Mooning in Maderia

What a perfect place to honeymoon! Madeira, The Pearl of the Atlantic or The Floating Garden are frequently used names, and so very appropriately. Madeira is a small island located between Portugal and Morocco and has the perfect weather to offer an explosion of flowers and scents all over the island. Orchids, hydrangeos, camelias, chamomille, eucalyptus......spectacular. We could not have chosen a better destination.

We were located in the historic part of town at the bottom of cloud topped mountains and were treated to colorful romantic streets, numerous street restaurants and a collection of wildly painted front doors.

It was a favourite haunt of Winston Churchill, Bernard Shaw and Ernest Hemingway and it certainly captured those 30s and 40s eras. We drank coffees, beers, had fish dinners, lunched on bread cheese and olives and wandered for miles.

We even splurged for a high cost beer at the most expensive hotel, Reids, the equivalent of The Savoy. The beer did taste slightly better (smile) and the view was unparalled.

We headed in to the mountains a couple of times and on one occasion embarked on an 8 mile walk around the side of the mountain which was perilous to put it mildly. Andy literally had to talk me off the ledge at one time.

The churches were beautiful and left us at a loss for words......

We felt bad for our English friends who were celebrating the Queens Diamond Jubilee at home in the rain. We watched the Thames Floatilla on our last day and as the passenger boats passed under Tower Bridge the P&O cruise ship, The Oriana left the Madeiran port, sailed past our balcony with passengers waving the British Flag, singing along to The Beatles ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE.....a very special moment.

Nice Day for a White Wedding - REALLY!!!!!!

And realistically with the British weather what was the likelihood that indeed it was not only a nice day for a white wedding it was simply perfect. The sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky.

Andy and I had our breakfast together and parted ways at 9am when the hairdresser arrived to scuplt Charlotte's and my hair. I felt strangely calm.........while Janine did an amazing job pinning up my hair in a cascade of soft curls.

Tom looked fantastic wearing the suit 'his way' with converse sneakers. And when Charlotte came to the room I was speechless...she looked absolutely beautiful. Damn, why didn't pick that dress!

Right on target, Tony the photographer showed up at 10am and begin taking the pics and before long we were tucked in to the vintage rolls royce and on the way to the church.

Still calm, I slowly walked down the aisle on Tom's arm. I saw Tish and Dave and Janet and Julie sporting fascinators...... and I then saw Andy waiting at the end. He would not look at me as he was afraid he would start crying and yet I, at this point, was still calm. And then came the vows...Andy did a great job and was clear and audible...I on the other hand could barely push mine out for tears and Andy stroked my back all the way through it....he is sooooo wonderful. The words, heard so many times before are so different when you are saying them to the man you are going to spend the rest of your life with, the love of your life, your best friend, your everything. There were many tears shed in the church but I will not site these by name :)

AND, why did we pick the longest hymn in the world......All Things Bright & Beautiful.....my feet were killing me.

Finally we got to sign the register in a small room to the side and made our entrance out of the church as a couple. Then came the photos which seemed to go on forever but gave us a chance to chat to everyone. The photographer did a great job too as was subtle in direction and managed to capture all the shots we requested.

We finally headed off in the car and made a stop at the public gardens to capture a few more photos. By the time we got the White Hart the reception was in full swing and I managed to drink about three glasses of champagne in 10 minutes.......I was VERY relaxed now.

The speeches were heartfelt, fun yet brief and everyone seemed to have a great time. Andy toasted his Dad and shared that his Mum has actually bought the champagne with the coins she had been saving for him in a large Babycham bottle (which I broke). I toasted our friends which created a great tapestry of old and new, happiness and sadness and countless stories. Archie did a great job as Best Man and not only toasted the Bridesmaid, and Bride and Groom but gave a roaring toast to Chelsea with poppers.....hilarious.

The wine and champagne was plentiful, the food came out smoothly and there were lots of fun conversations that went on well in to the late evening. It was a relatively small gathering and there were people that we missed that couldn't be there but there is not one thing I would change about the day.

We called it a day at 10pm and laid in bed revisiting the days events......it truly was the most perfect day of my life.

The Rehearsal!!!

We headed down to Braintree around lunchtime with the kids in tow, a wedding cake, a large cardboard seating plan and our other essentials for THE DAY! Thank goodness we made other arrangements for Sophie or things would have been ugly.

Once we had collected the suits and the wedding dress we headed off to the rehearsal. No nerves, just happiness and excitement. That being said, the minute we had to say our vows we both had tears streaming down our faces and were choking and spluttering. Oh no, what would be the fate of my false eyelashes if this happens tomorrow! Anita ran through the reading like a pro and her seven year old son David asked the Reverend questions like how old is the church and why doesn't his teacher believe in God...great stuff!

We met our friends at the White Hart Bar...those early starters included Janet, Julie, Tish & Dave, cousin Caroline and Steve, Huggy and Magda and Elaine (who has lost her phone, her friend and her hair appointment...poor girl but don't ask!!!). We had a lovely evening and were joined by Andy's family for the Friday night fish & chip ritual.

Andy and I broke the night before code and shared a bed for the last time s a single couple......I strongly stand by the fact that at our age there are no rules.......

Isn't it Romantic.....ta de dah....

Whoever said romance was dead......the week leading up to our wedding has been perfect. Andy has bought home flowers everyday and the flat is bright with the floral colours and wedding cards.

Yesterday marked our two year anniversary and we had dinner with Janet, Julie and the kids in the garden followed by Limoncello...hmmmm. We also had a lovely time on Tuesday when we saw Temper Trap, the band that we were listening to when we first got together. How perfectly everything has fallen in to place - it was meant to be.

We are both calm but excited about our day and our future. The flowers are in and Tracy tells me they are beautiful. The reception is now under control of The White Hart and the most importantly the children arrived yesterday.

The weather couldn't be better...warm, sunny, light breeze and the smell of blooming flowers in the air.

We are leaving at 11.30 today and the next time we walk back in our flat it will be as Mr & Mrs Overall. Congratulations to US.

My Friends.....

We have been so lucky as the dreary and wet weather has finally turned and bestowed us with bright warm and sunny days. What a perfect time for Janet and Julie to visit and enjoy the breathtaking explosion of flowers at Kenwood. It means the world to me that they have travelled 5000 miles to be at our wedding which is on Saturday.

Today they are out exploring London and when they are done they are making their way over to we can have tea, cake and champagne.............

Sophie and I are soaking the sun while we wait.

Blues Hues

First Bluebells

 

Snakeshead Fritillary

Kenwood Wisteria

Kenwood........

Hidden Corners

I have been seeing Andy for almost two years and since this time the flat has gradually been transformed from a 'mushroom mad laboratory' laden with species, dusty books, microscopes in to our warm cosy home. I am a master of subtly and this transformation has been so gradual he has barely realised his former life has been forced in to a tight little corner in the hall.