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Monday 9 March 2009

I Am What I Am + Four Weddings and A Funeral!

wedding dress Pictures, Images and Photos

Hello mes Bloggy Chums! I have been absent without leave for a few days, being distracted by the shiny, on and off - I can't resist the lure of the golden Tippy Tappy, and running around your blogspaces like a woman possessed, as I prepared for, and recovered from, the weekend wedding that was...

More in a mo', and more will follow tomoz, for I think my blog is getting too long for some folk to digest de temps en temps... Let me know your thoughts, please?

(I must be really honest, I am being driven to distraction by two things today - One is that my lovely neighbour appears to be decorating his living room with only drawing pins as highlights (tin tacks), from the intermittent light tapping and scraping that is going on next door.

I can hear this through our shared chimbley wall; Two, that in my usual trawl about t'Internet in search of photies, I spent ages looking at one collection alone - A young girl obviously from the images, and she had the same name as my home town... Perusing her pics, most of them portrayed the usual teenage angst type of thing - Not belonging, romancing death, some emo stuff, and loads of shots of anorexic-fashioned girls... This upset me... I know I cannot do anything at all about it, and I understand it does go on, but it troubles me this fetishizing of anorexia... Goddessing of the obscenely thin... Shots of exposed shoulders, sunken cheekbones, hollow eyes, long lank hair, bones, bones, bones... and it upset me.)

Moving on from sadness I cannot control, because I must...

Please can you check out over there on the sidebar that, if you want to follow my blog, you are actually there amidst my beloved followers? I think the recent changes in Gaggle and Blagger have meant that we might have lost some of the connections we once had made, and I would love it if you would come back to me... YOU ARE MY TOUCHSTONES... mes amis.

Touchstone Pictures, Images and Photos

I noticed when visiting some blogspaces over the weekend, that a few people I was following no longer had my little icon there as a follower, so unless they wanted to delete me (which might have been the case, but I doubt it for they still talk to me!), Blagger had lost our connection to the ethereal winds! I have now re-connected, and I am inviting you to do the same, but only if you would like to, mes dahlinks... I shan't send the boys around if you do not!

BodyGuards Pictures, Images and Photos

Today, I'd love to bring your attention to this wonderful bloggero, Derrick
@ Melrose Musings Derrick posts practically daily from a beautiful part of Scotland, the Melrose of his title!

Gypsy Knits cotton socks Pictures, Images and Photos
Derrick, bless his little cotton socks (shown above!), picked up on a couple of my recent Meme musings, and I was touched to the core of my heart by his own, very personal and wonderful take on my I Am I Said posting...
which in turn had been picked up (pilfered/purloined/pinched, you might say), from the lovely Diane over at Diane's Addled Ramblings, who is back from her blogging hiatus, suitably refreshed and restored...

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Please go and read Derrick's blog - The essence of me - You might want to take a tissue with you, mes loves, it is beautiful and surpassed mine own, just as Diane's original post did! I am not fit to water the flower boxes in Diane's and Derrick's bloggy spaces, you know - Sniff, sniff...

"I am the only woman who has not been beheaded for leaving the Royal Family"
Sarah, Duchess of York.

sarah ferguson Pictures, Images and Photos

Where is she going with this, you ask? Did you know that Sarah and I have a history together? No, you say... Well, our paths have crossed deux fois, twice... While a young whipper-snapper living in the Highlands, the then Duchess of York visited the city, and I remember it was a real Winnie the Pooh and The Blustery Day, and the fabric of her pencil skirt suit billowed about her person and her russet locks stirred in the breeze... ~ I always had a soft spot for Sarah, even though I would never describe myself as a royalist, I felt she had a bad press in life, that she had been mis-advised by others, and ultimately elbowed out by a bunch of snooty, overweening, psychophantic courtiers, steeped in the ink of ages...

In fact, Sarah and I were actually married on practically the same day, on which a street party was due to be held in the seaside town where our reception was to be held... I recall standing before a scarifying councillor (local politicians in the UK), having him assure me that, come hell or high water, Fhina's wedding reception would not be disrupted by the planned road closures... And it wasn't derailed, not one iota!

