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“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though she knows that you are slightly cracked”
People have asked me what is important to me and sometimes I don’t think they believed me when I said, my family, my pets and my friends. But if ever there is a doubt then now I have proof!
I was beyond pleased to be invited to my good friend Christine’s Wedding to her sweet new husband Paul, even though I had to give up seeing James Marsters in Orlando Florida to attend. And Magie loves her some James! But it was of course a no brainer! As much as I love James, I love Christine more (and no I will not admit this in person!).
So here is my report of Wedding and the weekend trip to London, Ontario.
Since we had to drive to London, Ontario for the wedding anyway, my husband and I decided to make it a weekend trip (well I decided and he just never said no). I figured we could have some fun while we there. Turns out that was a little hard then I had that because London, may be larger in population but still has a ever small town attitude! There were may a places I called that were not open when I would be there or just didn’t offer anything when it wasn’t summer, so no tour of the city, no tour of the Labatts plant, no first choice for restaurant to have lunch on Sunday. But we made the most out of it and did have some fun!
Friday April 17, 2009
After dropping off the pets, Apache went to my in-laws for the weekend, since they are the only ones he won’t eat and the kitties went to my mom’s. Though she likes having them too much and keeps asking if she can keep them. NOOOO!!!
We picked up my friend Maggie at her place since we were giving her a lift there. Instead of driving straight through, we stopped in Burlington for dinner. I have looked up a few places and picked The Pearl Street Café. It was a lovely place, that was in an old Victorian house right by the lakeshore. The meal itself was good, but this place was really known for its desserts and I have to admit they were AMAZING!
Rick had the Peanut butter and Chocolate Pie, which he said was excellent. Maggie had the Gelato, which she said was very good but huge, so she gave some to Rick. And I had the Tropical Lime Pie, it was similar to Key Lime Pie, but lighter (it just melted in your mouth) and it was sooooooooooooooooooo good. I loved it!!! Might go back just for that again.
The drive to London was beyond boring, if anyone is ever driving there from Toronto don’t take the 403, since for a very long stretch it has nothing, no curves on the road, no sights to see in the background. NOTHING!We arrived in London late, about an hour later then I had planned, so I called Chris and Paul to find out if it was now to late to stop in (they were having an open house for everyone to stop in) but they were still up and I really wanted to give Chris her surprise, so we made a quick stop. By this time Rick was cranky and didn’t even want to get out of the car and kept saying that we only had 5 minutes. He did change his mind and came in and said hello.
I was able to give Christine her surprise, a scrapbook of her bachelorette party. I had been planning on making it for her, for about the same time as I had been planning the party itself. As a result, I was able to include items in it that I had put aside from the party, like a copy of the menu, deflated bachelorette balloons, items from the gifts bags and so on. As well as all my pictures and both of Chris Mak and Donna pictures as well.
I think she really like it. She was very tired by then. We had a quick tour of there lovely house and off we went. But before we left, I snapped a picture of Christine, Paul and Rick all wearing the Firefly/Browncoat t-shirts I had given them for Christmas (had them made especially as gifts, by Mel – t-shirt maker extordinar). It makes me so happy that everyone I gave them to, likes them AND wears them!
We arrived at our hotel Delta London Armouries just after midnight (I said it was late). It was a beautiful hotel and very unique. The hotel had been built into the old Armouries building, so it incorporated both the old and the new.
Maggie went off to her room and Rick and I headed to ours, it was a nice room and since we couldn’t get a king bed I got us 2 queen, so we could have a bed each.
Saturday April 18, 2009I actually managed to follow my own plans and get up early so I could go for a swim. It was the real reason I booked that hotel, because it had a pool, while the others in the area didn’t. The pool, was in the old part of the Armouries building, on the second floor. It was a really nice area and I had the entire pool to myself (Rick forgot his swimsuit again!).
