under another sun

Lorraine and I up after a decent night's sleep in a comfy bed, in good time for breakfast in the Draumossie Hotel -- where we forked down a Scottish breakfast (with tasty circles of haggis)  and then returned to the room, to squeeze into our , and then a bit more work on the 'secret project'. Lorraine also framed up a heart celebrating their wedding date she had cross stitched. Then we squeezed into our wedding clothes (I always put on weight in Scotland) and went below, where there were lots of men in kilts and so on. Into the function room, which looked simple and elegant. Ron standing at the front, and Carolyn proceeded by a piper and led down the aisle by her brother John. There is something about the sound of the bagpipes that I find inexplicably moving. It's well known that bagpipes are essentially noisy tartan octopuses but the sound brings tears to my eyes in a good way. Carolyn looked exceedingly elegant in a wonderful dress. And Ron kilted, bright eyed and che...

Feeling reasonably fresh and non hungover this morning. Must be the fact I drank lots of water judiciously yesterday, in between the positively good for you vegan beers, and the vigorously funktastic free dance I was doing at the end of the night. Very, very tired though. A slow breakfast in the hotel, with Pat and Maureen, and John and Beth. It was a help yourself buffet breakfast, so I started with porridge, then ate a cooked breakfast for good measure, with cups of coffee and orange juice. Lorraine and I then went for a walk into town with Pat and Maureen, pausing to have a nice coffee somewhere. The space under the station runs with canal weirs, and is weirdly lit. Pat and I were speculating that it would be a good place for a murder story to start. Home again, and a brief snooze. Before regrouping with Beth and John, Pat and Maureen and heading off to the Town Hall Tavern, where we met Sam and Jade and Sian. Lorraine and Sian are already getting on splendidly.  I really ...

Sam and Jade's wedding day today. I squeezed in my suit, somewhat snugger than it was before a week in Edinburgh, and Lorraine donned her glad rags, and readied her fascinator. Despite glowering clouds first thing, the weather was sunny and cheerful for the wedding. We descended in the Schindler's lifts, as pointed out by Pat, into a taxi bound for Leeds Town Hall. John had walked off with Sam and his groomsmen early. And Beth had melted away in the morning, being a bridesmaid. So that when Lorraine, Pat, Maureen and I arrived by taxi. Sam with his groomsmen, some of the bridesmaids and other guests all looking very smart outside. We went inside to a simple but pleasant room inside for the ceremony itself. Lorraine very happy all day, and had tears of joy in her eyes when Jade appeared with her bridesmaids, which included Beth. I felt very happy for them both too, and found everything quite moving. Sam and Jade looked lovely. Jade in a simple but lovely white dress, and t...

The house to ourselves, Lorraine sat in bed opening Wedding presents like kids on Christmas day. Luckily we both felt fairly fresh this morning, Lorraine because she hadn't drunk too much, and me through audacious luck. After a hasty breakfast, we sped off to The Cricketers . The staff were dancing when we entered, and stopped sheepishly.  All very friendly, and we collected left over Sussex cheeses, various table dressings, flowers and other bits and pieces, and one of them told Lorraine that he thought it had been the best wedding they'd had there. Then to Anton's place, where Anton, Anne and the bairns were in the car outside, and Anton let me in to collect my suit carrier. Hugs from Klaudia and Oskar, then we parked around the corner and stuffed my suit back into the suit carrier, flapping about in what had become a very strong wind. Down to The Old Ship Hotel to collect Pat, Maureen, Mum and Mas. The wind down by the sea enough to lean into. Leaving the others fo...

Trying to forge a semblance of organisation, getting my ducks in a row. Property ducks: wrote to solicitors, the house buyers and so on. By the end of the day it seems like things are edging towards completion. Have now done all I can do on this, so am going to forget all about it till after the wedding. Project ducks: Dawn around for an hour this afternoon, planning a writing session for gifted and talented children using a wartime bunker and the power of the imagination. It is an interesting project. Gym ducks: still feeling like I don't have the full bounce, but did a reasonable session. Amazing how after ten minutes or so your mood naturally and very quickly lifts. It is worth exercising simply for the psychological lift it gives you if nothing else. Popped into the pharmacy today, which is being redecorated but is still working. A single desk and till in a stripped bare brick room, with rooms behind where the pharmacists are working still the same. Wedding ducks: wrote...