Even when it turned out that some of the wedding guests - Chaotic friends of my husband's family, who had been wrestling with ferrying their small children between the church and the wedding reception two miles away, inadvertently left their tiny, carry-cotted, baby behind with my dad, who turned up at the reception in anot her car (all his life he never had a driving licence, and he was always happy for women to escort him, or he took the bus!), looking puzzled and bemused, but thankfully still with baby boy and carry cot in hand!

Purple Wedding Dress Pictures, Images and Photos

In fact, my other claim to fandom fame, for British readers only, who will actually know this TV actor, is that I was married in the same church as actor, and intrepid fisherman, Robson Green!

Mmmmmm ..... Pictures, Images and Photos

...But not at the same time obviously - Not for me, unlike Comedy Goddess, a marriage to rock royalty, Jon Bonjovi!

Tartan Wedding Dress Pictures, Images and Photos

So, Saturday's Wedding! What do you want to know?

The bride, Madeleine, wore a stunning dark purple silk taffeta sleeveless dress with a lace bolero. Her red updo hung in pretty ringlets. The groom, my friend Phil, wore a dark suit, white shirt and matching purple tie... There were no bridesmaids, and the two witnesses were their brothers, respectively...

My wedding dress Pictures, Images and Photos

We were photographed on entering the hotel by the jobbing photographer, a lovely friend of Phil's, David, who apologised for the fact that this was the first wedding he had photographed! At one point in the proceedings, I spotted him outside the hotel, taking photographs in through the open window! Bizarre, but beautiful, non...?

GJ and I felt truly honoured to share their day, for there were less than 40 guests... Phil introduced me to his new brother-in-law as 'my mentor..', which made me blush with love and pride! (Perhaps some of the advice I have given him over the years has stuck somewhere in his psyche?)

We were led into a smaller room, all laid out for the ceremony, and we mingled briefly and were seated, while explosively-popping streamers were passed into clammy hands...

Pink Wedding Dress Pictures, Images and Photos

Phil and Madeleine walked down the aisle, holding hands, to the lilt of gently tinkling classical music... His hand brushed mine, nervously, as he sloped down to his first marriage, Mad's second... It had taken a lot to get them to this wonderful conclusion, I mused.

Two women officiated, and I thought - not for the first time - That's where I should be - Up there, a registrar; I would love all that... The pomp, the ceremony, the love, bringing people together at happier moments in their lives...

(I never told you that the week my dad died, and GJ and I had to go and register his passing, the female registrar, perhaps recognising kinfolk, said to me, between my sobs, that with my background, I would make a lovely registrar! I still look out for vacancies from time to time...de temps en temps.)

The deed done, the offer of marriage sealed, Mads and Phil came smiling back up the aisle, Mad's hair replete with popped streamers, gleaming gold like sunshine...

We schmoozed, the air full of fond wishes and celebratory hugs and handshakes...

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Seated for lunch on the table occupied by Phil's sister, his two grown-up, gorgeous nieces and one of their fiances, the Photographer, his stunning wife, and the Guitarist and his stunning wife, GJ and I proceeded to have a wonderful time...

You know when you go to weddings, and you perhaps know only the bride, or only the groom, you wonder how you will get on, whether you will mix, or just sit out the day in hushed silence?

We fit together around the table like 10 whirring cogs in a wheel, exchanging jokes and banter, talking about food and life; Phil's friends started at hearing him being called Uncle Philip, it just rang so strange to our ears; Wine was drunk, orange juice was partaken of and toasts were made... It was the best wedding I had ever been to. GJ and I both agreed, we had been made to feel as if we were part of the family...

PINK dress, shoes, bouquet Pictures, Images and Photos

Much of the closeness that I have grown to feel to Phil over a number of years - I was his boss 12 years ago, and he followed me to our new office, although we work on different teams - We have been through thick and thin together, splits and reconciliations, tormented parenting and family feuds, work stresses and strains and various tensions in our relationships, including bereavements - I felt this closeness again within his family and network of friends... They were stars, all, as are you...

So, watch out for yourselves, I shall conclude demain, and if you are close to teens (particularly girls) please watch out for signs of what has upset me today, mes loves? I beg of you.

24 comments:

Diane said...

