Mish-Mash Post

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This is a bit of a mish-mash post.  All week I’ve been intending to write something but then my mind flits.  It flitted from   “I must keep up-to-date with my blog”  to “Is it worth keeping the blog?”  to “Yes I’ll blog – it’s a diary of sorts and good to look back on”.    Also it provides a reminder of events … you know big things like “I’ve actually washed my car at last”.  I’m sure it must be a year since I last washed it and so if it’s recorded here perhaps I’ll be a bit more diligent (and actually remember WHEN I washed it!).  It is usually parked not far from the birch tree in the front garden and so tends to be like a compost bin, with fallen leaves caught in the grille under the top of the bonnet, lichen growing in the seal around the sun-roof and a lovely big spider and web on the driver’s wing mirror.  But it’s a compost bin NO MORE – I cleaned it and now it shines (well almost).  I’ve been careful with my water usage as we’re on a meter – hence the watering can.

SLC

On Thursday I popped along to the Photography Group with 2 friends  (potential members).  The topic this month was Abstract views so, along with a couple of other photos, I took the above.  Well actually I took a similar one with me but realise now that I took the WRONG one – it should have been this one.  Oh well.  I wonder whether you can guess what it is?

On Friday evening, we went with friends to a ceilidh in a nearby village.  The ceilidh was in aid of Amnesty International and the  entertainment included singers, a band, clog dancers,  a caller and dancing.  There was a raffle and a Zaytoun stall selling Fair Trade olives, oil and soap produced by Palestinian farmers … my bar of lemon-scented olive soap smells delicious.

As part of my “What shall I blog about?” flitting, yesterday I did a quick flit around the kitchen:-

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and what did I see?  Well a mish-mash (again) of magnetic thingies on the fridge, including “Make today the day that changes your life” beach hut card,  a Krokodillo’s advert in case we want to order a take-away from Queensland and the Latin first declension of femina in case I meet a bunch of Romans and want to talk to them about women.

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The Krokodillo made me think of another reptile in the kitchen – this terracotta metal (now there’s a contradiction) lizard which I bought in Utah earlier this year and which reminds me of the vibrant red rock out there.

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Not far from the lizard is this original water colour of chickens.  I picked up the framed picture from the charity shop for a mere £1.50.  I just love the expressions on their faces.  They are obviously enjoying a juicy bit of gossip.

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On the shelf sits this white Wedgwood(?) jug and a card with a beautifully-painted comma butterfly – it’s a greetings card I bought with the intention of sending.

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I am enjoying the beautiful colours in this photo.  The calendar is from Carol and is twelve-months’ worth of her beautiful photographs of western USA.

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Of course we can’t be without this invaluable Nigel Slater book – well stained and splashed with all sorts of ingredients.

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Ingredients?  Mr Dancing was assembling them yesterday for chutney making.  He is hoping that Nanny Dot’s Chutney recipe will produce results as good as hers.  Thank you P and L for sending it!

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I think that Mr Dancing is an Olympian in the chutney-making department – hence my preserving jar ring award.  Each ring represents … well   …   er …  will have to think about that one.  Any ideas?

copy of all

This flitting has now led me to Mr Dancing.  Thank you so much for putting up with me over the last seven years.  There we are in the photo above on 11 October 2002 …

Mr and Mrs

and here we are again just a few weeks ago at D’s wedding with the lovely C.  Have you noticed how Mr Dancing doesn’t have a hair out of place in either of these photos?  So I have to compensate for this!

Well I shall flit no more …. if you’ve managed to stay with me so far …. well done.

Wedding Footnote

14 August was a notable date for the wedding last week but it was also notable as it was this young wedding guest’s 4th birthday …

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and on 14 August,  38 years ago, I too was getting married …

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A Wiltshire Wedding

It was another BIG day last Friday 14 August.  Mr Dancing’s elder son got married!  What a brilliant day it was.

Here is Mr Dancing’s younger son in full best man mode – he did a tip-top job.

best man

The beautiful bride with two of her bridesmaids …

bride and bm

The handsome groom taking a short break from the photo shoot …

d under tree

I make no apologies for including TWO similar versions of this photo …

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because I just love her look of sublime bliss  …

bride tree 1

Listening to the  speeches … and wondering what might be mentioned next …

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We wish you both a wonderful life together

Mr and Mrs D

lots of love from Mr and Mrs Dancing xxxxx

A Grand Do

a blog rear bride

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aa blog marquee

a blog chat

aa posh loos

blog reception bridesmaids

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aa trio

So, after the ceremony, we walked up to the house where the reception was being held in the garden.

Once again, we felt privileged to have been invited to this very special occasion.  Such a lot of hard work by family and friends made it a truly “grand do”.  The sky was blue and the sun shone and the garden looked as only an English garden can, green and lush.  The rain had tried its hardest earlier on in the week(s) to thwart plans.  BUT, in the end, the event was a triumph.  The bride looked radiant and gorgeous and the groom handsome.  The wedding dress was perfect – the flowers had been thoughtfully chosen although Mr Dancing kept “forgetting” the name of the vintage-look roses the bridesmaids were carrying.  What was the name of the rose, again?  Ah “Amnesia”.

The bridesmaids looked absolutely lovely in their mocha dresses.  There were men in kilts and a lady in an electric blue sari.  A quintet was playing outside, the conjurer amused and amazed us with impossible looking tricks involving cards, squishy red balls and ten pound notes.  The speeches were emotional.  The best man had hoped initially when told about the wedding that there might be an eligible single bridesmaid but discovered that they were all related to him!

The food was delicious and the beef and home-baked pork pie were complemented by delicious homemade chutneys thanks to Nanny Dot and Charles.  The desserts were scrummy – Eton Mess, Lemon Tart and Summer Pudding – sigh – some people even had a little of each one!

A wonderful day to remember.