Love and Marriage (Part 2)

Having been to almost no weddings in the last few years, we went to the second in less than a month last weekend.

What was even more bizarre was that it was another couple of friends from band who were getting married. Clearly if you want to find your soulmate, a military band, operatic society or other such activity is the thing to do!

David and Helen decided that they wanted to involve as much of their (extremely busy) musical lives in the service and the reception, which meant that I got to sing, both solo and as part of an amalgamated choir which is something I haven't done for a long time. It was absolutely great. However, the biggest part went, fittingly I suppose, to the band. They marched the bride, groom and all their guests from the church to the village hall and then played during the reception.

Not to be left out, though, David and Helen played along with the band at every possible opportunity - including the march down from the church. Not sure what the villagers made of the clarinet-playing bride who had to stand at the back of the band formation, so that her train wouldn't get stood on!

A stage debut triumph!

Number 1 son trod the boards for the first time a couple of weeks ago. He took part in a show, organised by the teacher who runs the jazz dance club he goes to after school every week.

Clearly a thespian in the making, he absolutely loved it and, considering that his lot were the youngest by a very long way, they did brilliantly. Even a trip over an unsuspecting curtain didn't dampen his enthusiasm. We all took a sharp breath in as his nose met the stage at high speed, but he was a consummate professional and just got up and kept going. At which point, we all released the sharp intake of breath and carried on enjoying the performance!

Interestingly, he did precisely what I do around a big performance. Cool as a cucumber before hand and then completely buzzing afterwards! It was funny to see my style matched so exactly...

Here he is, doing the Under the Sea dance - he's one of the tallest, so fairly easy to spot. All the little one was interested in was the bubbles which appeared halfway through!