Quays, keys, ink and rings

Yesterday, at St. Pierre du Bois Parish Church, my eldest little sister got married and I was fortunate enough to be the one to give her away. The ceremony was perfect and the newly appointed best man got everything spot on despite the one days notice. My little brothers even managed to perform their usher roles without supervision.

After the obligatory photos and confetti storm we headed to the beautiful island of Herm, just a 15 minute trip by boat, for drinks followed by conversation and a rather unusual but tasty mix of food in the specially erected marquee. We toasted the married couple and tried to put into words our own personal messages in their book while snapping the many photos that were filling film and memory card. My sister’s red trainers (put on for the reception, not the service ;-) were well hidden beneath her dress but will no doubt appear on some of the pictures.

There was laughter and a few tears but the soft drizzle that Herm bestowed upon us could do little to dampen our own spirits. Clarissa was looking rather resplendent in a long black and pink dress that drew compliments from relatives, some new, some I’d not seen in a very long time. Hopefully now I recognize the faces I’ll spot them around and about in Guernsey, it’s quite common to bump into people you know at random on such a small island.

My little niece Holly, their child, bopped away in the dance area for hours to both the live band and the DJ. I’m pretty sure she danced longer than anyone else that night pausing only for a brief nap… well she is only 18 months old.

If you are considering a trip to Herm get to the boat 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Like time, and indeed tides, Travel Trident wait for no man and left early on both sailings and we were the luckier ones to get back, many of my family had booked hotel rooms for an overnight stay.

As we sailed back I wondered where my house keys were… It dawned on me that I’d left my USB keyring memory stick plugged into the front of my work PC earlier that morning as I desperately tried to print off another 15 Orders of Service because my Epson printer had failed me (more on the idiots at Epson another time). Alas my work keys were at my parents house… and my parents were in Herm.

My thanks to Michelle and Amy for driving a rather intoxicated me across the island, my colleague and friend Adrian for loaning me a key to the office and to Clarissa for keeping her cheer long after the cold of the night had drawn in.

[)amien

Travel Trident left early because the boat was full and another one was waiting in the wings. Well planned and thanks guys!