Berti and Pippa were to get married (again). The event took place in the delightful Pear Tree garden, with Pam as the MC, the celebrant, Esther and Jo were bridesmaids or matron of honours and Kally and Virginia were the floral arch bought for the ceremony to commence beneath and the wedding party to walk through. Jo was wearing (with style) Esther’s original wedding dress – and what a glorious piece of work this was, straight out of the Kings Road in the 1960/70s.

The presents gifted were as follows:

• A spade
• A tree from the woodland
• Blackout curtains, so they could sleep long and well
• A book of Wisdom, which they could take or leave
• Handcuffs

Advice given to the married couple was

• Always be mindful of the other woman
• You marry the family
• kiss and make up
• less presents more presence

Sandy Shaw, The Beach Boys (Le Garcon de plage), Love and Marriage. We ran away to Antigua. Love between the ear phones.

Humorous memories were shared of first meetings, courtship, romance, proposals and differences in ceremony. Songs were sung in native tongue, one Hungarian one translated as ‘… one cat, two cat, 100 cats, love nobody but me…’

We had it all. What a day it was.