Stags & Hens

Right here goes………………………………………
H2b’s best men got to ours about 10 as arranged, my two bridesmaids got here a little later after getting stuck in traffic on their journey.
We gave them all their gift bags and tshirts which they were really chuffed with, we all sat and had a big cooked brunch, bacon, egg, sausage, beans, mushrooms and bread and butter all washed down with fresh orange juice!
We took a few pics of us in our shirts before we left, then got everything put in the car and off we went.
The three lads went in one car and the girls went in the other, which I drove, and we both had a sat nav in each car except our sat nav wanted to take us a totally different way to the boys infront so that caused of bit of a palava. Anyway we got there and it was really busy. As its in the forest everyone was having picnics under trees and playing games and riding bikes and the weather was gorgeous. We were a bit early for our 2 oclock slot so we sat in the shade and had and ice cream then made our way over to where we had to check in and sign our forms and get harnessed up and have the information about how to use our harness and make sure we were safe.
There were five stages along the course and each one had a rope ladder to take you up the tree and a zip wire at the end. The first stage was the closest to the forest floor and had the shortest zip wire. One person has to get up and do the “run through” as it were, so the instructor said it has to be either the bride or the groom so as the rest of our group were mainly men they all shouted “bride” so I had to get up infront of 3 people and harness myself up along thos wire bridge and then across onto the zip wire where I proceeded to land with a bump, most un lady like on my back side! And got back in my trousers! Lol
We went on to the next stage without our instructor and for the rest of the course. The rope ladder first, then onto a tarzan swing across onto a scramble net across that onto a platform round a tree then across rope bridges and stepping “stones”. Everyone was having fun and getting a bit out of puff lol We came to the taller longer zip wire and we all tried hardest to land on our feet rather than on our bums! It was at his point we heard the first lot of thunder!!
Onto the next starting off again with the rope ladder this time with a few different crossings. So now we are 12 meters up in the air attached to a tree with a safety line and our harnesses and the heavens opened! It absolutely chucked it down, hale stones too and when your quite high up at tree and its raining u tend to get a little wet!! We were all cold and wet and getting tired going across these bridges and crossing and zip wires by the time we finished we were all soaked through to our underwear! The two girls had a bit of a whinge which annoyed me a little at first but we all still had a fab time. I managed to finish the longest tallest zip wire which finishes right back at the start in front of everyone, by landing on my feet!! Yippeeeee!
As soon as we got away from thetford the skies were sooo blue and sun filled them again. We must have been the only place within miles and miles where it rained all our friends and familes had all been siting in the garden getting tanned!
We all came home and changed into dry clean clothes, we all sat looking through all the pictures and laughing. Of course when the rain started the cameras had to go away so we missed the chance to get any more pictures. We all huddled round the Chinese menu and ordered LOADS the lads then all went off to collect it while us three girls sat and had a natter.
The food arrived and we all got stuck in. We all ate way too much and still had left overs. Then we all flaked out on the sofa and sat and watched BGT and trash on the telly and having a laugh. Everyone left about half 11 as my two friends had an hour jouney still ahead of them and we were all so shattered.
We all had a great if not a little wet day everyone had a laugh and we just hope now that it doesn’t rain on our wedding day!

It's The Final Countdown

16 days to go!!!

Well the alarm went off at 7am yesterday morning, I would normally be still laying in bed whilst h2b got ready for work as monday is my normal day off anyway. We got ready and made sure i had everything i needed. Drove down to ipswich which took us about an hour. We got stuck in some traffic so we were a couple of mins late. Tanya our wedding coordinator met us with a hug and offered us a coffee. We sat down and went over all the details as we changed the time of speeches. We then went up to the ceremony room to listen to the songs we have chosen for the ceremony. Felt really strange being in the room where we will be married and hearing the song which i will walk in to. H2b looked at me and said" dont cry i know what your like" i thought i might but i just stood there grinning.
We worked out when page boy/flower girl and bridesmaids will come in and then when i come in. We listened to the two signing songs and then the song that would play us out. We then walk out on to our own private courtyard with lovely garden furniture and have pictures taken and a drink and what not. We then have our meal and speeches and cut the cake. Then we have a bit of time to kill before we have the disco. We were a bit worried every one would get bored. We are having what they call" the ice cream dream machine" lol where you have ice cream in a little pot/bowl and then you can move on to the sprikles bar where you can add your own sauce or syrups and sprinkles like smarties, mint aero pieces flakes marshmallows etc. Then HOPEFULLY its a nice day and our guests can mill around outside looking at the boats on the harbour. Now what we found out yesterday is that becoz down stairs is a bar, they have a band on every friday afternoon from 5 til 7 (which just happends to be the time we need filled!! So we have a live jazz band for our guests to listen to while they eat their ice cream in the sunshine basically for free!!

