The Clock Ticks...

It is Thursday night and time flies.

I went to collect my dress this afternoon and it looks great. I did a photo shoot with the tailor so she had pictures for her portfolio, and took lots of shots of other gorgeous garments. Then it was off home to get the dress indoors without His Nibbs seeing it, which was fun, as he was being good and not looking, but bursting with curiosity.

Today, we did the Order of Service for the church bit of the day, using beautiful card and binding it together with coloured threads. Then, it was time to do the place markers and rather than the boring old 'tent' things, I did flat place names, with a rose threaded through and each will have a chocolate heart sat on it - hopefully I shall get a picture before everything gets marmalised on Saturday night. For the children, there are chocolate bunnies rather than hearts, and in greater abundance, because children should have lots of chocolate bunnies at a wedding - very symbolic!

Tonight, when 18:30 struck and I suddenly realised I was starving hungry and hadn't defrosted anything for dinner, Kim ordered me, in his most manful manner, to get my best frock on as he was taking me out to dinner. What a treat that was! After days of organising and sorting out all the fine detail of an event - the things that don't always get seen but must be done to make sure it runs smoothly - I was starting to get a bit frazzled and jaded. We headed off to the Rose and Crown in East Lambrook, which is renowned for it's seafood and interesting menus, as well as good wines.

The blackboard of specials made my eyes roll! There was ostrich, grilled springbok, the usual assortment of wonderful fish dishes and even crocodile. Now, I've seen a Nile crocodile up close when we lived in Africa and I know what big, mean buggers they are, but I have never tasted one. I ordered crocodile and it was really interesting - half way between a swordfish steak and chicken, it was a nice meaty consistency, with a fishy tang and very enjoyable. Kim had ostrich in red win sauce and that was delicious too.

It's funny, because I have never been backwards about trying new things, but the reaction to our wedding menu was quite a surprise to me. We didn't go for a cheap option and there are five different main courses to select from. As we wanted a slightly mediaeval feel to the meal, we opted for wild roast boar, venison, chicken, trout and a vegetarian risotto. Our guests split into two distinct factions: the gastronomes who plumped for the venison and boar and the nervous, who plumped for the chicken. It hadn't occurred to me that our menu would make people feel nervous or intimidated - it's not what I set out to do, yet I think it happened anyway. At least the puddings are pretty safe and obvious!

Meanwhile, in the village, there is a buzz going around about the Handfasting. Each time Kim goes into the village store, he is asked about what will happen. How will I jump the broomstick (being so lame)? He explained that it's on the ground and not like a gymkhana or reverse limbo, much to the merriment of the assembled locals. Can they jump the broom too? Yes. What's all this stuff about "circles" then? At which point I think Kim's ability to answer competently abandoned him! There seems to be a real fascination and I'm sure the jungle drums are beating wildly.

My son, Nick, arrives tomorrow and I'm looking forward to seeing him. As my father died last year, Nick is giving me away, though I wouldn't put it past him to try to sell me, knowing him! All I have left to do is to assemble my chalice, athame and assorted goodies for the Handfasting so that Kim can transport them for me - I suppose I had better stop writing and do it before too much Cabernet Sauvingon addles my brain!