Jet Lag

Jet lag is a funny thing. It completely consumes you to the point where you need match sticks to keep your eyes open. Everyone has their own way of getting over it; some prefer to resist sleeping during the day and then having an early night, others prefer having a cheeky nap to rejuvenate, whilst others will take some form of supplements to get them through it as quickly as possible.

Jet lag is something us girls are all suffering from having flown from different parts of the world to get to Paris. Mer & Ruth from NYC and I from Uk. You could say that an hour difference for me is not too bad, but this is my 3rd time zone change in a week, and so it seems to be taking its toll.

The worst affected is Mer, who could do with scaffolding to keep her eyes open. We were in mid conversation when her eyes closed shut and I'm sure she would have been lost to us had we not started giggling. I almost expected her to fall forward head first into her food like in a cartoon.

But she got through it. A bit of fresh air, sun, a cup of Illy and wandering around Reims' gothic cathedral was all that was needed. Parfait!

Under the Sea

Aquariums are always fun places to be, but to see it from the eyes of a one and a half year old is something else.  The excitement on the little face as she saw different fish swimming by is something that is quite precious.

The tunnel at Birmingham Sea Life Centre is quite spectacular.  To see a giant turtle, or "Tutle", as Toddler liked to call it, swimming above your head whilst eating cabbage is something to write home about.  (I wish I had a picture of this, but unfortunately I was too taken aback by this experience to remember the camera in my hand.)

I think the experience of touching a star fish was cool, although Toddler drew the line at this and wasn't willing to stick her hand in unchartered waters.

The end of the Aquarium was what is every parents nightmare...a gift store.  Naturally the Toddler wanted everything in the store and to hold it all.  Admittedly the teddy "Tutle" with the big eyes that was practically half her size was very cute.  I would have bought it for her had she not flung it on the floor and abandoned it to go hold the next toy that had got her attention.

I'm glad I got to spend the day with you Sweetie.  Looking forward to our next outing.

Here Comes the Bride

Here comes the bride dressed all in light

Radiant and lovely she shines in his sight.

Gently she glides graceful as a dove

Meeting her bridegroom her eyes full of love.

Love have they waited long have they planned

Life goes before them opening her hand.

Congrats to you both.  Best wishes for your married life together as Mr and Mrs Clegg.

xx

From This Day Forward

From this Day Forward... Easter Weekend is not only a weekend for Easter Egg Hunts.
From this Day Forward, I will not think of Easter as a chocolate coma waiting to happen.
I will remember it as the day my friend had her Scot To Have and To Hold.

From this Day Forward... I will remember that it was a small and intimate affair of 50 or so people gathering together to witness the marriage of Katy and Graeme.

For Better For Worse,
For Richer For Poorer,
In Sickness and In Health...

From this Day Forward... I will remember the tears of happiness in people's eyes as they witnessed vows  exchanged...

There in Good Times and Bad,
Support You In All That You Do,

...And the well timed chuckle of little Gabrielle as Katy vowed to listen attentively to all that her husband has to say.

Congratulations to you both and I wish you a lifetime of happiness together.

Cocktail

"What happens on tour, stays on tour!"  This was not that kind of a hen do.  As a matter of fact, I don't have friends that want or do crazy/tacky things on a hen do, nor have I ever been on one where no one can remember the events of the night before and have to retrace their steps to figure out what happened.

I did however wake up the next morning with a burning sore throat and a resultant husky voice.  I blame this on the yummy cocktails we made on the cocktail course in Revolutions.  Or was it the Chilli Vodka shot that I had to have due to my unfavourable response to the bartender when he asked why they put so much ice in a cocktail glass..."to get away with putting less alcohol in"...hmm... I guess not.  Although I cannot remember what the correct answer was.

The "Hen" at this do was one of my oldest friends, Lou.  We have been friends longer than we have not known each other. The gang from the Hen Party, I have known for a similar length of time too and it is always a sign of a good friendship when you can chat like no time has passed at all and still be able to dance to the crap that we used to listen to in the 90's.

Admittedly the only reason why we were able to do that is because Cath became DJ for the night and took control over the software that was playing the music on our floor.  Short lived as the proper DJ soon took over, but a bit of Saturday Night and Steps' 5,6,7,8 went down a treat.

Many thanks to Chief Bridesmaid Lizi for organising.  I had a great time.

Priceless

Priceless is the little face of the blue eyed cherub named Cerys' Grace, who got christened today.

Instead of balling her eyes out about having her head dipped in water and being held by a stranger, she was instead inquisitive of her surroundings and curious of her reflection in the water.

Priceless is the big sloppy kiss she gave me when the priest handed her back to me after the head dunking.

Patience was Cerys with a capital P as Aunty Nim took picture after picture with her Nannies, Grampies, God parents and Uncle Sparkle...

Priceless is the belly laugh that comes from someone so tiny as Aunty Nim waves a piece of pink tissue paper in front of her face or Gemma (one of Uncle Stuart's kids) makes funny movements with some tiny shoes, or even Aunty Tizzer pulling funny faces.

Uncanny are the expressions that Father and Daughter share.  So are the complexion and eyes that match that of Mummy.

Priceless is the excitement caused by Chocolate seen in the eyes of young Alfie.

A kodak moment captured is the tete a tete between Aunty Nim and Cerys in the garden behind the pub.  Only we will know what secrets we shared.

Priceless is the love of a wife to have a pocket watch restored for her husband, so that his Gramps, who is no longer with us, could still be there in spirit.

Forever in the thoughts of the people that loved you most.  This post is dedicated to Gramps Carter.  May you rest in peace and forever be watching over the Carters.