Not every bride is so blessed

Here is a photo of DD with her four grandparents. Notice that the tie on the tallest man is the same as the ribbon on DD's bouquet - I wonder why that could be? Same surname perhaps?

My dad is the man closest to you - he was incredibly ill and was just determined to be at the wedding. After travelling for twelve hours by bus, train and car from his place to the motel the day before the wedding and repeating the experience the day after, he was rushed to hospital [150km/95 miles away] the following week and underwent surgery to have a kidney stent replaced on his left side and another inserted on his right*. The right ureter [tube between the bladder and kidney] was completely blocked. No wonder he was in a lot of pain. He could have died but praise the Lord for His intervention [answer to prayer] and dad's stubborn determination!

*Should you require more information about this procedure, you can go here.


Thanks LW and JF-B for the photo.

Wonderful Man?

I've just been on Lara's blog where she is bragging on her husband a little! [Hi Mark]. She inspired me to stand up and be counted!!

On DD's wedding day, she said she would like a photo taken in her room with the mural that was painted there when she was ten. When she left for her appointment at the hairdressers, her bed was unmade and the room was untidy - as it had been for several years to a greater or lesser extent. When I left to join her [an hour later] WM made the bed and tidied the room by putting everything inside the double wardrobe behind said mural which is shown here because what mother can resist showing a photo of her only child on her wedding day? And because I know you want to see the mural!


I have really enjoyed walking up the hall for the week we've been home from Bundeena and seeing that tidy room. On Sunday, DD & SIL opened their wedding presents and left her [former] room looking like a bomb had gone through it - presents, cards and wrapping from one end to the other. The untidiness was rather unnerving after two weeks of tidy so yesterday, while I was at work and he was enjoying his last week of leave, WM tidied the room again: presents neatly stacked, cards on top and paper smoothed out and flat on the bed! When I commented, he said: "I did it for you, not for them!" Isn't that sweet?

And if that isn't enough - [he's on leave from work remember] today he washed all the towels, vacuumed the carpets, swept and washed all 44 square metres of hard flooring and swept the back veranda [18 square metres]. Isn't he truly a Wonderful Man?

a week ago

A week ago someone decided that this would be a good way to spend an extremely hot, windy Saturday afternoon!


I think they enjoyed it!

Thanks G&S for the photo.

St John's Wilberforce and Oakville House

I found this image through a Google image search and loved it - that sky is so moody! The photo originally comes from this site; I recommend a visit if you like photos of old churches - these are fabulous.

DD was married in a fairytale princess dress and wanted a fairytale church. She and SIL searched the countryside for months, looking for an "old sandstone church" [our own church being an auditorium] and found this among others. The clincher? The minister was down-to-earth and easy to get on with, they all clicked from the first meeting. And so, the church was chosen.

And outside? Well, as you can see, it's on a hill so on the day of the wedding there was a good breeze blowing. Across the road is a large park with a war memorial. The photo above shows the view of the war memorial with the church and the old school house in the background. From the church grounds, there is a beautiful country view to the south east. Unfortunately, I can't find any photos on the 'Net and, of course, I wasn't using my camera straight after the ceremony.

The reception was held at Oakville House. Not only was it about twenty minutes from the church, it was out in the country on several acres and had horses. DD used to do show-jumping and dressage [never competitively]. The owners, Les and Jo who live on site, have only one wedding on any given day [unlike 'the other place' we visited that could do up to six in one day and sometimes three at a time!!]. We were told we could have any meals we wanted. This was very different to that 'other place' that said [in effect]: "Here is the menu, like it or leave it." Les, the chef at Oakville House, even made separate meals for two guests with special dietary requirements. The 'other place' gave a flat out "no" to this request!

And the clincher for this reception venue? Guests were allowed onto the property before the reception began to sit in the lounge in air-conditioned comfort, order their own drinks and be served canapes. How many weddings have you been to where you had to find something to do or somewhere to go between the ceremony and the reception because the bridal party was having photos taken? Our reception officially started at 6pm; the guests left the church at 4.30. The guests went straight to Oakville House where they were relieved to get out of the oppressive 37*C heat!

The MC was excellent, he knew exactly what he was doing. The staff were unobtrusive, polite and very attentive. The meals were large [no nouveau cuisine here] and good quality. The Chicken Cordon Bleu and the Chocolate Bavarian I had were delicious. Les and Jo told us: "Guests never leave Oakville House hungry" and they were right. Many guests commented on the lovely venue and the 'family feel'. The Bride and Groom were happy; the guests were happy. The only thing that bothered me was the volume of the music - twice we had to ask for it to be turned down; but I am very sensitive to loud noise. Besides, I want to have conversation without shouting! All in all, I would recommend Oakville House for a hassle-free reception venue.

I found some photos

Photos were taken on WM's camera before we left home that I didn't know about.

Do you think it was hot?




The red ribbon on DD's bouquet is the family tartan. She wanted to use this because it would be her last day with this surname.





No photos were taken of me at home - it's just as I had been told - MotB is nothing! LOL However, here is an unedited photo of me with DD taken by a friend.

edited to remove Facebook link - I'm not on Facebook so I don't understand how it works - or doesn't!

