. They quickly dashed out of the church and found ' the other' church in Portessie and managed to catch their real friends saying their vows. Gwen hoped that they would never be found out, but as they had had their photo taken on the way in to the first wedding the bride eventually decided to do some detective work. When the photos came back she bumped in to Gwen's friend, presumably in Portessie, one day, and asked her if she had been missing a couple of guests on that day. On describing them, bride number two knew exactly who they were and called Gwen to find out the whole story. To this day, they are still in the wedding album of a couple they don't know...I bow to their genuine crashing skills.

   Well, after the meal we found The new Mr and Mrs MacLennan to thank them for a lovely day and wish them all the best for their future together. I hope their day was magical for them and will be one to look back and remember for all their days to come.

No.6

I had just watched the final of the Great British Sewing Bee a few weeks back and was living on the high that makes you look at every piece of clothing you see and wonder what you can transform it into with a bit of bias binding and an invisible zip, when Gail at my work handed me a dress. It was a beautiful dress, but not my size or style really, so I thanked her, took it home and cut it in two! I realised, after the high had worn off, that I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do now, but persevered for three weeks and 'Ta-da' we have the dress for this week's wedding!

This week's couple, Joanne and Wayne decided to get married at the Tufted Duck in St. Combs, a place I've never been to before. From the outside as we approached it didn't look like much to write home about, but when we went inside and saw the room that they were getting married in it all became clear. The back of the hotel faces out unto the sea, and the semicircle of windows makes a panoramic view over the whole bay.
   I had stupidly tried to paint my nails just before we headed off from Macduff, which was a complete disaster as just picking up my coat and bag smudged it all and I had to do a complete wipe off. Robin suggested bringing my gear up with me and really, he has his moments, but this was sheer genius. So I managed while sitting waiting for the guests to arrive, completely do my nails while taking in the great view that The Tufted Duck has to offer.
    So amazing is the view that the owners have decided to build a house in front of it, I say house in the loosest of terms because apparently they have spent £20 million on it so far and it still isn't done! It is built cut into the hillside so as not to spoil the view and is in a similar style to the hotel, quite boxy and plain. Apart from the elephant, duck and lion heads that protrude from just under the roof and the Grecian style pillars that create a grander than grand entrance to their front door, a bit like a mini Acropolis. Interesting! Well, I hope they have Grand designs doing a show with them featured as I would love to see the finished piece.
     Everyone seemed relaxed and happy as they came in to wait for the bride, and as she walked in Joanne looked really beautiful with her three girls as bridesmaids in teal dresses all holding bunches of white freesias, just perfect. Joanne had told Robin about 4 years ago that she was never going to get married again and was quite happy running her Care home for adults with special needs and focusing on that and her family. Then Wayne the dart playing tea drinker came along and changed all that, so Robin got the shock of his life when Joanne phoned up last year asking if we were free on April 4th 2015. 
    There was laughter during the ceremony and there were tears...especially when Robin opened the bottle of Prosecco to fill the quaiches so everyone could toast the new Mr and Mrs Donachie. The cork popped and flew across the room hitting Christie the photographer. Poor girl, she has to work with him next Friday as well, so I hope his aim is better then.
                We all sat in the bar with the local darts players and had a drink while making new aquaintances and learning all about Peterhead, a place I've rarely been to, though it has the largest population of all the coastal towns along the Moray coast at 19,000, a huge immigrant population because of the host of low paid jobs due to the fishing industry that is thriving down there.
      We had photos taken and then went through for the meal. The tables were decorated with trees made of mini chocolate eggs planted in little tin buckets a lovely Easter theme. All the kids got an Easter egg and even the big kids got chocolate as our tree got gradually depleted over the course of the speeches and meal.
    Wayne spoke really well, thanking everyone for coming and Joanne held his hand an stood beside him as he spoke, a lovely sign of how supportive and caring she is. Derek the best man did well keeping everyone amused with his stories of Wayne's obsessive dart playing even bring a set of darts in case they wanted a game later on in the evening.
          We had a wonderful meal, very impressed with the service and the food. And then came the cutting of the cake. Joanne's friend, Susan, has recently set up her own business making cakes, called 'Cakes Away' and I can say I was impressed with Joanne and Wayne the Minions standing on a dart board. says it all really .

   
The evening guests arrived including all the client's from Joanne's Care home and it was so lovely to see how all of Joanne and Wayne's  family warmly welcomed each one as part of the family too. After a chat with Wayne and Joanne, thanking them for letting us be a part of their day, we headed off back up the coast home.

So, here's to the New Mr and Mrs Donachie and their new life together as husband and wife. They really have hit Bullseye this time for sure.