"Have I told you lately that I love you?"

I've never been a 'Spring clean' kind of person, more of the 'Is that the colour that is meant to be...let's give it a wipe and find out' kind.
   This carefree attitude came back to bite me big time this week as I reached in to the back of my kitchen cupboard and pulled out a packet of linseed, only to find an unwelcome maggot attached to the bottom by,what I imagine to be a conglomerate of insect poops, that resembled white poppy seeds, when examined closely.
   I decided the time had come to clean out the cupboard and as I donned my Marigolds I started to pull out all the packets of obscure foodstuffs from behind the regularly used pastas and rices. Out came the wild rice that we got from our neighbours, the Bollands, when they left to go to New Zealand over 5 years ago, the packet of Polish noodles that my friend gave me and I could never quite work out what to put them in and there, at the back , were more droppings with maggots embedded.
     It got worse.....as I cleared out the lower shelves where the bread maker lay, undisturbed for the last 2 years beside the pile of  side plates that we aquired seven years ago, just in case they might come in handy and never did as we like using paper plates when we entertain, I discovered a complete family of spiders had taken up residence....and I can promise you these were sizable arachnids, at least ten of them despairing that their cover had been blown and world domination was pretty much a long and distant memory, but I can tell you, they had given it a pretty good go.
          I'm not always slow on the uptake, especially when it comes to love. When Robin and I met, we started to go out after three weeks and nine days later he asked me to marry him...I mean, when you know something is right, why not just grab it with both hands?
      We spent last weekend at the Norwood hotel in Aberdeen in the lap of luxury, enjoying Matthew and Jenna's wedding on the Friday and Stephen and Natalie's on the Sunday with a relaxing day off in between. We had booked a room for a couple of nights and were pleasantly surprised to find, when we arrived for check in, that we had been upgraded to an Executive suite with a complimentary cream tea included, very nice indeed.
    Matthew and Jenna had waited nine years since they met to get to the altar, carefully planning everything, knowing it was all well worth waiting for. Stephen and Natalie on the other hand had decided on the fast track option, a bit like Robin and myself. Stephen's Mum, Christina told us their story.....
     Both Natalie and Stephen had been in relationships previous to getting together, though Natalie had been a good friend of Stephen's sister and had been on the family radar for a while. Christina had told us that she had actually told Natalie, years before, how happy she would have been to have her as a daughter-in-law, not realising that she would one day get her way.
                 The opportunity came for a spot of match making when Stephen returned home, newly single and looking for a place to live. Christina pointed out that Natalie was also looking for somewhere and suggested that as he would be away so much, working in the oil industry, that he and Natalie get a two bedroomed house together and share. Initially Stephen wasn't too keen, but they talked about it and decided it made sense financially and so they moved in together. It didn't take long before Christina's dream came true and they clicked in more ways than one, realising how they felt about each other...well done Mum!
              To everyone's surprise, Natalie fell pregnant, something they were told couldn't happen for medical reasons. The fairytale gets better and better and this one includes a miracle...when Natalie went in to labour her placenta ruptured and she went in to a diabetic coma, having to have an emergency section with both her and baby Cara in intensive care for 12 hours after the birth, Stephen left not knowing if he was going to lose them both.
   Thankfully they recovered and we had the joy of spending their special day with them all on Sunday.
      So there you have it, two couples, both in love as much as the other. One a slow languorous burn and the other faster and more furious but both as intense and both making the same vows. Now if that isn't a great excuse for not spring cleaning, I don't know what is....x
     

"People change...memories don't"