After my swim and soak in the hot tub to warm up, I went back to our room and waited for breakfast (we had ordered it, the night before on one of those door things). It arrived on time and was very good. After breakfast Rick left, since I had planned some stuff for him to do around his interests. He was off to Secrets of Radar Museum, which he later said he liked visiting. He was able to find out a lot of about the men and women who helped build, develop, operate, maintain and defend Canadian RADAR, here in Canada, and abroad.While Rick was off, Maggie and met up and went to the Atmosphere Spa across the street. Maggie got a pedicure, while I got a manicure. It was very relaxing and fun.
Then we went back to the hotel for a light lunch, neither of us was actually hungry, but I figured if we ate later then we won’t be hungry at dinner at all. Rick was suppose to join us, but since he wasn’t hungry either he decided he would rather visit a few other places in town instead. At the end of our lunch Maggie’s friend Ian arrived and checked it and also joined us. I left Maggie and Ian to talk and went to my room to start getting ready for the wedding.
Rick showed up while I was getting ready and I could tell he had a good time because he was very chatty about what he did and where he went. We were ready and down stairs by 3:25pm, to meet Maggie. By then both Kerry (Maggie’s friend and roommate) had join her and Ian was also there. We took 2 cabs to the wedding site (I wanted to let Rick drink without the worry of driving.)
As we were leaving, we saw Paul and both his son’s Ryan and Ian leaving for the wedding, so we were able to congratulate them and wish them well.
We arrived at the wedding venue, Chaucer’s Pub. Yes, Christine and Paul got married in a Pub! But somehow it completely suited them! The building that the pub is in was actually very cool, in dating back to 1854, was the original home of Josiah Blackburn’s “London Free Press”. It served as the Queen’s Hotel from 1871 to 1920 and became the home of the “Farmer’s Advocate” from 1921 to 1965. So it had some history to it.
We arrived just as the bride did as well, so I was one of the first to see her in her stunning outfit, she not only looked beautiful but so happy as well. I wished her well, gave her a hug and air kiss (so I wouldn’t mess up her make up) and went inside to find a seat.
One of the first things I noticed as we came in was the hand made quilt hanging at the far end, where the ceremony would take place. I knew right away that it was the one that Paul’s Mother and both sisters made for them as a wedding gift. Mim had told me about it at the bachelorette party a couple of weeks before. Even though she did describe it me, I was still stunned by the details work they all put into it! It was gorgeous!
The couple actually moved along their guests and greeted them until it was time for the ceremony. First Paul and his best dude’s (Ian and Ryan) walked down the aisle and then Christine’s Bride chicks (her nieces, Victoria and Rachel) walked down, then followed by Christine with her little nephew Hunter and her both her brothers (the aisle was too small for all of them to walk down together).
It was a beautiful ceremony and it made me cry! It was performed by Paul’s uncle who is a minister. While it was a lovely service, the vows were so filled with love and emotion it brought tears to everyone in the room (I’m actually getting teary thinking about them).
During the ceremony they also had their friend Janice perform a poem in Scottish Gaelic. Even though I had heard a lot of Gaelic words before (can’t hang around this group and not hear them), it was so interesting to hear an entire poem and since they had provided the English translation in the program, it was cool to see what it all meant.
Christine’s sister in law Ailsa also did a reading, Corinthians 13:4-7. Which is always a beautiful verse to hear. Then it was the signing, Maggie was actually the one to sign for Christine since it has to be someone who is 18 years or older for it to be legal and both the Bride Chicks were too young.
After that they were delayed husband and wife and we got the mandatory big kiss!
After the ceremony, they were some pictures that were taken and Chris brother David announced that the bar was now open. I left Rick to hack his way though all the people try to get a drink and went in search of a cooler part of the room. It was a very hot day; I believe the high was 22C very warm for April. Poor Paul looked like he was going to start melting in his wool suit.
