Flip-flops and Sari Silk

It's a long time since I've blogged. Six months, to be precise. There are many reasons for this, but I won't go into them just now. Instead, I am going to share with you my joyous record of the wedding of two of our best friends. They tied the knot with a very tiny ceremony in Leeds Town Hall, but their handcrafted big day took place in a barn in Derbyshire, a few days later. The boy was a groomsman and I was a bridesmaid. I also had the task of co-making their wedding cake. They created the most beautiful fusion wedding, taking inspiration and traditions from both western and Hindu wedding ceremonies. The day was full of so much love that I thought I might burst. I still grin every time I think about it. As, I am told, do they. 

The Happiest Day

What a couple of months! I feel like I've barely looked up since I started work in August. I haven't really. It's going very well and I've really benefited from throwing myself into it, but I now need to get a bit of balance back. Last weekend, we went to the wedding of some dear friends. It was just the jolt I needed to start to bring everything into equilibrium once more. The bride and groom simply effervesced with love for each other, as did every guest for them. We all laughed and danced (and cried) and had a simply wonderful time together. Plus, they had a steel band, so who can beat that? Hooray for Luke & Gem. 

Festivities

I know it's not really Christmas anymore, but I thought I'd share with you some of the highlights of the festive season. Laughing and crying at the beautiful wedding of Jay & Kimberley, Christmas peppermint and chocolate cupcake at Fancie, crisp strolls around my hometown: Bradford on Avon, singing folk carols in the pub with my Dad, Bath all dressed up for the season, the best sandwich in the world at Jika Jika, reminiscing over the memories invoked by our family tree decorations, dancing in the street with the Ginge to the music of Jazz-band elves, feeling ten years old again by making croissants from a can (finally they have brought these back to the UK), the perfect Christmas lunch (following a famous family incident, we have guinea fowl instead of turkey with 'hedgehog' potatoes, lots of veg and a big dollop of homemade bread sauce), Boxing Day Christmas with my second family, dressing up in my Christmas presents and feeling so pleased with myself that I actually managed (with difficulty) to have a nice photo taken. The Ginge and I had a separate Christmas, which I will post about separately (that will be the last, I promise). 

A Wiltshire Wedding

Last weekend, we celebrated the marriage of our wonderful friends; Sarah and Steve. A simple, country wedding, watched by a few generous handfuls of people; a joyful day, glowing with love. 

Photographs by my very talented sister, Eleanor.