The wedding

Weddings can go one way or another in so much as enjoyment is concerned, sometimes the pressure to have a perfect day just does not work, and you are left with a fixed smile and an empty feeling. Nuala and Jim's wedding everyone knew would be different, it was just a joyous occasion, and we had a lovely time being a part of it all. The setting was amazing! (Hilbark Hotel on the wirral), the venue was personal to Nu (Luxurious, scarlet decoration all very sumptuous) and the guests urbane, friendly and sociable! The wedding planner had the whole thing working like clockwork and the guests were all seated in the great hall when she briefed me as I waited for Nu to arrive. Typically Nu made an entrance! Her outfit was stunning! Long fishtail skirt in a deep red, black feathered top (AND I mean feathered) and a red and black feathered head piece! She looked magnificent! and I was proud as punch as I walked her down the aisle! Nancy (Nu's mum) was well enough for me to hand her over to her for the last few feet, and there was many teary eyes when she gave her away! When they were making their vows ( and loving every minute of it ! no nerves on show only smiles!) Nancy and I held hands! ( it was a little emotional!) Nu's friend Jen ( she of the Miss Jean Brodie accent) and Jim's affable friend Richard read out prepared poems and after signing the registers the happy

couple did a lap of honour around the guests to cheering and applause!

The wedding photos, which are sometimes such a trial, were just fun as both Nu and Jim seemed to love the attention and spectacle, I must admit it was rather like watching a HELLO photo shoot!

( Left Jen, me and Richard laughing at Nu and Jim who were being photographed )

Dinner and speeches were excellent. Chris was a little upset that we were seperated for the dinner ( I was on the top table talking turkeys with Jim's farmer dad), but he soon teamed up with Shiv -dog owner and horse rider! Pearce ( Nu's brother) made a moving speech celebrating how Nuala brightens up every room in which she walks, and the best man Mush (I havent asked why everyone calls him that) was spot on with his comedy turn.

Nuala and Jim are well loved, both by family and friends.... and it showed. A happy day!

I have never looked so smart!! (honest I left my slip on wellies at home)

Wedding part 2

The food was amazing! and again it was typically Nu in design! Loved the Wedding cake(s) the tower of which remained intact for most of the evening! At 10pm out came the best bacon butties and cups of chips I have tasted in a long time!

The afternoon "do", moved effortlessly into the evening "do", and managed to catch up with some familiar faces from other tables. Lovely to catch up with three former Sheffield Physios Gráinne, Dybnah and Hillary are powerhouses of energy, and they exhaust you in a totally over-the-top Irish way! (see pic!)

Mike and Bev came over from Sheffield and Maisie was beautifully behaved, ans as you can see she actually got Chris to be animated when his picture was taken!

The Irish contingent (Brian and Hils) and the Nu's Liverpool mates (Dave and Liz) true to form were totally friendly and welcoming. We recieved several invites

forIreland's west coast seaside trips and fishing trips off the

Southport coast! by the end of the evening and you just knew that is wasn't just gin talk ! Exhaused we got to bed at midnight leaving the crack still going on full blast.

A nice day!

We left early this moring after eggs benedict (We relived our New York Holidays as we had that most mornings at Pershing square outside Grand Central Station !

( http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/pershing_square01/)

A masterclass in obsession

I enjoyed Notes on a Scandal (2006)! an intelligent and complex story of obsession,repression and class envy , Cate Blanchett as reckless teacher Sheba, not coping with marriage and herself and knobbley old Judi Dench as bunny boiler friend Barbara are fine in the lead roles. Dench is especially impressive and brings a touch of humanity to a potentially vile and damaged individual. Bill Nighy was excellent also as Blanchetts older and bemused husband. Well worth a visit!

Went with Hazel and got the times of the showings wrong, so with an hour or so to kill we went to Osborn's grill in Llandudno. The grill and wine bar was campy over the top, yet quiet and very comfortable. Had a nice chat and glass of Chardonney! Perhaps when Chris' dad comes up we can go there for a meal. I was very impresed

.

mexican stand off

a rare photo, neither Joan or Meg look happy but both have decieded NOT to move!

memory

Strange thing happened to me today! I had a sudden rollercoaster ride down memory lane to the 1960s! Rushing around work after my first acute spinally injured patient for ages, I just noticed a striking elderly Jewish lady watching all the ICU goings on from the side ward( she looked like a dark version of Nancy Walker you may remember that she played Valerie Harper's wisecracking mother in Rhoda). Something made me stop and as I know I have an excellent memory for a face I entered her room to say hello.

She surprised me, as before I could say anything she said in a thick European accent "Hello it's John isn't it? I havent seen you since your were a little boy!" This was Betty, a friend of my mother's from the conservative club days of the 1960's and early 1970's. I remembered a score of Fanny Craddock-esque ladies with Thatcher hairstyles and leathery cleavages, that all sat together in their fur stoles with large martinis. Betty was perhaps the most memorable as she had a thick smokers voice that growled like Eartha Kitt, and seeing her brought back all those long forgotten memories of a lonely suburban childhood. I was very touched as she remembered me! And even knew I was in Sheffield (But still thought I was a psychiatric nurse). we chatted for a while, and I only returned to thinking about her only after I left work to walk the dogs on the beach. I found it strange that ancient memories surface so easily when provoked You think that they are gone, done and dusted as it were, but no,they are all lurking there always! just waiting to catch you unawares!

Jeep fantasy

We have sorted out some equity from the cottage and now are in a position to renew the rotten window frames in the back of the house and to purchase a new car as the polo is on its last legs! Been toying with the idea of a small 4 x 4 or jeep; the fantasy of the barber clad country gent with dogs bouncing around behind the dog gate and gardening tools and wellies in the boot, seems very attractive! but reality bites and a more realistic and cheaper-to-run version may be on the cards! As long as all the dogs can be placed in the car safely, ( and cleanly) thats all that matters.

When collecting fire wood from the local farm, met the farmer's wife for the first time. Pragmatic and funny, we chatted at length about hens and after a bit of sweet talk hopefully she will be able to furnish me with some more chicks for my new run. Mind you as we were chatting one of her best layers jumped from a wall, dive bombed into another wall and died ! Not the brightest star in the sky!

Double Headed primulas

I have never seen these before and thet are rathe pretty! Put them on the table by the back door as George has been pulling the heads off all the flowers he sees!

Jet lag

Perhaps I am getting old but I am definately not "bounching back" after a night shift as quickly as I used to. Had three hours sleep this morning and was woken by Joan who was puking all over the patchwork quilt! As I came down stairs Meg was destroying the cat flap as two horses were being ridden down the lane! I felt awfull ! jet lag after nights sometimes hits you like a brick wall, and try as I might I found it hard to get going today! At 5pm finally got my arse into gear and took the dogs for a long walk. The weather has been crisp and bright ,so took my camera around the village.








St Michael's church at Trelawnyd is first recorded in 1291 and there is evidence to suggest that in origin it goes back into the early medieval period. The present church was built in 1724 and heavily restored in the 19thC. It contains a late medieval roof and part of a sepulchral slab but little else of early date. It occupies a sub-rectangular churchyard, which is notable for a 14thC churchyard cross (right) and a rare 18thC hooded tomb. The cross was used as a meeting place for local farm labourers and workers who used to meet to be "picked" by farm managers for a days work.