The Wedding

Finally the day arrived, after all the build up at last it was here. There was a storm warning for Thursday and Friday. The garden wedding was now going to be moved inside to the lounge room. It is funny how life works. Rob had his computer & computer desk in the lounge corner, it looked OK, to a man however, if you’re looking from a woman’s perspective it’s really not the place for a computer etc to be. But you know there are times you just have to be quiet, yes it’s me saying there are times you have to be quiet and eventually they see the light. The computer and accessories were moved to make more room so that the ceremony could be held inside. Thursday for Lorraine was spent pampering herself as you do the day before your wedding. Friday morning there was a storm warning the wind was howling, it was raining cats and dogs, as the saying goes. I did have faith that by the afternoon the weather would settle however was still concerned.



Now some of you who may be superstitious the sign of this weather would be disastrous, but for Lorraine and Rob, Mr & Mrs everything is ‘okay’ it was not a problem. Just out of interest I thought I would mention some of the traditional superstitious that I know of, not that I adhere to any of them and then we will see how Lorraine and Rob fair with them.

Wearing pearls means tears throughout the marriage. The bride and groom cut the first slice of cake together to ensure that they will conceive. The spouse that goes to sleep first on the wedding night is the first to die. If the bride cries on her wedding day it’s the last tears she will cry over her marriage. If the groom drops the wedding band, the marriage is doomed. The engagement and wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart.. It is lucky to marry on a day during the week that the groom was born, oddly enough Saturday was the unluckiest day for a wedding. The sun should be shining; rain means bad luck and tears. Wearing a garter is believed to bring good luck, and finally the first one of the couple to make a purchase after the wedding is said to be the dominant partner.



Now really that’s a load of old bollocks! Anybody knows that, but it is funny. How did the couple go, well Lorraine wore pearls, she did shed a tear or two, they did cut the cake together. Rob did not drop the ring, Lorraine wore a garter, the sun did shine, and it was a Friday. I’m not sure who went to sleep first if they did at all, after all it was the wedding night, and they haven’t been shopping yet. So my reckoning is they will live happily ever after, like the true romantic that I am.



There were approximately 30 – 40 people witnessing Lorraine and Rob taking their vows. Mostly family, Rob has three adult children and Lorraine two and of course a few friends. This was by no means a traditional wedding, it was simple, personal and elegant. Lorraine, her daughter and I got ready at the Hyatt, of course that meant starting with the obligatory champagne, nibbles and girly talk. Lorraine was calm, excited and very much in love looking forward to the ceremony. Rob was at home with his sons getting everything ready.



The plan was for Rob and Lorraine to meet and welcome the guests together before the wedding allowing them to mingle, drink and have nibbles to get to meet each other. We arrived at the house 15 minutes before the children were all to meet for the first time, um, not sure I would go with this plan, but it worked for them. Hey all got on well. Lorraine has 6 siblings and their partners, of whom only 4 could make it, and Rob has a sister and cousins of which some of them had met before the wedding. I did hear someone accuse Rob of being a “dark horse” um I wonder why that might be. Everyone mingled well, excitement was in the air, no one worried about the weather, there was no rain, however the wind was here to stay and we could not risk our hairdos to go outside.





We all moved into the lounge room, it was beautiful, they made a stunning couple, there was a glow in the air – Ian tenderly caressed my neck whilst we listened intently to the vows being made, I couldn't’t help but remember our wonderful wedding and the vows we made. Lorraine read a beautiful poem “the gift” which left a lump in your throat. The vows and rings were given and then there was ‘the kiss’ it was Mr & Mrs the deed was done, the signing was complete. It was now time to relax and enjoy, more drinking, eating and mingling. Photo’s galore, I was in my element, I love being behind the camera, catching the moment for prosperity. I think the digital camera was the best invention; you can just click till your heart is content and then delete what you don’t want, fantastic.



The sun is shining - no rain or wind - Mr & Mrs.............don't they look so happy!


The reception was at Indianas, exquisite – There was a lovely surprise for Lorraine when they arrived, some work friends were there to wish her well, meet the lucky man and see how beautiful she looked, it was great to see them, thank you ladies.



Ian and I sat with Lorraine’s family, her mother is delightful and her eldest sister was very gracious and her brother was charming it really was a tremendous evening. I spent time talking to everyone at the restaurant and taking pictures, I was the friendly columnist any excuse to talk and meet people. I really am an introvert at heart.



Ian and I had a lovely time we had fun reminiscing our own wedding, we chilled out and had a fantastic time. We had a late checkout and spent Saturday sleeping in till midday then the afternoon in Freo, it was superb, now it’s back to the rat race and it is still raining and cold.



The wedding is over, now the marriage begins, enjoy your honeymoon and a lifetime together. Wishing you both good health, love and happiness always.

Girls night out!

There’s nothing like a night out especially when you go out with a group of women. Now I say women, as opposed to girls, because girls denote young women or adolescent women not average age 50 year old women. However, it does sound good to say girl’s night out. We are out to celebrate Lorraine’s last girl’s night out as a single woman. Yes she is joining the ranks of happy married women.



There was much fun, chatting, catching up with friends that we have not socialised for a while with. The food at the Thai restaurant is always superb with ample to eat. Oh don’t forget the wine; bubbly always adds life to the conversation. There’s nothing better than to sit around sup some bubbly and share some funny stories about life, and do we have them, certainly do from babies to sex, oh did I say sex. You can’t have a girl’s night out without talking about sex, good, bad or indifferent.



