A Choir of Angels

Today is my Mum’s 75^th Birthday, not that you would know that was her age from looking at her!

My Mum had organised to celebrate her birthday morning with a gathering of her closest friends at a tearoom on Hadrian’s Wall called St Oswalds, near Heavenfield. http://www.roman-britain.org/places/heavenfield.htm

Lucy and I were invited too and thoroughly enjoyed the morning with all the ladies. 

At one point the ladies decided to all sing Happy Birthday, and the other unsuspecting Hadrian’s Wall trail walkers who were sheltering from the rain, enjoying refreshments – all joined in.

Several of the ladies “choir” are actually members of a real choir – and it was certainly a memorable rendition of Happy Birthday.

Long ago in the planning stages of Lucy and Mark’s wedding, Lucy told her Gran that she would love to have her Gran’s friends come to join us at the Abbey for the wedding service. And we have organised to send out a special invitation nearer the time.

Almost all of this delightful community of my Mum’s friends have know of me and Lucy for all our lives and have been through every stage of our lives– discussed over many cups of tea and coffee over the past approaching 50 years. There is a very special feeling when you realise you are part of this kind of fellowship. They have supported and loved us both through my Mum.

Here are a couple of photos from my Mum's birthdays, when Lucy was three and then when she was 15!

I  love all three of these photographs. They show such a connection between a Grandma and her Grand daughter. We have such special times together. And we do enjoy and appreciate them all.

So when we heard the choir of angels singing Happy Birthday (Very appropriate being near Heavenfield) Lucy and I went round the groups afterwards making sure they all know they are all welcome to come to the Abbey in November. Our “Auntie” Sylvia – (not our real Auntie but a lovely lady who lived on the estate where we grew up in Acomb) even commented when she left that they would have to get together for a few choir practices! Such fun..

Auriole B

I have been a bit troubled hence the lack of posts ... I have to admit I have been putting off looking for my MOTB outfit!

A wedding etiquette site helpfully advises,

“Although it’s your daughter’s special day, as mother of the bride you’ll also get lots of attention. Choosing an wedding outfit is a complex process – do you dress to stand out or to blend in? Which hat should you wear? What length should the dress be? So many questions, so here's a few answers for all your mothers of the bride:”

http://www.getwed.com/articles/10-top-tips-for-the-mother-of-the-bride-s-outfit-gb-en/

I am always rather hopeful that I will lose some weight, and one would have thought that with the wedding looming that would have motivated me. But I am what I am, I love food , and I do believe that we are not just our physical bodies, we are our soul and all that! So I have had to face up to the fact that I do need to sort out a MOTB outfit.

Copying my soon to be son in law – I multi task sometimes while sport is on the TV on an evening, and have looked at many MOTB outfits. It became very clear that I know what I don’t like better than what I do like! The one thing I do know is that I would like to wear the biggest, boldest hat I can, to almost fill the aisle in Hexham Abbey as walk Lucy down!!

 I actually hate shopping, and the thought of dragging round shops looking for a very special outfit really doesn’t inspire me!

So it was with great delight that I happened on a very interesting conversation recently with Debra at Hands On about a local dressmaker Auriole B. Auriole created Debra a stunning outfit for a society wedding at Hexham “Cathedral” which a certain Pippa Middleton attended.

So a week or so ago, on a glorious sunny day, now that I am back at the wheel ( carefully!)  “we” have our initial meeting. My Mum and Lucy came too – as “we” do...

We talked through styles, colours, fabric etc.

We left an hour later happy in a choice of a dress and jacket which Auriole will make a soft cotton mock up to see the style suits me. We left Auriole to work out how many whale bones she needs to order in – for the corsetry!! My friend Brenda has kindly offered to come with me next time as she operates a style company called Prasanna, her motto being "Dressing the inner woman".

I promise that as the project progresses; there will be further blog posts.

Bridesmaids - Part 5 Steph (and Lola)

Steph and Lucy were friends at High school , and also both enjoyed the Splitz dancing classes and shows for many years together with Kate (and without them realising, Rachel).

Steph and Lucy really bonded when between the ages of 16 and 18, they both got part time jobs at the weekend cleaning the holiday lodges at Slaley Hall Hotel.

They had many funny times there...including Steph’s easy way of cleaning the banisters!

