Build-up to Ben and Bianca’s wedding – 23rd April 2006.

This week, Neil and Troods are back from their honeymoon – sounds like they’ve had a corker and that’s what it’s all about! One of the things I’d forgotten to mention, was that at Neil and Troods wedding, two of their mates, Ben and Bianca, invited me to be a guest at their wedding. Some of their friends were unable to make it and they needed a makeweight – sorry – someone of charm and personality (I know – I’m still mystified but VERY happy!!) and thus asked if I’d like to join! Would I ever Trevor! Have to laugh at this point though because the way Ben phrased the question was funny as:

[At Neil and Trudles wedding]

‘Ian, what are you doing in 2 weeks time, that weekend?’

‘Ummm, *hic*, nothing Ben. Just gonna chill on Coogee…’

Well, Bi and I are having a small bash in the Hunter that weekend and it’d be great if you can make it. Some mates aren’t able to come and the places are already booked…’

[My brain is turning, albeit slowly….]

‘Aren’t you getting married in the Hunter?’

‘Shit. YEAH. That’s what we’re doing that weekend…. Anyway, some friends can’t make it and we’d love to have ya…’

Ben - on the far right with Best Man Sam and Mark? I forget yr name dood, sorry. These three were thick as thieves at school!!

Back to the invite though, I mean, how cool is that? Ben, if you recall, is the poor lad who suffered me at his stag-do my first weekend here in Oz!! Bianca came over at that point and shouted ‘Great, we’ve got our own wedding crasher!!’

Now for me, this is manna from heaven because I had been thinking how to shoe-horn in a trip to the Hunter and now it’d been delivered to me! Hallooo!!

So, this week had been a mad dash to get accommodation and car sorted to take 5 people, as I’d be crashing Neil, Troods, Brett and Donna. No worries mate, campervan man to the rescue!!

Wahey – my first night in an Aussie hostel. Not bad actually, although I took your book Phil – Washing of the Spears. Excellent read btw. I was just 60 pages from the end at 9.30 and thinking – I could finish this when ‘KAPOW’… page 440 finished and 441 started again at page 380. NO FUCKING WAY. Misprint! I’m wide awake, just reading how Chelmsford closed the campaign and how Zululand was partitioned when it gets to a misprint. Gutted from Eastbourne! Well, I will be looking out for that book to get the last 60 pages in! Might save it for ‘Books etc’ when I get back to Blighty so’s I can drink a coupla coffee’s and finish it!

Anyway, onto the Hunter (mate)!