Erin’s Hen!!

It’s been a while in the planning, well, it’s been months in the planning, but that’s mostly because I had a big window of time in December when I knew that I was going to be slightly pre-occupied with the wedding, but Erin’s Hen Weekend has finally happened, and judging by the comments and feedback it was a rip-roaring success, which is a huge, huge relief!

            Planning something for yourself from afar is one thing, planning something for 20 people, half of which are complete and utter strangers is quite another, so it was a little tense when the plans were first put in place, but I’m pleased to say it went off without a hitch, and Erin and I are still talking, so all in all, I think it went pretty well!

            

The weekend was a relatively low-key London session, with the days being filled with cake eating, Dirty Dancing dance classes (the videos of the sessions were amazing), and dinner in a fabulous private room at The Riding Street Café, which was always one of my favourites.

            Then on the Sunday we ventured into new territory and arranged a traditional South African Kitchen Tea, which is a bit like a Bridal Shower, but with a very Kitchen focused twist. Gifts for the home had to be guessed before they were unwrapped, Erin got dressed up in all sorts of kitchenware, and advice and recipes were presented as a firm starting point for Erin and Naz’s married life together.

Whilst I was incredible sad to miss the celebrations (and yes, there were a few tears on the Saturday), it was great to see all the photos and video clips of people having an amazing time, and I managed to Skype in three times, so I got to be a little part of the action at least.

            So, that’s the hen done. Next stop, Dubai for the wedding – next month!

CHEAT CHRISTMAS

I love Christmas, a lot! I love being at home, I love the decorations, I love that it’s time to wear layers and light the fire, I love the music, I love the days with nothing to do, and the days that are jam-packed. I just love Christmas!

            It’s always the most fun for us because the whole family returns from their many corners of the world and we get down to the proper job of being a full time family again, even if it’s just for a few weeks.

            Highlights from this years’ festive efforts include:

 

Soft play with the babies

Standing in puddles deep enough for the water to come into our boots

Hanging out with the munchkins, and sharing my comedy clothing with them

Attempting (and usually failing) group selfless

Nick loved his Christmas present this year 

All dressed up for Pop's 60th birthday 

Jeff 'helping' me prep Christmas lunch 

Gins for breakfast 

Touring the proper country pubs out near Petersfield 

Touring pubs, continued 

All the sparkles to welcome the start of 2016

Jeff and his haggis - it must be love!

A very rainy bus journey to Chichester 

Final few days to get through

The past few months have been peppered with the occasional job for the wedding. Buying the odd little thank you present. Working out whether we want to have table numbers in frame or on card. Nothing has been urgent, but the list has been slowly worked through and most of the main bits and pieces have already been finalised.

            The best thing about this is that it makes this final week in Singapore an easy ride. We have a couple of things to finalise, like collecting Nick’s waistcoat and getting a first round of manicure done so that when I get the final one on the day before the wedding the nails are already shaped and ready to go. But other than these little bits and pieces, we are also now left with five days to desperately fill while just counting down the days until we can go to the airport.

            There are lots of soups and salads, hours spent at the gym and emails warning people that soon I won’t be replying to them for three weeks, but those jobs can all only entertain me for so long. The rest of the day gets spent starting at the clock and the calendar, counting down the time as it trickles past. ROLL ON HOME TIME!!!

Final Singapore weekend of 2015

 It feels like it’s been an incredibly long time coming, but we’re finally on the week or less countdown to home, and so our final weekend to be spent in Singapore in 2015 flew past in a flurry of jobs getting ticked off the list!

            With the accompaniment of some of the best Christmas films (we’re talking Home Alone, Love Actually and Miracle on 34^th Street) we made our way through all of our lists, and yes, we checked them twice, and it finally feels like our time to get home is edging ever nearer.

On Saturday we also celebrated a full year since Nick popped the question on a slightly stormy sunset beach in the Gillis with the aid of steak and champagne, so there were even a few celebrations to be had alongside the planning, online shopping, list consolidating and packing plans.

Then there were all the standard jobs like hair dying, flat cleaning and a quick lunch with our friend Scottie to get done. What could have been a totally manic weekend managed to be pretty calm and collected, but we’ll see whether we manage to maintain that over the coming few days as the flights home get ever closer…I already know that I am going to need to pay for extra luggage when I get to the airport! 

The Final Countdown

I know that I have been counting down to our wedding all year, but we really are on the final countdown now. Not just to our wedding, but to home time, to Christmas, to family time, to the end of the year, and of course, to the wedding.

            When we woke up this morning the first thing I thought was that we are flying home next weekend. Just two more working weeks to go and then it will be home time! After a couple of incredibly stressful weeks at work all of a sudden none of it matters, because I can almost smell home time already!