.....travel mission

....we embarked upon our post christmas pre new year travel mission with some enthusiasm as we do like a winter wedding....

our first stop birmingham for the wedding of ruth and nick. ruth introduced us to nick as stephen who "taught me to play guitar", [nick]"but i didn't know you played guitar", [ruth] "i don't", [nik] puzzled look. ..and stephen and christine who introduced me to wine ....yes, we recollected at around the age of 15 if my memory serves me well! ....we're not proud!!! lol

pictured above is sharon, ruth's twin sister. sharon surprised ruth with three songs to which i provided musical and harmonic accompaniment (kiss me by six pence non the the richer, hey soul sister by train, and my beloved monster  by eels). and it all went very well. we reminisced with colin and tracey about musical seeds sown at the one way cafe that are now bearing fruit and had a lovely time catching up. it is nice to reflect on how the things you do set people, things, or events off on a certain path for the good (and i guess in reality sometimes for the not so good). our actions do have consequences and reflecting on the year, as one does, at the end of december brings this statement into sharp focus.

the wedding was lovely. the service had great significance for the couple given that they are both practicing christians and the fact that a good proportion of the congregation clearly were as well. the service was lovely especially the music played by the harpist. this was followed by a mini reception of bubbly and cup cakes in the church hall then off to the evening reception at the botanical gardens which was an absolutely gorgeous setting. it was really good to cross paths with some old friends and faces again.

.......there was much talk about the passing of time and how people were moving on, becoming older, becoming adults and that brings me nicely to the second celebration of our trip ...sarah's 21st birthday. we arrived to a warm welcome as ever at the hills where all the generations of both sides of the family were in evidence. we underestimate at times the pleasure family gives to us (well i know i do!). times past were reflected upon and gifts were exchanged then chocolate cake (courtesy of expert cake baker alice) was eaten. off we went and checked into our second residence of the trip. this time a premier inn. got changed and headed out to a beautiful restaurant for an absolutely gorgeous meal. myself and christine embarked upon salads that were 'to die for' while luke had a pizza. all very nice. after our night in the premier inn we breakfasted with the hills and hen headed home through the driving rain....

....and now i sit with a gin and tonic in my pj's contemplating how i'm missing going out clubbing with sarah and her friends lol ;-) (it appears they will be going out at about 10 which to be fair would be round about the time i'd be wanting to head home!)

tomorrow is new years eve .....i will consider how to reflect on the year gone and the year ahead while i finish my g&t