It went well

Here I am exactly 24 hours since my last post. I was up for 20 hours yesterday and have had less than four hours sleep but when the brain kicks in it doesn't matter how tired the body is or how fuzzy the head is [I don't drink - I'm just very tired]!

Firstly, thanks to all the people who left comments on yesterday's post. I wept as I read them. The whole day went well - no arguments at home [you should have been in my family home on my wedding day]. Beautiful hair and make-up [I had my make-up done too]. Relaxed professional photographer who directed us and helped us make sense of everything. Car on time. Neighbours who mean a lot to us dropping by to see The Bride. Arrived at the church four minutes early [after four stops along the way to make the trip longer] in 37*C [99*F] heat. Strong breeze blowing but photographer just got on with the job. Into a stifling church where the groom was on the verge of collapsing from heat and nerves. Beautiful service. MotB managed to hold it together most of the time. Lots of congratulations and photos then off to the reception venue [for all but the bridal party - they had more photos around the church and grounds].

Air conditioning on but 70+ bodies made it still very warm [better than outside though]. MotB doing her best to mingle and speak to each guest. FotB speaking to MC/DJ. Guests enjoying cold drinks, soft lounges and canapes. Bridal party having photos and one bridesmaid getting sunburnt. Bridal party is ready [6pm] and The Reception begins! Great food in large servings: prawn salad/quiche, rack of lamb/chicken cordon bleu [both with vegetables], chocolate Bavarian/fruit salad. Choice of wine [red, white or non-alcoholic], beer, soft drink or water. Speeches - five: all very different. A candle lighting ceremony [which should have been done at the church but the groom left the candles in the car!]. Cutting of the cake. The most beautiful bridal waltz [you'd never know they only learnt to dance 10 days ago] at which MotB nd FotB completely lost it. Dancing and general partying. Too hot for Myrtle although she was seen swanning around the room for about five minutes provoking oohs and ahs from some. Goodbyes - Bride clinging to MotB, both bawling. More goodbyes [an archway], more bawling from same! Presents loaded into boots of three cars! Drive home. House stifling, no breeze, air hot and thick. Presents unloaded from boots of three cars. Goodbye to occupants of two cars. Goodbye to two bridesmaids and one groomsman. Silence. Just us! Empty-nesters! Darby and Joan*! Tears. FotB went to bed. MotB wanders around house, tears in eyes. Bed 1.00am - too hot to sleep.

Wake up 5am - still hot and not a hint of a breeze - today is supposed to be even hotter than yesterday. Current temperature 23*C [73*F] - it's only 6am [5am by sun-time; it's daylight-saving here]. WM still sleeping; Myrtle sleeping on bed which used to be DD's [more tears] amid a pile of presents.

And today? WM and I taking my parents to Strathfield to catch train home to Bingara. DD and SIL fly to Tasmania at 11.15; going to airport by Airport Express. FotB and MotB at home, alone. Sleep? Tennis tonight, some knitting, still sad!

No photos - WM took his camera but didn't really have the chance to use it. Will be relying on friends to send us copies until professional photos are ready!

*According to my mother, it's a term used for empty-nesters. According to Wikipedia,

the term 'Darby and Joan' is defined by the Random House Dictionary as "a happily married couple who lead a placid, uneventful life."

The Big Day

Well, folks, it's The Wedding Day. It's 5.45am, still dark outside and, as far as I know The Bride, M-o-H, and FotB are still asleep [wish I was!]. I had to walk past the bridesmaids' dresses to get to my computer and the wedding gown is hanging a metre away from me as I type. I have a headache, I feel nauseous and I've been weeping for at least the last fifteen minutes due to a PowerPoint presentation sent to me by Lorelle!

DD's last night at home is not one I will remember with fondness. I was depressed and, despite determining not to say anything, couldn't help myself. So many things left, unnecessarily, till the last minute. I would have liked for us to spend some time together but I barely saw her all day or evening - she was out till 5pm and in her room all evening except while we had dinner [and then my parents were watching the news so we couldn't talk]. We did have some time together - at 9am - she had a pedicure and I had a manicure [the first of my life!]. She was then taken away for a facial while I had a pedicure [also my first].

I know I sound selfish - maybe I am - but the grief is real and must be gone through [unfortunately].

And how is today looking?

weather forecast for western Sydney: 37*C [99*F] - please Lord let them be wrong!

before 8:30 MotB goes for a half-hour walk
before 9:30 breakfast and showers all round
sometime this morning - flowers arrive
9.30 MotB drives Bride and M-o-H to hairdresser
10am Bride's hair and make-up [also two Bridesmaid's]; MotB knits socks
11am MotB's hair [will do own makeup at home]
noon MotB drives home
12.15 Bride and Bridesmaids dress; FotB dresses; MotB does own make-up and dresses
12.50 photographer arrives
2.20 photographer leaves
2.30 car arrives
2.45 Bride leaves home [and right now mother starts weeping again]
3.30 wedding ceremony
6.00 reception
midnight or later - bed!

Ten hours from now she'll be a wife and I'll be a MIL!