A Union

 

You are going to have to indulge me here but the wedding took place on Saturday at Bolton Castle at Castle Bolton in Wensleydale. It was a wonderful celebration which stretched out from our arrival on Friday until our departure today. My family based itself in three log cabins at The Jonas Centre in Redmire and I can honestly say we haven't stopped laughing the whole time (except when we welled up with emotion) . The best thing, of course, is that not only have I become a mother-in-law but I have also aquired myself a daughter-in-law; how good is that? So from now on I can, of course, no longer refer to her in this blog as either the eldest's partner or even fiancée. I'm guessing Dilly from the acronym DIL would be appropriate, although some might consider it silly were I to find myself with a son-in-law in the future!

The non-religious ceremony took place in the tower where Mary Queen of Scots lived when she was held captive there for 6 months in 1568. What she would have made of our celebration of matrimony in her living quarters, I don't know; hopefully like most of those present (including the Registrar and her assistant) she would have been moved to tears. Whether she would have approved of the dancing to the band that took place in the same room a few hours later, one can only ponder. There I was indulging in embarrassing Mum dancing (and yes my leg is still in a knee brace) wondering if the previous occupant sitting by the window doing her embroidery or learning English could ever have contemplated the future use to which the room might be put.

Unfortunately the autumnal weather and draughty castle did little to allay concerns as to the cold temperatures in the north for the large contingent who travelled from London for the occasion. Indeed I even found myself wrapped in a blanket at one point as my feet froze in their shoes, despite a roaring wood fire in the hearth. In my defence, I had spent time in the stocks outside following a medieval tradition. At least nobody threw rotting vegetables.

Dilly asked her sister, mother and new mother-in-law to give readings at the ceremony itself. My family was unaware and when I stood up and was handed a microphone, there was a ripple of fear along their rows of chairs as they imagined that I was going to break out into song; not a melodious noise at the best of times! Ultimately, however, I'd like to think I rose to the occasion as I offered the following words:

A Union

A union of hearts and minds, of people and of places.

A union of shared memories and of adventures far and wide

A union of learning and of ambition, of engineering and of mathematics.

A union born in Nottingham and cemented in New Zealand.

Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud, turquoise sea and shimmering greenstone. Volcanoes and geysers, white clad mountain ranges.

 A land of waving silver ferns, of cabbage trees and morepork. The tui and the kea, kauri tree and bottle brush. Waterfalls and lakes, deserted sandy beaches, mountain huts and densely growing bush. The Māori and kumara, the kiwi, and kaka.

A union of skiing in the southern Alps and road trips round both islands, of transport and of milking churns, jandals and the haka.

A union of farmers markets and many a winery, of water sports and basketball, of painting and pottery. Camping out under the stars or ensconced in The Spencer, a view of Rangitoto or even the Sky Tower.

A union that has travelled from the other side of the Earth to be witnessed by friends and family in a ruined castle.

 A union now of home and abroad.

A reunion too with families and a new life in London. A fusion of North and Sarf, of kith and kin, of streets and fields, Thames and Ure, tractors and the tube. A union of spices and of course of Yorkshire pudding, commuters and baaing sheep, cattle grids and zebra crossings.

A union too of patience and of understanding; give and take; fun and joy; collaboration and commitment.

A union of domestic bliss, of cooking and of shopping, of cleaning and of ironing. (They’re looking at me quizzically -Yes “Ironing”)

A union of two families, of intertwining roots and branches.

A union of a man and a woman, of life and of love.

The union of Dilly and the eldest.