La Boda

Blasted into the modern world
Fast plane cars & people.
To the horses! Our gorgeous boys there in Englands green & pleasant lands (thoughb they were brownish!)
Then into the embrace of the woods, hugs, laughter, enthralment, excitement, comfort, security, talking & loads of energy!
Food, drinks & total pleasure.
A day of rushing, from one lovely thing to another - whisked off with my hens to an unknown location which beautifully turned out to be 'Pussy liqour' in concert in a wonderful dive miles away in Basingstoke! ...several tequilas later I'm invited on stage for the last number & I'm ok! I dance, I sing the one word chorus sharing Tallulahs microphone & totally hold my own on stage with the most explosive new young lesbian punk band on the music scene! I felt so right on & totally saciated - Can't tell you the lines of the song. But they're certainly cunting edge.
Luckily this was on the Wednesday night & I had time to recover.
Thursday Mark went panic wedding outfit shopping and surprisingly came back without notable stress.
Friday we all moved into Garstons Farmhouse, our 3 day airbnb mansion. Woah!
We rode the horses in & around the woods to accustom them to their surroundings & prepare them for their job on the big day. They both had a minor cough...
We loved the woods, Long wood, owned by the cutest wood nyphet you can imagine & managed like a man.. Fenella, our host Miss yes to everything & a laugh you just have to join in with.
Julian, my brother, my knight (Mark's the one with shining amor) arrived with a 7.5 ton lorry size present to be our honeymoonmobile.
My sister Rachel, her unbounding take it all in her stride energy & selfless giving.
Poppy my beautiful heart, my daughter & often my mother!
Suzy, who just like that said yes these complete strangers horses can stay at my place - a huge paddock vieled with trees, stables, tack room, the lot & alot more.
People, they can place you in such awe of their kindness. And when you're getting married, you can quite wallow in it.
I felt I might explode, so full of loveliness.
Does every bride cry the day before her wedding? It was a wierd day. It rained, which was horrifying. Everyone else was out being incredibly busy with preperations. Mark wasn't even there. Alone in a big house, no horses & a huge day lay ahead.
I did some bridey prep things, I brushed my hair, did my nails, stuck the sole on my boots with superglue, tried the dress on, sewed some final touches, even put face cream on.. Looked out of the window alot, cried a bit, mainly at the unfairness of rain after 3 months of reliable sun in England. The wind blew too, the floors creaked..
Then suddenly everyone came back & it was full on again, things bought in (mostly hidden). Places I could & couldn't go.
We all ate, we drank, but not too much - apart from the boys, currupted on Kraken rum by Andy K.
I went to bed after ironing the bridesmaids dresses, they had never ironed before & I having had some experience years ago, found it a brief novelty.
Mark came to bed & we memorised our vows in turns, I had to ignore his last minute attempt at changing the words - for richer for poorer - why mention money? I put this down to drunken ramble - I mean the reference is infact disregarding money & anyway we've been poor for so long whilst living richly.
Then I actually slept.
The day dawned & the sky was blue.
My betrothed on his great white steed arrived at 'The Bolney Stage' bridely late, at a trot with my bay beauty trotting beside them. It was love at first sight, in a bowler hat, suit & cowboy boots, he was perfectly turned out.
Our families met us there for early Prosseco toasts, hand shakes & hugs & we all looked glorious! Smiles on everyones faces!
Rayo had a white plume on his head & my dress (Thank you Niki Bee) hung perfectly over his rump & bellowed in the wind! We rode side by side my man & I, on the bridge over the flyover, down the lane & now avenued with thick trees, we turned into Long wood lane in a lone buzz of expectectation, just us & the horses...
Then we heard Taffy, saw Caitlins Maya approching, they flanked us to the gate, rushing for photo's & then we were greeted by the throng of guests at the entrance, given our bouquets precariously while the horses jiggled, mainly because they recognized the entrance of the place they had been before.. They pranced perfectly side by side up the first aisle, our guests in all their finery made way for us to pass, Wows cheers and happiness rang out!
At the wagons, we dismounted & prepared ourselves for the short walk to the floral bower (courtesy of Candy) waited for people to gather in the copse.. Ray charles 'Come rain or come Shine' serenaded us as my brother led me into the woodland wonderland while his grand daughter Zoe laid our path with petals, to my mother (the vicar) who stood infront of the bower, it was so personal, we all made it what it was, hugs, wiggles and giggles & holding hands.. Mum, so tiny, but so loudly & clearly, spoke the blessings & led the promises, the bridesmaids, Rachel, Alis, poppy & Tallulah, a heavenly row of beauties stood by, Alfie came with the rings set on an engraved slice of tree.
We weren't heard as well as my mother, but we said it all right - Mark reckons I said I'd serve him, but I don't remember that bit...Anyway Im sure he'd have to have said he'd serve me too & niether of us mind that too much!
We hugged mum & each other & kissed under the bower lit with twinkling fairy lights.. Oh my! It was wantonly romantic.
We were wed!
Then to the tables under the colourful morrocan tent (Thankyou Rachel) lined with wonderful bunting of photos of us over the years (courtesy David) & the fooood!! Julia heading the chefs team turned out a banquet!
People turning up infront of me that I hadn't seen for years! All looking just the same as ever! Moments between them, a few words, hugs & then we took our seats..
The food tasted as good as it looked, the spread was phenomenal.
The speeches were informal & spontaneous - mostly girls spoke actually & it all came out fine.. I think I remembered to thank everybody & that wasn't an easy undertaking! My darling big sister Ruth recounted an embarrassing childhood tale, the best man, lovely Matt produced some witty & genuine words - But the speech of the day by a country mile was made by our darling Poppy, she drew tears & smiles on all the listeners faces as she recounted her childhood dreams of our marriage.. I had announced earlier that Poppy too would officially become a Fray-Irvine & her speech was so perfect, our pride spilled over..
Weddings should definitely last a week, a day isn't long enough - even if you stay up half the night.. Towards evening, My husband & I, as had been demanded, produced the most amazing, seemingly corriagraphed opening dance performance & on my part I looked on with disbelief & wonder as Mark actually danced so cool. Phwoar!
Sadly nobody was really watching while I twistled & twirled swung the pole & met Mark for back bending embrace just like you see on Strictly..
Our gorgeous bar ladies Deb, Gerda, Sydney & Lisa kept the drinks flowing..
By then, I had tied my dress into an enormous bustle at my bottom because it picked up every twig & fallen leaf in it's fringed hem as I walked, slowing me down considerably.
Taffy said I should change my dress 'it looked like a nappy'. I changed my dress & she said that was boring. So I went to see Sydney who has every little number a girl could ever want & she supplied me with a selection of 5 (& looked herself like a goddess by the way..)
The first goldie frock stayed on all night. Taffy liked it.
I danced the night away, everyone did, there were lots of fabulous pole efforts on the centre rigging, though many fell in a heap on the ground, including me..
The next day dawned with torrential rain & those who hadn't quite made it inside their tents for the night, woke drenched & hungover!
We however, cosied up in our delicious bridal suite come woodmans hut, had a glorious lie in marital bliss.