    2015 was entertaining , if not exhausting and I really enjoyed my challenge of writing about each of the weddings I attended but it couldn't last. So why am I back? Well by popular demand could be the answer to that, but in reality my son-in-law's Mum, Lorna , may be popular but she isn't very demanding though she did encourage me to keep up with the blogging and this weekend I found my new subject.
      'When Harry met Sally' is one of our favourite films and though Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are perfect in their roles, the real stars of the film,for me, are the real life couples that appear intermittently, telling their stories of  how they met and how love blossomed in sometimes the most unlikely of places.
    Robin and I have just been away for a fantastic weekend to Glasgow, having been approached last year by Matthew and Gemma, asking if Robin would marry them and though he usually doesn't travel quite so far for a ceremony, he jumped at the chance as Matthew's Dad is Bob, who was the best man at our wedding almost 24 years ago.
   We decided to make a weekend of it as the wedding was on the Sunday, staying the Friday night with my big Sister Susan and her husband, Stephen and then moving on to a wee hotel in the West End of Glasgow right across from the Bible college where we first met. It was quite surreal wandering around in the rain, seeing all the familiar places and even having a drink in the church building that had been our college but is now a beautifully stylish pub called the Orhan Mor, trying to place where we would've walked as students over 25 years ago.
          Everyone has a story to tell and the best ones, in my opinion are heard at weddings. Whether in the meeting of new friends or catching up with old ones, my favourite question to ask a couple is "How did you meet?" and enjoy hearing the reply and maybe even stories that follow on.
          Sheenagh and Campbell asked me to come and sit with them for Matthew and Gemma's ceremony. Having not seen Robin for over 20 years, Campbell and  most of the guests, some who were at our wedding and belonged to the church we attended at that time, didn't recognise Robin at all with his broader waistline and bearded face. We chatted for a while and I asked the magic question, enjoying hearing how they had met at the church they now belong to and had been married for the last 8 years. I wanted to hear about their wedding ceremony and herein lies a story that must be shared with you all.
       On the morning of their wedding Sheenagh started to feel a bit unwell but put it down to wedding day nerves and continued on with the preparations. She arrived at the church and the ceremony began only for her to collapse while it was all ongoing. An ambulance was called and she was carried out, her beautiful white dress covered in an orange blanket with the piper, bizarrely deciding to pipe her out!! She recovered in the back of the ambulance and scared that she would get taken to hospital, the minister made her and Campbell sign the marriage schedule in the back of the ambulance.
              Thankfully she recovered enough to not have to go to hospital ( she had picked up a nasty virus apparently) and managed the rest of the day with a lot of TLC. The minister actually made them go through the ceremony again as he was scared that he had missed something and they wouldn't be legally married.... married twice in one day, now that has to be a record.
              Despite having to cancel their honeymoon break away and take a few days to recover from the bug, they have been happily married now for 8 years with the most memorable of weddings stories to share.
      I knew as soon as I heard this that I wanted to share it with you all and so the seed of a new blog was born. Through the day I heard how Stuart and Liz, now in their mid sixties, met at a New Years eve dance and when they decided to get married, went to see the bank manager, who asked Liz if she was definitely wanting to have babies, as part of the interview. How amusing to think that would even be relevant.
      We had the joy of sitting with John and Mary, the couple who we lived with when we were first married, John having married us and also being grandparents of Conor, our dear son-in-law.
            Mary told us of a wedding they were invited to up in Fair isle, years ago and on arriving she realised that she had packed all her accessories but not her dress! They had a few days before the wedding and as their weren't any shops on Fair isle they decided to take a flight to Shetland the next day, only to be told when they landed that the shops were all closed that day! Undaunted John suggested they go for a walk and they came upon a charity shop that had missed the 'all the shops are closed memo' and was thankfully open. The creative shopkeeper found a perfectly fitting dress and matching shoes (bnwt) and managed to kit Mary out for under £7.50 saving the day in style.
   We had a wonderful day catching up with folks we haven't seen for decades or more and celebrating Matthew and Gemma's very obvious love for each other.
       You see, there are so many stories out there....all waiting to to be told and who better to tell them than me, the Wedding Crasher? So  I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy listening to them. x


                                 
               
       
   
               

No.40

It was my very first all night babysitting gig for my gorgeous grandson, Rowan and all was going swimmingly. Totally unfazed by his parent's departure, he ran rampage through the house with his Peppa pig musical case in tow and had great fun on his Uncle Jake's drums, giving Animal from the Muppets a real run for his money.
           After scoffing half a tin of beans with a piece of toast we got him changed in to his pyjamas, did his teeth and he blew kisses to all before yawning and heading for bed.
   Hoping for a settled night, we headed upstairs ourselves a few hours later, anticipating an early rise with the mini rock star. Suddenly my mobile rang and I picked it up wondering why Ellie would be calling me as we were the ones holding the baby!
    "Mum, the car's locked in the car park."
 I knew immediately that this was partly my fault, having suggested the multistory car park in Elgin as a good secure parking solution, while Ellie and Conor were out for a meal, followed by Star Wars, The Force Awakened, in 3D. I knew also that the only solution, other than book in to The Mansion house for the night and turn their knickers inside out, was for me to get in the car and pick them up taking Conor back up the next morning to free his trapped vehicle.
     Quick change and off in to the wild wet night I headed to rescue my eldest child and her husband from the perils of Elgin , leaving my dear sweet grandchild and the rest of my family fast asleep in their beds.
      It was while I was passing the Cullen bay hotel that I thought about Mike and Jill, my number one Wedding Crasher couple and their wonderful day back in January. From then on the journey went in a whirl as I mentally went through all my weddings and thought of how much love and effort had gone in to each one.
     Yesterday was wedding no.40 for me this year and my final one to add to my blog, so in many ways it was a time of huge relief as I have actually finished my challenge ( unlike the Banff bay swim!) and can rest back on my laurels having made many friends, had over 30,000 blogs views and 486 Wedding Crasher FB page likes....Well done everyone, a real team effort.
            Yesterday was Susan and Barry's turn to tie the knot and had chosen their local Church of Scotland Church in Cornhill for the ceremony. It was windy and grey but thankfully dry as we parked opposite the church and I was glad I had picked up a fab plush velvet Christmassy number in a visit to the Red Cross a month or so before, combined with my woolen coat, I was snug as a bug in a rug.

