On a Shoestring

As I write, I am currently bombing through the countryside on my way back from Portsmouth with my boyfriend, his sister, and her husband. The sun is shining and Adele is warbling in the background on the stereo. Not surprisingly, my boyfriend and his sister are sleeping; we've had a pretty full-on few days since Thursday. We kicked off the long weekend with a night out for my boyfriend's parent's 40th wedding anniversary. Because all immediate family were invited, they hired a small coach to drive us to the restaurant, which was out in the middle of nowhere. Even though expensive, I could understand why they chose it, since the food was good and the guys who run it are very friendly and welcoming. We took the five grandchildren, who were all under 10 and very well behaved. In fact, I think they made less noise than the adults.

The next day, we got ready for Portsmouth and drove down in the afternoon. I slept for most of the two hour drive, so the journey seemed to go pretty quickly to me. We arrived at a quirky little hotel, which was once again in the middle of nowhere. We had my boyfriend's 85 year old nan with us and met his aunt and uncle there. The hotel was a strange concoction of oldy-worldy nicknacks and brash black and white photography, but it was charming and somehow worked together well. Every inch of wall space was filled with paintings or photographs; mainly actors and actresses, which we spent a while trying to identify. We sat outside until it got a little chilly and then went to my boyfriend's aunt's room for champagne before sitting down to dinner in the restaurant. I was a little apprehensive about being away for a few days but once we had checked in I soon relaxed. It seemed that my boyfriend and I had the biggest room with the swishest of bathrooms. I am not usually used to spotlights around the toilet.

The wedding took a good eight hours to warm up yesterday. To be honest, weddings are not my favourite of things and I'd say that this one had many of my least favourite components - a really long church service, lots of waiting about in between each part of the day, and the longest selection of after-dinner speeches I've ever sat through. They probably weren't any longer than most but they rated pretty damn heavily on the scales of boredom. The father of the bride is the kind of guy you wouldn't want to get stuck in a lift with; interesting or mildly amusing, he was not. He said that he has a nickname for everyone he meets. By the end of his twenty-odd minute speech, we had a few for him.

Luckily, we were on a table with some really nice people; a lady with her partner, her two twenty-something year old sons and their girlfriends. We stood outside with the sons and their partners for most of the evening and they kind of made the reception for us. The majority of the other guests were barristers, doctors, and lawyers. I spoke to a few people but generally, I was glad that we'd been put on a table with the other six, since they were more down to earth and had a good sense of humour. Held in a grand old hall in the middle of the countryside, I dread to think how much the wedding cost. I do know, however, that my wallet is looking far emptier than it was three days ago, after paying for two nights in the hotel, two pricey meals and many rounds at the bar. We have had a nice time though, so I guess you can't put a price on that. I really feel as though I am part of my boyfriend's family now. I tune in with his sister and her husband really well and the four of us have laughed a lot over the weekend.

So now, our social rampage is just about over. We have a few small family things to attend, such as birthday gatherings for the kiddies, but aside from that, I think we have flexed our social and financial muscles enough for the time being. I've stupidly said I'd go to a friend's birthday party in October without checking the dates first; I have only just realised that it falls on the same day as a party I'd already committed myself to. I really should check the calendar more often. I am hoping that my friend will not be upset that we can't make her do. I hate having to let people down.

I have once again reminded my boyfriend that I don't want to do anything for a good month or so, as we have already started to receive messages about drinks out and yet another bloody wedding. I really intend to stick to my guns on this one though; at least for October and November. I am sure that some noses will be put out of joint, but I'd rather that than go poor to keep everyone else happy. The Fool (or Little Sacha as I like to call him) marks a new start or adventure. In this case, the adventure that Sacha takes me on will have to be on a shoestring.


Illustration from The Favole Tarot and Set Me Free by Victoria Frances