Wedding of the year!

So *this* is why I haven't been blogging...life! Son#1 got married to his lovely lady...

Just look at those cars! The Rolls Royce delivered the groom and his men, then came back for the proud parents. The bride and bridesmaids traveled in a vintage American motor.

This is one of my favourite pics - just for a moment they hammed it up - "Shall we sign or not?" 

I'd stopped crying by that point. Just about!

Best man is son#2, bridesmaid is our lovely daughter. 

And believe me, the rainbow of crepe paper ribbons took FOREVER to hang, but doesn't it look lovely?

The tables were named after famous couples from movies...and yes, the flowers really are in a skull. Can you see the table confetti? They were cut from Harry Potter books.

The cake was SPECTACULAR. It's covered in chocolate, not icing (Choccywoccydoodah). There is a golden snitch (Harry Potter again) at the top. Well, there would be. 

 The first dance *sniffle*

We all joined in after that - I haven't had dancing blisters for decades, but I had some the next morning! Seen here with son#2

With MrNifty - don't we look pleased?

And finally - yes, of course there were meerkats! 

Congratulations to you both, I'm so proud to finally be a mother-in-law!!

Nifty goes Aussie!

My family and I watched every episode of everything Steve Irwin was in, and I still watch Bindi the Jungle Girl whenever I spot it in the schedule. I'm not entirely sure it's aimed at 50+ Brits though ;-) I didn't know there was an official Steveo day though - did you?



CROCS RULE... and so do kangaroos!



See more pics (or even buy the family) in Zibbet

Family Heritage

As some of you know, I've been looking after my aunt since she was discharged from hospital. I lived with her (and my uncle) many years ago when I was a teen, and although we've been in regular touch since then, I hadn't spent so very many hours and days together for a long time.

I asked her about her bureau:



I already knew my late grandfather (her father) had made it - but what I hadn't realised is that he made ALL the furniture for their home before he married my grandmother! Only the bureau and a small chess table remain in the family, and my aunt has promised them to me.

Imagine - he made two wardrobes, his and hers chests and dressing table, dining table and chairs, bookcases, the beds - EVERYTHING! He took over the family building firm in time, so he obviously knew what he was doing!

I remember him making me some stilts when I was a child, and a bagatelle game which I still own. I was quite rude about it at the time - he'd made it the traditional way, with a little stick to shove the ball up the alley. I wanted a "proper" spring loaded firer - so he added one.



At home, I have what is probably the last remaining piece of my grandparent's combined work, hti sfirescreen thta stands in my fireplace all summer, once the need for a log fire is over:



My grandmother did the embroidery, my grandfather was (of course) the carpenter.

Finally - I found a knitting pattern in a charity shop and snapped it up immediately:

I remember quite vividly knitting these outfits with my grandmother for my Sindy doll - must have been early 60s. I couldn't manage sewing in the zip or crocheting the edge on the blue and white suit, so she finished them for me.



I remember feeling very uncertain when knitting the stripy dress. My grandmother gave me scraps of wool to use up (as you would) and they weren't the specified colours - I wasn't sure that was "allowed". That says a lot about me!

It's true, isn't it - you don't know what you've got till it's gone?

What's family history mean to you? Is there anything at home that's been passed down?

Soul town

Easter Saturday was a rare treat - MrNifty and I met up with all 3 of our kids in Brighton. We had lunch at Giraffe and then went to a SoulTown gig where son#2 was playing. This is me & OH in back, son#1 and gf in front, blonde random person just snuck into pic by accident. The backdrop was great, and had lights shining through the "windows" once the house lights were down.



son#2 is the sax player on the left. The band all wear black and red, but I think the red shades might have been one step too far? The singer in the red dress has fantastic hair, I love it!



son#2 plays keyboards as well



but playing both at the same time is just showing off ;-)



finally - my beautiful daughter, who took the photos (but not this one!)