Married!!

Once again I want to start by thanking you all for your kindness following my health news. It’s been a very tough few weeks, involving surgery and a difficult and ongoing recovery. I’m still awaiting some final test results before a treatment plan is finalised, but I know there are a challenging few months ahead.

Meantime, Paula and I managed to pull off a miracle wedding at very short notice today - with the exceptional support of our friends and family. We’d especially like to thank:

• Our families for being so supportive of our relationship and so happy about our wedding. Particular thanks to Paula’s two children (aged 19 and 17) for welcoming me into their lives. It’s an absolute privilege. Thanks also to my brother RockNerd for his beautiful photographs of the day https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/3369051029717913374
• Our friends for turning out in far greater numbers than we had expected, at very short notice on a Monday afternoon. We know that many meetings were cancelled, diaries re-arranged and work, quite possibly, bunked off! We love you all.
• Our book club posse for providing the setting for our initial meeting, and for all their ongoing encouragement. Particular thanks to Kate, who contacted the renowned Turkish/British author Elif Shafak on our behalf and invited her to share some words for our ceremony, and to Hannah who read those words out so beautifully.
• Sarah Lovelock of the legendary Lovelock’s coffee shop, and her phenomenal staff team, for not only laying on a superb buffet with virtually no notice, but for refusing to accept a penny for it and insisting it was a wedding present. I believe Sarah to be an actual goddess, and we genuinely don’t know how to express our gratitude for her generosity.
• Liverpool Register Office for pulling out the stops and shunting us up the waiting list on health grounds.
• Everyone who was unable to be there but who has cheered us on from afar.

We see you all, and we feel your love and support.

Today’s song is the tune that was played at the end of our wedding ceremony. ‘Power of Two’ by the Indigo Girls https://youtu.be/hj0yVN8pFNw?si=z0H9M78ptV4f_LVj