There is no significance in the blog entry title, it just happens to be the date today!
So, what happened since March 10 when I wrote my last entry?
[caption id="attachment_2042" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Priscilla Queen of the Desert Sheffield March 16 2017[/caption]
Well, there was this on 16th... we went along, me, Dennis, Sean, Daisy and Robin to Sheffield to see the show and it was really very good indeed.
Beforehand we went to the Meadowhall Shopping Centre for lunch and to kill some time. Probably spent too much money, a recurring theme of recent months.
A lovely day albeit for a challenging return journey when the M1 was closed.
Now, what did we do on March 18th? Hmmm .... Ah yes, we got married!
Link here to Pictures
It took several weeks of planning calling in every favour we could, saving money where ever possible. I often think these cheaper weddings are the best. I think it's unlikely even with all the essential costs for the ceremony and so on that we spent much over £600. Amazing considering some couples just add a couple of 00's to that sum!
We had the ever lovely Kim as our Person of Honour. She essentially fulfilled the roles of wedding planner and best man and she stepped up to the role brilliants.
Sean was our DJ hitting the button right all the time, sorting the Karaoke and multimedia shows, it all went really well ... apart from a slight microphone hitch meaning the speech mic almost had to be eaten for anyone to hear it but, small details!
We had two unique speeches. Daisy did a speech as a family representative and Steve did one on behalf of friends. Both were really good albeit that Steve mainly used a piece that I'd written some time ago which was a bit cheeky but appropriate all the same
He spoke of how we'd first met but the main part was something I put on this very blog many moons ago ... perhaps if Steve sees this he might add a comment as to where they post came from as it could be interesting!
We were both very grateful indeed for his prayer as we did want some faith based element to our wedding, something that equality demands but which organised religion (not all) denies.
[caption id="attachment_2097" align="alignright" width="221"]
Matt & Anne posing in the Photo Booth they're running![/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2099" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Our Kim doing her speech as best 'man', what a wonderful job she did for us[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2103" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Paul did the driving for us all day and they both provided some of the most fun entertainment too[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2095" align="alignleft" width="172"]
Robin did an excellent job (naturally) as our MC for the evening[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2098" align="alignright" width="200"]
The girls, Jackie & Karen made our wonderful cake and brought it all the way from lovely Wales[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2106" align="aligncenter" width="200"]
Tom & Jimmy helped out loads doing whatever was asked of them[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2096" align="alignright" width="300"]
We had not seen this before the event so it came as a shock how well it had been put together. Very emotional message from home for Dennis which I'd asked them to do and sister Veronica put together[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2101" align="alignleft" width="300"]
My speech to Dennis, there is me practically eating the mic ... I think I should have just projected![/caption]
Speeches are often awkward, my own went out the window! I had it in bullet points but decided to change the order then realised I'd put it in that order for a reason so had to make a recovery ... I don't think anyone notice or, they were too polite to say anything!
[caption id="attachment_2100" align="alignright" width="300"]
Dennis did his speech ... very emotional and quite lovely[/caption]
Dennis had not long seen the message from the Philippines so was still quite emotional doing his speech, there were a lot of wet eyes in the room during this and I was struggling I can tell you!
We were very nervous about adding Karaoke into the evening reception, it's just not British to let your hair down and open yourself up for being a little out there.
We'd selected just 10 tracks and managed to get most with someone singing along.
Me and Dennis kicked it off with a song to each other .... I mean, apologies to sensitive ears but I did stop being any sort of singer when my voice broke at 15. Since then, having had surgery on my vocal chords since, my voice is a little hit and miss at best but ... all the same, it's all part of the fun.
Our special picture drawn by Daisy was off the house from the Disney/Pixar movie 'Up' and it enabled us to get our guests to leave us their fingerprints and initials as 'balloons' to be used in the future in evidence against them, that they were at our wedding.
We think it turned out really good.
[caption id="attachment_2110" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Sue did all the catering for us[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2107" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Adam, on the left, did the equipment driving, totally vital and a last minute saviour for us[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2109" align="alignright" width="300"]
Kyle did our photography and an excellent job he did too[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2108" align="aligncenter" width="864"]
We cannot say enough how grateful we are to Kim for all her hard work and inspirational ideas. For her support and understanding throughout[/caption]
Obviously we had a hot tub, it's an essential part of the relaxing. It was also the only way to get warm outside as it was really cold! One evening I used it on my own, I seriously thought (through the torrential rain) that a tree was going to get blown down on me. The UK weather in March is hardly what could be described as tropical!
The lodge we had was really good. We got it discounted because of who we know so, can't complain at all.
