It's not very fair to say to friends who are going to travel hundreds of miles to see you, some for the first time in ten years, that they have to bring their own beds and bedding and look after themselves including making their own breakfast the next morning, but with so much to do before moving house on Monday we had to forewarn of our inhospitality. You find out who your friends are because they all came anyway.

More than that everyone ending up bubblewrapping pictures and ornaments and then greeting our other guests and pouring them drinks when Chris and I finally went to get ready for our farewell night out. Nigel kindly invited us all next door for champagne and I got to see Gill, my best friend who he's fallen in love and kidnapped from me. Gill gave me a beautiful necklace with a pearl encased in a silver shell because she says a pearl given by a friend brings luck (and she's aware that I need all the luck I can get at the moment although she doesn't say so).

Joining us for our farewell meal across the road at the Laughing Monk restaurant are:

Melanie and John, my two good friends from Heysham High School.

Vikki, my friend from Trumacar County Primary (actually we didn't like each other but we've been thrown together several times in life and given up and decided to be friends) and her partner Tom.

My business partner, surrogate dad and bezzie mate, Alan.

Mike from Devon Sailing who has gate-crashed our party but we don't mind 'cos he's a jolly nice chap.

Geoff and Jackie who are probably wondering how we're going to empty the rest of the house in 24 hours so they can move in on Monday (as are we).

Andrew and Monica from the Post Office who have pestered me for a welcome to the village party and now we've got round to it it's a final farewell.

Julie, Olivia, Aunty Christine and Uncle John, a small part of my family from Yorkshire, and we're all sorry the rest were unable to make it.

Nigel, our neighbour, and Gill my best friend, now known as Nigel and Gilly.

Roger, Chris's ex-colleague, good friend and marine engineer extraordinaire, and his wife Marianne.

John, Chris's best mate and partner in manganelle eating crime.

Steve and Sue, Chris's friends from dancing who I hope are now totally reassured my intentions towards him are entirely honourable.

Dave, Chris's ex-colleague and really really good mate (who made me promise several times during the evening that I would look after Chris, which I will) and his wife Joan.

My family were shrieking with laughter at Geoff's magic tricks and general buffoonery. I was sat by my old school chums and we had a great time reminiscing. John, Vikki and I were on a TV quiz show Hold Tight when we were eleven and we relived the scorching hot day when we were allowed to jump all the queues for the rides because we were wearing our Hold Tight fleecy sweatshirts. Then we got to rub shoulders with the likes of Jools Holland, Paul Daniels and Spit the Dog. Between you and me Jools Holland and Spit the Dog were a bit up themselves, but Paul Daniels was lovely and I'm only sad I lost my camera with the picture of me and him. Collectively we remembered so many people that up 'til then were half forgotten, and Vikki's knowledge of where they are now, what they're doing and who with is so encyclopedic that John reckons she should set up a website entitled Vikkipedia!

Chris made a lovely speech (following his customary double spin) and I was in tears by the end of it.  I was prompted to make a speech and when I explained to everyone that my life used to look so wonderful with a well paid job and and nice house but it meant nothing until I finally found Chris and had someone to share it with I was in tears again, and apparently so were a few others. (I'm not sure whether it was at the sentiment of my story or because I no longer have a well paid job and a nice house, just Chris and a blummin' expensive boat).

As always Jackie and Ben at the Laughing Monk served up a fabulous meal and then we continued the party at the Old Woodhouse, our home for just a couple more nights. John gave us a present of a very expensive pair of binoculars and Chris pinched Olivia's hair extensions and transformed himself into Christabel. Chris doesn't like goodbyes, but the next day we agreed that it was one of the best evenings of our life, surrounded by people who love us and wish us all the best in our adventures.