I must say I was disappointed when it came to the discussion about how to prepare to the wedding night – there is the usual pre wedding, pamper session, facial, massage, nails, hair and trial makeup. That was all fine, however when it came to should Lorraine wax or not, have a Brazilian, high or normal wax, a trim and style perhaps a heart shaped surprise! To these suggestions came aghast of horror from my colleagues / friends, it just goes to show that age may play a part in this process. However I am in the same age group and am partial to a wax and to a heart shaped surprise! It adds zest to the relationship – after all, we are all midwives and there is nothing we haven’t encountered.



It is great to see Lorraine so happy and madly deeply in love, as the song goes, truly madly deeply – yes it warms the cockles of your heart. Rob is charming, they do seem well suited, after all he does love her apple and rhubarb pie. See there is some truth in the old saying "the way to a mans heart is through his stomach". I can't say what else he says she's good at, oh all right then, he says "my wife to be can crumb anything".
I loved my wedding day it was perfect and when I think of it, I smile that warm reassuring smile. There are times I think of Ian and just smile, it’s a wonderful feeling love, and it warms you from the inside and makes you feel brilliant. I am so fortunate. Thank you.

The trick is to maintain this kind of love, the truly, madly, deeply, in this busy world of ours. It is so easy to get caught up with work, life and children and put your relationship second; yes, on occasion I am guilty of this. Therefore we make the time to spend together to put ourselves first. I know that Lorraine and Rob will continue to have this truly madly deeply relationship and I wish them both the very best of everything. I am so looking forward to the wedding on Friday. It is just going to be fantastic.


Lorraine looking at her Rose bush 'Lucina' the midwife rose and her card with a fantastic gift voucher for David Jones, from all of us. "Happy Wedding"

Time out for some fun! Shopping!

Wedding! what does the word conjure up? what is the first thing you think of when someone says the word WEDDING! it is a 'joining together' for me it is Love and commitment, then comes money, place, venue, guest list,rings, dress, sexy lingerie, jewelery, shoes, suits, ties, flowers, food, drink, and the list goes on.

When two mature people decide to take this leap of faith, love above all conquers all, I know this sounds corny, but when you think of all the compromising that is done, combining two homes into one, my lounge suite or yours, which books, CD's, orniments etc, it truly is a letting go of the ego - I remember it well, the two becoming one but still maintaining a sense of 'self' that is trick, that is the marriage.

It is about two people planning their wedding day, which is the first day of their marriage. The relationship and lives in marriage is more important and lasts a lifetime - or as long as it is meant too.



Now my gorgeous friend is getting married in four weeks, what a surprise..............it is so nice when love bites and everything goes well. When Lorraine asked me to go shopping with her for her bridal outfit, I was honoured and delighted, nothing like going shopping and spending someone else's money, within reason of course. Full of a cold, dosed up on medication, it was time to hit the shops. I was so excited, verbal diarrhoea, invitations, rings, dresses, colours, wine, hors deuv's, venue, place, girls night out, guest list, I wanted to know it all, oh so much to think about. Lorraine and Rob just laughed...........Oh something I forgot to say about the lovely couple they are both clutter free people, and yes you guessed it, I am Mrs Clutter, married to Mr Clutter but he is in denial.

We had such fun today, our aim was, a dress, shoes, and lingerie. Now that's a tall order for a day, but not for two expert shoppers who know a good thing when they see it. I would have liked to have bought the grooms tie while we were out, but that was overstepping the line....... respecting his wishes, just joking Rob!



The shopping expedition started in Nedlands at 11am, proceeded to Perth Murry St - time for a coffee in the mall then its off to Subiaco - Lorraine tried on several dresses, and finally decided on a beautiful, elegant, classical styled dress, that surpasses anything I would imagine, it looks perfect. You know when you put the dress on, this is the one! and this was the one! That's about all I can tell you until the day.................. we even got a swatch of the colour so that Rob could match his tie, thinking of you Rob!



The dress was bought,it was now time for the champagne cocktail, before we shop for the lingerie and shoes, which ever we see first. We were both intoxicated with excitement, it was all coming together. It was nice to sit and share a drink, laughing and telling stories of love and lust........ off course the two go hand in hand after all we have earned the right to enjoy the freedom of women, life is truly wonderful and sharing it with the beautiful people you love.

Shoes were next on the list, perfect, tried my hardest with the handbag but no joy - never mind you win some and you lose some. the lingerie was the hardest, we walked past what I thought was the perfect shop three times trying different places only to end up in the perfect shop, the one we walked past three times, but it was worth it, no compromising here, it looks sexy, fantastic is all I am going to say.



The day was done, all of the shopping done in 5 hours, home for a nice cup of tea, and rest our feet, we did consider Champagne but I had to drive home.



Addition: in clearing the clutter, Lorraine had more than one dogie bed, and offered it to Mrs Clutter who gladly accepted, Monty is eternally grateful for his new bed.

We had a superb time, we were like kids turned loose in a candy shop. We were both on the same wave, thanks for a wonderful day. I look forward to a wonderful wedding
day!

Cluttered closets mean a cluttered mind.
As you clean the closet, say to yourself,
"I am cleaning the closets of my mind".
The Universe loves symbolic gestures.
Louise L. Hay

All I have to say is our minds must be totally cluttered!!