My Sister's Wedding.
(Although since I'm typing this it's really an entry all about meeeeeeee.)
Tuesday.
Arrived at the Village Pub which is actually a swanky little hotel. Discovered I was sharing a room with my father. Chatted for an hour to nieces. Then had to chat for a hour or so with grown-ups. Was a little sadlyfoxears to realise I did much better speaking to my nieces. Was told off for not eating supper. Celebrations various to be held here: http://www.barnsleyhouse.com/
Wednesday.
Dressed as Edwardian gent; was too hot and couldn't be arsed to figure out the collar studs. Re-dressed as louche unspeakable Edwardian gent who had mislaid shirt. Cursed whoever invented high-heels. Went to civil ceremony; only about 20 people there total. Zoe looked absolutely stunning in a cream silk dress - late 20s early 30s style, bias cut, low back - beautiful. No, I don't have a photo, yes I'll put one up as soon as I get my claws on one. Informal lunch; spent an hour talking to a lady who was really interested in LARP and loved all the Cam / Sabbat / Garu / Bastet stuff I burbled about (much to my surprise) and wanted to know all about how the games worked. More sitting about chatting and trying to make sure I didn't get bought too many G&Ts by random people who used 'I'll get us a drink' as a conversational opening gambit. Tried to skive off supper; was cornered. Realised I had to escape when I'd managed to gouge a hole in my thumb through being stressed and fidgeting. Escaped, piked wine, had a lovely conversation with Anja about nieces, nephews, monsters, storytelling and writing novels.
Thursday.
Dressed as a flapper - summer casual. Lots of people said 'oooh! is that what you're wearing? shiny!' (or as Katie put it, "Ahhhh, Raven, wow - you look siiiiick!" which I gather is a good thing in her book) and I was able to raise my eyebrows and say 'Don't be silly darling, I'll dress for dinner!' Lots of hurry-up-and-wait and quite a bit of faff about the rooms (we didn't have one) plus some (mild) panic generally. Finally able to get changed, was satisfied I looked like an extra in an Agatha Christie novel, got to the church. All went well; the blessing was conducted by a priest who was ex-army and was the most agreeably down-to-earth, un-sanctimonious and amusingly up to date priest I've ever encountered. He was rather cool =) Zoe had a different dress which was far more floofy and dull, so no more to report on that. By the time we left the church it was blowing a gale and tipping down with rain - soggy shoes and hems all round. Champagne and dinner in a vast marque: tables named after films with quiz questions on the theme of said film. (Star Wars, Some Like it Hot, Brief Encounters, Casablanca, Withnail & I. I was mercenary and hired my extensive knowledge out to the Withnail & I table on the understanding that if they won I was an honorary member of their set.) Had dinner, stole Karl's TB. After dinner drank a quart of champagne a glass at a time. My ghost turned up, told me I looked divine, stole my champagne and went out for a smoke and didn't come back. *sigh* Was rescued from terminal boredom and drinking another quart of champagne by two cousins of mine who are bouncey hippy student-boys and would rather talk utter wibble with me than anything with the 'grown-ups'. Flaked quietly in a chair at midnight which made my father despair and organise me a room. (Honestly I've no idea what he's looking askance at. If one flops quietly in a chair and then walks back to the hotel without falling over one's high heels, one can't be that drunk.)
Friday.
Woke up at 4am so was very very tired. Dressed like Bedlam, stared at breakfast and tried to rouse my neurons from the blankets they were hiding under. Went with my brother for coffee and to sort out the suit for *his* wedding in November. I advocated a tailor made short frock coat in a biscuit-y colour which will make him look swish as a superbly swish thing. There was a bit of ambling and I bought two Georgian keys because old keys are brilliant and Bedlam can never have too many keys. Couldn't play with Neuron-niece or Maxling because they had chickenpox and I've never had it and don't plan on it. Neuron-niece was unimpressed. Finally, back at the Oast at last.