I want to read your 'I Am' post but I can't find it! Can you tell me the date, dear Fhina, so I can zero in on it quickly? Thanks!! XO

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Diane, I am sorry - I accidentally published before it was ready - Please click on the grey - I Am I Said in this blog, and it's there as a direct link - I am just so not with it today! xox

Saz said...

sounds like a great time was had....good weddings are rare, great weddings l find dont happen, the stress the families, the presents, the meringues of dresses, urghhh..l dont like them l confess....they give me the heeby jeebys....

though if I woulda, l wish l could wear the Viv Westwood Dita is wearing that is gorrrrgeous!!!
look forward till tomorrow..
I'm like got ants in my pants, we are supposed to be moving this weekend and all the paper still isnt done.my tummy is crunching so bad l could barf bog time!! I darent star packing..for the boxes all over the sow..and then open a cupboard and groan....wish l could chuck it all..but then would regret beaucoup!

bfn SAZ X

Suldog said...

I am, indeed, still listed among your followers.

Anonymous said...

I am listed amongst your followers! D'you know, I have always liked Sarah Ferguson. I don't know what it is about her but she was like a breath of freshair to a very staid Royal family. Her and Diana laughed. Chatted. Lived. Maybe not as normal a life as you and I but certainly more normal than the Royal family were doing back then. Of course times have now changed.

You have some great pictures published here, esp that one of Robson Green, yum.

CJ xx

Jinksy said...

Confirmed ugly mug still following you - have you been getting nghtmares from it?

DAB said...

I'm still here m'dear. I do so love a good old wedding - jolly laughter and good wine ;-) TFx

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Saz: I sympathize, darling, and it shall be wonderful, I just know! I shall send some more 'Allyday to soothe you before the weekend! I had overlooked that that was Dita - How beautiful she was in that splendid dress! You will get there in the end, come hell or high water, fire or flood - and it will be splendiferous! xox

Suldog: Thanks, Sir - Mind you, it's people like Scriptor Senex and Diane that I've lost as followers and they are my regulars, if you forgive the bawdy inference - I know they've slipped my gauzy net! LOL! x

CJ: Thank you for checking, love - Please also see my comment for the bold Suldog!

My friend had a right royal intro to the lovely Robson when she crashed into his wall when he used to live up here in the north!!! He was recently spotted in his auntie's hair salon in Cramlington too - He brings lots of film work to the north east and is wonderful to the Live Theatre, you know? x

Jinksy - No nightmares, darling, not from the wedding, it's just friends I am missing the faces of when they were there before - Like Diane and the Scriptor, GB at Eagleton Notes and so on - People I know were there and now they're not, and the same thing had happened with me at 2 blogs I regularly attend, just as I am regularly at yours! I'm not mad, I've just got too much time on me hands! LOL xox

TF: You are ever welcome, treasure - I had a couple of sips of the sparkly champagne, I must admit - It was lovely to be at something lovely - I am wibbling again, just watch me! xo

Zuzana said...

I absolutely love the top picture in your post; I like everything about it, including the dress. I hope one day I can wear a dress like that.
I am happy you had a great Saturday evening.;)))

blognut said...

I'm pretty sure I'm still there in your followers unless you deleted me, but I shall check!

Love the wedding story - love your blog - as always, Fhina!

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Protege: You would look resplendent in ruby red, you have the right colouring - You would be terrific, you just need to persuade your charming OH! xox

Bloggus Nuttus: My darling, I delete no-one, all comers are welcome in my mad space! Glad you enjoyed the Tales of Love! LOL xxx

GB said...

Hi. I hadn't left your blogspace but I seemed to have disappeared from your followers. No idea why. Presumably part of the recent update by Google. But why didn't I disappear from any other blog I follow?

And yes, I do have a problem with the size of your blog, part of the reason for the paucity of my comments recently (the other being that I've been away from home). I have mobile broadband (can't get the real thing at The Cottage) and it can be quite slow and some of your blogs just wouldn't download.

Hope that's helpfull.

Scriptor Senex said...

Yes, I'm still following you.

Yes, there are occasions when the quantity of words can be a bit overpowering - Hell, you did ask.... But that could simply be a sign that I'm following too many bloggers and should cut down on my reading of blogs generally.