                                         

The Church was looking lovely, all the window sills decorated in beautifulwinter foliage with  tiny little felt owls and deer peeking through. We were warmly welcomed by Barry and his posse of kilted buddies bravely standing at the open door and exposing their knees to the January elements.
   We enjoyed the organ playing as the guests came in from the cold and were seated in the beautiful wooden pews. Eventually the Bridal march played out and the 3 bridesmaids came in wearing full length plum chiffon with white fur stoles covering the delicate lace bodices.
   Barry was waiting at the door for Susan and walked her down the aisle, meeting Robin at the front. Susan was wearing a beautiful cream sating gown with an antique lace fitted top with three quarter length sleeves. Her hair was delicately pinned up and held with tiny diamonte flowers that matched her grosgrain ribbon belt.
         We sang hymns together and listened as Robin spoke of God's workmanship in each of us asking His blessing over this couple on their special day and in the days to follow.
             After a handfasting ceremony the new Mr and Mrs Watson led their guests out in to the brisk air and headed off for some photos at home with Buddy the dog.
       We headed home too and caught up with the kids, taking Conor up on his offer of a lift to the Springs ( Well, he did owe me one!)so we could enjoy a glass of bubbly with everyone else.
         It seemed ages since we'd walked through the doors and I was amazed by the Christmas wonderland it had become.

Even better was seeing Gemma and Jocelyn behind the reception desk and we had a quick catch up hearing about everyone's Christmas before bagging the prime seats next to the feature 'fire in teh wall' , where we warmed ourselves while sipping a glass of wine.

      Susan and Barry had decided against a line up or a top table, or name cards, so it was with great trepidation that we entered the dining room and tried to guess where we were to sit. Thankfully one of the bridesmaids told us we were at table 2 which it turned out was with the bride and groom and their parents.

    The favours were little bags that were were kindly invited to fill with sweeties from the sweetie table ...

    The speeches went well, with Alistair, Barry's brother telling us of Buddy the dog's mistrust of Susan when they first met, refusing to get out of her side of the bed when she went to the bathroom in the middle of the night and then peeing on her clothes the next day. Thankfully nine years later things have improved slightly, but he still loves Barry more than anyone in the world.

    In a lightening move, Barry and Susan ran up to cut their cake which had been made by a friend and looked totally beautiful with holly and ivy trailing from the top layer with icing pine cones and berries.

                  Our meal was delicious, in great company. Obviously Susan and Barry's families all get on really well together as the atmosphere was so relaxed and Susan's Mum told us that she was in her element with all their family and friends in the one place.

           Over the year, having written now about so many weddings, I can honestly say that friendship and love of friends and family are a most important aspect of any wedding. So special to hear the stories in the speeches of long lasting friendships and deep love of parents for their children, nothing beats that.

         We retired after a slice of cake and a cup of tea , to the foyer and caught up with Wayne and Nicola my number 10 blog couple who had been at the whole day and it was lovely hearing all their news and seeing how happy they both were.

     The evening guests arrived and we waited for 'The Limit' to set up and get the party started. Soon the bridal party gathered under Jillian's careful direction and the Grand March was underway...

