Date Tuesday
15 May 2012 to Friday 29 June 2012
I have not in the past written about our UK based activities but for the
sake of completeness it would be a shame to miss out on recording some of the
things that happened in the run up to ‘The Wedding’.
First of course was the passing of Elizabeth’s Father and his
funeral. The eulogy was most excellently prepared and delivered by her
brother Robert and Bob was laid to rest alongside his beloved wife Betty in
Willersey Churchyard on the most quintessential English summer’s day and
at on of the churches where they both worshipped and both loved.
Then there were the various medical refits. My keyhole surgery
resulted in my abdomen looking as though I had been given a going over with a
rubber truncheon, nobody warned me about that – the bruises have now gone
and all seems well.
The mother of the bride rushed around and having relieved me of a
length of midnight blue silk purchase in Singapore in 1976, with the intention
of making a dressing gown, very Noel Coward, but never used, created a stunning
outfit – photograph in the wedding sage.
For my part, having consideration for the summer weather, I organised a
roof for the pergola so that I could barbeque under cover in the rain.
The garden, already in good nick due to the tender ministrations of David
Butterworth and a large quantity of rain, was further attacked and upgraded
lighting fitted.
And, of course, there was
Henry, ‘the Daimler’ who
eventually had his flashing trafficators sorted out and received a smart
ambassadorial flagstaff in honour of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.
East Street
had an excellent street party, most ably organised by Ian and Daryl Brotchie
The road was closed for
four hours, a very English form of sit down demonstration complete with
,
cucumber sandwiches cup cakes and scones.
Unusually it stayed dry, fine and mostly sunny which allowed some of
the street’s more colourful characters and their ‘guest’ to
promenade.
Our future son in
law’s parents, Anthony and Tessa Thornton-Smith, over from South Africa
paid their first visit and the new pergola roof was put to good use.
Of course there was also the dedication of the Jubilee kneelers, hark
back to the Mate plugging away at her needlework in the Bahamas. A total of 60 are
being worked on and Claudia managed to get 55 handed in complete before the
service.
It was good to see the token man present. Heavens forbid that the
Church should ever be regarded as sexist.
The weeks seemed to fly
by and we were then into the week before the great event with a house full
including the two South African brothers, Andrew and Robert camping in the
garden. It did seem that everyone was either called Andrew, Robert or
both. Our son Andrew arrived from Texas
having kept a great secret that he had managed to loose 50 lbs since emigrating
in March with a complete change in lifestyle – nobody is more
enthusiastic than a converted sinner. His parents were both surprised,
impressed and delighted.
A mere shadow of his
former self.
