Confessions of a Struggling Actor

This is only about the wedding as there's so much to tell.  The rest of my life will take up a much smaller entry that I'll get done in a much shorter time.  This was always going to be a long one, so bear with it...

Friday morning and Sue arrived at 6.55 or so, coffee was made and after watching one of my new short films, we headed off.  The drive up was fun, with no difficulties until Mark caught up with us.  He told us that there was an accident and we should take an alternate route.  We could see the M6 from the new A road and there seemed no probs, but it was a change from the vision of concrete on the motorway.  We arrived at Whitmuir Hall, where we were staying the weekend, and were delighted to hear about a pool (no trunks) and swingball (much more fun).  We kind of crashed while waiting for Gabi and then realised that we had no reception so she couldn't get through to let us know when she was coming.  Mark then headed for a snooze before picking up Jen and Sue and I went shopping for provisions and contacted Gabi.  While waiting for her, I jumped in the shower.  Mark had already been in and used my towel and then, to add to that, there was no hot water left.  I had a cold shower and realised that I'd left my toilet bag at home, with my lens in it.  I wasn't going to pull this weekend...  Once Gabi arrived we headed to the hotel to meet everyone.  It was great to catch up with so many people then, especially the Wives and Girlfriends who I don't get the chance to chat to much and visitors from far and wide.  Everyone was on form and I felt very relaxed, even if I did look like a tramp (thanks Andy).  Once the night there had ended, we headed back to our lodging, with Jen having arrived earlier.  Some old chat came up about embarrassing things and a mixture of booze, tiredness and the earlier feelings of the evening left me a little moody.  As everyone went to bed, I poured myself a large whisky and went down for a cigarette.  Sue came down to listen to my woeful warblings and in the end I decided that it best to go to bed and start over the next day.  Well, it wouldn't be the same if I didn't get a bit soft in the head when I meet up with these guys...

In the morning, the head had turned from soft to sore.  I was the last one up, Jes had arrived and I had to have a freezing cold shower.  having left my toiletries at home, I was forced to use Bic razor and cut my face up bonny.  Gabi said that after putting loo roll on to stop the bleeding, I looked like Father Christmas.  Sue had taken ill, so wasn't sure if she'd make it to the service.  To give her more time, Mark took me down early so everyone could fit in his car if needed.  As it was, she missed the service but made the reception.  I was so gutted for her as she'd done so much of the organising of this trip and it wasn't even self inflicted.  I met Rance and ended up helping him set up the music stuff and later take it away.  It was good catching up with him and he seemed on splendid form (do you see a pattern emerging here) that was halted by his sickness later in the evening.

The service itself was wonderful.  The reading went well, even though a midge flew into my mouth and I had to swallow it.  Maria later said that she couldn't look at me as she would cry - like most women I guess.  Sat next to Oli and we were complimented on our singing by the young lad that looked like the lead singer from the Kooks.  Oli also earned a spotters badge for identifying the Led Zep tune during the singing of the register.  It was SO good to see he and Chrissie again and to hear their stories and jokes and see their beaming faces.  A real unexpected highlight was the Gaelic blessings, sung a cappella by the ministers.  Maria looked beautiful and Biz couldn't have smiled any more or his lips might have burst.

After the service, canapés and Pimms were had before the meal.  After a discussion, a new business was mooted along the lines of Barber, Christie, Rance and Kinnear weddings.  Muzz as the usher, me as the reader, Steve as the muso - just need to get Dougie ordained.  Watching so many couples around, it did take me back to early days after meeting many of this lot and remembering the prediction that I'd be the first one married.  How wrong can you be?  We then hit the bar and then the line-up before the meal.  Chatted to Clea for most of the queue - it was good to catch up with her as I've been bad and haven't made the effort since she moved across to London.  It was really good to chat with her and other folk that I hadn't spent time with for years - Kelvin and Pete Donald as well, we had some good nights at HMT together and it was great to see them so well.  These guys are fantastically genuine and it was an extra bonus having a good time with them.