They always tried to be partnered together, or be in lodges next to each other so that they could spend their lunch breaks watching the reality show of that era “Ship wrecked”.  

Once they had both passed their driving tests and had cars, they took turns to drive up and back from Slaley, and Steph soon mastered the art of driving and applying make up at the same time!

We all have a lot to thank Steph for, because if it were not for Steph's persistent encouragement, there would no wedding - or MOTB blog. When Lucy and Mark had met "on line" through Match.com; and were emailing back and forward. Steph made sure that Lucy responded "yes" to Mark's request to meet up. And the rest, as they say, is history!

Steph is now a yummy mummy to the gorgeous Lola. Lola will be 14 months old in November, and the cutest Flower Girl ever at the big day!

Bridesmaids - Part 4 Sarah

Lucy and Sarah first met from their time at Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham, and in particular Health and Social Care courses. They kept in touch when they left school and then Lucy introduced Sarah to a job in restaurant management at The George Hotel, Chollerford - so they had a good time working alongside each other for a while. Lucy left The George to work at Family Chiropractic, so the girls  continued to meet up for long lunches, teas and a fair few good nights out. They both admit they could talk for England!

Anyway, here is Sarah’s memory.

“One of my favourite and funniest memories of Lucy is when we went to The Georges Staff Christmas party! As the party wasn’t exactly "swinging" we thought a few glasses of vino would help...The time ran away with us and we could not get a taxi home so ended up staying in the hotel. As we were heading up to our room Lucy and I thought it would be an excellent idea to "borrow" a box of wine, so Lucy hid it under her cardi. Waking up the next morning feeling slightly fragile seeing the box of wine we panicked and decided to hide it on a window sill in the corridor and tucked it behind a curtain! Was very funny at the time and talked about that party for weeks after!”

The Bride with three of her Bridesmaids (L to R Kate, Sarah, Lucy and Rachel )on her birthday night out March 2013

Bridesmaids - Part 3 Joanne

Joanne is Mark’s sister, and obviously met Lucy through Mark. I wasn’t sure if Jo would have a funny story/fond moment but she did, and it’s a lovely one!

“My favourite memory of Lucy is from our trip to Kielder in November 2011, it was so clear how much Lucy loved the place and acted as our tour guide.  Lucy helped me conquer my fear of birds at the birds of prey centre, for which I will always be grateful.”

Lucy and Jo at Kielder Birds of Prey Centre

Lucy’s love of Kielder is a funny thing really. As a child she had to spend many a day helping me (or being very bored in the car) while I worked on all sorts of events from Husky Dog Rallies, Swim marathons and folk festivals to numerous press launches, art works opening and cycle events!

MOTB and Lucy in 1996 at an event at Leaplish

I really love the place, and have very special memories of my 12 years working there. Lucy unbeknown to me must have absorbed that love, as at the time she really did give the impression she really didn’t like the place. When Lucy and Mark went on the trip Jo mentioned in November 2011, it wasn’t till they came back that she said she could not believe how much she loved Kielder. And how much she had enjoyed being the tour guide! Bless....

Bridesmaids – Part 2 Kate

Kate first met Lucy aged 6 when Lucy changed schools and went to Acomb First School. They shared many early childhood school events together, including the First school maypole dancing 

and performing in shows in the Village Hall. They became very good friends.

 I worked in Bellingham at that time, Kate lived on a farm in Barrasford , and Kate’s Mum “Auntie”  Clare was a teacher and had all holidays off, so the girls spent a good deal of time together in school holidays on the Farm. I often dropped Lucy off in the morning before Kate was up! So Lucy got used to making herself at home ...

At Hexham Middle School Kate and Lucy started Splitz together, and continued to do all sorts day trips and activities - all very happy days! Kate often accompanied us on family breaks and days out, both before and after Richard was born. And as Auntie Clare organised local bus trips to many events – we had many more happy times seeing shows, boy bands and even Ant and Dec in Panto just before they became really famous!

Lucy, Kate and ? at a Book Fair

The girls shared so much of their childhood and teenage years together that even when Kate when to Edinburgh University after leaving school they kept in touch. To me, they represent the old adage that true friends just pick up where they left off, they don’t have to be together all the time, but when they are, it is as natural as breathing! Anyone who has a friend like that will know how very special it is!

Kate is like a second daughter to me, and it will be a real delight and source of pride to have her as one of Lucy’s bridesmaids at the wedding. 

