No.36

"I think you've had pneumonia," were not the words I was expecting to hear from my doctor as I sat waiting for the next installment of 'Lynda and the chest infection', an ongoing saga that started back at the beginning of August.
           I got a special commendation from Ballymagroarty Primary school for finishing without having had a day off sick during my seven years with them. Somehow I didn't manage to get chicken pox, mumps or measles and any colds were too mild to credit an absence. I never broke anything when I fell out of trees ( a regular occurance) and I have no memories of vomiting and diarrhoea bugs.
    Having been brought up on a farm, I was made of sturdy stuff and even during my years at secondary there were no days at home recovering from illness. When I started nursing I thought they wouldn't take me as I might catch everything going, but I was assured that if I hadn't caught it by the ripe old age of eighteen I was unlikely to get it now!
       They were right and now at 49 I can honestly say that my worst sickness has been when pregnant, all four times, though the twin's one was particularly gruesome to the point where Jake's first word was synonymous with the sound of me being sick...something like 'Byeuk'.
     So even though it made complete sense and was a huge relief as I thought I was going a bit mad, I sat staring at the Doctor as he phoned the Xray dept and made an appointment for me to go and get zapped straight away. He said that it's very unusual for someone like me who has the health of an ox normally to get something that is generally reserved for the frail and elderly, so the only explanation was to put it down as an occupational hazard in my role as a Wedding Crasher. In other words stop hugging and kissing so many people!
        Thankfully the next day after getting the Xray result I was downgraded from pneumonia to a 'very nasty chest infection' and despite having to take a third, extra strong course of antibiotics and a week off sick, much to the disgust of my children, I managed to be fit enough to set off on our long awaited holiday to Cypus,
    So now I'm back, after a bit of a break, having enjoyed the feeling of sun on my skin for a few weeks and most of all the best of company....ready for the final few weddings of 2015 and the completion of my year of blogging.
      After nine years of being together, having had two beautiful little boys, Danny and Sam had decided to get married and had asked Robin to do the needful. I had known Danny's Mum and Dad, Angela and Michael for quite a while and knew that this was going to be a special family occasion as family is the number one priority in all their lives and it shows in everything they do.
         Robin had told me that they were using an out building on the property for the service and not being sure of the weather, I decided to forego displaying my fast fading tan to the world and go for a series of layers. My black dress with my plum wrapover mohair cardigan ( worn to the first wedding that Robin ever did!), my black boots and then my tartan wrap, so I could layer on or layer off as the temperature flucuated.

When we arrived at the house the sun was shining and everyone was looking very relaxed. Danny took us up to the shed where the ceremony was to take place and allowed us a sneak peek at the amazing transformation. 

It looked fantastic such a huge amount of work to get the whole room looking so beautiful and all done by family and friends. 

   We took our seats, as Sam was due to arrive any minute and waited. 

In she came on Michael's arm looking quite beautiful in a pure white satin sleeveless gown with a lace bodice and a wide pleated satin cummerbund. Her skirt flared out with a layer of tulle and she carried a bouquet of white and royal blue roses to match in with her bridesmaids who followed behind.

     Sam has been part of the family for such a long time that it seemed only right that Michael should be the one to give her away and as he sat down with Angela to look after their grandchildren we watched and listened as Sam and Danny took their vows.

When Lee, Danny's brother and bestman was called on to produce the rings, he brought out a couple of sweetie ones declaring that Danny was 'too tight' to buy the real things. Enough of the joking, the genuine objects appeared and were finally slipped on the right fingers as Robin declared Danny and Sam husband and wife. 

        Not to be forgotten, Robert and Michael, their sons took part in a handfasting with Mum and Dad as all their hands were bound together and a blessing said over the new Sorby family.

    Soon the quaiches were passed around and the new Mr and Mrs Sorby walked up the aisle to 'How long will I love you' by Ellie Goulding as tears were shed and hands clapped.

             

 Outside in the Autumn sun there wasn't a cloud in the sky and there was plenty of time for photos to be taken as the kids ran about.

Next door to the 'function suite' was another building that had been purpose built as a party room with pool table, bar, darts board and for today's wedding, specially decorated for Halloween! The pool table had been covered over and was totally covered in food while the ceilings and walls were adorned with Halloween decorations just an amazing amount of work!

We gathered round and listened as Danny, Michael and  Lee all spoke and said their thankyou's to everyone for all their hard work that had made this day so special.

        I had a chance to take a photo of the cake with it's beautiful tractor cake topper before Sam and Danny chopped it up.

We sat with Margaret and Davie and Joe and Tasha who Robin married last year and enjoyed hearing all their stories as we went back and forth for refills at the buffet table. 

   Angela is never happier than when she has a baby in her arms and she let me take a photo of her with Abby, the newest addition to the Sorby clan, born only three weeks ago to Lee and Gemma. I was even allowed a shottie.....bliss..

Sam decided to slice the cake up and offer everyone a piece, so we enjoyed a slice and then decided it was time to head for home. We chatted with Sam and Danny thanking them for a wonderful day and as we promised to pop the wedding schedule through the door of the registrars, Danny caught Sams hand and pulled her to him calling her 'Mrs Sorby' and giving her a gentle kiss as both their eyes welled up. Such a perfect match.

       Well, I still have a little way to go before I'm back to full fitness, but as Robin said to Danny and Sam in their ceremony it's the hard times that make you stronger. Danny told us that they had been through some hard times and have  had some really good times and I could see by looking at then together that there is a strength in their relationship that is bouyed up by the love of  wonderful family and fantastic friends, something they have in abundance.