Titianmac's Diary

[titianmac]

8 DAYS TO GO!

Basically people round here are either getting sick of the wedding topic or just cant keep up with the chaos so i figured i'd run a diary on here that lets me get it out of my system and hopefully gives you something to chuckle at....

The wedding is at 3pm next Friday, thats the 12th November.
Are we ready? No... but its better than it was last night!
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

[titianmac]

TITIANMAC'S DIARY-
WEDNESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER...

6:13pm
I feel sick. Have just found some wedding paperwork hidden amid the little boxes and ribbon supposidly transforming into the wedding favours. Seems we should have collected our paperwork from the registry office to pass onto the superintendant registrar marrying us 2 weeks before the wedding. Its 9 days away. oops.... I wonder if they'll still marry us or if they've accepted a different booking now? Are weddings like driving tests- can you get a cancelation slot??! Its gonna be a long night before i can ring anyone in the morning.

11pm
I'm sat surrounded by a mountain of flowers and leaves which is slowly turning into a neat pile of buttonholes. Just done a tally and i've passed the halfway mark. Not actually sure if we'll have a wedding to attend or not but have decided the venue is booked and paid for so we'll be partying anyway. Mum didn't look too impressed at that response.
Dad didn't say much but thats cos he's sulking i think. I had a hairdressers appointment yesterday and got my highlites redone. Dad is a 65 yr old bloke who just doesnt undersytand why i mess with nature. The simple answer is because i was blessed with red hair which i prefer when its less red and more blonde. Trouble is lately the root regrowth has been so bad that if my hair is tied up it was red- with a blonde ponytail. Urgh.
These flowers would be easier to do if i could see but im working in lamp light as we're technically watching a film. Funny, H2B is on the pc in the other room but still magically watching. So far i've broken 3 nails today which is a nightmare. I'm having tips on for the wedding but they look better if theres something to stick them too in the first place!

12.55am
Yeah! The groom, bestman and mini groomsman have buttonholes. The mothers each have a coursage. The brothers sisters and dads have posh buttonholes. 15 of the other guests also have buttonholes. By my reckoning that leaves about 15 buttonholes left to do.... I'll save them for another night- or should that be morning?

1:34am
Couldn't resist. Just had to log onto the UPS website to see where the bridesmaids dresses are at. Seems they've toured america and are now flying across the ocean. As long as they land by saturday everything will be fine cos thats when ive booked the girls in for their fittings!
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

[titianmac]

TITIANMACS DIARY-
THURSDAY 4th NOVEMBER...

9:20am
Just got off the phone to the registrar. Everything is fine. We have an appointment next Monday to go through our lines, choose vowels etc. Need to take cash not cheque as payment but i can live with that. The blister on my palm from holding the wire cutters funny is worth while- we have a wedding to organise!
Lisa is coming at 11am to do my hair, its finally trial run time!
I'd be nervous but i've got too much housework to catch up on as usual. Good news is that the bathroom and toilet are done as i had a mad surge of energy at about 2am last night. Okay, truth is i couldnt settle cos i had a dead leg so i used my time efficiently!

10:15am
UPS JUST DELIVERED!!!!!!! WE HAVE DRESSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bit of a nightmare though. I know you pay charges and tax stuff on imports but im baffled. The dresses cost just over 224. I just had to pay over 200 to get the package in tax??!!!

1pm
I feel so pretty! My hair is done and i LOVE it! Was so worried but its fab. Lets hope it holds up!

3:30pm
Off to town to see if i can grab that paperwork from our registry office.
Only slight problem i forsee is people thinking i'm mad.... I'm dressed in jeans, trainers, jacket, scarf (top obviously) and a tiara. Stunning!

6pm
Back from town, a few funny looks but a worthy trip. My hair hasn't budged and got many admiring looks amist the puzzled ones! Had the door opened for me by passing strangers 3 times when usually left to struggle with the pram, also collected 5 beeps from passing traffic and a whistle. No one else looked worth so they were mine!
Managed to finally get some lingerie for under the wedding dress and a bright blue thong with diamontes on to scare my mum with, telling her that its my something blue....
Also got the paperwork thankfully and some jewellery for the girls to try with their dresses... finally i have them as a colour reference.
S & L are on their way round for a trying on session and to see my hair.


9pm
Dresses look fab, jewellery perfect (and a bargain), flowers looked great... sucess methinks. H2B due home from work shortly so have just unpinned my hair. 36 pins would you believe. we guessed 25. Am left with a funky curly flicky do thats very charlies angels, or do i mean charleston??! Cant face the buttonholes so have decided to take the evening off. Cant see it lasting but who knows!
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

[titianmac]

TITIANMACS DIARY-
FRIDAY 5th NOVEMBER...

