Wedding belles on the bridge

The sun is out over London which signals a start to the wedding couples (or sometimes just the bridge) having their photos taken.

I've never been sure whether they are happy couples taking the ultimate tourist shots in London or participants in magazine photo shoots?!

Wedding bells

A post shared by Nat (@themrsnatg) on Sep 23, 2014 at 12:21am PDT

Just another Monday

Don't let the weather fool you. It might look nice out, but it is child as anything.

My plans for the day went out of the window after miscommunication meant the cat didn't get tea at tea time last night and woke me up to discuss the situation. This meant everyone overslept this morning.

I did have tidying/organising plans on the burner, the cold snap meant that the house was generally freezing and the best course of action was to join Husband on the Sofa of Sloth and with technology and TV pass a quiet day.

We were joined by the cat who had rediscovered our sofa and Husband's desk chair... usually choosing to sit in whichever Husband is about to occupy. Casper even reverts to sneak tactics on occasion to get his own way!

Today is also our six month wedding anniversary. The weather meant that going out and doing anything was swiftly ruled out (too cold). We had a cozy evening and a nice dinner "chez nous" and watched Sherlock - so really dinner and the movies, in the comfort of your own home.

2013 - I am Mrs

So, another year over... 

It's been an odd mix of stories that hit the headlines this year. 

Several former world leaders and politicians died; Margaret Thatcher, Hugo Chavez and Nelson Mandela.

Pope Benedict resigned (the first Pope to do so in 600 years) and was replaced (after much chimney watching) by Pope Francis.

Another frenzy of media watching was induced by the birth of Prince George, son of William and Kate and third in line to the throne. Simon McCoy (BBC reporter) became an internet sensation with his honest reporting from outside the hospital.



 
A meteor crashed to earth in Russia breaking thousands of windows in the process, and a helicopter hit some scaffolding attached to a tall building in London on a foggy morning killing the pilot and one person on the ground. In other news about tall buildings it was found that the 'Walkie-Talkie' one of the new crop of skyscrapers in the City of London reflect rays of sunlight to such an extent that damage was caused to cars.

There were some true horror stories; the explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon (leading to an extensively covered manhunt) and the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, startlingly close to home in Woolwich. The Boston manhunt was watched for several hours in this house on CNN as it was a Friday afternoon that our internet chose not to work, so I can personally vouch for the reporting of speculation on lack of facts. The Woolwich story was even stranger as shots of areas (where I have lived for over a decade) became unrecongnisable when shown from unfamilar angles. 

Boston had their moment of glory however, at the back end of the year when the Red Sox won the World Series. Husband being a Red Sox fan (I'm a Yankees fan) that was also huge news, at least in this house.

I have to thank 'Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2013', 'Charlie Brooker's 2013 Wipe' and some of Channel 5's countdown programmes for reminding me of the news this year. I missed a massive amount of it...

This year our personal story was our Wedding. Serious planning stepped up in the last six months before the wedding; flowers, cake, suit hire and of course the dress. My endlessley patient and organised mother drove me around all over the place to facilitate these tasks. I took Husband, his best man and my brother to the suit shop (handily near Waterloo in Borough) and had an excellent shopping trip to Lakeside (hadn't been there in decades) with my bridesmaids. Then there were of course the Hen Night and the Stag Do - both excellent outings for all concerned. Finally it was the big day; just as magical, amazing and wonderful as we could have hoped and imagined. Our two weeks honeymoon as tourists in London was amazing too, although we could have done without the heatwave!!!

So what will 2014 bring? I'll think about that tomorrow...

We Got Married!

Henceforth the Better-half will be known as Husband. Two weeks ago we got married!

It was the most amazing day. We were totally traditional so I stayed in a hotel the night before. The day started at the crack of dawn (I was too warm, and too excited to sleep much). Breakfast was at 7:30am and the hair and make-up girls arrived at 8:30am. Whilst they were unpacking I washed my hair.

Over the next couple of hours my bridesmaids arrived, my mum (and gran) came and went and the hair and make up girls worked their magic. During this time the photographer (and his assistant arrived) and the flowers were delivered. My brother (who gave me away) arrived too and there were moments I wondered if we were going for a 'most people in a hotel room' record. The magic happened; hair, make-up and getting into the dress (including the bridesmaids doing up 23 buttons) all were accomplished.

 

Taken by lovely Bridesmaid Liz

We were ready to leave; my Mum had gone off to help my driver and good friend Alpha attach the ribbons to his car. And then we were off... the girls in one car and my brother and I in another. A very short trip to The Valley where we were getting married.

 

We chose The Valley because Husband and I met after a football match and have spent a lot of time there, so we thought it would be romantic to get married there.

 

A few last minute details with the registrar and so forth and suddenly there we were, 'The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba' was playing and my brother was walking me down the aisle.Time slowed down; I actually noticed all my family and friends; but mostly Husband waiting at the Registrar's table.

The ceremony flew by. The beautiful readings we had chosen, exchanging the rings, the first kiss. Then there were the photographs... we took the group shots out in the stands. It was so hot... people kept vanishing back inside where it was air conditioned! It was great for me; as I only had my walking stick I just sat there and people climbed around me.

