Weddings...

[icomefromalanddownunder]

With all this planning going on by everyone else, I wonder why he is so relaxed about things?

Oh doh

It's because he's a boy.

Son-in-law-to-be is totally relaxed about what is to transpire two weeks from today. It's Jess, my Sis, my gay brother and I who are stressed.

xx

[Angela Woodford]

Caroline!

I rang up Susannah and told her to check carefully if any guest was planning to bring a friendly horse, bearing in mind the fabulous hats and hair that would be present. Screams of laughter and love and best wishes to you and Jess in wedding mode!

Love, Munch

[icomefromalanddownunder]

Caroline!

I rang up Susannah and told her to check carefully if any guest was planning to bring a friendly horse, bearing in mind the fabulous hats and hair that would be present. Screams of laughter and love and best wishes to you and Jess in wedding mode!

Love, Munch

Thank you

We picked up the dress today - it looks beautiful, and my lovely daughter made me very proud of her. Just as we were leaving, with dress in protective bag, another Bride-to-be and Mum came into the shop and asked about the design that Jess had chosen. The one that we purchased was the only one of that design in the store, and we had been allowed to purchase it because it wasn't possible to get one made and into Australia in time for Jess.

Jess was asked if it was OK to unzip the bag and show the prospective buyer, and she went one step futher and asked if the other person would like to try it on. We headed off for some sushi, and came back to find that she had decided to buy that design too.

This time in two weeks it will be all over bar the cleaning up.

xx

[Angela Woodford]

How lovely Caroline!

I can't explain why the Daughter's Wedding Day thing makes me feel so emotional. In fact, I dread that I will be weepy on the day! I've been through it twice. I should be realistic about marriage. And yet....

Ten more months of planning! Susannah is alert for every detail. Oh well.

[blondie95]

update.....

the fiance has agreed to the church wedding at Itchingfield...now we need to find a couple of other venues to look at to make a decision

[icomefromalanddownunder]

How lovely Caroline!

I can't explain why the Daughter's Wedding Day thing makes me feel so emotional. In fact, I dread that I will be weepy on the day! I've been through it twice. I should be realistic about marriage. And yet....

I know exactly what you mean . I was so anti 'wasting money' on a wedding dress that will not only be worn once, but will be ruined within minutes of the whole shennanigans beginning (gravel path, prickly bushes, Efelcat hitching a ride on the train - Mauicat used to do that on the bath sheet I would wrap myself in after a shower - and then, of course, Guy and his sense of humour), but having seen how excited Jess was yesterday, being unable to resist another chance to try the dress on, and how lovely she looked, even without having been panelbeaten (her words, not mine) and froufroued by the makeupartist and hairdresser, I reminded myself to have a large bottle of Lemon essential oil on hand.

Then there's the money that has been spent on 'stuff that will just end up in the bin' - serviettes and printed ribbon.

Just to bring this back into realityland - my son's girlfriend of two years and housemate of one, moved out last Saturday, the day before his 21st birthday, informing him of her decision by text message. He is, not surprisingly, somewhat depressed, and I'm not sure how he is going to behave at Big Sis' wedding. The DVD (which he will film and edit) could be a little, er, dark.

On the plus side, the great salad war is officially over. I invited everyone to meet at Dawn at The Botanic Gardens with sharpened celery sticks. They declined, and I declared hostilities well and truly over. Now, if we can all just remember to breathe ...................................

[englishangel]

Your poor son, he doesn't realise (YET) waht a lucky escape he has had.

You will just have to provide him with a big box of tissues, a sick bucket, plenty of alka-seltzer (or Oz equivalent) and a shoulder to cry on. And watch him with the bridesmaids if he is on the rebound.

[cj]

Just to bring this back into realityland - my son's girlfriend of two years and housemate of one, moved out last Saturday, the day before his 21st birthday, informing him of her decision by text message. He is, not surprisingly, somewhat depressed, and I'm not sure how he is going to behave at Big Sis' wedding. The DVD (which he will film and edit) could be a little, er, dark.

What a wotsit!! His sister's wedding will be challenging for him. I'm sending him soothing vibes (not that it will help but I feel for him).