11:13am
Thank goodness thats over with! We've just sold the old exhaust from Andrews car- well, 4months is hardly old but anyway- the guy showed up with his daughter who is 3 and boy is she energetic!!! No chance of getting anything done yet and the day looks no better later. Watched cbeebies and they had a tent on tikkabilla. Managed to grab ours from the conservatiry and it was smiles all round. The poor bloke had a nightmare getting little missy to leave cos she wanted to stay and play... I'm a cool mum! Fed her up on disney princess biscuits and sent them on the way... e numbers galore but its not my problem, the dad said she could have them.
Have just realised i must look a real fright. My naturally straight hair that is then usually straightened more if its possible has a bizarre curly thing going on as i haven't had time to wash it yet. No doubt mum'll love it when she sees it in a min but it'll be a flying peek as im off towards the luxury of a bubble fest in the bathroom while she watches Emily for a bit.
Need to unwind as for everything thats working there seems to be something else collapsing, we only have 2 of the 7 required centerpieces for the wedding breakfast and the rest are showing out of stock in my region pending delivery. Think it might be time for plan B... or is that C?!
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

[titianmac]

TITIANMACS DIARY-
FRIDAY (CONTINUED)...

8:47pm
I feel so fat. I dont understand, i had diet cola and lettuce... i guess the double cheeseburger and fries that went with it are doing their thing. It appears im a comfort eater. Have been sat all day looking at my watch doing the whole "this time next week..." thing. Right about now, this time next week I'll be Mrs McGowan, we'll have survived dinner and speeches, we'll havedone the first dance and will be due to serve the buffet to the half drunk friends and family surrounding us.
I went on a mad emergency visit to the bead shop today to get some more nicknacks for dad- he's making my tiara and necklace and had run out of something or another.... didn't quite get that bubblebath after all.
Really should be doing those buttonholes right now but keep making excuses, the best so far is i cant sit comfortably in my jeans without them digging! Its outrageous. I lost over 1 1/2 stone, went on to be a consultant to help others, held it all off for months and now a week before the big day the scales have snuck up 4 lbs. Granted its 6 weeks since i last weighed in but even so i'm gutted, and worried the stupid dress wont fit! I'm puffy anyway as i assume im holding water being that my period is due. Slightly worried its a bit late but im hoping its stress related and not pregnancy! Really shouldnt joke about it. Last time we did we found ourselves expecting Emily. Still, it'd solve the honey moon baby debate!
Great.
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

[titianmac]

TITIANMACS DIARY-
SUNDAY 7th NOVEMBER...

5 DAYS TO GO!!!

8pm
Yesterday was an expensive nightmare and last night was a right off.
The girls had their dress fittings and the good news is with a bit of altering they'll all fit great and looked stunning. The bad news is we think they screwed up the order because all of the dresses are consistantly too large by at least a size. We knew G's bottom was larger than her top and A's chest was small so they'd both need altering in but all 4 dresses were taken in from bust to thigh and the seemstress said they were all over a size too big. The good news is they can be fixed. The bad is that due to the work involved with the ruched sides and the internal boning, each dress will be 60 to do!
The shop was heavily booked being a saturday afternoon and one party was late to add to the mayhem so we ended up with the girls going through 1 by 1 and not seeing the others. Its not quite the girly moment i'd pictured or they'd been waiting for. Also, i can't help but worry if the lines of the dress will balance on the girls cleavege as again not seeing them together meant we would see they all balanced- just fitted!
The plot thickens as 2 of my bridesmaids live in London so with the mass of altering required and the logistics nightmare our fitting will now be 3:30 thursday. I cant belive i get married at 3 on friday... what if it messes up?
Somehow i think the shop are just as if not more scared than me. Thursday will be choas too as the shop is being decorated so we have to go to the workrooms instead! Good job im a tough cookie as i know for a fact other brides would have crumbled by now.