Anyway we had our appt with the registrar at 11am so we wandered along the waterfront into town. We met the lady who will perform our ceremony. She was really nice, very down to earth and she talked us through the ceremony and we gave our choices. She typed all this up while we were there, took the names of the songs we r having and she had to "you tube" two of them coz i couldnt pronounce their names lol she printed out the whole ceremony as it will be performed on the day so thats good. She talked about nerves and how some people can faint in extreme cases and sometimes when bride and groom turn to face eachother they can burst out laughing as they seem to be standing so close together! lol that made me chuckle.
We paid the balance and ordered an extra copy of the marriage certificate and left.
Mum has given us some easter money so we went to get a few bits of clothing for the honeymoon and as we were walking hand in hand to town in the sunshine i felt so happy. We were laughing and h2b said we better practice where we stand next to eachother and turn so that we dont laugh. So standing in the street he made me practice! He counted to three and we turned....we were nose to nose and i burst into hysterics!!!

Fab day!!

Dress Stress

Well..... 5 weeks today! 35 days to go until i become a Mrs.
I'm sure there is lots to write about but its just a case of remembering it all.
We both have our wedding bands now, and my engagement ring has been resized so it wont keep falling off now. The bridesmaids have fitted on their dresses with their shoes and just one needs turning up a little. Hair and make up trials have been done and very happy with at last.
I had a lovely day out in norwich with a friend from work last week. We went a did a little bit of shopping and i started looking for some wedding day perfume. We smelt so many it was all you could smell by the end of the day. I came home with 18 little sample cards sprayed with many fragrances! After coming come although i'd brought so many home i managed to narrow the 18 down to 3.
Then we had a bit of lunch and sat and ate in the sunshine. Our next stop was doctor spa fish. This is the current craze where they have garra rufa fish in a tank and you put your feet in with them and as they are scavengers they will eat the dead/hard skin off your feet. It was a a very strange feeling. Very tickley. Rather like putting your feet into really fizzy lemonade. I would have it done again and id like to before the wedding gets here.
So now im on my annual leave ive been getting a few last minute things done, have only two more pew ends to finish, done the last bit of bunting that i needed for my thank you card design, filled in all our choices for the way we want to ceremony to run so we have our appointment with the registrar who will marry us on the 18th of april.
Had a lovely day with mum on wednesday. First of all i went back to felixstowe to meet up with my bridesmaids and sort timings of when they will be getting there on the day ready for hair make up etc. After that i met mum for lunch and we wandered into the town. We walked passed a shop which had some lovely wedding outfits in the window. We both said how lovely it was. We went for a coffee to think about it. Then i was spoilt rotten and mum treated me to a dress and shrug for our honey moon. I also found my favourite perfume from the list of three. It is sooooooo lovely.
Next we went back to the shop where we saw the dress for mum in the window. She tried it on and i sat in the changing area and waited. She pulled the curtain open and she looked lovely. She tried a purple fascinator on in purple to match but i didnt look quite right so the lady put a black one on which had a green tinge to it and that looked lovely. I said you look more like a brides mother now and it made her a bit teary! She really wasnt looking forward to finding something to wear so she feel relieved now which has made us both happy.

Yesterday was another good day. I had the car and went to see Future mother in law for a cuppa and we had pancakes for lunch. Before i filled my belly with those though, i had a fit on of my dress. I have a pound to loose to get my three stone award but.........IT FITS!!! I was so pleased i couldnt stop grinning! Ive been so worried that i would never get into it and mums been worrying me saying that i might have to look for another dress! Im just so relieved now it fits me! That's nine months of hard work, and three stone (ish) lost all paying off! Very happy bride to be.