[blondie95]

I would want to get hold of the ex girlfriend and scream at her!! by text message thats appaling

[midget]

Not a comforting thought, but by the sound of it he's well rid of her. (Am I allowed to call her a bitch?)
Maggie

[kerrensimmonds]

I agree with the b* word and that it's appalling. Poor Caroline, having to bear her son's anguish in mind while she tries to enjoy an already stressful occasion - and poor son. Sadly, as we know from the media, dumping by text (cowardly in the extreme) is becoming rather prevalent - a sign of the times. A lady newly moved to our village was dumped by her husband of 22 years, by e mail - he was away ostensibly on business at the time of the move, she suspected nothing, moved without him. And then he never turned up. Just the e mail. B*st*rd. And there's another (young) lady in our Church, diagnosed with ferocious breast cancer, with four children 4-13, having radio and chemo therapy (she was actually under treatment at the Marsden, when it had the fire last month). Totally unexpected, early December her husband walked out, to go and live with a so called 'friend' who had come into the home to help look after the lady and the children - and the husband. I think that's called a spineless cad.....
Hope your son copes with his sister's wedding, Caroline - and that he will come to realise in due course that he is better off without a b*tch.
Don't forget to bring pictures with you for our meeting in April!
Kerren

[cj]

Those are appaling stories, Kerren, especially the poor lady going through cancer treatment. However I do believe that what goes around, comes around and those men will find that their actions come back to bite them on the arse at some point in their lives. Using e-mail or text is really the ultimate in not taking responsibility for your actions. Can't say I'd hold out much hope for their new partners.

[kerrensimmonds]

Hm yes. I agree re the cancer patient's husband. Very occasionally he used to come to Church with her and his children (and his mum attended too, actually -but she also has now been diagnosed with cancer.....). I think he just couldn't cope with the pressure of it all and so walked away into the arms of someone with no problems. A spineless cad, as I said.
But don't let us detract from this thread which has turned into an interest in Caroline's daughter's wedding next week. I really do hope that it all goes well, that no horses eat any hats (or whatever) and that by the time Caroline comes to Europe she can relax and forget the hand making of coleslaw for 200 (aarrggh.....)
(I am about to start organising the catering for my 60th - 155 invitees. And I do not intend - indeed would not be able, physically - to do much of the actual cooking myself......Thank goodness for Waitrose and Sainsburys and and and......)
Kerren

[icomefromalanddownunder]

Good morning Everyone, and very many thanks for your sympathy and kind thoughts for Mitch.

I am concerned about how he will cope with the wedding. Does anyone know how to operate a high definition digital videocam? Perhaps I can ask him to just set it up in his tripod and press Record, and not even consider editing it until his self esteem is in a better place.

The husband of a friend of mine also went walkies when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I believe that in the long term he did her a favour. How could anyone, when asked by someone that they loved enough to have spent the past 30 years with, refuse to go shopping for vegetables for her to eat when she was too nauseous to face the trip herself? We used to houseshare with them in London, didn't see them for over 15 years, and when they came to visit us in Oz I found, to my amazement, that Barry was still in the same place mentally as he had been the last time I saw him - still an immature, lazy, selfish git.

As for karma - absolutely believe in it, and have been privileged to actually witness the payback on one occasion which was sweet indeed. On a good day I can feel sorry for the wrongdoers - what sad lives they must lead. Not sure that I will be able to extend my charitable feelings towards Tess (Mitch's ex) next week.

Thank you again for all your support - really must pack for trip to Melbourne. Had hoped to restrict luggage to my swanky new black and pink backpack on wheels, but have, so far, stuffed pillow and towel in; leaving very little room for undies and wash kit

Kerren - enjoy the party planning (I do: some of the time ). Are you having a cake? All three tiers of the wedding cake Mark II have been baked, but we did have a little whoopsie with the bottom tier. Unbeknown to me, it was stored in the oven (only place guaranteed to be dog proof). Jess was at work. John was cooking dinner for us all and turned on the oven to warm up. He went off to feed DianaMoo and the pacas and I noticed the smell of burning bakelite. Checked saucepan handles, saucepan bottoms - where on earth was the smell coming from? Fortunately the oven was also housing the remains of top tier Mark I, which was sitting on a plate with an old knife, whose handle had melted, creating the smell and alerting me in time to save cake Mark II.

Usually I hate the thought of international flights, but this time, the thought of 12 hours stuck in a baked can with wings - totally unobtainable, no matter what may transpire - is highly appealing Not to mention eating food that I haven't had to plan, purchase, chop or cook.

xx

[kerrensimmonds]

Hello Caroline.
How can you THINK about my 60th birthday catering when you have so much on your plate?! Yes there is a cake .... already made by my OB friend Polly Robson (nee Barratt... but no relation!). And it has gone already to (another) friend from Church whose (award winning) hobby is sugarcraft. All I know is that apart from crude references to e.g. date of birth, the cake will have two tabby cats and one little brown dog on it (I had to give photos...). If I am sober enough to take photos, I will....
Nonetheless, still thinking of you and your various family members this week, along with the air travel.
Kerren