Andrew went off with the best man, another friend and my brother last night. It wasn't a fully fledged stag do but was a tremendous night out. They went to Hooters to start the night, then various pubs before the other 2 went home and h2b and bm went to a lap dancing club- bm's treat.
I spent the early hours of the evening running to the loo convinced i was going to be sick. My period has arrived but a part of me still cant help but wonder whats going on. No wedding stuff has been done, i went to bed by 8:15 last night and we've been out all day today.
The day did end with a highlite and a moment i'm sure you'll smile at...
waking at 3:15am i found myself home alone with baby Emily. Now obviously this isn't late but my worry was not that h2b was on route to scotland or handcuffed to a lamppost but more that he had no keys and I'd been out for the count. Had he tried coming home and in a moment of politeness decided not to phone me but let me sleep? Was he sat outside or worse trudging the streets??? I had to text starting with a "sorry but..."
2 mins later the phone rang and a rather drunk but loving voice proclaimed to be in the middle of nowhere wandering homeish with bm. We worked out their location and on no bus route, at 3:30 am it was wise for me to go collect them as they were about 15 miles from home. The journey home was spent debating where and when they bought the kebab, who their new friends were and what on earth were the new said friends doing sat in their front garden on their laptops smoking a bong with strawberry herbs(?!) at 4 in the morning? Once past that, conversation moved to the lapdancing club. H2b: "3 dances, 20 each and not a twitch.... nothing. You make it twitch, they didnt. 60!... You should do that lark, theres money to be made". in his own way i had been paid the biggest compliment ever i think. I felt and continue to feel very special!

Tonights plan is to finish the buttonholes at least. Thankfully theres some good tv to keep me company. No wussing out now, after tonight there are only 4 more till its all too late.
EEKKKK!!!!!
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

[titianmac]

TITIANMAC'S DIARY-
SUNDAY (CONT)...

12:41am
Have just finished the buttonholes! Am so tired I cant start to explain. My hands hurt and ny body aches. They look so innocent sat there on the lounge carpet! Hope I actually manage to enjoy Friday by the time it gets here. My top tip at this point in time is lie to yourself... get yourself the wedding is a week earlier than it is because then you will work hard but if you screw up you'll still have a second chance. The poor makeup lady is gonna have her work cut out... its a good job the photographer uses digital, I have several jobs for him not least removing the dark shadows from my eyes!!!
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

[titianmac]

TITIANMACS DIARY-
MONDAY 8th NOVEMBER...

10:45pm
Where to start. Emily woke up super early this morning compared to normal which was a nightmare as i was knackered and aching all over. The buttonholes looked great though so it was worth it.
I've sorted out the swag of flowers to attach to emilys dress so at least thats a step in the right direction... and the hoop had a revamp but is still naked!
The table decorations continue to be a nightmare. The delivery arrived today but only at teatime so its tomorrow before its unpacked and i find out if they had any more delivered. I'm planning to use a christmas wreath as bizarre as that sounds but its a modern twiggy one with beads (if you can imagine such a thing). The plan is to stand 3 pillar candles in it and the effect is awesome.... just need 5 more though!!!
Have been looking around for various other options but so far nothing really grabs me. Only three days left so grabbing or not i have to get something!
The artificial doves have arrived from america that i ordered hoping to decorate the wedding cake with. It sounds aweful but would either work a treat or be a total disaster. Funny enough i'm not yet convinced it will work a treat. The picture showed them looking decidedly more feathery. tThe reality is that they look like cottonwoll covered bodys with a feather for a wing and tail! I could probably make better myself but somehow i get the feeling now is not the time to start yet another project!!! I pick up the cake stand tomorrow i think, or is it wednesday? Either way im going tomorrow with crossed fingers in the hopes it'll all come together once the actual sizes are infront of me. So many plans but so little time. At the end of the day what ever it looks like takes second place because it'll taste fab- we're having 3 tiers of heavenly chocolate fudge cake. Mmmmm.

We met the registrar who will be marrying us earlier and chose our vowels etc. We had a quick run through who stood where and did what and i'm now panicking! Something so simple has thrown me- When i hold my boquet i use my left arm to lay it on (its long lillies and grasses.) I'd assumed i'd link onto dad giving me away with my right and all was fine. BUT NO! Dad needs to be on my left so the flowers move to the right.... it feels funny! Its wierd, i cant carry my bag on my left shoulder and i cant hold a boquet comfortably on my right arm. Tomorrows project is therefore to actually make the real boquets and get practicingfast!

I've started on the favours but surprise surprise hit yet another snag. For starters the 5 chocs look lost in the box. This is easy solved with a bit of tissue paper. Secondly, also filling some space will be the paper we pop in to explain the origins and symbolism of whats inside. Thats were the real prob comes in. I just assumed having typed it all up, sized it etc for a friend wedding it'd be ready to print and go but no. We had the pc re-somethinged in feb and apparently the file i wanted has magiced itself to deep dark depths of pc land, or been erased in the process. Trivial as it seems i now have to do it all again. I decided not to lose heart though and have sat tying the ribbons onto the boxes which thankfully slide on and off easily but are now past the fiddly bit. The bad news is i lost several chocolates along the way!

