Summer Solstice

The good old British weather is living up to it's reputation by delivering the most miserable, drizzly, cold, dark day for the longest day of the year. We won't be able to experience the longest day because it will be cut short by the clouds bringing the night in early.

But today is also a very happy day as we have Noodle to stay until tomorrow. We've already made a shopping list, a mess and jelly. Not bad for a morning I don't think. Daddy has taken her to a party this afternoon so me and 'im indoors have reverted to our usual afternoon activities - him reading in the other room and me surfing t'internet and keeping the washing machine going, all without the aid of a safety net I might add!

Noodle will be back to have tea with us. Sausages were the preferred option, oh and jelly of course. I wonder how many stories I will read Noodle tonight? That's such a special time and an opportunity I treasure. We're bound to read Maisie Goes Camping. That's Noodle's absolute favourite. She knows it so well she says it with me and we laugh so much because we know what's coming. Then there's Thomas the Tank Engine. Another favourite of Noodle's but I'm just getting used to those stories. She knows the characters really well. On a visit to the Nene Valley Railway last Christmas she was beside herself when Santa arrived in a railway carriage pulled by Thomas himself. She almost bounced off Grandad's shoulders!

This week there have been a lot of wedding preparations. We had our makeup rehearsal last Saturday. I am now the proud owner of a pair of trim, balanced and shapely eyebrows. I hope you're impressed! We were very pleased with the makeup that was chosen for us and we all agreed we looked stunning. With nowhere to go.

On Monday we ordered the cake from M&S.

On Tuesday Daughter and her bessy mate/bridesmaid had dress fittings. Daughter looked stunning and I had a tear in my eye. Bridesmaid looked wonderful too and was very pleased with the flattering effect of the dress. She is very shy and doesn't take compliments easily but I hope I was able to convince her that she looked gorgeous. Because she did.

On Wednesday we finalised the arrangements with the florist. All the flowers will be colour co-orginated with the wedding outfits. It will be beautiful. The other members of the wedding party are two more young bridesmaids, Noodle and a seven year old from the grooms side, and two page boys one 5 and one 7. More than enough for bessie mate bridesmaid to handle. Plus of course Noodle 2 who also has a special little dress and silk shoes. No photo's until after the event so don't ask. Daughter would KILL me!

On Thursday we took the chain daughter will wear to the jewellers to be shortened. (It goes with a pendant that I wore at my wedding - see previous posts).

On Friday I babysat noodle 2 while daughter took chocolate labrador Poppy to the vet for annual jabs and duplicates of vet's records which were lost in daughter's recent move. Well, probably not lost but they are somewhere in the garage and we all agreed it would be far easier to get duplicates than to start rummaging through boxes piled to the roof.

So here we are, only three weeks to go. Next weekend is the first of two hen nights - oh dear, not a sober breath will be drawn!