We are back in town… married life starts here!

I have returned to the reception of our hotel to use a computer again, as my wife sleeps off some mild sunstroke.

We have ceased talking about the wedding (and our photographer!) every other minute, but are still overwhelmed with how amazing it was.

Today Beth and I took a bus into Budva, and ventured into the “old town.” It was surprising, and fairly obvious to us soon after we arrived in the country, that Montenegro is only just getting used to the idea of being visited by tourists, and that English tourists are completely uncatered for. The majority of tourists here are Russian, with some Germans, some Croatians (Croatia is next-door) and a few French. Hardly any locals can speak English, and there are a severe lack of English signs and notices. And that is one of the reasons I love being here. I wanted reality. Foreign reality - and when we leave our hotel complex, we have it. In my opinion, there’s no point leaving England unless I am going to experience real life outside of England. If I travel to the US then I want to experience US life. If I travel to Montenegro, then I want to experience something of the culture of Montenegro. Even if it’s only a small part.

So today, we walked around Budva’s old town for a while, then settled down at a cafe for a drink and read. Then I noticed a few people staring up at the surrounding mountains. There were huge billows of smoke coming from the trees. There was a big fire, and it got progressively worse over the next thirty minutes or so. And several hours later, apparently it’s still burning. Photos to come, on our return home.

And now I must return to my wife, then coax her to join me in stuffing our faces at the hotel’s evening meal. Every breakfast and evening meal is an all-you-can-eat bonanza of Montenegrin food, and it is mmmmm lovely.

I have followed Rachel’s wise advice and have left Beth in our room whilst I carry out my internet duties. However I have left myself around four minutes to blog so I’d better make it snappy!

Montenegro is great. Very warm. I have burnt feet, but the rest of my is very nicely browning.

We’re trying to keep a short account of our daily activities, which I shall publish here in due course.

We have seen the first “public” photo from Rachel, and it is wonderful. Rachel and her skills and loveliness is one of the most talked about things so far on our honeymoon.

This is a rubbish entry. Apologies. We loved our day, thanks to everyone who made it happen. If you’re reading this. Gotta go. More later, perhaps!

This is it… In three hours from now, I will be married.

!

Today was a crazy day - we spent over five hours transforming a large, white, empty room into a hot pink extravaganza, complete with lanterns and beautifully folded serviettes. We were helped out by twenty Eritreans, several very helpful members of the church, and a very helpful American photographer.

The last few hours have been spent writing thank you cards, trying on my suit (which fits perfectly), arranging arrival times with family, and generally trying to come to terms with the fact that this time in two days I shall be lying next to my wife. Which I still have not come to terms with, and don’t see myself coming to terms with until at least a few days into our honeymoon.

Also, I think I’ve just finished my speech.

James and Natalie arrive tomorrow. It’s going to be a fun weekend.

This afternoon Beth and I had the privilege of having the super-talented Rachel shoot many photos of us at three different locations across Hoodersfield. Huddersfield, sorry. It was good fun, and although I don’t particularly enjoy having my photo taken (unless I’m the one taking it), Mrs H has the very useful ability to make people feel at ease nomatter what she is making them do in the name of a “good photograph.” I am very much looking forward to seeing the results from that shoot and also from our wedding, obviously.

In other news, the weather is looking decidedly undecided. My stupid Firefox Accuweather.com plugin tells me it will be mostly cloudy with showers around. The BBC tells me that it will be cloudy with no showers. Yahoo! tells me that it will be 30 degrees with not a cloud to be seen. Do Yahoo! even provide weather reports? Obviously a lie, whatever.

More speech time. I may as well write what I’m thinking about in my speech, currently:

Mike asked me today, “How do you know you are ready for marriage?” That is a very good question, young Michael, who isn’t reading this.

How do I know I am ready for marriage.

?

I won’t answer that here, today. Come to my wedding. Hang on. Are you invited?

The second thing involves the creation of a new family unit which God has created through marriage. It’s exciting and BIG.

Internet has returned, TV has made a long-awaited come-back and, what? I’m getting married in FOUR DAYS.

It still seems like it should be four weeks. Or even four months. But no. This coming Saturday, my life will change forever.

I drove to Manchester Airport this morning to pick up the lovely Rachel, as she prepares to shoot her first (of many, I’m sure) UK wedding. We’re going for an afternoon engagement session tomorrow, but I’ve been told I’m not allowed to take my camera.

It’s been a while since I uploaded any photos. I miss it. But I have left my beloved and neglected D50 at the Sharps’ house, so uploading will have to wait.

I must go and think more about my speech.

More tomorrow! Four more sleeps in a state of singleness. Crazy.

Hello all. I will not apologise for my lack of entries over the past few days. Why do people do that?

“Sorry I’ve posted for a while!” As if anybody is that attached to reading your blog that they need an apology for your absence.

I have no idea where that came from.

I have found a very strong signal for my Mac. Oops. Stealing? Debate in the comments if you like Virgin Media have turned off my internet and will be installing my new internet in the new house this time next week. Which will be lovely. So meanwhile, I have to take advantage of people not protecting their own internet, or using Beth’s.

I’m in the process of moving house, still. Most stuff is moved. Now I have to clean and tidy the space that I have left, and wash every item of clothing that I own.

I will blog more later, perhaps. I might try and find a signal in our new house… Ha.