I had my brows and lashes tinted yesterday and am pleased to report they look fab this morning. I think if you can wake up the next day with no make up and bed hair but still smile at the mirror you're onto a winner. My skin isnt too bad considering the fact i have my period so fingers crossed i'll have no major breakouts in the next 3 days. Those blips lurking are fading nicely under a pile of lavender repair stuff. It smells awful (dont like lavender) and is bright green so looks very attractive but seems to be doing the job. Its suppose to be a 15 minute mask but dabbing it onto the problem spots and leaving it is working well.

I know theres hundreds of things i should be doing now instead of tapping the keyboard but its my escape from reality. I'm off to bed in a minute in the hopes i might have a productive morning... its doubtful as im just not a morning person but then there are only 3 mornings left so maybe now is a good time to try!


_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

[titianmac]

TITIANMACS DIARY-
TUESDAY 9th NOVEMBER...

4:36pm
No joy on the table decorations, the shop i'm sure are sick of my voice on the phone. Guess its time for plan B.
Had my engagement ring polished and its super wowwy. Scared to put it back on but my finger feels naked. Hmm.
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

[titianmac]

TITIANMAC'S DIARY-
THURSDAY !!th NOVEMBER....

WEDDING IS TOMORROW!!!

Hi guys,
Well, where to start??!! Tuesday night we set off to ikea on a quest for vases, candles, beads or anything we could get loving that it was open till 10pm. Good job because we took a wrong turn and took a mini tour.
Highlight of the night was the cute lad who opened the door for me in the petrol station then chatted right across the forecourt! Typical me did fine till i was infront of him to go to my car. I pulled the classic "how yummy is he?" to mum and marie in the car only to spot his mates sat in his car looking directly at me. Well, i just waved with a smile then set off looking a bit pink cheecked.
Got some bowls and candles, a bit of rubble stuff and it turns out they look okay.
We also went to collect the 3 giant chocolate fudge cakes, the stand and all the pillars and boards for the fairycake mountain we're having.
Finally got home from mum and dads at about 2am after lurking for another necklace fitting- dad is making it and its awesome but taking some serious effort, you'll see why in the pics, its a massive victorian looking pearl and crystal choker.
Yesterday we met with the photographer, picked the album etc and selected a photo package organising shots etc. Should be cool. (Well freezing with this weather). We finish the ceremony at about 3.20 so if we're lucky and its not overcast we can sneak out to the gardens for about 15/20 mins. Its getting to dark by about 4 but the drawing room is lusious and beautiful for pics so we're not upset, after all- its november not july!
Yesterday evening i spent getting my tan done. The therapist was a really lovly chick and it was a relaxing giggle and moment of sanity. Kind of the calm before the storm. Well, i had the mud slapped on but couldnt hide- still a thousand things to do. Popped Home for 45 mins to see Andrew and chomp a chicken chowmein before shooting to the supermarket. Andrew had just bathed and was slobbing so sent me for the dinner. Couldn't order in as we needed pop and beer too. Funny. The supermarket mission was to get the fairy cakes ready to ice at mum and dads. There were however none in stock. Undaunted we hoped in the car and went to the next supermarket where we proceeded to clear the shelf of value cupcakes. We managed to do about 140 last night but ive left the rest for mum to do today. The necklace is finally about done so dad can concentrate on his speech. We finished the night with me plucking Maries eyebrows into shape- they we virgins but look fab now!!! whatelse does a bride 2B do at 2:30 am??

So, Whats on todays list? You'll laugh....
Im sat waiting for the nail technician to arrive. Then hopefully im being retinted on my lashes ready for my lash extentions. I have yet to do the table plan. Emilys hoop is not finished. The boquets still resemble a pile of flowers and reeds so they need tying. The bridesmaids have a fitting at 3:30. The waistcoats that went stray are to be collected. We have to confirm the guestlist with the hotel to ensure our discounts apply. I need to visit the photographer to pay him. We have no place cards. My shoes need the buckle looked at to stop it springing open. The dj needs emailing with our playlist. The other 100+ fairy cakes need icing so first i must buy the icing. The wedding cake needs decorating. Shall i go on? We need to buy helium for the ballons.... and at some point I'd like to sleep!

Right then, first things first... its nail time.
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

[titianmac]

TITIANMAC'S DIARY-
THURSDAY (CONT)...

