May 6. 2014
We have survived a
crazy weekend and are all in various stages of recovery. Most of the wedding
stuff is now washed and sorted or returned to owners. Luckily the polyhouse is
huge so storing stuff waiting to be claimed is not a problem.
crazy weekend and are all in various stages of recovery. Most of the wedding
stuff is now washed and sorted or returned to owners. Luckily the polyhouse is
huge so storing stuff waiting to be claimed is not a problem.
In theory we expected
campers to arrive on Friday and help set everything up for the big ceremony on
Saturday evening. In reality we woke to a wintery mixture of rain and cold that
deterred all campers. Luckily the rain stopped by the afternoon and with all
available help in full action the marquees were erected and firmly lashed down.
Pip and Al had planned to have the ceremony outside but it was obvious to all
that we were going to use plan B and all squeeze into the poly house.
campers to arrive on Friday and help set everything up for the big ceremony on
Saturday evening. In reality we woke to a wintery mixture of rain and cold that
deterred all campers. Luckily the rain stopped by the afternoon and with all
available help in full action the marquees were erected and firmly lashed down.
Pip and Al had planned to have the ceremony outside but it was obvious to all
that we were going to use plan B and all squeeze into the poly house.
Pip and her friends
had screen-printed a great many white prayer flags and Al set them up to create
a dramatic entrance. I was greatly relieved when I woke on Saturday to find
that the flags and tents were all still standing. The weather had cleared a bit
too which all helped.
had screen-printed a great many white prayer flags and Al set them up to create
a dramatic entrance. I was greatly relieved when I woke on Saturday to find
that the flags and tents were all still standing. The weather had cleared a bit
too which all helped.
The milk room was
converted into a preparation room for food, and Bo, Indi, and who knows who
else, crammed in there to prepare starter and salads. The main meal was paellas
and Al and a friend set up cookers made from old 44gal drums with massive steel
dishes to do the cooking in another orange marquee that conveniently fitted
onto the end of our tents.
converted into a preparation room for food, and Bo, Indi, and who knows who
else, crammed in there to prepare starter and salads. The main meal was paellas
and Al and a friend set up cookers made from old 44gal drums with massive steel
dishes to do the cooking in another orange marquee that conveniently fitted
onto the end of our tents.
Soon campers started
to arrive and tents went up everywhere. Two brave parties even made camp behind
the chimneys on out house roof. The camper van below Edd’s work shed looked
best settled and organised to me. Pip, and her friends, disappeared so that
they could all get ready and dressed and I brought the various celebrants down
to our house so they could prepare. The official work was to be done by a
friend of Pip’s parents, but the Pip was really keen that a Tibetan Rimpoche
she knew and a lama would conduct the ceremony itself.
to arrive and tents went up everywhere. Two brave parties even made camp behind
the chimneys on out house roof. The camper van below Edd’s work shed looked
best settled and organised to me. Pip, and her friends, disappeared so that
they could all get ready and dressed and I brought the various celebrants down
to our house so they could prepare. The official work was to be done by a
friend of Pip’s parents, but the Pip was really keen that a Tibetan Rimpoche
she knew and a lama would conduct the ceremony itself.
This worked out
brilliantly. About 220 guests arrived almost at the same time. Bo’s boys
organised parking until they ran out of spaces and then they roped in adults
who could authorise the use of extra places. I lined up with Pip’s mother and
father so that we could greet everyone as they arrived and store umbrellas and
gifts. The bar was over run with customers but friends and family stepped up
and helped
brilliantly. About 220 guests arrived almost at the same time. Bo’s boys
organised parking until they ran out of spaces and then they roped in adults
who could authorise the use of extra places. I lined up with Pip’s mother and
father so that we could greet everyone as they arrived and store umbrellas and
gifts. The bar was over run with customers but friends and family stepped up
and helped
the paid staff.
When everyone was
finally settled on their straw bale seats the mass of tiny led lights overhead
were put on like a private milky way, and the bridal party arrived. Pip looked
lovely in a simple white dress and the girls wore cream dresses and had bare
feet. Al’s daughter had to carry in the flower girl, Bo’s daughter, who is
still not walking on her broken leg. Al had asked Bo’s two sons to do the best
man role and they were so smart and well behaved that we all felt very proud of
them. The rimpoche definitely out classed everyone. He began with a deep traditional
chant and we all realised that we were part of something very special.
finally settled on their straw bale seats the mass of tiny led lights overhead
were put on like a private milky way, and the bridal party arrived. Pip looked
lovely in a simple white dress and the girls wore cream dresses and had bare
feet. Al’s daughter had to carry in the flower girl, Bo’s daughter, who is
still not walking on her broken leg. Al had asked Bo’s two sons to do the best
man role and they were so smart and well behaved that we all felt very proud of
them. The rimpoche definitely out classed everyone. He began with a deep traditional
chant and we all realised that we were part of something very special.
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