Then it was food time... it was great, but I was too hot and still excited to have much of an appetite. I was sensible and didn't drink much either, so at least I remembered everything. 

Husband had been dreading the speeches, but they went off just fine... suddenly were taking more photos, cutting the cake and the DJ was ready. First dance time. As I can't walk unaided we had chosen a short song for the first dance (Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World). Contrary to expectation I managed the whole dance!

 

First dance

The DJ was very popular with the kids (yes 'Gangnam Style' was played). The adults mostly sat around and talked, and Husband and I did a reasonable job between us mixing with our guests.

Before we knew where we were it was the end of the day... my Mum drove us to our hotel (which was amazing) and the honeymoon started!

Wedding Day

Today, after over a year of planning the Better-Half and I are getting married.

Yesterday we were at the venue, setting up. Last night, in traditional manner I stayed at a hotel - the groom mustn't see the bride before the wedding!*

Now I'm just about to go and get dressed before breakfast and then the day begins!

Hair and make-up are here in two hours... the photographer a couple of hours behind.

Meanwhile; down at the venue... balloons, flowers, cakes, chair covers... busy, very busy.

Then we're of to the venue together married and share our special day with friends and family.

By the time I write here again, I'll be "Mrs"! 

The best part is that the Better-half (soon to be Husband) and I get to share this amazing day together.

Flowers from my lovely Mum to "brighten the room"

*talking on cell phones is however allowed!

Wedding plans afoot

It was around Easter (which was late that year) 13 years ago that I met my Better-half. Football, supporting the same team, brought us together... we were introduced by a mutual friend and met in a pub after a game.

Just after three years later my Better-half asked my father for my hand (how sweet and romantic is that?!), got down on one knee (he really did) and asked me to marry him.

This summer, ten years later, we are getting married.

When we decided last spring there was the initial flurry of activity; sending out save the date cards, booking a registrar and finding a venue (the football ground where it all started!) and getting a DJ. We asked our bridesmaids and best-man, and then it quieted down a bit (apart from my regrettable wedding magazine addiction).

And then suddenly it is 2013, the wedding isn't next year any more. There are things that really need to get organised now, flowers, cake, dresses (for me and the bridesmaids) and suits for the men. Readings and music for the service need to be found, invites (and other stationery) need to be ordered. I was wondering last year why anyone finds wedding planning stressful... know I'm beginning to find out! 

I'm lucky, my Mum is helping out with everything... and my Better-half, whilst content to give his input, is fairly relaxed about everything.

On Friday my Mum and I went cake shopping. Randomly (considering she lives in Kent) she recommended a shop near me which had done my grandmother's 90th Birthday cake. So we popped across. The Cake Store is amazing. All the cakes on display were gorgeous and the girl who did our consultation really knew what she was talking about. We looked through the selection... I started with round and fairly plain with maybe just some ribbons... then I saw this cake and I knew it was the right one! The flowers in the display are even about the colour I want my bouquet to be! We went away with little samples to try to decide what to have in each layer, which the Better-half and I later had for desert! 

We also went to the flower shop in Charlton village. They had a huge album of examples of wedding flowers to look through - so now I pretty much know what I want my flowers to be.

The dress (for me) is well under-way as my God-Mother was a dress-maker, and has taken all the photos of the dresses I sent her and turned them into exactly what I want! The bridesmaids dresses are proving a little more difficult, but happily both the girls (sorry ladies!) are on the case too!

We went to the venue on Friday as Mum had never been there, and discussed things in a little more detail, I can begin to imagine it all done up now. We still have to choose the actual menu but there is some time for that.

So less than five months to go now, but everything is under control!

2013 - New Year

Just waking myself up now, as we didn't go to bed until the wee small hours. We said goodbye to 2012 with our now traditional little family party; the Better-Half, my nearly-MiL, the cat and I. We let out the old year at midnight, and there were a few neighbours down the street to wave at for the first time in years!

2012 finished wet and windy, lets face it... it rained for most of December. The weather seems to have turned over a new leaf with the calendar though and this morning the sky is almost cloudless and the sun is shining.

I'm looking back at this post from last year.


As it turned out my dislike of the Olympics was misplaced. I had the main two weeks off work, so I never noticed the traffic. Although I didn't watch any of it on the TV I did have a lovely day out when my Mum took us to the Paralympics. London's moment of glory is passed now, although as it turned out it was a moment of glory.

My aspirations worked out quite well. I did eat healthier, thanks to the Healthy Living programme from the Council... more fruit and veg, no more white bread. I do drink less than I did. Excepting special occasions only once a week... and often not even that. I have probably put on a few Christmas pounds, but when I lose those I'm down a whole 14 pounds on this time last year... and what with the Healthwise exercise which, now I have equilibrium back (touch wood), will recommence; I'm in pretty good shape. As for the positive outlook, well it doesn't always work out - but I have lots of reminders to help me out.

2013 is a whole new life for me. My work has changed, I have a new role, a new job. It's only going to be three days a week but I'm pretty excited about my new challenges... and I am working on plans for the other four days.

Biggest of all though - we are now in the Year of the Wedding. The preparations so far have been quite gentle as it was so far away, but now it's full on planning mode.