It’s Wednesday 14th December, the night before Bob’s 32nd birthday and the night before we embark on our travels back home. 6pm comes round and no more work for us, hurrah! Bags packed, we head off for a celebratory dinner and bottle of fizz at our favourite restaurant, Chambers. Steak, chips and chocolate mousse was a welcome meal and we devoured it before joining our friends Liza and Nat for a few drinks. Exciting times were ahead and we couldn’t believe we were soon to be married.
Although we had been back to the UK in September, the past 10 weeks had been extremely busy with hen and stag parties, netball trips, golfing competitions and work, work, work. We were glad to finish up work and begin our 4 week holiday!
Bob spent his birthday in glorious sunshine. 27C and clear skies = golf and off he went to the golf club for a quick 9 holes. BBQ followed, with me trying to catch some last minute rays of sunshine before we headed to the airport. The wedding dress was coming with us as my hand luggage and it was all ready to go, pristine and crease-free. I tried my best to keep it flat and uncrushed – I managed to get it into the taxi from our house to the train station but then, on getting out of the taxi, the hanger managed to get caught in the wheel rim and, as the taxi pulled away, my dress went with it – noooo! In a mild panic, I managed to unhook it before the taxi man stepped on the accelerator. Phew. That wouldn’t have been good had it been whisked away under the tyre of the car. Needless to say, the dress made it to Scotland. Despite falling off the hanger on several occasions, being squished up on the plane from Singapore to London and being pulled off the train by Bob, it was in one piece by the end of the journey. I must admit, I was being a little less cautious with it by the time we arrived in Glasgow – the poor dress got shoved on the trolley and into the boot of the car. It has 10 days to recover!
We arrived in Glasgow to SNOW! Excellent news – all fresh and white and crunchy, perfect for a winter wedding. 4C was a bit of a shock to the system but at the same time, it was a welcome surprise. We bustled ourselves into my parents’ car and off we went to Brookfield for some dinner and a catch up before crashing into bed at my sister’s house. We had made it to Scotland without any Qantas strikes, volcanic ash eruptions or cancellations due to snow. Brilliant.
Bob and I spent the weekend in Glasgow, visiting my gran and auntie and enjoying an Ashoka curry with Helen and Steven. Bob and Steven went shooting/beating on the Sunday whilst Helen and I attempted a game of badminton. Helen plays regularly at the David Lloyd club but I hadn’t played in a while and, as expected, I got beaten. Not too badly though, 21-10 and 21-14. It could have been worse!! Then I met up with my friends Rachael and Gillian, and Gills’ 6 week old baby Lewis who was looking rather cute and snuggly in his snow suit. Apparently this snow suit is the only thing that keeps him from crying so it is on 23 hours from 24! Wonder what will happen in summer.......We had a lovely Sunday carvery at the local River Inn and it was good to catch up on their news. Rachael has been looking for a new job and has found one that she likes which is closeby. Gillian is enjoying being a new mum but it sounds exhausting! No honeymoon babies for me......
Sunday evening, we head through to Cramond to catch up with Bob’s parents and to stay there for a couple of days. It’s fun to arrive back there and find a second wardrobe full of clothes! It’s also quite exciting to be next to Cramond Kirk – only 1 week to go! With Christmas only 1 week away, and with us not having bought any presents (clothes took priority in my suitcase!), we spent the next two days on a major shopping spree, for Christmas gifts and wedding thankyous. Of course, we managed to treat ourselves to lunch at La Favorita on Leith Walk, a much missed restaurant! We also met up with my old Onyx netball team in the Christmas Market on Princes Street for a mulled wine and some chat. Everyone was just the same, although Ash did tell a funny story about her work Christmas party, a faulty clutch bag and a pair of Spanks. Hilarious and cringeworthy at the same time! My feet were getting numb and I couldn’t feel my ears so hometime for us (must be getting soft with the Australian climate!) Back to Cramond for a wee glass of wine in front of the fire to wrap some Christmas presents and to welcome Lindsey home from Brussels. We also got a rendition of St Kilda Wedding on her violin which was brilliant – can’t wait to hear it at the wedding along with Sarah on the cello.