As everyone came in it soon became apparent that Muzz and I were to be the only men at our table.  We were surrounded by delightful company, including Amanda the bridesmaid, friends from Saigon tour that saw the first flushes of romance between B&M and workmates of Maria from Sam Thomas.  I was next to Keri and chatted about all sorts of stuff from travelling parents to early 20th century American literature.  Nice lass and great company.  She's in London for a couple of months, so have sent her an email in case she's at a loose end one evening.  After a great feed, the speeches...

Maria's dad started his speech, but fairly soon into it got what seemed like a complete fit of the giggles.  This got everyone laughing and set the tone for the rest of the evening.  Biz and Kelvin were ace and completely themselves while doing the speeches, which made them really special, on top of being among the funniest I've heard.  Highlights from both include the baby raising as the nations attending were announced (Moray offered to lift me for England, but I declined...), Kelvin's passport and fish references, "short and snappy" and the hotel manager breaking the brandy glass.  Everyone loved it and after it all was done, many of us retreated outside for some fresh air and, as it turned out, a bit of football.

The football brought home the fact that everyone is now that bit older, with Andy Watson's pace not in evidence, though his ability to blame everyone else for any mistakes he had made remained undimmed.  He and Mikey were in their element, with lots of banter going around and thankfully no awkward or revealing falls by anyone in a kilt.  After being shown up by 7-11 year olds, many of us went in for the ceilidh band.  Total quality, but I fairly picked my dances - including a Gay Gordons where men and women swapped positions (never been so dizzy) and one where the girls nearly took off, but at least Donna didn't go flying.  The giant strip the willow at the end was made slightly tougher by the slope on the dance floor, but watching the ceilidh virgins faces was highly amusing - fear, excitement and concentration all in one!  Next was the disco and from here, things got a bit hazy, so I apologise if I miss anything out or mistake anything that went on.  I felt like I was hardly off the floor - dancing to Abba with Chrissie, the impetuous Bohemian Rhapsody, reuniting Take That with our original Jason (Kelvin) and john and I remembering the moves (inspired/sad? you decide...) and the traditional last dance and final rammy to Auld Lang Syne.  I missed Mikey demanding Loch Lomond, as I was already in the bar, ready to push on through.  All I remember after that is emotions running high at points with a couple of people, a golf game, propping up the bar, long chats with Dave Lamb and then dropping Shoeless Kinnear in Melrose in our taxi back. Eventually crashed at least 6am with a huge grin on my face after one of the most perfect weddings...

Unsurprisingly, Sunday started slowly.  I woke in time to find out that Sue was ill again, putting our return for lunch out of the question.  Some of us popped down (I had to pick up Sue's car for her) but most folk had left apart from family.  We decided against staying, with Sue home alone, so headed back via a Co-op for supplies for watching the England game.  Sue and Gabi pulled their duvets into the living room and we sat eating crisps, drinking beer and (generally) supporting England.  Jen headed off to get her flight back down south and we continued to veg and talk sh!te (but in a good entertaining way).  I went outside to have a fag and get reception and then got in touch with Biz who wanted us to come down later for a few pints.  everyone was settled and fairly well ensconced, but after a brief debate and Sue stating that she was OK to drive, the unanimous decision was made to go to the hotel and get a chipper on the way home.  As it was, Jen's flight was cancelled, so we sat watching the Portugal-Holland drama, with me being the only one out of our posse that had any alcohol.  Biz said I should put my thoughts after each game on the blog, but I'm not sure if he was being serious.  I probably will at the end of the tournament if I have time.  A little later, after final hugs goodbye, we set off to get me and Jes a haggis supper.  Guttingly, the chipper was closed, so we ended up going all the way to Melrose to get a Chinese, which wasn't what we were hoping for, but did the job.  After Mark having more road fun ('Why don't we take a short cut?') we ended up back at the flat, staying up til past 2am talking nonsense that made us all laugh, or Gabi-ing as I now christen it.  Questions such as, "Think of one thing you truly hate" and the now legendary, "Think of something you know NOTHING about" - which isn't as easy as you think.  It was an excellent end to a wonderful weekend - the flat was great, it was good to spend time with Jes and Gabi after missing them on their last trip to London and Mark, Jen and Sue were fabulous company as always.