Friday 6 March 2015
I an oldie and my (famously) young wife head out from West End Glasgow for a wedding celebration party. We are en route for Lewes and Brighton.
We have no kids of our own; but we do have quite a swarm of nieces and nephews, whose marital arrangements vary. Niece Katie got married in New Zealand some weeks ago.
She and Scottie are hosting a wee party in Brighton tomorrow night and the parents of the bride are hosting a lunch in Lewes tomorrow. I double check that that is indeed in Lewes as opposed to in Lewis (They are a mere 1000 kilometres or so apart from each other). At my age I do get occasionally confused - not helped at all by two young brothers, one of whom confusingly lives in the one and the other totally confusingly in the other. It is a little like working out which Hyderabad or Bukhara or Belem one is heading for: plenty scope to confuse the very old and (indeed) the very young.
We review what we have packed. I have taken my best suit ; it has inevitably only been to funerals in the recent past (Now upgraded to a minor role in the 21st century film 'Three Funerals and a Wedding'). And an outspoken waistcoat. Joan has an outrageous "jumpsuit".
In the most ultimate of the statements that can be made today by a child of the 1960s , I have packed drugs - for high blood pressure, high cholestoral level, asthma and smoking cessation. O tempora O mores, as we used to say in the Latin class in my school.
Airbus to Gatwick. It is initially turbulent but otherwise OK. Having been watching Wolf Hall recently, we settle for a Bloody Mary each (Yes, she was indeed Henry VIII's oldest child). Gatwick is more or less fine, although, as with Lahore and Karachi, always an airport more suited for departures than arrivals.
Train very civilised and we meet brother Al at Lewes. There is a fine log fire at his house. Brother 3 aka Mom (and wife Margaret) arrive later in the evening.
Saturday 7 March 2013
Lunch on Saturday is at a very civilised restaurant (As many of you will know, the words "civilised" governs much of life in the Brighton area).
Lunch is presided over by the parents of the bride:-
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| Lunchtime hosts: Alasdair & Sherry |
No Smith occasion would be suitable without a male Smith getting into full oratorical flow.
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| Father of Bride, Alasdair, speaks. Mother of Bride, Sherry, monitors |
He is mercifully brief.
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| Bride Katie & Groom Scottie |
The evening do is in Brighton and has a "lindy hop" World War II theme in music, dance and several dresses. Hosted by bride and groom,
I recognise the occasional Glenn Miller number.
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| Joan, Iain and waistcoat, Katie the bride |
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Three lucky ladies: Margaret, Sherry, Joan. Each married to a Smith. Yes, before you ask, it is indeed the middle one who is the youngest and most trendy of the three. |
Sunday 8 March
Breakfast and family snaps (Margaret stays behind the camera and takes the pics):-
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| Iain, Al and Mom: at rear; Joan, Laura, Sherry: at front. |
We go for a wee walk and call in to meet Jewel, our aunt from Lewis (Yes: it is that Lewis) . Jewel's son Jonathan and daughter-in-law Catherine have added to geographical family confusion by living in Lewes; and all three were at yesterday's lunch . I first met Jewel and Jonathan I think quite a few years ago in Stornoway, perhaps about 1955 or so, when Jewel was perhaps 20 years old and Jonathon was perhaps 20 weeks. He has aged a bit since then; but not Jewel.
e-mail exchange:
Katie/Scottie/Sherry/Al
This afternoon we finally came to earth with a bump (literally) when our Gatwick Airbus descended into a slightly windswept Glasgow.
Our many thanks to you all for your various contributions to a most memorable and extended occasion. We had a great time.
Iain will probably write a little log before the memories fade; and Joan will circulate some pictures.
Scottie and Katie come back:-
Dear Iain and Joan,
It was great to see you, really glad you could come! I'm still processing the whole occasion, twas a bit of a whirlwind...Definitely a wonderful weekend in many different ways for both of us. We still haven't had a chance to open presents yet! Looking forward to seeing photos.
Much love,
Katie
xxx
It was great to see you, really glad you could come! I'm still processing the whole occasion, twas a bit of a whirlwind...Definitely a wonderful weekend in many different ways for both of us. We still haven't had a chance to open presents yet! Looking forward to seeing photos.
Much love,
Katie
xxx
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