Have you missed me? I missed you too. Not as much though.

Mood: Fresh and peachy keen.
Thought for the day: A hot water bottle on the thighs is bliss
Highlight of the week: Getting shit-hot feedback from an important casting team for my performace in a play
Now playing: Bugger all. I'm in work.

What?

WHAT?!

Look, i've been busy! In all honesty not a huge amount has happened wedding-wise in the past few months except for the following;

• We are about 90% set on a marquee wedding
• It is likely to be in early July 2013
• We will have a mild theme to play with in terms of decor
• Table favours are just about complete
• It is seeming more and more likely that we wont have a traditional wedding cake

Our social lives have come to a grinding halt as we tighten the purse strings to help us save for the big event. Saving is still a bitch, but its not all bad. I'm finding new, cost free ways to entertain myself. For example, Did you know that if you take a bottle of ketchup, a 2 table spoons of mustard and smear it thinly over electrical equipment, they ask you to leave Sainsburys? They care not for experimentation.

But back to the subject in hand; weddings and civil partnerships. The oppertunity arose last year to become a part-time registrar and I now marry folk at weekends. Its really nice to see people on their big days from a new perspective and of course I get to see what works (and doesn't) for ceremonies.

I am pretty sure that I now would like to break up our service with a couple of short readings/poems, to be presented by some of our special people* but can't find anything that really takes my fancy. Some are done to death (Captain Corelli's Mandolin 'Love is' speech, On your wedding day, The Owl and The Pussycat believe it or not) and I want to find something unusal and fun. Please send any suggestions my way.

In other news my brother and sister have gotten engaged too! No, no you sick little moo-cows, not to each other. Darren and Felicity are getting hitched later this year and my sister and her man Nathan have just decided to take the plunge (engagement party this weekend should be a belter). Very exciting times all round.

I shall stop now and leave on the promise to myself that I will try to post something on here at least once a week from now on.


*I mean our maids of honour/usher. I know that "special people" makes them sound like they are taking a break from licking windows but I can't bring myself to actually call them "groomsmaids".

Plotting and planning

Mood: Remorseful (too much vodka last night)
Thought for the day: Have you seen those pics of The Moldy Peaches guy in the buff? Grim. Oh, and good about Bin Laden getting all shot and that, innit?
Proud moment of the day: I figured out how to add a counter on here. GO TEAM BACON!
Now playing: Audio Bullys - Only Man

THE UPHILL STRUGGLE IS OVER! We will be celebrating our engagement party on the 18th June. Not everyone can make it but its the only date all the family can do (and you're never too old to live in fear of your mother). I'm actually a bit worried about filling the space now. We should get a pretty decent turn out but I went for a few (too many) drinks at the venue last night and its pretty big. I might have to invite some very fat people and strategically place them about the bar to fill it out a bit. Just not too near the buffet.

Now for the fun of building a Spotify playlist of top tunes! I want "When a man loves a woman" on repeat but its not the done thing. Apparently. If you have any suggestions then please leave them in the comments section.

We also had a chat with my fiancé's parents this weekend about the possibility of using the grounds of their beautiful home for our reception. Of course its just an idea at the moment but they seemed very happy about the prospect so we're very grateful and excited about that! It'd be perfect.

In other news we went to a Lego exhibition with my other half's nephews and nieces yesterday. There are no words to describe how amazing it was! I may have got SLIGHTLY overwhelmed. I bought a Lego ostrich. Isn't he a handsome beast?

Celebrating the news

MOOD: Still chuffed
N/P: Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel

So family and friends all know now, champagne has been quaffed, congratulatory helium balloons are already looking a bit limp and, most official of all, my Facebook profile now says "Engaged".


People liked it and ev'ryfin'.

We have agreed that an engagement party wouldn't be too self indulgent so now the first bit of work and organisation begins. We have had a trawl about Manchester to look at bars we might be able to use for our bash and have some possible dates. Dare I say, it's actually quite a fun thing to arrange. Apart from finding a date when everyone is free. That's like walking up hill. Through treacle. With two Vanessa Feltz's hanging on to your stylish yet affordable chinos.

There are some fantastic bars in this city. Some fancy, some basic. Some with cocktails, some with just beer. Some with outdoor space, projector screens & sound systems, some with disgruntled staff and a bucket. We're both leaning towards the bar that first popped into our heads. Maybe we are going with gut instinct...or maybe it's because the barman there was a pint of smouldering honey.

When ever and where ever we do it it's going to be bloody lovely I'm sure. I intend to be so shit faced by 9pm that I'm chatting up my own reflection in a urinal.