21:33
I'd love to report that this was the calm before the storm but i'd be lieing. The storm was about 2pm this afternoon...
My dress is an ex-display model that was reworked for me. It needed cleaning but when pressed had a "marbled" look. We didnt know if it was detergent, sun bleached, ??? hmm, well anyway, it was sent for specialist drycleaning. I decided that regardless of how it came back i was wearing it- look out for the marbled look next season, i dont follow trends i set them! Well on monday i heard from the lady at the grooms hire shop that the dress was back and an improved version so i was delighted. That shop and the shop altering my dress work closely together and use the same cleaner so she had the gossip for me. I didnt hear from the dress shop though because of all the weeks they are redecorating. This afternoon at 3:30 we had a bridesmaids dress final fit (funny that with the wedding being tomorrow). Today at 2pm i had a call from the dress shop asking me to go in early regarding my dress as there was a problem. On arriving i found the marbling still there but also several grubby marks, one on the chest, one on the butt and one on the train. The train was marked slightly before but now was awful as was the rest. Also the marble looked more like a grey dress than ivory in the new lighting and gave us al a real fright. (They had not looked at the dress before as all the comotion of the redecorating etc)
With literally 24 hours till the wedding i was stood choosing a new outfit because there was no way that was acceptable.

wow. Not quite what i'd planned for the day.
As it goes, i found a beautiful skirt with detatchable train and an equally beautiful bodice. I was scared because obviously although the shop would alter it overnight i still only have a sprinkle of options for my size and they were massively condensed due to my fussy choice! Im a highstreet 12 so fairly average but it seems evrything on display is a 12 which we all know is a 10! I sucked in with all my might to get this skirt on and it worked- i was in... good start. The top amazing as it sounds fit me so perfectly they did not need to tamper with a single stitch. I felt fab but my big worry was the necklace dad had made. Only a plain and elegant dress would carry it off but this bodice had embroidery on and a gold thred too. I'm stunned to say that out loud cos its so NOT ME but truely was beautiful. We put the neclace on and it was made to measure and just looked stunning. I might actually pull this one off after all.
All seemed well until the bridesmaids appeared.
They loved my dress and theirs which fit great after all the commotion but as with everything in this wedding there was a problem. 3 of the 4 zips broke. I kid you not. I'm glad mum was sat down else i think she'd have flaked... im calm but i think its getting a bit much for those around me! (cant think why can you?!)
Through all of this i must say one thing. I know we mustn't name names but i just have to. Thankyou Reptonia. I came to you with a dress to be altered and walked out with one of your samples to borrow when none of the trouble was due to you. You have done everything you could and more. On more than 1 occassion you have literally bent over backwards working through the night to fix my nightmares and words cant thankyou enough. You took on the job of 4 bridesmaid dresses bought elsewhere a week before the wedding and again have worked miricles. The zip thing is not your fault yet you are fixing them for me free of charge at considerable extra work to yourselves. My dress, my new dress is stunning and i feel so privaledged. Again, not your stock that went wrong or your fault yet you rescue me, Thankyou thankyou thankyou a thousand times and more.

... i still have no wedding cake, table plan, place cards or flowers but hey I have love. I love Andrew so much and he loves me too. Tomorrow has been a rollercoaster to get to and i dread to know what else could go wrong but one thing is for sure- This time tomorrow we'll be husband and wife and nothing else will matter.
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

[titianmac]

TITIANMAC'S DIARY-
FRIDAY 12th NOVEMBER 2004

WEDDING DAY!!!! (just about)

1:32am
Things are looking up- i have a table plan and little pile of name cards. Not quite what i pictured but perfectly useful all the same.
That just leaves emilys dress, the flowers and the cake. Worst case senario we hold a single flower each, the dress is plain with no flowers stitched on and we use the fairy cake mountain which im pleased to report is done!
Just realised i havent tried on the wedding lingerie yet, better hop it fits and mores the point hope it doesnt show through the skirt- the old dress was super poofy but this one isnt!
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

[titianmac]

03:51am

Emilys dress is done and the flowers are getting there. I've hit zombie mode. Think i'm past tired but know tomorrow will be a long day dispite its speed.
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

[titianmac]

HELLO! MRS MCGOWAN HERE!!!!!

We've done it! We're married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Will sit down soon and give a full report but for now am just whizzing past the pc but wanted to say thankyou for all your well wishes, the day was amazing beyond belief and as you can see we pulled it off really well scubbing up a treat as bride and groom. xxx
[img][/img]
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

[titianmac]

Haven't got many pics ourself to post yet but several of our friends we're from the Midland scoobies, a car club we're in with the subaru and they've been posting loads of evidence from the big day... the site is
www.midland-scoobies.com The pics are on the forums under general, a bit like this really... and as if it needs saying we're Andy & Kate, or Andy Mac, its the only wedding thing on there!!! Enjoy!
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"