Pictures of the bad and poncing about variety to show off my outfits...
Tuesday.
Arrived at the Village Pub which is actually a swanky little hotel. Discovered I was sharing a room with my father. Chatted for an hour to nieces. Then had to chat for a hour or so with grown-ups. Was a little sadlyfoxears to realise I did much better speaking to my nieces. Was told off for not eating supper. Celebrations various to be held here: http://www.barnsleyhouse.com/
Wednesday.
Dressed as Edwardian gent; was too hot and couldn't be arsed to figure out the collar studs. Re-dressed as louche unspeakable Edwardian gent who had mislaid shirt. Cursed whoever invented high-heels. Went to civil ceremony; only about 20 people there total. Zoe looked absolutely stunning in a cream silk dress - late 20s early 30s style, bias cut, low back - beautiful. No, I don't have a photo, yes I'll put one up as soon as I get my claws on one. Informal lunch; spent an hour talking to a lady who was really interested in LARP and loved all the Cam / Sabbat / Garu / Bastet stuff I burbled about (much to my surprise) and wanted to know all about how the games worked. More sitting about chatting and trying to make sure I didn't get bought too many G&Ts by random people who used 'I'll get us a drink' as a conversational opening gambit. Tried to skive off supper; was cornered. Realised I had to escape when I'd managed to gouge a hole in my thumb through being stressed and fidgeting. Escaped, piked wine, had a lovely conversation with Anja about nieces, nephews, monsters, storytelling and writing novels.
Thursday.
Dressed as a flapper - summer casual. Lots of people said 'oooh! is that what you're wearing? shiny!' (or as Katie put it, "Ahhhh, Raven, wow - you look siiiiick!" which I gather is a good thing in her book) and I was able to raise my eyebrows and say 'Don't be silly darling, I'll dress for dinner!' Lots of hurry-up-and-wait and quite a bit of faff about the rooms (we didn't have one) plus some (mild) panic generally. Finally able to get changed, was satisfied I looked like an extra in an Agatha Christie novel, got to the church. All went well; the blessing was conducted by a priest who was ex-army and was the most agreeably down-to-earth, un-sanctimonious and amusingly up to date priest I've ever encountered. He was rather cool =) Zoe had a different dress which was far more floofy and dull, so no more to report on that. By the time we left the church it was blowing a gale and tipping down with rain - soggy shoes and hems all round. Champagne and dinner in a vast marque: tables named after films with quiz questions on the theme of said film. (Star Wars, Some Like it Hot, Brief Encounters, Casablanca, Withnail & I. I was mercenary and hired my extensive knowledge out to the Withnail & I table on the understanding that if they won I was an honorary member of their set.) Had dinner, stole Karl's TB. After dinner drank a quart of champagne a glass at a time. My ghost turned up, told me I looked divine, stole my champagne and went out for a smoke and didn't come back. *sigh* Was rescued from terminal boredom and drinking another quart of champagne by two cousins of mine who are bouncey hippy student-boys and would rather talk utter wibble with me than anything with the 'grown-ups'. Flaked quietly in a chair at midnight which made my father despair and organise me a room. (Honestly I've no idea what he's looking askance at. If one flops quietly in a chair and then walks back to the hotel without falling over one's high heels, one can't be that drunk.)
Friday.
Woke up at 4am so was very very tired. Dressed like Bedlam, stared at breakfast and tried to rouse my neurons from the blankets they were hiding under. Went with my brother for coffee and to sort out the suit for *his* wedding in November. I advocated a tailor made short frock coat in a biscuit-y colour which will make him look swish as a superbly swish thing. There was a bit of ambling and I bought two Georgian keys because old keys are brilliant and Bedlam can never have too many keys. Couldn't play with Neuron-niece or Maxling because they had chickenpox and I've never had it and don't plan on it. Neuron-niece was unimpressed. Finally, back at the Oast at last.
Pictures of the bad and poncing about variety to show off my outfits...