Kate says,

“I have been trying to think of one memory but there's too many... I remember the day I first met Lucy. You (MOTB) had dropped her off at Acomb school and she was crying, so I took her under my wing after that the FF began! (* FF=Famous Five which comprised Kate, Lucy, Katie, Megan and Astrid. The FF shared so many adventures and activities over the next few years)

" Too many memories from that time but the birthday parties were always a highlight, the Spice Girls era watching the Spice Movie over and over and over again!

Then there were all the day trips and holidays you kindly took us on. And the many walks you dragged, sorry took (hehe) us on especially around Kielder with a picnic. Then holidays like Oasis for the week, and I remember Richard being sick all over the table and me and Lucy just hid underneath the table until it was all cleared up. We also wrote our names above the wardrobe in the bedroom- I wonder if there still there ?! Also liked the day you took us on our Solar Eclipse adventure to Sunderland glass centre to make things!

 Most recently, my favourite Lucy memory was when me, Lucy and Jodie went to see 'Magic Mike' at the cinema. Only Lucy could turn around in the middle of a film about male strippers and say-' there's not much of a storyline is there?' Me and Jodie hadn't noticed :) "

Bridesmaids - Part 1 Rachel

I am slightly incapacitated at the moment. A classic MOTB accident while attending a “Perfect Balance” Pilates/yoga type class – I over “balanced” and thereby dislocated my right shoulder! The resultant pain was excruciating, and second only to pain I’d experienced in child birth. Thankfully Hexham’s A&E department supplied morphine and sedative and the dislocated shoulder was popped back in. It now means a minimum of 2 weeks of left handedness and no driving. A funny coincidence is that growing up I was the only right handed one in my immediate family, My Mum, Dad and brother all lefties!

Once I got over the initial pain in my shoulder and arm and the frustration, I now see this as an opportunity to relax, watch films I would never get to watch, read books I have been piling up and do some blog research ( and slow left hand typing....)

One of the films I have watched was the 2011 film “Bridesmaids” starring Kristin Wiig. It’s entertaining enough and set me off thinking. Always dangerous. Lucy has five adult bridesmaids. They are all lovely ladies who have different connections to her and her life.

The Bridal magazines and internet sources offer much and varying advice on how to choose your bridesmaids, the wisest that I came across which is very relevant, being “ Only ask those you'll be thrilled to hear a "yes" from”. And that was true for Lucy when she asked Rachel, Kate, Joanne, Sarah and Steph.

I thought it might be nice to ask the bridesmaids what their favourite memory of Lucy is/was; which with their permission I can share on this blog.

Let’s start with Chief Bridesmaid to Princess Lucy also known as Rachel. Lucy and Rachel met as receptionists at the George Hotel, Chollerford. They immediately hit it off, and discovered that they had both been attending Splitz dancing for years, never having met as they were in different groups.

Lucy and Rachel formed 2 of the 4 “blonde receptionists” at the George at that time, Sonia and Jill being the other two who will also be attending the wedding to help celebrate in style.

I think Rachel could do her own blog from her story telling abilities! Enjoy..

“Lucy and I went on our road trip to Manchester to pick up my wedding dress last May - you can imagine 2 blondes trying to get to Manchester. Once we eventually got there the lady was at the front door - she looked me up and down and said 'your boobs are bigger than mine' me being me thought she was just being complimentary ha ha! We went inside and she had prepared her spare bedroom for me to try the dress on, once in I stripped down and climbed into the dress, before I even had it on Lucy was welling up. Once in I needed Lucy to do up the zip at the back, if you can imagine that the dress was sooo expensive in the shop when I had first seen it that this second hand version was my only chance to have the dress of my dreams so regardless of whether it fit or not I had to get into it. Poised and ready Lucy stood behind me and forced the zip up to just above my rib bone, we were at my bust and that is when we both realised what the lady had meant by 'my boobs were bigger than hers!!' Lucy bravely fought on and was as set on getting me into the dress as I was, with one last sharp pull the zip was up and I was in the dress, we had done it! I could not breathe but that was not an issue for either of us!! We were both emotional wrecks but the trip had been all worthwhile, a few hundred pounds and hundred miles later I had the dress of my dreams and I could not have done it without Lucy!”

Rachel in THE wedding dress greeting Lucy and Mark