predencia

What a day – a complete whirlwind. I even did washing today – what was I thinking about? I didn’t want to start my new life with a pile of dirty washing.

We collected the dresses and we looked beautiful (at least we thought so). The lady in the dress shop hugged us and wished us well. She has 34 other brides getting married tomorrow – marriage is not dead then. The forcast is for good weather.

We had a party in the suite, my brother, sons, nephew and bridesmaid. It was lovely but I seemed to be rushing around making sure they were ok – just like being at home really. There was food, wine, beer and great conversations. My sons saw the hen night photos for the first time and one of them is threatening to use them in his speech tomorrow. He kept shaking his head as if in disbelief – though eventually admitted that they were tasteful. (Must get some up on site soon).

My future parents in law are down the corridor and said I still had time to change my mind. They said tomorrow they will be ‘mom and dad’ to me – at least in law.

So here I am, about to go to bed for the last time as Mrs Gabbidon, no longer carrying the name of my children (at least two of them) they will all be equal now. I will have a different surname to all of them. I will be changing my numerlogy energy for something more dynamic and less egocentric. Will be interesting to see how that pans out.

I am excited now. Almost as excited as my bridesmaid. Just hope I can sleep!!

I spent two and a half hours getting my nails done today. It was fantastic. I sat in a wonderful chair that massaged my back while a very attentive nail therapist gave me a pedicure and painted pretty pictures on my nails. Why have I never done this before? I certainly think it will be somethinhg I’ll be doing a lot more of now – at least once a month.

Lots of wins today. All the stuff delivered the Belfry (main events manager responsible for the wedding is ill, we’ve been assured she will be back by Saturday) but didn’t get to taste the curry mutton. I forgot to ask and the work experience assistant probably didn’t know about the tasting. Maybe tomorrow but it’s now at the stage where I’m just going to have to trust that the chef gets it right on the night.

I go my hair done. Hairdresser coming on Saturday morning to make sure I’m properly styled but the groundwork has been done. Huge complements at my bellydance class tonight.

All presents bought. Number one son has his shoes and I’ve managed to get all sons all agreed on a time for checking in at the Belfry. They will allow us to check out at 2 p.m. on Sunday, three hours later than normal checkout, on account on our anticipated late night on Saturday.

Friends arrived from New York, Barbados and Finland today.

It’s been a long day but I think the meditation this morning helped to stretch the hours and foster a sense of calm – or was that the back massage? Quite a bit of running around tomorrow but I feel that I’ve broken the back of it now!

It’s just felt like a slog today. The punch is made, the champagne is bought, the presents have been secured, the body has been worked out and steamed, the flowers are confirmed, the MC has been contacted, the braids have been removed (in preparation for the new style tomorrow) and I am knackered.

High points- getting the dance right with Andrew – very high point. Finding the right presents. Having my ring cleaned and looking like new again. Acheiving everything I set out to do toady.

Did I mention I’m knackered. Have not even checked to see if my friends from Finland and Barbados landed safely today. Have not been in touch with my friend from Canada who landed in Manchester on the 9th.

Only two more days of the rushing around then it’s D-Day or should I say W-Day. Cards have begun to arrive. It feels very real!!

Oh God, the time seem to be rushing by. I had to cancel my massage today so I could meet a photographer in town. She’s lovely and will be photographing the evening part of the wedding when the official photographer goes home. All she wants is for us to buy a minimum of 30 prints from her if we like them. She’s quite happy to come to the whole day (not sure if we can feed her) but I’m sure we can work something out.

The florist has still not confirmed our order. (To think we made the booking last March) She emailed me the quote instead of the confirmed booking/final invoice today. One of the guys phoned to ask if he needed shoes as the hire company didn’t give him any. I had to breathe deeply before responding because I specifically remember a conversation with him where I explained that he did need them. Must remember to go and get the replacement for the ones that didn’t fit on Saturday.

I’ve made a start on the punch; should be finished tomorrow; and I’ve started to take out my braids. Can’t get hold of the MC or the DJ and one of the singers is not returning my calls.

On the plus side, I managed to have a long conversation with one of my friends and was able to focus on her issues (her mom is very ill) instead of the wedding. Tomorrow is another day. Another day closer.

With five days to go to the wedding I completed my NLP Master Practitioner course. Following a presentation to 30+ people, we had the opportunity to listen to and critique the recordings we made of health and goal setting CDs. Although the content of my recording (the script) was rated highly by the trainers the quality of the recording was so poor that I had to do it again. We had the usual presentation ritual which this time included a beautiful crystal on which our names and qualificfations were engraved. We then headed out to Pastishe – a very nice bistro in Stafford with free desserts on Monday nights.