 First dance was 'Thinking out loud' by Ed Sheeran and Barry and Susan, who had been getting dance lessons from their bridesmaid did a very impressive few twirls and a bit of waltzing...not bad for two people who claim to have four left feet!
            We decided to back out gracefully, as Robin had to be up early in the morning to officiate at a funeral and found Barry and Susan up dancing with their guests. We said a fond farewell and wished them much love for the years ahead, thanking them for allowing us to be a part of their special day.
                 So as we backed away from the dancing, the fairy lights, the love and the warmth and headed out in to the night to get our taxi, I felt a little sadness knowing that this was the end of my blog, because let's face it folks there's only so many ways to describe a magnificent white dress and I know as you should by now that every bride is totally beautiful because of the love that shines from her face and radiates around the room to her husband to be and all the loved ones attending.
             
     Well that's it folks. Thanks so much for everyone who has liked, viewed, commented, corrected, laughed and learned along the year with me....so it's goodnight from me and it's goodnight from the 'definitely not a humanist minister' bloke who always seems to crash these weddings with me.....Goodnight x

No.39

 It's coming to that time of year where I dread seeing the postman pass our window and that familiar sound of something being shoved through the postbox. I know it will happen soon, but every year I dread it a little more, yes, you've guessed it......the arrival of the first Christmas card!
     Sometimes it's a hand delivered one, written by someone who has decided that they won't let it get the better of them this year and they are going to get all theirs out first being able to, from that moment on, sit and smile smugly as the cards fall through their door, knowing that they have that all covered from November. Of course, there's always one, isn't there, that you've forgotten about and even worse, it turns up on Christmas eve, when you are stuck with the dilemma of having to fire an 'emergency' card off that afternoon, knowing that when they get it, just before New year, they will know you forgot.
         I know this is going to come as a disappointment to a lot of you out in blogland, but lets face it, I only have one more wedding to attend this year, so when better to come clean and confess my evil side? My phenomenal loss of readership  will have to be carefully balanced with the relief that will come from letting you all see my true self, as I write these words.... I don't like Christmas!
  Ok, small disclaimer here....I love the whole Jesus thing, but I really feel that He's a part of things 24/7, 365 days a year ( +1 on a leap year!) and as much as I feel He enjoys a good party, surely stating to celebrate 2 months before the actual day is a bit mad?
       The day after Halloween, out they come with their tinsel and baubles trying to sell us unique Christmas pillows and tableware, poor old Santa gets dragged out earlier and earlier. He definitely must have better things to do on the run up to Christmas, with all his little elves, organising his schedule for the 'real' Christmas.
      Now don't get me wrong, I don't really mind Christmas cards, as long as there is no expectation that I will send one back. I've taken to giving little bars of handmade soap to my local friends instead and this year I've excelled myself by making blackberry whiskey...now who wouldn't want a wee bottle of that and hey...no recycling or bluetac on the walls!
         If I were prime minister I would make it against the law to have any Christmas displays or events before the 1st December and then we could all go mad for 3 weeks, collapse, take 2 weeks to recover and get on with life....I'm sure that's how it used to be!
     I'm sure that Christmas wasn't on Claire and John's mind when they planned to have their wedding on November 20th this year, in fact I know it wasn't, as John explained so eloquently yesterday.It is the 'real' date they got together, seven years ago, despite having met years before on a chance encounter in Elgin and having staying in touch off and on via various social media.
       The forecast was pretty good for them yesterday but as far as the weather was concerned it certainly was not! After a change of dress to suit the weather, I opted for my Jacques Vert grey number, that matched my throw over, so I could wrap up and protect myself form any cold blasts.

   We left Macduff at 10.30am  in the torrential rain and arrived at Ardoe House ahead of the clouds an hour and three quarters later. The Foyer had been 'Christmassed' with a giant tree decorated with grey and pink amazingness but I was more impressed with the wonderful chilli display beside it...gorgeous.

        John was there to greet us, looking incredibly happy and relaxed with guests rushing in with cases and gifts all about him. The function suite on the other hand was a haven of peace and I was able to stand and watch the leaves spinning down from the sycamore trees out of the amazing windows that stretched floor to ground around two sides of the room.

John stood facing the guests, with his best man and groomsman, as the page boy, Tyler came in with a sign that said, 'Don't worry ladies, I'm still single', very cute.The bridesmaids wore full length pale turquoise ruched chiffon dresses to match the colours of the day. Soon Claire walked in, to a beautiful piece out of Braveheart, with her Dad, Iain. She looked absolutally gorgeous in a strapless cream gown with the sheerest of corded lace skimming over the top, right down to her fishtail train. Her veil, with the same touch of lace, was perfectly placed beside a floral diamante hair piece in her hair.