On Wednesday, Bob and I went our separate ways – Bob stayed in Edinburgh and I headed back to Glasgow. On Wednesday evening, I had a good catch up with Alison and Alison in Amaretto in Bridge of Weir. I cannot believe Emily is now 1 year old! How time has flown. The other Alison was telling stories of Amy in the nativity play, I’m sure she made a rather confident angel from the sounds of things! It was good to chat about our life in Australia and to discuss the pros and cons of staying out there compared to coming home. Decisions, decisions.
I spent some time with my sister on Thursday, picking up some last minute bits and pieces for the wedding and having a good chat over a pizza at Prezzo. I then headed up to Glasgow to Denise’s new flat in the west end. What a beautiful flat! Very different to Vinicombe Street!!! Takeaway curry for dinner (yas!), some fizz (hurray!) then into Byres Road to meet up with Andy in what used to be The Salon. Lots of wedding chat (6 days to go!) and a rehearsal of Denise’s reading with Andy signing for her. At this point, I wasn’t sure if I could keep a straight face on the day. They are a couple of comedians.
Friday was a girly day out with my mum and sister in Glasgow. I was still hunting for hair piece (5 days to go!) and had to pop to the Rogano for a voucher as a thank you to my parents. We still found time to visit Jamie’s Italian for lunch (delicious) before heading homewards to meet up with my old school pals Louise and Heather in the local Trust pub. We were not prepared for the ‘party night’!! A dancefloor full of 18 year olds dancing to Rihanna in a dingy little pub in Kilbarchan was not the quiet drinks we had planned, but it sure made the evening interesting!! Louise’s boyfriend Nick joined us for a couple of drinks and they were excitedly telling us about their new house just outside the city of Cambridge. Moving in day 4th January, not long to go. It was just like old times as they walked me through the village back to my sister’s house so that I didn’t get mugged 5 days before the wedding! How considerate.
Saturday was Christmas Eve and Bob drove through for a day of visiting my gran and papa, and my auntie and uncle. Everyone was on good form and looking forward to the wedding. My papa had bought a suit especially for the occasion, grey with pink stripes, although there had been a mix up with the tailoring and we weren’t sure if he was going to turn up with short trouser legs and sleeves that were too long! Something to look forward to........Bacon rolls and coffee at my auntie’s before heading to the Fox for a traditional Christmas Eve pint by the fire. All the usual suspects were there – Helen, Steven, Mum, Dad, Andy, Amanda, Callum, Emily, Mike, Bob and I. There were a few familiar faces in the Fox, including Bill behind the bar and my old boss Jonathon. We headed off about 6pm to drive through to Cramond, via the chippy, and enjoyed another couple of drinks by the fire. Brian and Polly, and Matthew, popped into the manse about 9pm for a drink before we headed to the watchnight service in Cramond Kirk. We were of course late to the service and almost missed our grand entrance as Bob’s dad introduced the soon to be married couple, however Lindsey gave us the heads up as we walked through the door and Bob danced his way across the pews to a very loud applause (I hid behind him!!). Christmas carols followed, including a rousing rendition of 12 days of Christmas, then the service itself. Back to the manse for (hot!) mince pies and sausage rolls and once again, despite having the assistance of a thermometer, Brian still managed to burn his tongue. Numpty.
Sunday morning on Christmas Day and I zoomed back to Glasgow to enjoy Christmas with my sister, Steven, Mum and Dad and of course Meg Dog who was spoilt rotten. As usual, I was spoilt too. All thoughts of me fitting into my wedding dress were thrown out the window once the turkey and all trimmings were brought to the table. Absolutely delicious, well done Steven - damn you pigs in blankets! Christmas Day was topped off with an hilarious Just Dance session - my dad seemed to be doing his own dances but my mum was beating everyone with her flexible arms and bottom shaking. Beyonce, look out! Much fun. 3 days to go!!!!!
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