Ok so its the 13 November and I have to say that September was our busiest month yet. The first week was just a preparation week to make sure that we made all the final arrangements before going away for just over two weeks.
Our sister Mandi had agreed to look after our ever faithful mutt Jess and our friend Tony had agreed to drive us, so this was all sorted. The only last minute problem we had was trying to purchase a harness for Jess so she could be secured in the back of the car. We ordered a large harness because Jess is rather large Alsatian/Lurcher cross (cute with it). Five days before we were due to leave a parcel arrived and a delivery note for a large harness. The problem was that they had only packaged a medium one and this was way too small for her. Anyway I got in touch and didnt hold out much hope that we would get the correct one before we were due to leave, however I was wrong and on the Saturday the proper one arrived, crisis averted.
Well we set out on Monday 8th to go to my wife's mum and dad's to stay for just over a week, before Debs brother got married on Friday 19th and I was best man. Journey there went pretty much without incidence and me, Deb, Tony and his dad Mick all arrived in good time. Tony and Mick left about 6.00pm and we settled in on the first night of a hectic two weeks.
We had been there a couple of days when Dad decided that we were all going to help to get the apples off the tree that was at the bottom of their back yard. It was one of the funniest occasions I have ever taken part in. When we were not getting clobbered by falling apples or avoiding the many falling spiders, we were trying to keep our footing on the grass while holding a stretched out sheet to catch the apples. Well they went everywhere, next door, in the pond, on dads head. Poor Deb got her hand bruised when the hook from the top of the make shift apple pole fell of and hurtled twenty or so foot to the ground. I avoided falling apples and spiders but unfortunately did my back while trying to help. Ah well cest la vie.
We were out most days and these consisted of either going to Louth (local town), going to Grimsby, or on the weekend before the wedding attending Lincoln Castle.
A couple of days beforehand we had found out that the weekend we were attending was the Annual Steampunk festival. I can honestly say that |I had never seen anything like it before and neither had anyone else in our group. The way some of the outfits were put together was amazing and the range of costumes was terrific. I think what amazed us all was the difference in the ages of those in costume. They were as young as a babe in arms and some must have been in their late sixties or early seventies. If you ever get the chance to attend one of these weekends I strongly recommend you too. You will not be disappointed.
The only thing that was a bit of a let down was that most of the castle was closed of while it is being renovated. It officially opens next year and we have already made arrangement to go back and see it in its entirety.
The days before the wedding were preparation and making sure that both mine and dads suits still fitted (I had not tried mine on for a couple of months and feared I had put weight on). This would not normally have bothered me but they were slim fit suits and there was not much give in them. I was lucky that Mum had got me another shirt that had a bigger neck size because I could hardly breathe with the first one I tried.
Thursday the 18th arrived and we were to attend a pre-arranged before-the-wedding-day meal to get to meet people from Toni's friends and family (Toni was Paul's wife to be). We had already met her mum and dad some time before but this was a chance to meet people who were going to be at the wedding. There were twenty one of us in total and it went really well. We all stood and introduced ourselves as well as telling everyone who we were to Paul or Toni. The meal I didn't really enjoy because it was a'la carte (half the food, twice the price). It was ok but not what I would call a meal. We all had a few glasses of wine and it was nice to see Uncle Michael and Auntie Rosemary again as we hadn't seen them since our wedding (both of them living in Switzerland and Austria didnt help.............lol). We had a good laugh and we left about 11.00pm.
Oops almost forgot (shame on me). While we were there in the first and most of the second week politics was the main thing. The Scottish referendum on independence to be precise. The problem you had was that you couldn't get away from it. Whatever channel you turned on, it was there. I was glad when it was over but even more glad that Scotland turned down independence. I don't think that separating two countries that have done so much together would have been a good thing. Scotland is part of the United Kingdom and long long long may it stay that way.