     As she reached John the tears started to flow with the emotion of the day and he took her hands in his.They stood looking in to each other's eyes as the ceremony began, saying their vows to each other through the laughter and tears. They had decided on a handfasting after their I do's and when Robin said, 'You may kiss your bride', John handed him the handfasting scarf and took Claire's face in his hands, kissing her over and over again with a real joy.....sniff!

              They had decided to have a lineup as the guests came through for a celebratory glass of prosecco , so we took a glass from the waiters and shook hands with both sets of parents and the new Mr and Mrs Duguid. This all went well till we got to John's Mum and Dad at the end of the line and Robin, for some bizarre reason, decided to step back, knocking my glass of bubbly and spilling half of it down my hand, dress, leg, and shoe....thanks dear! So there I was with a wine soaked hand looking like I'd wet myself , not knowing how to greet John's Dad. The dear man just shook my hand and told me he would lick the residue off his hand later...what a sweetie!

      Thankfully I have a large supply of hankies in my amazing wedding bag, that has been to everyone of my 39 attendances this year, so I mopped myself up as best I could and wrapped myself even tighter in my throw, hoping no-one would notice the mess I was in.

            We had a look at the table plan, seeing that we were to sit at the 'Gold Coast' with Kay and Stuart who have been wedding buddies of ours before and Fiona, who's son, Andrew was John's best man. 

    We found out later that John's Mum and Dad had given them a gift of their honeymoon to Australia  and so all the tables were named after Aussie destinations, displayed beautifully on a heart trellis. We broke the news to Kay and Stuart that they would be stuck with us for the meal and all in all they took it quite well.

      Robin had made a plan to meet up with Stephen and Natalie, who he will be marrying next March, in the afternoon, and they arrived with baby Cara so they could chat through plans with Robin over a cuppa, surrounded by baby toys. I decided to take Cara for a walk about, so Mum and Dad could get a break and we headed for the baubles ( well, they have to be good for something!) to keep her entertained. Someone stopped me to ask what age she was and I had to admit I didn't know, feeling quite complemented when they said, "Oh, I thought she was yours"....life in the old dog yet, eh?

     Baby toys gathered up and plans to meet up for a stay over in Cove, in January, arranged we headed through for the meal to sit with Kay and Stuart and the rest of the Gold Coasters. 

        Claire's Dad started the speeches, welcoming John in to their family and speaking of his memory of Claire trying hard to walk and speak and being sick....and that was just her eighteenth!!

    We were all in tears as John spoke, first of his gratefulness to Claire's family, his own and finally of his adoring and very obvious love for Claire, it took a few tissues but he got through and it was worth every tear!

  Andrew took the mic and gave us some very amusing insights in to his friendship with John, recounting a time when a friend of John's professed undying love for him, refusing to leave his flat till he had seen him. It doesn't surprise me at all, as he is obviously loved by everyone!

                    We had a wonderful meal in great company, our wine being topped up magically by a very pleasant waiter and our food being perfectly cooked and tasting delicious. 

          As we were heading through after the meal I managed a quick shot of the cake with the bouquets all around, just beautiful!

Claire came up for a quick hello and allowed me to take her picture despite her aching facial muscles. I did tell her she didn't have to smile, but she mustered up all her energy and gave it her all...well done!

I had noticed a bucket of sparklers on the table during the afternoon and wondered what the plan was for them and soon we found out. We were all ushered outside with sparkler in hand, a few having a lighter too and waited to be told when to light them for a unique photo opportunity. Understandably a few sleeveless ladies decided to give it a miss, but as I had my wool throw, I stood strong and soon we had all had a light from our neighbour and sparkled in to the night with Claire and John.

   There was a mad dash for the entrance as soon as the heat went, because it was pretty chilly I can tell you and we headed back in to the warmth and the evening dance.

    It was at this point that John came over to tell us that friends of theirs, Ross and Naomi, who Robin married a few years back, had just texted to say that the snow was so bad on the road from Macduff to Aberdeen that they had turned back!

    And so what was meant to be a leisurely hour or so before we headed off turned in to ....squeeze it all in to 5 minutes! So I forced John to have his photo take with Robin as I realised I didn't have a photo of him!

We said our farewells to them both and then went to find Kay and Stuart to let them know we were going sooner than planned, making them keep to their promise of a whiskey tasting evening when they get back to Banff, after Christmas shopping, if they survive!

