August 28 th 2002. And then we all arrived at Bank Quay Sports and Social Club for the evening celebration. Food was there in plenty including "the cake". Who was the wag who asked why all those fire extinguishers?
This fresh, filletted and re-assembled, salmon was a thought of Cathy's. She knew her cats and my dog would willingly help eat any that was left - they didn't get the chance!!
The buffet was a wedding pressie from Wayne and Les - what to buy the Bride and Groom who have everything? It was probably the best buffet I have ever seen at a wedding do and, believe me, I have seen a lot of them. This is about a third of the main spread - still covered as the guests hadn't arrived when the photo was taken.
This was the kind of plateful to be had if you could manage it. Fortunately for Wayne and Les not too many could get through one this size for their first helping, let alone their second ;)) And, of course, there was plenty of choice for a second course.
But there was a lot to happen before Greg got his supper. Cathy and Allen set up their table by the door so they could welcome visitors. It didn't occur to them that many would come bearing gifts and cards but it happened. As I write this I realise I haven't yet found out what these pretty parcels contained but I do know their house was filled with cards by the next day.
This is Pandamonium getting his first view of the talkers who were present It says a lot for Cathy and Allen's ability as hosts that even the most shy of guests felt at home in seconds. Panda's jacket didn't stay on for long!
What a quiet young man Danny was when he arrived. Apprehensive and polite!
Paying serious attention while PaddyJoe talks to him.
Even the Niglets were a little apprehensive at first and stuck by Mum.
PaddyJoe sat quietly over his first pint - well, his first pint in the club!!
But the quiet didn't last long. Mrs Bomber helped him liven up.
While Greg coped with the Niglets
And Carla arrived to chat to Danny.
While Ponder partied next to them Carla and Danny were lost together in a world of mobile phones!
Bea found it entertaining listening to talkers she'd not met before.
Who could resist including this lovely one of Jane that bea took?
Round the corner from the talk table Les and Wayne sat with smiles on their faces despite worrying whether they had prepared enough food for all these people!
Although extremely masculine, Cathy's boys are very caring. Here you see a quick snuggle up together from Cathy and Kevin. Both Kevin and Cathy's Danny paid regular visits to Mum to check she was alright!
And Ray paid regular visits on me to check I was alright!!
Cathy, Allen and Carla had blown up a mass of balloons, somewhat pearlised and quite tough, and left them on the dance floor. Cathy, it seems, had instructed each youngster that the balloons were for them and they could play with them however they liked. What a thing to tell young Niglette! That girl is a party waiting to happen!!
She soon had all the men enjoying the "Niglette Game". All? What happened to Bomber? How did he escape? Or did he just escape the camera?
Ah, yes, he was dancing
Carla and Danny got on like a house on fire - when Blue Watch aren't told about it!
But it wasn't long before Devil Woman showed her true colours!
Danny's downfall was allowing himself to be literally dragged up to dance.
It became extremely difficult for him to find the way back to his seat when Cathy sent him, the floor just would not keep still!
He had a little trouble sitting up, too!
And Carla didn't help!
We talked about our friends from ntl.talk who hadn't been able to travel to the reception and agreed the request (oTTo) made was to be honoured. So we raised our glasses - "To Absent Friends"
But all good things must come to an end. Soon it was time to find that Warrington was very short of Taxi drivers that night. Fortunately one was eventually found for Panda - he had the longest way to travel so we had to find him one. PaddyJoe insisted he would walk back to his hotel. I know Warrington and I wouldn't do that walk at that time of night if I were sober let alone in the state PJ was!! So Ray bundled him in the Corsa and took him to the hotel. Next he bundled another lot in and then another until all the talkers were where they needed to be. That just left us. Two too many for the Corsa so off the others went while I had some time alone in the clear night air. Alone with my new Son-in-Law, that is.
And so we left Cathy and Allen, Mr & Mrs Jones, to start their married life together.