Mr & Mrs Coates

Last week, Tuesday to be precise, Barry's wife Yuka flew over from Japan to start a new life here with Mr Coates. Last night was the first time we had the pleasure of Yuka's company, we had heard so much about her as Barry went quietly mad waiting for her over the past few months, and I had had email conversations with her, so this was quite a momentous occasion. And lets be frank, when your best mate gets married and brings his wife over, you don't fanny about. Hel made a couple of lovely cakes (walnut & date and lemon & poppyseed trivia fans..) and we decided a bottle of champagne was necessary. A quick toast and some cake later and we got chatting.

Yuka had come bearing gifts from the Land of the Rising Sun, for me, the most phenomenal yukata (kimono) and some astonishing socks replete with 'toe holes'! For Hel, similarly intriguing socks and various cosmetic paraphenalia! It wasn't long before it was time to humiliate Barry with college photo's, the shot of him in a red dress was a particular winner with Mrs Coates.

Mindy was a great hit too with her 'I'm so badly treated' performance, successfully hoodwinking Yuka into believing we were animal torturers of the worst kind.

Yuka was lovely, and maybe a little shy, but I have no doubt, as I said for the toast, that they will have many happy years ahead of them as man and wife. Hel and I wish them the very best for the future. We're looking forward to enjoying their company for years to come.