         I managed a quick cutting of the cake, picture, before we ran through the already falling snow to our car and back to Macduff. 

    The journey was a bit hairy in places with driving snow and huge puddles but we made it back safely serenaded by a CD of eighties dance tracks that Robin had made up specially for me  to play in the car. He said it was my Christmas present and I'm quite happy with that, really!

          John and Claire have found something amazing in each other. Someone who loves them just the way they are, with or without their baubles and their tinsel, through the sleeting rain or the soft fluffy snow. That's what I call a real gift!

          

No 38

I had a most enjoyable week off this week, topped off by going to the Springs to taste Phoebe's , 'Young fish pie master of the year 2015',fish pie, featuring on the specials menu as 'Torte a la pesce', Three of us decided to sample it and over pudding we started to have a discussion about memories.
    I wondered if Jason could remember his time in England, having come up to Banff when he was only three years old. He commented that he thought he did but having seen quite a few videos of his time back then, he might be confusing the video footage with actual memories.
      My earliest memories are hints of images, a white painted cot with transfers under the paint, the parquet flooring on our livingroom floor of our first home, where we would slide up and down..... my Gran's bungalow and the smell of toasted bread crusts.... not being able to get my arms round my Granda Brown's large girth, thinking he was the largest man in the world but looking back in photos and seeing that he wasn't that big after all.
    My most vivid early memory is of my Dad running at full pelt down the field in front of our house with his yard coat flapping round him as I, at 4 or 5 years old, slowly sunk in to a boggy pool of septic tank over flow.
    My sister Susan and I had been jumping in puddles in the fields next to our house and I had spotted a particularly large one and decided to jump in. I soon began to sink and as my wellies started to fill with effuse, I tried to extricate myself. I presume Susan tried to help and on failing sprinted up to the house to get Dad as I slowly went lower in the goo. Strangely I don't remember the smell, which must've been disgusting, panicking or wondering if my time was up, certainly not imagining what would happen if I sunk too far, I just waited.....And there came my Knight in shining armour, running as fast as his legs would carry him and hauling me out minus one wellie which would never be found.
         I don't remember the journey home but being hosed down in the back yard stays with me as does my favourite cat suit being binned and the line of scum around the bath full of bubbles, finally removing the last traces of sewage form my little body.
      Donald and Lorna had decided that their wedding day was to be very memorable indeed. Not only was it three years to the day (+1) since they had met,but also the day of Lorna's birthday, now what are the chances of them forgetting their anniversary?
      Phoebe's room had been stripped this week as it had been transformed from purple to pale blue with a feature wall of flocks of geese....well, we think they are geese, comments over the week from various visitors have thrown, swans, cranes, pelicans and even dolphins into the mix! I decided to get Phoebe to take my picture of me in my wedding gear beside it so you can decide.

I might add at this juncture that this is the third time I have worn this dress this year, given to me by my friend Pamela after Christmas last year and I love it, for those slightly chillier days. On seeing me dressed, Robin came in and said,
" Oh, new dress!"
I mean really!!
         We were headed to Inverurie to the Kintore arms for wedding number 38. Donald and his Mum worked there years before, doing security and as they knew the owners so well, decided on it for their venue.
   We arrived in plenty time to find Donald's family settled in the lounge area, catching up with each other.
   Donald seemed exceptionally calm and introduced us to his best man Duncan who he's been friends with since school. They had spent the night before the wedding, in Lorna's absence, playing Xbox into the wee small hours but had managed to get up and scrubbed up quite well.

Donald ( on the right) showed us through to the function room and I could see by his tie and the flowers on the table that green was going to be a feature.

Just a small group of immediate family, everyone got to their seats and we waited as 'Photograph' by Ed Sheeran played and Lorna walked in on her Dad, Davie's arm. She had been extremely nervous on the run up to this big day but looked lovely with her amazing red hair pulled up in a grecian style and her dress draped with one pleated chiffon shoulder in a similar style. Her little sister Michelle wore a full length forest green dress which toned in beautifully with her equally gorgeous red locks.

               Lorna seemed to relax as the ceremony went on as Robin asked her if she was willing to put up with Donald's snoring. They did a handfasting with Donald's Dad's tie and finally signed the schedule.

  We followed the new Mr and Mrs Thomson out to 'Sugar' by Maroon 5 and gathered out by the front door for a group photo taken by Donald's sister Caz who has her own photography business. 