And I loved your pictures today. Very weddingy and very smart...

LOL
SS

Bee said...

It is wonderful to go to a wedding when you are in the middle years of life. After a great drought, in which only divorces bloomed, we are looking forward to a festive and small-ish event in October. Sounds much like the one that you attended.

I suppose that teenagers -- who cannot really believe that they will die -- like to dice with life-denying stuff (near starvation, binge drinking and such). As you get older, you realize how precious it all is . . .

Reasons said...

I was lost to you as a follower but now am found. Bad Google.

Wedding sounds good, they can be a great lift to the spirits when they go well. Dress sounds fab.

Teenage girls - so vunerable, we need to watch them you are so right.

auntiegwen said...

My wedding anniversary is July 23rd just like Sarah's. I love weddings too and I think being a registrar would be a lovely job, as I sit here I think most things other than teaching would be a lovely job

Anonymous said...

And you claim to be a woman of no importance...You are far too humble mon amie :).

findingmywingsinlife said...

Ah, I do love reading your posts. I agree with your sentiments on the anorexia notion. It also makes me sad and a bit angry.

As for the length of your posts, make them however you wish to make them, is that not what we come to read? you have an interesting way that you think and write, so share it the way you see fit.

ArtistUnplugged said...

What a romping time it sounds like all of you had....thanks for such a wonderful description! I too have come across such a blog of someone mixed up in such a way. Very sad. Take care!!!!

Carma Sez said...

My, you have had quite a few brushes with fame!! And you would be wonderful officiating over weddings, with your superb prose. So many nice dresses in this post; if only I had occasion to dress up :D

French Fancy... said...

Lovely pictures but I must admit I do speed read (scan and miss, scan and miss) quite a lot of your posts, simply due to lack of time. The pics are good though - you do like your images don't you :)

Rob-bear said...

"I Am What I Am + Four Weddings and a Funeral"

And they're all different types of "grave undertakings" -- as in different types of "grave" and different types of "undertakings," if you follow me.

Carolina said...

Ah, but if you were a registrar, how would you illustrate your speeches? Perhaps with a projector, projecting all sorts of lovely images on the walls. Hmmm?
Oh, and I love the picture of Robson Green, who is quite a hunk me thinks (but it would perhaps be inappropriate to project that image on the wall during a wedding. If he isn't the groom that is).

A Woman Of No Importance said...

GB and Scriptor Senex: Mind, you can always rely upon men for their honesty! Thank you for your support and your words, which I shall really try to heed! Very helpful!

Google is a beggar, is it not! I have trimmed the page down so that only one posting shows at once, and that might help the download speed, and I shall also try to inject less colour! I tend to run away with myself and enthusiasm, to be truthful!

Bee: I think it is entirely true - We hadn't been to a wedding or christening in years, only funerals, so it is lovely to celebrate something positive again! I hope you enjoy your event - Something to really look forward to, Bee! x

And teenagers, don't get me started!

Reasons to be Cheerful 1,2,3: Welcome back my love! Bad, bad Google/Blagger! x

Auntie Gwennie: You do a wonderful job in teaching! We need you supporting the next generations! x

The Things We Carried: Bless you, kind friend, I hope that things are going sunnily for you in your world? xox

findingmywingsinlife: I am wholly with you on your sentiments - A desire to grab these young things and force them to understand the folly of their ways... And thank you so for your kind comments! x

Artist Unplugged: Thank you, and take care you too! x

Warm Carma: I would have to wear nice dresses as theatre at weddings if I were officiating, and how might I introduce cheeseballs to ceremonies do you think? A free jar with every vow?! xxx

FF: I do speed read others' blogs too, and I just thought mine might be getting a little unwieldy to read... Doesn't mean I won't do it again 'though! x

Rob-bear: Thank you! LOL...

Carolina: 'Tag! 'Tis too true, C, they would not be able to stop me, or make me shut up! Serene images projected on a screen at weddings might be just the thing! x I didn't know you would know Robson Green, I'm not sure how far he has travelled on TV outside of the UK, but the pic is a very good one! x
10 March 2009 09:33

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