MY SON’S WEDDING
I HAVE WRITTEN THIS BLOG SPECIALLY FOR MY BELOVED SON DANIEL AND HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE MAICA
Hello, one and all!
A thousand and one profuse apologies for not having written for such a long time; I promise with hand on heart that I haven’t forgotten you all, but when I tell you my reasons (not excuses), you will understand my long delay in blogging.
My eldest son Dani got married! And I know that every one of you will have to agree that that is the perfect excuse for me not getting around to writing!! I mean – it’s not every day that the eldest son gets married! And to say that I have been waiting an eternity for such an occurrence! Is putting it mildly! I breathed an enormous sigh of “At long last” when he uttered the words “I do” Cos I honestly thought he would never get to tie the knot. Talk about taking his time! Jeepers, God in heaven, he is a sweet forty-two years of age! OK, OK, so you are all now counting on your fingers to work out how old I am!!! Well, you are all completely wrong in your deductions!.. I gave birth to my firstborn at the age of eight! (I was an early developer) That’s my story, and I am sticking to it, and if anyone dares to question what I am saying, oops, correction writing!!!.. well, I am very sorry, but I won’t be responsible for my actions towards them!!!
So to continue with my latest event! Please don’t tell me that you don’t just love these beautiful romantic occasions?? I feel stupidly sentimental at times like these and walk around with a great big enormous lump in my throat. Strangely enough, I also feel more kindly and caring towards everybody present and find myself hugging and kissing dear friends and even old long-forgotten enemies!!! I sometimes ponder on how we all only ever meet up at weddings, the christenings, the birthdays, the hospitals and the funerals! We reminisce about old times, past experiences and remember the people we used to know and some who perhaps are no longer in this world. As we depart, we give everyone another bearlike hug before scuttling back to our present-day lives with the memories of what once was, but once again safely locked away in our hearts until such time that there is another family gathering
Golly gosh! Here I am waffling on when I have to write some words about my lovely son’s wedding. It was marvellous, and I looked gorgeous!… Um, can I hear you saying you only want to know about the bride’s attire ??? Are you sure you don’t want to know what I was wearing??? Ooooh, alright then. Maica ( in case you haven’t cottoned on, is the bride!) wore a fabulous outfit that was stunning! (I will let you into a secret. With some help from her lovely mother “Tina”, she made the dress herself, and it was gorgeous) the little minx looked a thousand times more beautiful than me! How dare she!!!! I am only joking, and I am using the word “Minx” in the most affectionate term possible; I will own up to the fact that I love her to death. She is such an adorable person who, in all honesty, if I had ten thousand women lined up in front of me and had to pick one for my beloved son. Every time, it would be Maica because I could never wish for anyone more perfect than her as my daughter in law.
Alright, I am getting to the details. !!!
The wedding took place at “L’Ermita de Espluga de Francoli” Tarragona. An ancient monastery set up in the hills in an authentic fairy tale setting. The chapel was tiny but beautiful, although they held the wedding ceremony in the wooded glade on the grounds of the same venue. As you will appreciate from the photos, the setting was truly magical and to top it all; the sun shone in all its splendour.
I have to mention that my son’s wedding was one of the most informal and entertaining weddings that I have ever attended. There was nothing sedate or pompous and what both bride and groom wanted was that everyone had the best day ever with loads of fun and laughter. Really “Mamma Mia” had nothing on this wedding! I promise you that ours was a hundred times merrier.
After the marriage ceremony, under a hail of rice and rose petals, we all made our way back to the main area where delicious typical Catalan food was waiting for us.
Catalan cuisine includes many mouthwatering eats. “Salsichon” Spanish type of sausage,” Jamón Serrano” dry-cured Spanish ham. “Calçots“ tender green onions grown uniquely at Valls in the province of Tarragona. They grill the Calçots over a flaming barbecue, then serve them on a terra cotta roof tile, rather than a plate, to keep them warm. One peels away the blackened outer layers, then dips the tender bulbs in “Salvitxada or Romesco,” a sauce made of almonds, tomatoes, garlic, dried peppers, vinegar and oil. If you get the chance, do try this dish. It is simply delicious! Unfortunately, it’s seasonal, so they are not available all year round! And of course, we come to the famous “Pan con Tomate” which means bread with tomato! With all due respect to the rest of Spain. Nobody makes pan con tomate like the Catalans. If you are thinking, “what earth? It’s just a bit er bred with a tom a ter” All I can say is the next time you come to Cataluna, please try it and then tell me what you think! If you don’t say it’s scrumptious, I never want to speak to you again!!!! We then had grilled meats and veggies, followed by fresh fruit and the most fantastic doughnut wedding cake (between you and me when my children told me that the wedding cake was a doughnut cake! I thought Jesus Christ, what in heavens is that!!!). Still, it was fantastic with each doughnut; there was a choice of hot chocolate sauce, coconut shavings, chocolate pearls and hundreds and thousands.
I could go on forever about this remarkable day, mouthwatering food, great ambience, people dancing on the tabletops, fantastic entertainment and music. But perhaps the best part of all was to see my dear, dear son so happy and so much in love; I know I am his mother, and I love him. But he is one of the best and deserves all the good things that life has to offer.
FOR DANI AND MAICA, ALL MY LOVE ALWAYS. MAMA