   We caught up with Gail and Davie, Lorna's Mum and Dad, who live just a few doors up from us and they told us how they had headed off to Inverurie this morning ,only realising when they were part way there that they had forgotten the flowers so had to head back home. I had been out in the morning and saw Gail getting in to the car and thought how laid back they were to be only leaving then, not realising that it was a return trip for them! 

   Here they are with Lorna, Donald and his folks, posing beside the lovely open fire in the dining room.

 Soon we were asked to go through for our meal and we found our seats next to Jenny and Graeme, Lorna's Aunt and Uncle and Donald's sister Kelly with her friend Franny. The conversation was fascinating going from how they met a lady who had had a vampire wedding, even getting her teeth filed for the day to obscure pets, especially Franny's pet snakes that ate rats and mice, but only if you pierce their brains first!

     The speeches were short and sweet with Duncan giving a congratulations to Robin as this was his 200th wedding, very special indeed!

        Our meal was delicious and we all had a personalised bottle as a favour to take home, well unless you were Robin , who drank his!

      

We watched and clapped as Donald and Lorna cut their cake and we all got a piece to eat with our cup of tea at the end of the meal, it was really delicious, so glad I tried it.

      As if one cake wasn't enough, Donald had a special surprise for Lorna and a birthday cake was brought out  with heaps of candles for her to blow out and we all sang Happy Birthday!

     They had chosen Aerosmith's 'I don't want to miss a thing' as their first dance and as the rest of the family were a bit reticent to join in, Donald ran round grabbing everyone and dragging them up on the floor which was eventually full.

       Finally we said goodbye to everyone as the evening guests filled the tables and it looked like a good evening was ahead of them. Donald had a special arrangement with the nightclub down the road that any of the guests who wanted to party on after the disco had finished, could get in for free. It will be interesting to see how many went!

       Well, I know that memories were made yesterday for a lot of people but especially for Lorna and Donald who will hopefully hold it all in their hearts and minds to see them through the good and bad of the years to come...because, that's what memories are for.

   
               
   

No.37

 Life started to slow down for Robin when the kids and I went away and the usual flurry of visits and services slowed down to a more manageable pace, he even had time to sort out his chaotic paperwork and catch up on a few seasons of 'The waking dead' which he knew I would never watch with him.
    It was at this juncture that Robin realised how much he was missing me and decided to text with those words that every woman wants to hear when she's thousands of miles away from the man she loves....
" The boiler has stopped working."
  Lovely!
   You see I hadn't been there to remind him to pay the last bill that the plummer had sent the month before, when our timer had died and now he was stuck in a cold house with just the dog for company, unable to ask for help...it was tragic really. Obviously he fired off the payment immediately but knowing that it would look really bad if he called the next day asking for a visit,  decided to wait till I got home 10 days later to sort everything out.
             Thankfully we have our wood burning stove, so between that and the emersion heater, 'One man and his dog' survived for the rest of our separation feeling a bit like Bear Grylls.
     I phoned the plummer the day after I got back and he popped down to see what the problem was, kindly not mentioning our tardy payment for his previous visit. Unfortunately after a few minutes he informed us that we would need to deal with the company that made the boiler as it was outwith his remit and off he trotted, thankfully without charging us for a call out, as I picked up the phone to call the Alpha boiler people.
     "Your boiler is out of warranty Mrs Wiseman, so would you like our fixed price option to have it repaired?"
"Oh, how much is that?"
"£255"
.....Silence as I practically pass out on the sofa trying to process what he had just said....
"So is there another option?" I ask weakly
"No"
"So why call it an option then?" I am shouting in my head but the words "Ok then" come out instead!
              Payment had to be made before a call out could be arranged, so our credit card came to the rescue and 24 hours later a man of very little words came and repaired the burnt out circuit board allowing us to have heat again.

        Nicki and Ian aren't intimidated by a bit of cold, in fact they are a couple to embrace any challenge and face it head on. The fact that Nicki's son, Aaron was passing out in the army just the day before the wedding didn't faze them at all, so after a 14 hour round trip Nicki walked in on Aaron's arm, to 'I won't let you go' by James Morrison, looking completely stunning in strapless champagne lace complete with veil.
      There was no big surprise that the bridesmaids were in gorgeous blue/black silk jersey to match the chair ties and combined with wintery white fairy lit trees looked amazing. Bold and stylish, just like Nicki herself.
   

