Hair trimmed.
Suits collected.
Cake to collect.
Wine to deliver to reception venue.
Nerves? What nerves? (runs off and hides)
Category: married life
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Two days to go
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Three days to go
Can I confess to being a bit nervous?
Today is my last day officially working. Tomorrow will be spent running around with cases of wine and wedding cake, and Friday is supposed to be a day for relaxation before the mayhem of Saturday. So, I’m working to tie up a few loose ends and put PFE to bed until I get back from the honeymoon.
I’m finding concentration very difficult indeed.
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Four days to go
Well, the weather forecast is good for Saturday.
The last 24 hours has seen us working on exciting things like the place cards, orders of service and seating plan, as well as ensuring that the DJ plays the music we want to hear (no Robbie, no Queen, no Freddie – but Dancing Queen is ok. Plenty of Stones, Beatles, Van Morrison plus a bit of Madonna and Prince as well as a few newer tracks we like too). And I’ve put my foot down over the whole first dance idea – I don’t want everyone staring at me as I tread on Hels’s toes!Yesterday was the first anniversary of the day that Hels and I met. On Saturday, directly after we are married, we are going to walk the 100 yards or so from the church to the spot where we first set eyes on each other, just outside Trevor Mottram’s Cook Shop (where we have our wedding list). To get to the church, I’ll walk past the café where we had our first coffee and biscotti together.
It’s been a strange year, at times stressful, mostly wonderfully happy, but undoubtedly the best year ever. -
Just five days
Not long now.
The weekend was spent settling in. Not that it is really that strange to be here – I’ve lived here for half the time for a quite a while now, but now there is nowhere else to go back to.
On Saturday, we had the wedding rehearsal. I can’t say that either of us remember very much about it – where we are supposed to stand, when to sit down, when to kneel – but we did learn that we can’t expect much from either the chief bridesmaid or the best man – both are likely to dissolve into tears on the day. Great. What hope is there for us? At least we are confident that Reverend Sue will guide us through the whole thing with a sense of humour.
Yesterday, a little safer in the knowledge that it will be our home by the end of November, Hels and I went down to the village where we shall be moving to, went for a quick drink in the local and then for a short walk across the nearby fields. We sussed out a lovely circular walk that will be ideal for exercising the legs of visitors after a heavy meal, or building an appetite in advance of one. It’s a beautiful spot, with gently rolling hills, lots of woodland and the odd bovine spectator.
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Progress
The man from NatWest, he say yes!
We now have finance in place to buy our new home, in spite of Hels’s sale falling through. We are one very relieved and very happy couple. Our solicitor is on the case with full speed. -
Speaking of reckless or, to be more precise, homeless…
I finished packing and dumping the stuff at the parents’ house very late last night. It would have been later still without the huge help of Tim.
A few minutes ago, I went round to check my mail for the last time and then went to the estate agent and handed over the keys.So, that’s it. I’m homeless.
Thankfully, a very nice lady in Tunbridge Wells has agreed to put me up.
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Moving experience
Today I shall mostly be moving furniture and stuff.
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Lift off
Looks like I’m "go" for moving out on Friday of this week, handing the keys to my estate agent by midday.
Number 188 has been home for almost exactly five-and-a-half years. Not only that, but it has also been the first home of my own. It’s seen a lot of stories unfold within its walls, and I’ll be sad to leave, though not as sad as I am to leave Chichester.
On the other hand, and much more happily, life is turning a new corner, and the future and its opportunities look fantastic.In other property news, we’re still trying to sort out things with the sale of Hels’s flat. We’re also looking at re-negotiating the purchase price of the house we’re still attempting to buy, as we have received a valuation survey that prices it a little lower than the offer price.
Stress levels are still high. -
Stag
This picture does not show me tied to some railings with clingfilm whilst being soaked with a watering can and garden hose. Oh no.Thanks to everyone that came along for my stag night on Saturday. Particular thanks to Kristian at W2, and to Tim for putting the whole thing together. A very good time was had by all (I think – I can’t remember!).
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Exchange
My solicitor has just called. We have, in the last few minutes, exchanged contracts on my flat. I should be out by the end of the week, or next Monday at the latest. Hurrah!
And she continues to work hard on all the other issues relating to Hels’s sale and our new home too. Top marks to her.