Second day of Lorraine's holiday, and lots of business to be done. I got up early and worked for a couple of hours quite productively on the book before we zoomed into town. The most important business of the day was to go to Brighton Town Hall to talk to the registrars and officially book our wedding, show birth certificates, passports, divorce papers and so on. Also had a separate interview to make sure it was not going to be a fake marriage. We also went to the venue for the reception and booked that sucker, then stopped in at the printers to get the wee invite printed. Also managed to look at a few hotels to get an idea of prices for potential guests. In The Ship Hotel we let a lady go before us at reception, a lovely older Welsh lady who was asking for a Bible in her room, as she had left her one at home. Also looked at wedding bands in windows, but by then I was getting a nosebleed and as there is so much choice in the Old Lanes it made me feel like my head was exploding....

Tea and toast this morning in Edgware, Mum and Mas about to spend the day preparing to visit France for a few days with Tanya and Robert. Enjoyed walking off to Stanmore in the fresh-ish air. Yippe! A text from Lorraine to say we've booked the registrar for the wedding: Saturday 26th October.  Now it's about finding the money to pay for it. Looking forward to to this beano immensely. Then down to Euston. Another pleasant day at work, and everyone seemed pleased enough in the reviewing progress meeting this afternoon. First Matie had cycled into work for the last couple of days, and this, in combination with glimpsing my sumo-like self in the mirror of the bedroom at mum's house meant that when I got home, I simply dropped my stuff off and went to the gym for a virtuous late work out. Slightly starving when I got home, but reheated some old vegetable chilli and drank a good deal of water. Deliciously virtuous. Nice to be back snoozing in my own bed with my own Lorraine...

Up sleepily to the Smoke this morning, working on the business book on my laptop and sipping tea from my flask. Feeling less sore throaty and wussy this morning. A pleasant day at work, doing some interesting work before galloping back to St Pancras and home to Brighton listening to a podcast. Lorraine meanwhile had broken off from work this afternoon, grabbed Dawn and had been doing wedding business. They looked at the room in the Pavilion that we might use, and discussed available days with the registry office, and popped back to the venue we looked at for afterwards. It seems October 26th is all but in the bag, will confirm things shortly. I'm excited. Although it has to be said that the Kenny coffers are squirming with apprehension. Arrived home shortly before 8.00pm and lorraine and I made steamed veg, fish and brown rice. I like these nights, although Lorraine is tetchy on her low calorie days and has to be handled carefully. Thinking of planning an intervention, gather...

Blearily out of bed and Lorraine drove us off to Weybridge to see Max and the French Bloke (aka Michel) get married. Max had finally relented and allowed the marriage to happen, although having had three children together meant that they were obviously somewhat involved. Arrived early, with Lorraine sipping tea from the flask to soothe her throat once we'd arrived. Bumped into Pat and Judith his wife there, and soon the place filled up with lots of guests, and a host of angelic children in wedding attire. Good to see the old French Bloke, who is generally unfazed by anything, looking nervous. The ceremony passed off well, with a lovely registrar. I found myself fighting off the tears as is usual at events like this.  A photography session in the registry office gardens, before we all drove back to Max and Michel's house, where the garden had been transformed with a canopy and seating. Lots to drink and eat, and a massive party ensued. Lots of friends there of course, inclu...

Lorraine and my B&B is called Orinsay, and we had a good night’s sleep. Reading Jung in bed and his discussion of synchronicity and coincidence. Breakfast was delicious and even included haggis alongside local sausages, eggs, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes.   All ingredients excellent. Lorraine and I chatting to Ian, a pal of Craig and Mel’s who was staying at Orinsay too. He mentioned Strand on the Green where Matt, Graeme and Kate live (and I lived for many years) and I happened to glance above his head and noticed that the painting above his head was of Strand on the Green and Kew Bridge. Quite a coincidence. Lorraine walked in the castle grounds, shopped and later found a cafe for a light lunch. Waiting for Lorraine outside a nosebleed inducing  shop, I turned around and realised I was looking at the shop of Gordon Caris who mends watches and clocks, the shop only opens two days a week, Thursdays and Fridays and was empty as today was a Saturday. Gordon Cari...

Jane and Richard: Special Edition Jane and Richard's wedding. Lorraine and I took a bus into St Peter Port, and then a taxi up to Bordeaux Harbour to join Jane, Richard and June. The ceremony in two parts, one led by Jane was quite lovely with Buddhist chants, and our symbolic binding together with string, and mindful readings. Not long after this the Registrar appeared, a pleasant unobtrusive man who conducted the brief ceremony indoors. Some crying as you would expect. I cried twice. The deed done, we repaired to the garden to drink Champagne and take photos, and slice the cake. General hilarity, and Richard appearing with Camilla and Charles masks. Today was also the day of the launch of the secret viral video for T-Mobile shot by Saatchis that Jane had been part of, and we were the 310th people to watch it on YouTube. Millions were to follow. Rather marvelling at how Jane managed to simultaneously get married and become a global cyber celebrity. Then we piled into a taxi to hea...