Part 2

So to continue ……

After our tea and scones and getting to know Mike’s family, many of whom we hadn’t met before, we went and got ready for the meal.  As I was leaving the room to go upstairs again, I went to lock my room as you do in an hotel but noticed my door didn’t shut properly.  This was no problem as there was another door leading into the 3 bedrooms so I just shut that one instead and locked it, pocketing the key.

As you do in an hotel.

Only for the Events Organiser to almost have a heart attack and run up the stairs after me.

“There’s no need to lock any of the doors” she cried “there are only the two families here and you must treat the castle as your own home for the weekend!”

I was gobsmacked.

But that’s exactly what it felt like.  We were free to come and go as we pleased and wander into any part of the castle we wanted – kitchen, laundry room, courtyard – they could not have done more for us if they’d tried – nothing was too much trouble – even Mum was impressed and it takes a lot to impress that lady let me assure you!

And they did that thing where when you needed them they were always there but they were never hovering about or intrusive in any way or making you feel like you were being a pain in the backside.  They noticed what needed done and went off and did it quietly and unobtrusively.

Some nice little touches too – like when they turned down the beds at night they put an electric blanket on Mum’s bed and came up to tell her they’d switched it on at a low setting to take the chill off the bed and when she was ready to go to her room to just let them know and they’d go and turn it up higher for her.  She loved that as you can imagine!

However on the Saturday night they went to do the same thing around 10 p.m. but found the bedroom door closed.  Mum being 90 and having been on the go the whole day they naturally assumed she’d gone off to bed so didn’t disturb her.

Of course, in reality, the Gregarious Granny was still quite happily sitting watching all the fun, not flagging in the slightest and next morning I got a most profuse apology from the owner who was terribly vexed when she realised what had happened – she was so concerned it was lovely.

And at the end of the reception when we were all straggling back from the marquee to the castle she appeared with a torch to guide us along the path as it was pitch black and a tad treacherous underfoot having been raining earlier.  She must have been there quite a while doing that by the time everyone got back in and was also still there later waiting for someone staying in one of the nearby towns to come back and claim a bag which they’d left in the marquee.

Anyway I’m jumping ahead of myself.

On the Saturday morning we all had a leisurely breakfast before getting all dolled up then made our separate ways to the church which was in Portsoy, around 18 miles away.  It was all very informal and when Catriona came down the aisle there were a few lumps in throats I can assure you.  She was a beautiful bride and I just loved her dress although felt sorry for her later because she kept having to hoick it up when she was dancing – there was a hook at the back for that very purpose but it just wasn’t quite high enough and she was forever holding up half a wedding dress with one hand poor soul!

Unfortunately we weren’t allowed to take photos in the church and it turned pretty cold after the service when they were taking pics outside so Mum and I stayed inside to try and keep warm.

However my nephew has uploaded some of his pics so I’ve pinched a few – they were taken with his mobile though so are not the best quality.

The Happy Couple – Mike and Catriona.

Very proud dad watching from the sidelines – my brother Ian.

Ian & Margaret – Catriona’s mum and dad.

My other brother, Mike, and Catriona.

Mike’s son, Arran (named after the Scottish island) who came all the way over from New York for the wedding!

Then it was back to the castle where there was a very welcome roaring fire waiting for us in the hall and we took more photos there so that Mum wouldn’t have to go outside.

I couldn’t resist!

And again!

Proper one this time – Craig, Catriona’s younger brother, is on the left-hand side.

After that it was over to the reception where there were excellent speeches, excellent food, excellent conversation, excellent catching up and excellent music!

Before the meal, Catriona & Mike were piped round the tables by Mike’s brother (she was piped into the church to ‘Highland Cathedral’ and back out again to ‘Highland Laddie’).  I like the photo I got as they passed our table because Mike is smiling properly for once!  You can also see the dress a bit better.

When the meal was finished they cleared the tables for the dancing so I took the opportunity to go and feed Trooper and take him for a walk.  Mike was at our table so I left Mum in his capable hands.  Meant I missed the first dance though – just hope someone’s got a video of it somewhere.

Annoyingly I had a tension headache the WHOLE day which tablets didn’t make the slightest bit of difference to so that put a damper on things but I tried not to let it spoil the dancing – worst thing was it was making me a bit dizzy so doing ceilidh dances like Strip The Willow and Virginia Reels (seen below hopefully) didn’t exactly help!

Thank God I didn’t wear the lace dress though – it would never have survived – especially as I had to change twice back into my jeans to take Trooper out – it was so delicate it would have been in shreds by the end of the night!  It was consigned back to the wardrobe and an ancient pink affair which I’d worn to Nikki’s21st party came out instead.  I teamed it with a black sequinned bolero and gold sparkly shoes and was all set.  Far more practical.

Didn’t take a pic but I’ll be in one of the endless shots taken somewhere.  So far there’s one of the back of me, one of half of me and one in mid swing so I’ll wait for something better to come along!

Here’s the half – the other bits might come soon …….

Nikki bought a beautiful long dress in Monsoon but couldn’t get shoes or a bag to go with it so she ended up doing the same as me – unearthed something from the back of her wardrobe as well but when I saw it I think she made the right choice and she was chuffed that she hardly looked pregnant in it!

This is my favourite photo of her and Mum even though she’s desperately trying not to stand up straight to accentuate the differences in their heights too much!

Mum did so well the whole weekend – we were just amazed.  I thought there might be a crash on Sunday morning after the activities of the previous 2 days but when I went through to her at 9.30 a.m. she was up and dressed and sitting in her chair reading!  More alive that I was at that precise moment to be honest.

But I bet I know exactly what she’d say though if you asked her if she enjoyed herself.

“Oh yes it was lovely but you’ll never guess – I forgot my hat!”

This became like a flipping mantra throughout the whole day – it got churned out to anyone and everyone no matter if they’d asked her anything even remotely connected with dress, hats, outfits or anything else – she just could not get over the fact that we’d forgotten to put on the hat (which had been laid out specially on the dressing table on Friday night so that we wouldn’t forget it!) and it was seemingly imperative that everyone knew about it ……  After we returned from the church I said “Come on we’ll go and get the hat on now” and when she put it on she says “Och it doesn’t look right – I’ll just leave it off!”

She’s so funny.  She came out with a cracker on the phone to me last night but I’ll save that for another entry! (you’ll be delighted to know)