It was a stark contrast to yesterday when they had us abseiling down Ramshore Rocks (near Leek) BLINDFOLDED. The ultimate trust exercise. No brain space for any wedding stuff yesterday as I had to staqrt preparing for today’s presentation as soon as I got in.

Today it was Andrew doing the running around to pick up the table plan and order of ceremony from the stationer – who did not manage to make all the changes as she ran out of materials. She’s offered to reimburse me for the lack of standard – but I really would rather she had delivered what I wanted. Nothing I can do about it now as she’s off to Turkey on holiday from today.

All the men’s suits have been collected now – and they all fit (except the best man and we won’t know that till he arrives from America on Thursday) My friends from Canada, Barbados and Finland will all be here by Wednesday.

And there is still so much to do!!!

Highs and lows today. Picked up three of the suits for the guys today and they look stunning. The shop wants us to send them some pictures for thier portfolio. That was the high. The low? The table plan and order of service stationery were not what I was expecting and after a long debate I took them back to the supplier. She will re-do them for Monday before she goes on holiday.

Three of my friends have life threatening illnesses, which, when I reflected on it made my strop over the stationery seem like a childish tantrum.

I’ve found it very hard to concentrate on the forthcoming NLP presentation on Monday and for the first time since I began the course am not looking forward to a whole day of NLP tomorrow. Even less so since we’ve been told to bring outdoor clothes and the weather looks foul. Just praying it brightens up by next week.

The bridesmaid is ecstatic. Her dress looks fabulous on her and together we ooze sophistication and charm (if I do say so myself). The challenge will be doing ‘the dance’ in the dress. Went to the gym and ate only two mangoes before going for the fitting – then made up with some chips afterwards. Fitting reward for all my hard work and abstinance of the day.

How did I forget to book a room at the Belfry for my sister-in-law’s brother? And to top it all the hotel is fully booked for that night. Now I know they are not all my guests so who the hell else is filling the other 500+ rooms? Sorry guys, if you haven’t booked yet it’s too late.

All the men should be collecting their suits tomorrow – no call yet from the store in Nuneaton to say the two from there are ready. Loughborough, Bradford and Stockport have all got their’s in. Fingers crossed Nuneaton’s are in as I’ve arranged to take the two guys in tomorrow.

Some more wins today, and I am desperately tired. I made a decision not to attend the Property Mastermind course tomorrow so that I can have a lie in and go with the bridesmaid to try on her dress which arrived today. That phone call from the dress shop brought much relief, much whooping and cheering. (to the amazement of the gardener who was sitting in my kitchen when I got the news) The curry mutton recipe that I got from the Jamaica travel and culture site produced a lovely curry and I’ve now emailed the recipe to the chef. I have another tasting on Thursday. Please dear God let this one be good – dare I even hope for fantastic?

Got the ingredients in for the punch. Trying had to resist crisps – Walkers ready salted – mindful that a moment on the lips could ruin the fit of that dress. It all still feels a bit wierd. Sometimes I feel like I’m outside of me looking in as I make all the arrangements; sometimes it feels unreal, but I guess in 9 days time it will be real enough.

Had a few big wins. Dress fitted perfectly – only alteration needed is to shorten it a bit. Phew! Just need to keep the weight off now. Bridesmaid dress has been dispatched from the USA and she’s booked in for a fitting on Friday afternoon. Means I’m going to have to miss the afternoon session of Property Mastermind. Belfry stuff mainly sorted. Just trying to get a good curry mutton recipe to the chef – actually cooking one myself to be certain of the ingredients then I can emial it to him. Found my hair extensions on Soho Rd, sorted out the flowers today and our dance is much improved.

I’m finding it difficult to sleep now – so many small jobs left to be done – and I still have an NLP presentation to prepare and deliver. I hope tonight will be a good one for sleep in the light of thisw rapid movement.

Yes, it was on Broad Street and it was enormous fun. We started off in Around the World in 80 Dishes and moved on to The Brasshouse to finish off the night. The combination of Moulin Rouge and Bond Girls was a huge success – randon people stopped us to take photos and we were seriously propositioned as we waited for our lift at the end of the night. Hoping to post a few pics on the blog soon. Not sure if it was one too many champagnes or one too many coctails but I had to go back to bed this afternoon.

The plans are going well. Only two hiccups – the bridesmaid dress is proving to be very elusive as are my hair extensions. My only regret just now is agreeing to do the NLP Master Prac course this close to the wedding. We (the four of us on the course) have to do a half day workshop on Monday the 13th to approximately 40 people – something I’d prefer not to have to think about just now.

I’m going for my dress alterations tomorrow and just hope I’ve done enough on the diet front to do it justice.