Well the wedding day arrived and we had the morning to ourselves as the ceremony was not until 16.30. We just sat and talked. Mum and Deb took turns in getting their hair styled etc... Me and Dad just made sure we were shaved and washed..........lol. I put my black suit, white shirt, black waistcoat, black shoes and pink tie on (yes pink) and when I first saw my reflection I looked like a licorice allsort but after a while it grew on me and it did look smart. I was lucky because I only had a slim pink tie, poor dad had the full monty. Deb got into her outfit and looked a million dollars. She doesn''t have to do anything to impress me but still manages to make me question and appreciate how lucky I am that she is my wife :) :) :)
Mum and Dad's next door neighbour Brian gave us a lift and when we left the house the rain was coming down heavy. Thirty minutes to get there and when we did there wasn't a drop of rain in the air. When we entered the hall (The Oaklands, Laceby) I looked around for Paul and eventually found him. To say he looked nervous was putting it mildly. We talked for a bit as a best man does and I got him smiling. We met up with some of the family and then it was just a matter of waiting and having a drink.
The ceremony went well and the only blott on the day was caused by the good old English weather. They had arranged for a dove release and after Paul and Toni had been pronounced Husband and Wife we all were to go outside where the doves would be released. There were supposed to be two releases. The first one was to be done by Paul and Toni on their own and the second was supposed to be a group shot and two more doves were supposed to be released. Unfortunately the minute they stepped outside the rain started falling and by the time they had done the first release, the heavens opened.
Being best man my speech was to be the last. The order was Toni, Tony and then me. I decided to turn my speech into a poem and it went down better than I had hoped because I have had five people ask me for a copy and Tony wants to get it framed for Paul and Toni, so that made my day too. The meal was straight after the speeches and was excellent, couldn't fault it. It was not long after the meal that the entertainment started and it began with a male solo singer called James. He was good and got a lot of good comments. The disco started after and then James did another set. I did my usual trick of trying to dance and also managed to sing myself hoarse blasting out meat loaf's Bat out of Hell at an extraordinary volume...........lol. Me and Deb ended up on table with Angie and Mike Parker (Debs cousin whose wedding we had attended in May), Uncle Michael, Auntie Rosemary, Mum and Dad. The music was a good mix and everyone had a dance I think. We didn't get home til after 2.00am if i rmeember right and by the time we had a cup of tea and a talk it was 2.45 and we were all shattered. We were like and I quote 'licorice all-sorts, all sucked out, no-one wanted us', Thanks to a very drunk dad for that pearl of wisdom......he he he
Saturday disappeared in a blur because we were all that worn out from the day before that apart from making sure we were packed for the Sunday, we did nothing.
Sunday morning arrived and after making sure that Maxine was settled at the cattery we started our Journey upto Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. I cant say the journey was without incident because it wasn't. On the way to the cattery me and dad noticed a car in the ditch not far from where they lived and then we had only been on the road twenty or so minutes when we were forced to back track as there had been what looked like a very bad accident on the road which we were supposed to be travelling. Happy to say that these were the only two incidents on the trip and other than a stop on the motorway to eat sandwiches and have a coffee we made good time. We were staying in the Premier inn just off the Tyne.
We spent the next couple of days enjoying the scenery and the many tourist attractions that Newcastle and the North has to offer. For mum it was a reminiscing trip and a nostalgia trip all in one and she took great delight pointing out all the places she remembered and telling us how much they had changed. It was also chance for Deb to see some of where she was born and the house that she had lived in. Dad also spent some time telling us about various incidents from his past too. Two out of the three nights we are our evening meal in the Premier but on the Tuesday night (before we travelled back to Blackpool on the Wednesday) we all decided to try Nando's for the first time and I think its fair to say that we were all impressed with the the quality of the food and Dad was particularly taken with the Rose wine that was on offer, so much so that he ended up buying two bottle between the four of us.
Wednesday we travelled back after leaving quite early. We got really close to the Angel of the North and Deb finally go to take some real close up pictures. One thing I can say is that its an ugly monstrosity of a thing when you get close to it !!!!!!. The journey back was peaceful and uneventful and we made really good time. We stopped at a services called Killington and it was an amazing experience. Instead of your usual stops, KFC, car park and lots of nothing, this place had a massive lake at the back and some of the most scenic views I have ever seen at a services. The place was secluded and there were quite a few others that looked surprised at what views were available.
Thursday and it was time for me to go and fetch Jess back from Mandi's. Deb and her mum and dad went to fetch her wedding dress which had been drycleaned and boxed by the place that she had bought it from in Preston. The dog went mental when she saw me and by the time we left I was like a walking carpet covered in dog hair.