We didn't get to see much of Devon, to be honest, a rest was what we really needed and not to be driving each day.
The end of March marked the beginning of Josh's health issues with his spherocytosis, in my opinion, the only thing his biological father gave him, sums the man up perfectly ... he'd have not given it to him if he had to give something up himself to do it! All my opinion of course, not a statement of anything else ... just in case the (in my opinion) nasty piece of poo decides to actually get off his backside and try and cause me trouble again! Draw your own judgements on him.
He's had one blood transfusion so far and his levels are already dropping meaning he'll probably need another quite soon. They only do this for so long before removing the spleen and likely the gall bladder too (the main immune system). It's going to be an emotional and uncomfortable time for him and all those who care about him.
Beauty & The Beast, Smurfs, The Great Wall, Logan and Lego Batman ... nothing too bad in there, some quite excellent
We had to go Sheffield to get the next visa which Dennis needed to remain in the country and work. Others had come all the way from Essex, these places are not exactly easy to get to! On the same day we got the notification that it's been approved so, all we need to do now is find work and all our financial worries (huge ones) will be over!
So, what happened since March 10 when I wrote my last entry?
[caption id="attachment_2042" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Priscilla Queen of the Desert Sheffield March 16 2017[/caption]Well, there was this on 16th... we went along, me, Dennis, Sean, Daisy and Robin to Sheffield to see the show and it was really very good indeed.
Beforehand we went to the Meadowhall Shopping Centre for lunch and to kill some time. Probably spent too much money, a recurring theme of recent months.
A lovely day albeit for a challenging return journey when the M1 was closed.
Now, what did we do on March 18th? Hmmm .... Ah yes, we got married!
Link here to Pictures
It took several weeks of planning calling in every favour we could, saving money where ever possible. I often think these cheaper weddings are the best. I think it's unlikely even with all the essential costs for the ceremony and so on that we spent much over £600. Amazing considering some couples just add a couple of 00's to that sum!
We had the ever lovely Kim as our Person of Honour. She essentially fulfilled the roles of wedding planner and best man and she stepped up to the role brilliants.
Sean was our DJ hitting the button right all the time, sorting the Karaoke and multimedia shows, it all went really well ... apart from a slight microphone hitch meaning the speech mic almost had to be eaten for anyone to hear it but, small details!We had two unique speeches. Daisy did a speech as a family representative and Steve did one on behalf of friends. Both were really good albeit that Steve mainly used a piece that I'd written some time ago which was a bit cheeky but appropriate all the same
He spoke of how we'd first met but the main part was something I put on this very blog many moons ago ... perhaps if Steve sees this he might add a comment as to where they post came from as it could be interesting!We were both very grateful indeed for his prayer as we did want some faith based element to our wedding, something that equality demands but which organised religion (not all) denies.
[caption id="attachment_2097" align="alignright" width="221"]
Matt & Anne posing in the Photo Booth they're running![/caption][caption id="attachment_2099" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Our Kim doing her speech as best 'man', what a wonderful job she did for us[/caption][caption id="attachment_2103" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Paul did the driving for us all day and they both provided some of the most fun entertainment too[/caption][caption id="attachment_2095" align="alignleft" width="172"]
Robin did an excellent job (naturally) as our MC for the evening[/caption][caption id="attachment_2098" align="alignright" width="200"]
The girls, Jackie & Karen made our wonderful cake and brought it all the way from lovely Wales[/caption][caption id="attachment_2106" align="aligncenter" width="200"]
Tom & Jimmy helped out loads doing whatever was asked of them[/caption][caption id="attachment_2096" align="alignright" width="300"]
We had not seen this before the event so it came as a shock how well it had been put together. Very emotional message from home for Dennis which I'd asked them to do and sister Veronica put together[/caption][caption id="attachment_2101" align="alignleft" width="300"]
My speech to Dennis, there is me practically eating the mic ... I think I should have just projected![/caption]Speeches are often awkward, my own went out the window! I had it in bullet points but decided to change the order then realised I'd put it in that order for a reason so had to make a recovery ... I don't think anyone notice or, they were too polite to say anything!
[caption id="attachment_2100" align="alignright" width="300"]
Dennis did his speech ... very emotional and quite lovely[/caption]Dennis had not long seen the message from the Philippines so was still quite emotional doing his speech, there were a lot of wet eyes in the room during this and I was struggling I can tell you!
We were very nervous about adding Karaoke into the evening reception, it's just not British to let your hair down and open yourself up for being a little out there.
We'd selected just 10 tracks and managed to get most with someone singing along.
