The big event is now over, but it was a lot of fun while it lasted. The weather stayed good for all but the last couple of minutes of our ruby wedding celebration on Sunday, so people were able to spill out on to the terraces at Dunston Hall Hotel, and the children could let themselves go a bit. They deserved it after staying the course really well for the food and speeches. Amy laughed a lot during my speech, which gave me the opportunity to ad lib, and Oliver was on his best behaviour as always. David gave a lovely speech which was very moving, and I think everyone had a good time. At least, anyone who didn’t kept very quiet about it.
The picture was taken by Pete Stokes, who supplied us with 122 on disc within two days – a brilliant and very kind gesture. Most of Dot’s college friends were there, and we had 62 guests in all, only three unable to come at the last moment.
We had a full house for supper afterwards: David and his family, Philip Coomes and his, together with his mother, and Dave and Julia. I was feeling totally shattered and barely held it together, especially as a stomach upset I had picked up the day before resurfaced. Happily it was absent for most of the celebrations. Dave and Julia stayed the night, and it would have been nice to go for a walk the next morning, but I was in no fit state, so they went into the city with Dot. Later I managed to join them for lunch in the bar at Dunston Hall, where they had left their car overnight, and they then departed for home.
Tuesday seemed very quiet, and my stomach was still dodgy. It poured with rain nearly all day. It was Joy’s birthday, and Dot took her present round as I was feeling bad. My general unease was not helped by the fact that the computer’s internet connection keeps dropping out, and I spent some time on the phone with David trying to sort it out – but to no avail, largely because I don’t have any of the passwords I need. I tried various different connections, but nothing had any effect. Now it varies between no connection and full on. Interestingly, it seems to improve as son as I try to do something, then fades out when I don’t. Totally baffling. One minute it’s like greased lightning, then it crawls. I hate this intermittent stuff. Later on things improved generally, and we had three of our friends round for a cowboy pie. I had had a brief sleep around 6pm when I felt very shaky. A bad day ended well.
Today Dot and I went shopping, and it turned out to be one of those days when everything flowed. First we bought just the jacket I wanted, then found a suitcase that was just right, as well as a small hand-luggage bag on a stall in Brigg Street. Then got a couple of presents for Oliver before shooting up to pick up my guitar pick-up that Dot had ordered some time ago. After that we had lunch at Cafe Rouge (my stomach is improving, though by no means perfect) and got some Swiss currency at the post office before walking home. Dot has done a little gardening to fill our brown bin up and is now relaxing in front of the TV.