So at 0530 on Friday 25th May I seized conciousness with both hands and planted a big, wet, sloppy kiss on it. I then realised I was in the shower. After stumbling out, cold, wet and I’m pretty certain, naked I towled myself off and started preparing for what was to be 6 hours of driving. Our destination? Edinburgh. Our reason? A wedding, namely my cousin’s. It was also a chance for Lexxie’s dad to see her before her birthday today. So at 0630 we left our home and set off on the M5 North. Birmingham was the usual circus but nothing we hadn’t seen before and by 1300 we had caught the sight of a castle jutting out from an ancient volcanic plug and the familiar sight of the extinct volcano itself. We were back in Edinburgh. We visitied my grandparents, my mother and then Kai’s mother. We dropped the kids off at 1700, saw my father and went for dinner with my mother. Dinner was vegetarian, hand cooked but vegetarian. I am not a vegetarian. We have a fridge full of meat just for bbq season. However, it was still a good meal. Afterwards was a trip back to Kai’s mothers and bed for me. I was exhausted.
Saturday 26th.
Conciousness called me back. Kai was awake and heading for the shower. I lay in bed and read a bit of my book. I then took my turn under the constant fall of nice, hot, water. I quickly dressed in my suit. The wedding was in 5 hours and we still needed to go collect my mother and sister. Kai eventually joined me downstairs and damn me but she looked radiant. I was very, very impressed. Her gran was as stunned as I. We left her mother’s home and went to the Savacentre (I needed a tie, I forgot mine here at home). We then had a quick lunch at mother’s and left for the wedding. It was at the Mansfield Traquair. A very impressive place. After a very quick wedding (2 hymns and a vow) we were taking pictures, congratulating the newly weds and watching the room get setup for the reception (yes it was in the same place). The dinner and dance were exquisite, people revelled in the joy of the day and the happiness of the couple. We saw a lot of family, Kai got to hold my cousin Stefano’s and his wife Jane’s 6 month old son, Luca. He is a fantastic wee lad, healthy, happy and very good. We left the wedding at about 2230 and went briefly to the Auld Hoose, shared a drink with Angus, said some hi’s and then drove back to the wedding at 2330. We then hung around until 0030 and then drove Jane and Stef home before returning to Dalkieth and our beds.
Sunday 27th
Sunday was a day for chilling. We spent the morning doing very little, drove to Tescos then onto my fathers. After an hour or so and some teas we went on to my grandmothers for lunch. I’d forgotten how big Italian lunches were. I can’t eat like I used to. We helped her tidy up then went to Gorgie and met up with Will, Keith and Adam. Card games ensued as we chatted, laughed and generally caught up. We gave Will a lift to the cinema and returned to Kai’s mothers. The kids were due to be dropped off at 2000 (about and hour) after we arrived. We chilled with Kai’s mum and stepdad. Ordered a chinese which was so-so and waited for the sprogs. They soon turned up. After a quick bath (to rid them of the smoke smells) they settled into watch Sat’s Dr Who before bed. We stuck up until about 2300 then I retired, Kai soon followed.
Monday 28th
We were woken at about 0930 and set about dealing with the kids. The plan was to spend the morning with Kai’s mum. Which we did. At 1230 we left for town to sort out Lexxie’s birthday present. We parked in Castle Street and wandered over. Lexxie went nuts when she started picking her bear’s skin, her heart, her clothes and her accessories. Soon we had a little Rose-May. Lexxie was extremely happy. The store got everyone to sing happy birthday to her too. Tom got a small bear too on the premise he’d do extra chores upon getting home. We then left, visited my uncle’s shop, had a coffee with him and then met up with Keith. We had another coffee with him and then gave my sister a lift to my gran’s. It was time to start saying our goodbyes. After my gran’s it was off to see my father. Then a short stop at Tescos petrol station and back to Kai’s mums. We found dinner cooking, we were grateful and slightly annoyed, we were supposed to cook. It was still kind of her uncle though. We chatted with him and with her step dad. Sorted things out, put the kids to bed, waited up for her mum and then we too retired.
Tuesday 29th
We drove home. Traffic Jams between Stafford and Birmingham. Enough said really. We got in at 1800 and just collapsed in a heap. Work beckoned for me in the morning.
Wednesday 30th
I came, I saw, I worked. I went to the cinema. Lexxie was bouncing, enjoying her birthday. We watched Pirates of the Carribean 3. It was good. Gyarr! Much better than the second one imho. Now we’re home. We’ve eaten cake and the birthday girl is in bed. Thats it for me I think. Work again tomorrow.