October 29, 2010
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Wedding Part 1: Brisbane
We were lucky to take the day off even though we had an evening flight - there were tons of things to do, including Red Lions stuff and taking the kittens to their temporary abodes. But it was not all stress, and we packed everything for the long trip to Brisbane, looking forward to the next 10 days where our lives would truly change, yet not change. If you follow.
We got to the airport on time, but too late to get decent seats, so we got aisle seats which pissed me off only a little (after all, it was an overnight job) and set off through security and immigration, on to the plane, and off in to the night. Out with the Elmore Leonard book whilst Joanne tried to sleep. She couldn't, nor could I, so we ended up talking, watching some crap on the EVA "entertainment" package, trying to sleep, and drinking lots of water. Dinner was nothing special, but since when did you get gourmet meals in cattle class on any airline?
Finally we both started watching the same movie on the screen a couple of hours before we landed - my darling is a foreigner - some Japanese movie about a girl who has a relationship with an American, and the family lack of acceptance (essentially by her father) and so on and so forth. We did not get to see the end of the movie as they switched off the entertainment 10 minutes from the end. It was cheesy, as movies go, and you knew the end would be a happy one, but it was still aggrieving to not get to see the inevitable conclusion.
Through customs at Brisbane, through immigration - and off we went to look for the car we had booked. But on the way I spot the Vodafone store, so we get a 3G USB module for a mere $50 Aussie, which would hopefully provide both internet connection AND the skype connection so the olds could watch the wedding via webcam from afar. That, at least, was the plan.
Joanne then spotted the car rental place, and off we headed to find out Hyundai Getz. Hmm... not huge, but who cares? At the price we were paying, we had no reason at all to complain! The drive in to the City was easy, and we passed the rotunda in Newstead Park where, a mere 30 hours later, we would be getting married. I was excited. Joanne was so excited she slept through it.
Not having a reliable navigator, I went past the turning for the hotel but was not worried - I knew there would be another way there, which I found after driving past a Tibetan restaurant that looked perfect for lunch. We got to the hotel, and saw that parking was $32 per day. Damn. In to check in, and they immediately asked if we had a car, to which we said yes, and the cost was now "only" $20 per day. Much more acceptable.
The only rooms ready for early check in were on 4th floor, so we said "yes please" and were given the key, so off we went for a quick hour of shut eye before meeting up with our wonderful celebrant, Fiona.
Fiona greeted us, and we decided to go out for lunch, ending up at the Tibetan place which - like the rest of Tibet - was closed. Plan B - Indian at a place Fiona knew, but still needed a GPS for. Cool... the food was ok, but we were not there for the food - w were there to talk about the ceremony and everything for the following day.
I told her it was going to be the smallest ceremony ever, with 2 friends coming in from Sydney, and my olds on Skype, assuming it worked. She did not seem to mind - it may well have been a small event, but to every married couple, it is a big thing, and she worked wonders to make sure that there was no stress felt by either of us.
She dropped us off at the Queen Street shopping mall after lunch, and Joanne and I looked around but were really too tired to actually do any shopping. I will have to remember that next time Joanne wants to go and buy stuff - get her tired first so she does not spend any money! Class. We ended up drinking a coffee in a food court before heading back to the hotel.
Dinner that evening was in the hotel restaurant - a very nice meal it must be said. We had a little wine to toast our last night together as a single couple.
The next morning we woke up too late for breakfast, despite it being included in the package. We had to go out to a place close by for a surprise I had in store, having ordered a pavlova with fresh fruit and cream on it. The service at the store was awesome, and the pavlova was ready when we arrived. An older couple of ladies looked at the cake and said how beautiful it looked, and how they had not had one for ages, and was it for a special occasion.
"We're getting married today," I beamed. Joanne would normally tell me to be humble, but she was not going to do that today.
After we had some lunch and a coffee at the cafe next door and headed back to the hotel. Dean - my Aussie best man - had arrived in Brisbane and we decided we would meet at Newstead Park later on, as his partner was not yet in the city, taking a later flight. No problem. At the hotel, we handed over the pavlova and asked the reception to store it in their fridge, which they had already agreed to, because your humble chronicler had arranged it weeks in advance.
Upstairs to the room, where we got showered, I shaved, and we got dressed up to look wonderful (Joanne) and decent (me). Actually I thought I looked pretty dapper in my freshly pressed Boss suit and new tie. Joanne had a yellow dress and looked absolutely stunning.
When we were ready we drove back to the Park and found the rotunda was reserved for us, and a message was outside saying reserved for the wedding of yours truly and the lovely Joanne. We were - of course - the first to arrive, then Dean and Donna arrived, and finally Fiona, carrying her table and all the stuff she needed. We set up, got the laptop running, Skype on, greeted the olds who had spruced themselves up for the occasion, despite it being the crack of sparrow fart in the UK.
Joanne was cold, so she put on her sweater but did not want my jacket, even though I was happy to give it to her. The ceremony was - no disrespect to Fiona - something I remember nothing of. All we were doing was looking in to each others eyes and smiling, the reality of it sinking in - I was about to marry the woman I love more than life itself.
Suddenly we were at the part where I got to say my vows, and they were quick. I really did not need to say much as Joanne knows already. Then it was her turn, and her vows were in Chinese, which got translated to me later on. I won't repeat them - they were for me anyway!
Then the rings, and I got to repeat what Fiona said about taking Joanne to be my lawful wedded wife, or whatever it was I said, and I slipped the ring on her finger, and then Joanne had to also repeat Fiona's words, but she said "slowly please" as she was so nervous! Then the ring was on my finger, and we were pronounced husband and wife. And I kissed my wife for the first time. And it was good.
After the signing of a million documents, we said goodbye to the olds, took a group photo and then headed back to our hotel where we had champagne and pavlova. Nom nom. We agreed to meet at Alchemy restaurant (http://www.alchemyrestaurant.com.au/) around 7:30 in Eagle Street, where we had an amazing dinner, wine, cocktails. Wow... it was truly superb. Having said that, the dessert was only "good" - which disappointed in a way, until I realised that it only went to show how spectacular the rest of the dinner had been. I can't remember what I ate - most of the day is a hazy memory, like a dream shrouded in fog.
The restaurant has a great view of the Story bridge and the river, and even a little rain could not dampen our spirits. Everything was wonderful. We got back to the hotel after saying good night to Dean and Donna, and there was another bottle of complimentary champers and a box of chocolates. Well... again this was no surprise to me as i had arranged it weeks previously, but another small touch to make Joanne's day that much more special.
We were married. I celebrated by eating a little more of the pavlova, before my wife started nagging me for the first time (no doubt a sign of the future years) not to eat too much of it.
The day ended wonderfully - we were in Brisbane, married, and everything had gone perfectly. There are not many days in your life where you would not change a thing, but this was one of them. 2 bands of gold, one on each of our fingers, and happiness in the heart that nothing could dampen.
And a week of honeymoon in Queensland's Gold Coast to look forward to!
