Family Wedding

As anonymous commented on my last post, it has been a while. Just like London buses there will now be three turning up in quick succession.

The long heralded wedding of my second cousin Christine took place at the end of July. Paul and I were only invited to the evening reception. As is the norm for any family wedding on my side, however, Paul was still in the States so I would be going on my own. I was joking with Penny about this - half my relations probably think I am a poor deluded soul with an imaginary husband...

I took Jen and Poncho over to Sonia's in the morning and set off for Aberdeen in the very early afternoon. I have never seen so many speed cameras as on the road between Dundee and Aberdeen. After missing the turn to the hotel and heading into Aberdeen proper, I eventually arrived there about 4.15 pm. As I was checking in my sister, brother-in-law and nephew wandered past. We arranged to meet in the bar before getting the coach that was to take us to the venue.

The coach was due at 6.30 p.m. according to our invitations. We met another couple in reception also waiting for it. There was still no sign of it at 6.50, so I wandered into the car park to investigate. I found a likely looking coach, and yes it was the one but the driver had been told 7.00 p.m. Not a good start.

At 7.00 it pulled up outside and we were the only people who got on. It turned out the venue was the best part of 30 miles away, and we arrived at Drumtochty castle at 7.50 p.m. The speeches were still going on... and on...

We found a room where we could get coffee, but the bar was in the room where the main reception was taking place. At around 9 p.m. the speeches ended and everyone started spilling out of the room, which was then cleared for the dancing. My cousin Donald got me a glass of red wine. I found Christine to hand over the present, and chatted to various other members of my family. I was trying to find out if/when there would be any food - I had not eaten since midday, and then only a bowl of cereal and I was starving. There was a chocolate fountain, but I didn't think that was the best thing to line my stomach...

Later in the evening my cousin Colin told me there was food in one of the rooms, but by the time I got there there were only cheese toasties (and wedding cake) left. It could have been worse - my brother-in-law does not eat cheese. Still, a lot of red wine and a lack of food had the inevitable result.

The coach taking us back was leaving about 1 a.m., but Katharine said they would give me a lift back with them. This was just as well, as my sister only realised some time after they had left that I was not on the coach.

At breakfast I made up for the previous 2 months and the night before, and indulged in cereal, full cooked breakfast, toast and coffee. Heaven...

All my Scottish second cousins (or alternatively Aunty Margaret and the grandchildren)
Back row: Ewan, Calum, Alan, Robert, Andrew, Iain
Front row: Caroline, Christine, Aunty Margaret, Katharine