Wedding - Part 1

So here we are, the big day! I was rudely awakened at 0730 by someone (or some thing) prodding my leg - argh! It's Peeg - bugger, I had hoped he'd forget all about me and the run!! Jimmy joined us as well and off we trotted - I have to say I wasn't up for it but getting onto the beach and running along the sand was beautiful - I could get used to this! Running back along the beach, we meet Phil and the Baron playing some footy - so Jimmy and I join in and go for a swim as well - what a hangover cure - I felt fresh as a daisy after that! Neil, Duane and the boys joined us for a bit of beach cricket. I can't bowl for shit - so there! Mind you, not sure if any of us were up to that! Anyway, by 9am, I'd had a run, swim and beach cricket under my belt - waytago! I hate this place.

Oh yeah, it was sunny too!

The real reason we were here of course, lest I forget, was to witness Neil and Troods getting hitched and (hopefully) join in some of the celebrations!! It was quite a busy morning actually, we were all helping out with the setting up and Neil was feeling confident enough to entrust me with helping Trudes brother collect the booze - I mean, c'mon! In the end, we had quite a gang of people doing the booze run, so that was a (bacardi) breeze(r) really! The funny thing was though that at about 4.30 (wedding at 3PM), Miche came up and revealed that we have NO soft drinks - funny as hell - we'd all not paid any attention whatsoever to that!!

Oh yeah, the wedding! The day wasn't too hot at all, despite it being quite sunny and the Green Cathedral looked truly beautiful - with the sunlight dappled by the overhead tree cover.

L-R: Peeg, Jimmy and Baron.

The final task was just to lay out the carpet for Troods to walk down - You'd have thought it was easy huh - the carpet was covered by a dirty silk cloth, which I assumed was to protect it, so we took off the cover and sprinkled the flowers all over. It was but later that Trudi told me that she'd wanted the silk cover to remain on the carpet and the flowers to be laid on either side of it, forming a corridor!! Oops - you might have told me Troods, but I honestly can't remember! Never mind, I'm blaming..... ummmmm..... James!

As I was 'up front' with the other groomsmen, the Baron was 'driving' with my camera - cheers mate, which will explain why he was taking photo's of the Blide and Gloom - I mean, can't you take more of me mate?!

L-R: The Celebrant, The Goom - Neil, The BESTEST Man - Duane, Scott and yours truly! Christ, look at the size of my nose!


Trudi wasn't too late so Neil didn't have to sweat for too long at the front, although Duane did make the time-honored remark that 'she's done one mate - well done!'

Here comes the Bride, escorted by Dad. There's Rodders and his son in the background on the right - don't look alike at all do they?! The face in-between Trudi and her Dad is Lisa's Mum. I'm in her bad books because didn't recognise her when I was helping out with the carpet! Sorry Lynnie - I'll make it up to you with a coffee!

I have to say that the wedding was awesome - very emotional and the ceremony just summed up Neil and Troods exactly. They'd been asked by the Celebrant to each write some words about their feelings for each other and they were very moving pieces too! I have to say, I did get a bit emotional! Dana accused me of starting her crying as apparently, she was doing 'OK' until she saw my eyes glistening! Come on Danz, blokes eyes don't 'glisten' so it wisnae me!! In truth, the Ceremony really touched me and I was feeling a wee bit emotional as I'd been thinking it was such a shame that there wasn't someone I could share the moment with or indeed, tell them how I loved them! I can honestly say that I've never been bothered about being single until that moment - the wrench I felt of being alone single really hit me and I was actually quite taken back! There you go Neil and Troods, you've helped to prove I have got a heart!!

It appears that Neil also needed a moment to compose himself and so the newly weds were allowed a minute to be by Lake Wallis! It is a beautiful spot, I have to say. Again, the picture doesn't do it justice, but I can but hope!

Once finished there, we head off for the photo's, which were excellently done. Couple of glasses of champers on the beach while we had photo's and then we had a piggy-back race. I have to apologise to Racquel here as we'd have definitely won but we had to let Neil and Trudi win, so sorry!! My favourite bit though has to be Scott's blue-steel moment! Love it!

Here are the lovely Bridesmaids. L-R: Raquel, Dana and Nicky.

Any, thanks Neil and Troods, for letting me be a part of your Big Day - it was ace!