Me and Dennis kicked it off with a song to each other .... I mean, apologies to sensitive ears but I did stop being any sort of singer when my voice broke at 15. Since then, having had surgery on my vocal chords since, my voice is a little hit and miss at best but ... all the same, it's all part of the fun.
Our special picture drawn by Daisy was off the house from the Disney/Pixar movie 'Up' and it enabled us to get our guests to leave us their fingerprints and initials as 'balloons' to be used in the future in evidence against them, that they were at our wedding.
We think it turned out really good.
[caption id="attachment_2110" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Sue did all the catering for us[/caption][caption id="attachment_2107" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Adam, on the left, did the equipment driving, totally vital and a last minute saviour for us[/caption][caption id="attachment_2109" align="alignright" width="300"]
Kyle did our photography and an excellent job he did too[/caption][caption id="attachment_2108" align="aligncenter" width="864"]
We cannot say enough how grateful we are to Kim for all her hard work and inspirational ideas. For her support and understanding throughout[/caption]The following week, the honeymoon, was in Devon
Obviously we had a hot tub, it's an essential part of the relaxing. It was also the only way to get warm outside as it was really cold! One evening I used it on my own, I seriously thought (through the torrential rain) that a tree was going to get blown down on me. The UK weather in March is hardly what could be described as tropical!
The lodge we had was really good. We got it discounted because of who we know so, can't complain at all.
We didn't get to see much of Devon, to be honest, a rest was what we really needed and not to be driving each day.
Josh
The end of March marked the beginning of Josh's health issues with his spherocytosis, in my opinion, the only thing his biological father gave him, sums the man up perfectly ... he'd have not given it to him if he had to give something up himself to do it! All my opinion of course, not a statement of anything else ... just in case the (in my opinion) nasty piece of poo decides to actually get off his backside and try and cause me trouble again! Draw your own judgements on him.
He's had one blood transfusion so far and his levels are already dropping meaning he'll probably need another quite soon. They only do this for so long before removing the spleen and likely the gall bladder too (the main immune system). It's going to be an emotional and uncomfortable time for him and all those who care about him.
Various Movies throughout the month
Beauty & The Beast, Smurfs, The Great Wall, Logan and Lego Batman ... nothing too bad in there, some quite excellent
Visa
We had to go Sheffield to get the next visa which Dennis needed to remain in the country and work. Others had come all the way from Essex, these places are not exactly easy to get to! On the same day we got the notification that it's been approved so, all we need to do now is find work and all our financial worries (huge ones) will be over!
Comments
For information, the words I sued from your blog (about a third of the speech!! 😉) were taken fro August 2015 and reads as follows:
All of us throughout life have ups and downs. Some of those are so huge we have real trouble with them. These life experiences are relative to the general level of experiences we have had. What might be devastating for one person is a minor blimp in the life of someone else but, to both, the impact of ‘their’ big one is life long.
Thinking of some examples such as a lost job, an illness, the death of someone special or money worries (to name just a few)
These and many more are life changers for many. Some might experience just one or two of these, others might experience them all. As it happens, I got the full list and then some and several of them many times over.
All or any of these can be devastating at the time but, what we do with them when they become memories defines us.
Do we wallow in self-pity or hide away in an attempt to protect ourselves? Do we allow paranoia to settle in and consume us? Do we never take any chances ‘just in case’?
Well, no, I don’t think we should stop living to the full because of any of those. What we can do is accept that those experiences have defined us, made us who we are now but, who we want to be, that’s a choice. I would rather take a similar risk over and over because the theory was still correct than never take that chance again.
In short, embrace your entire life, good or bad. Don’t be afraid to enjoy life to the full when it’s good and don’t let your life come to a stop when times are tough.
You cannot smile every day of your life, no one can do that and mean it. You can though smile about your life in the past and about the mystery of what isn’t yet written.
Life is one great adventure, don’t miss the boat!
For anyone interested in the prayer, here are the words that were used:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the unique way in which you have made each one of us. We thank you have you have given each of us freewill, loving hearts and caring minds to support, love and be there for each other, for our families, for our friends, and everyone whom we love.
We give thanks for Steve and Dennis, for the love they have for each other. We thank you for their families, both here locally and those who are further away.
We thank you for your love, which creates and sustains us. We thank you for the physical and emotional expression of that love; and for the blessings of companionship and friendship. We pray that we may use your gifts so that we can continue to get a better understanding of love and of your purpose for us.
We pray that Dennis and Steve will be living signs of your love, and help us all to uphold them in the promises that each have made to each other this day, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Much love to you all 😀