 Robin spoke of how Ian had found Nicki a bit scary at first when they met as leaders in the ATC and yes, she is a force to be reckoned with, especially I can imagine in uniform, but soon they became drinking buddies and eventually their love grew and here we were to witness their wedding.

    I must let you know now that there is another very special man in Nicki's life, well three actually. Aaron, Morgan and earlier this year Lachlan came on the scene, just as Aaron was setting off for his army training.

     And today was Lachlan's special day too as after Robin introduced us to the new Mr and Mrs Payne we all sat down again to enjoy Lachlan's naming ceremony. He sat on his Mum's knee and smiled the whole way through as Robin told us how his name spoke of strength and boldness combined with being a deep thinker. A blessing was said over him and we clapped as Nicki and Ian walked down the aisle followed by Ebony, Paige, Aaron and Morgan holding little Lachlan.

     Jane, Nicki's chief bridesmaid is Robin's partner in crime as I've mentioned before, taking him away in her hearse at all times of the day and texting him with funeral requests. I knew from a conversation earlierin the year that she was dreading wearing the amazing heels that Nicki had chosen for her and after the ceremony bounced in having changed her footwear to a suitable substitute...here's the before and after shots....

They really were big shoes!!

      Nicki and Ian in their madness had agreed to a romp on the beach with the photographer, Francis, as you do in November! We on the other hand decided to enjoy a drink in the warmth of the Springs bar with Karen and Mario, Rose, Mason and Jane. Eventually Nicki returned looking just as gorgeous as before apart from a bit of sand on her wedding heels.

      We were at table one with our afternoon posse, apart from Jane who had been chosen for toptabledom and enjoyed quite a bit of banter seeing who could get the final jelly bean out of Mason's favour bottle, quite a task I can tell you, finally conquered by Karen, who nicked a straw off a small child ( well, sacrifices must be made!) and poked it out. 

    Our meal was delicious and it was great to see all the staff that I've missed having not been at  a Springs wedding since September. Nikita is now working in admin at the local hospital and is only doing weekend function work now. Jillian is off from next week to get her long awaited tonsil surgery and despite being told to stay off for a month will try and get back in to the mix way before that!

         Morgan and Ebony posed with Lachlan before the speeches started so I could let you see what a handsome bunch they are...

And Mrs and Mrs Benedetti don't look too bad either eh?

Speeches were after the meal and we heard Ian's side of the story as to how he and Nicki met and how much love she has brought to his life. Scott, Ian's best man gave a rousing speech taking the mick out of Ian and promising to be the best godparent to Lachlan that he could be. Nicki decided that she just had to grab the microphone and give extra thanks to all the family and friends who had traveled so far to celebrate this special day with them.

         The cake was cut with both Ian and Nicki being very obliging and posing for my favourite kissing shot and we sat down to eat chocolate wedding cake for desert...really delicious!

     After teas and coffees we rolled ourselves out of our chairs and went to find a seat out in the foyer while the room got set up for the evening disco. We found a few free sofas and Robin decided a lie down was in order only to find ( and thank goodness I had my camera at the ready for proof!) that Jane had exactly the same idea and then Mason as well!! Cozy isn't the word....:)

We were joined by Maria and Neil Diamond ( or is is Hunter) and went through after we got Jane, Mason and Robin disentangled to enjoy our evening with slightly more decorum, well, that was the plan!

    

                 Their first dance was to 'Here' by Rascal Flatts and after watching Mr and Mrs Payne very obviously in love sing to each other as they gently swayed, the rest of the family and friends came up to join in.

       Ian had mentioned that there was going to be a buffet, which we thought was a few sandwiches and a cup of tea, but no, a full hog roast was brought in and carved served with delicious salads and the rest of the wedding cake, and they expected dancing!!

    Well, dance we did and eat we did. Ian and Ria joined us and we had a great laugh playing catch the tiny jewels in the most interesting place, Maria won that one hands down, though seeing Mario with a mouth full of diamante was quite amusing!

        I don't know where the time went but before we knew it, it was 10.15pm and we decided to head for home before we blotted our copybook to badly. We found Ian and Nicki and said our farewells, knowing we will see them again soon, just dressed a little differently I imagine and thanking them for a very memorable and wonderful day.

          I know that Nicki and Ian have a huge amount of love in their lives and I hope that yesterday's ceremony just strengthened and confirmed that even more. To see how Lachlan was never out of the arms of one of his brothers or sisters or god parents the whole day makes to see that theirs is a life full of a warmth that will never go out.