Wedding do's (and don'ts)

Day 174

For those who know my recent history with celebrations and all things alcohol related, (see 'Perfect parties and pity parties'), I can report that I didn't get into any trouble at the wedding on Saturday. Well, almost none...

I had learnt my lesson drink-wise and only had one glass of wine, one glass of champagne, and a gin and tonic ALL DAY! I also took the precaution of wearing VERY opaque navy blue tights, and a below the knee length frock so I thought I'd covered all the bases.

The church was beautiful, the groom looked suitably glazed, the bride was drop-dead stunning, I hadn't cried so much my make-up was smudged, and it was all good. The choir, weirdly, were singing different words to the hymns than those printed on our Orders of Service, but after much stumbling and some long silences we all got past that, and it was all going swimmingly.

The vicar started his sermon which was funny and witty and full of helpful common sense. "It's all about communication" he said, "and there are things we do that get in the way. We get too tired, too busy, too proud to be the first to say sorry" etc., etc., you get the gist.

Now I don't know about you, but if a figure of respect and authority, such as a vicar, asks a direct question, I generally like to answer it honestly and immediately. So when he said "we're all very busy nowadays, aren't we? Hands up anybody who isn't busy all the time in their daily life?" I thought "well no, I'm not" and I stuck my hand up, because I was in a church and God was watching, after all.

He spotted me and said in a tone of some surprise "Oh - there's one", and everybody turned around to look at me, ( I couldn't believe I was the only one), and it seemed to throw him a bit. After a moment he regrouped with "Well you'll have to let me know your secret - but to get back to what I was saying...." by which time my brother and his wife were edging further along the pew away from me. Not my fault - he shouldn't have asked. Apart from that, I really behaved - honestly!

The best man's speech contained a little gem - when reading out the messages from people who hadn't been able to attend he came across one from Thailand. "Why you no write no more?" it said. Brilliant!

On Sunday, my friend Bex ran the Bath half marathon, which I wouldn't even be able to walk, so all kudos to her. Thinking about it, I wouldn't manage to cycle it either, and even driving it would leave me rather in need of a bit of a lie down, so triple kudos to her, actually!

I do so admire people who get up and train for things like this, in all weathers, because they want to be of service in the world. Bex is not some driven, fitness fanatic - she's just an ordinary, lovely person, who gets on with it and does what she can do. Her husband did it last year and she did it the year before that. Fantastic. Isn't the world a wonderful place sometimes?

Sadly, the corner that my most gorgeous friend J lives in has been anything but wonderful recently, so I'm sending her all my love and care and thoughts. Hang on in there baby.

My guinea pig Roger has just come back from the vets so I'm going to go give him a cuddle (probably the last thing he wants, but that's by the by), and then I'm going to crash out on the sofa - it's been a long few days, and Chronic Fatigue doesn't take weddings and travelling in it's stride. Besides, I have a hot date with my Sky plus box planned - Lost, Glee, Heroes, American Idol.......

If he saw me now, the vicar would totally understand why I put my hand up, wouldn't he.