Mickey and Sarah's Wedding Day

Yesterday afternoon, my old friend Mickey King got married to Sarah Brown. It was a glorious sunny day, entirely in keeping with the last couple of weeks. According to the cars temperature gauge, it was 33'c outside and there wasn't much let up. I eschewed the usual tie, wore my shirt untucked and wore a jacket for some of the day. Hel was similarly sensibly attired, in a very light, thin mauve number.

It was a double whammy for me, because the wedding and reception were held in Whittlesey, where I spent most of my early years, before moving away aged 7. Entering the town is like entering the back streets of my memory. All of that town is hardwired into me, its hardly changed. I used to spend a lot of time wandering those streets, to a child it was a fascinating place to wander, full of the past, full of decay and meandering back streets full of character, sounds and smells. You know how all of your senses as a child are so much more acute and potent and yet your memories so dream like? Going back there is like walking back into a dream you once had. Its slightly surreal, and in fact Whittlesey is a slightly surreal place. I was able to bore Helen as we walked from the church to Sarah's family home for the reception, pointing out my schools, the home of my once best friend (immediately opposite the church) and an old vicarage, the grounds in which I once had a playschool picnic.

The ceremony was very pleasant, the choice of readings good. Mick got a little emotional giving his vows and then we were out on the street, all of us hiking up the street to the family seat, led by a banjo player, a tuba player and a clarinet player, wearing cricket whites and playing old school jazz! For a moment I thought we were in New Orleans!

I'll be honest, I'm not always a big fan of weddings, but this one was a lot of fun. The reception was held in the grounds of Sarah's fathers home, which was a beautiful early 20th C red brick house in a huge, beautiful garden, which accommodated a massive marquee. I must have walked past that very house many times on the way to school back in the day. After a few Pims in the glorious sunshine things kicked off very nicely. Another old friend Pat was there with his lady Begonia, and I thoroughly enjoyed their company for the duration. I was reminded really of why I enjoyed spending time with Pat and how I have done so little of that lately, something which must now be remedied.

As for the bride and groom, both looked phenomenal, and were full of wit, verve and genuine happiness, a wonderful day and I wish we could have stayed longer and inevitably spent more time with Mick and Sarah. Another situation which must be quickly remedied...

The best of luck and happiness to Mr & Mrs King.

(As an aside, you'll be delighted to know that the spell check felt that Sarah's name should be replaced with Karachi...)