Dinner was serviced upstairs and was very good, we all had a choice of a couple of items for the first course, I choice the spinach salad but both Rick and Maggie had the soup. For the second course we had our choice or chicken breast stuffed with wild mushrooms or wiener schnitzel or a pasta dish (which I have forgot what it was). Maggie and I both had the chicken breast, which was very good but very big! Neither of us could finish it. And Rick had the wiener schnitzel, which looked very good as well. Then for dessert we had cake (not the wedding cake that was serviced later).
After dinner there was some speeches done and Debbie and Mim did their The Doctor Seuss Rules to Join the Siess Family (they had performed it at Christine’s bachelorette party but were doing it again for everyone else who hadn’t been there). It was just as funny as the first time I heard it.After that, both of Christine’s brothers did say something. Her brother Richard and his wife Tracy, went up and did a verse of the Letterman top ten list, but this one was the top things Paul would here Christine say for now on. And Richard would say it is Scottish and his wife would then translate. I don’t remember them all but #1 was “Buffy is on the telly”. Which they did advise that did NOT mean Telly Savalas was getting lucky. It was too funny!!!
After the speeches, they had their friend Dave come up and perform a song. They asked him to sign “I woke up 3000 miles from home in Canada”. It was a song I had never heard before, but it was beautiful. It was about Scottish immigrants who came to Canada.
After that it opened up the floor to many a musical number. Paul’s parents performed a few songs, which were great. They can sign very well! And then Dave did a few more. Including some of his own. Ian also did a song or two. Many of the song the guest also knew and were encouraged to sign along.
By this time it was late and Rick was beyond sleep (mostly due to not being use to drinking, so he has a few then wants a nap) so we wished the happy couple all the best and said our good byes and went back to the hotel.
Rick passed out on top of the covers and didn’t wake up until the next morning. I waited up for Paul and Chris to call me, since I had been an dumbass and forgotten their wedding gift in our car. So I wanted to given it them. They weren’t that far behind us and they called about 45 minutes later and I went down to “The Suite” and was able to give the small token and card. I also got to see the suite and it was beyond huge (when Paul had checked in the hotel had upgraded they to the biggest baddest suite in the hotel because they were getting married). This suite had 2 bathroom, a baby grand piano and a dinner table to sat 10. It was HUGE! And very nice. But I didn’t stay, after all it was their wedding night.
Sunday April 19, 2009
I was suppose to get up early, work out and go for a swim. But I was able to be good one day and stayed in bed until the last minute I could, so I missed doing any of it.
We were packed and check out of the hotel by 11:00am. We met Maggie down stairs at the hotel restaurant for Brunch. The hotel did a really good Sunday brunch (according to everyone I spoke to about it). And have trying it myself I have to agree. It was very good! But also really big! I hate when I never even get to a table to try the food on it. But I had to pick and choose and it was all so yummy! All three of us were stuffed and almost had to roll each other out of the place…
After brunch we started out sightseeing of London, I had only planned on going to a few places because a lot of places were closed on Sundays and we didn’t have a lot of time, with the ones that were open.
The first stop was Covent Garden Market, the Market has the city's best selection of organic foods, meats, ethnic foods, and the largest assortment of cheese in Southwestern Ontario, sweets, coffees and teas, and flowers.
I knew before we went there that I really wanted to go to the cheese shop and Rick had found out that they had a tea shop, so he really wanted to check that out. It wasn’t as big I thought it would be, but it was big enough. Lots to buy and I believe if we all hadn’t been so stuffed we would have gotten more. As it was we picked up some jam and apple butter. Some cheese for yourself and some speciality cheese and crackers for Rick’s parents (as a thank you gift for watching Apache). Rick also hit the tea shop with a vengeance. He bought a bunch of different kinds of loose tea to try out. I also picked up some tea for my mom, also as a thank you gift for watching the kitties. She really liked it.
Then it was off to the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum. This was chosen for Rick’s befit since he is into the whole military thing. However I did enjoy visiting it. The museum has exhibits from the Boer War, Second World War, Korean War and UN peacekeeping missions. When we got there we were given listening wands and we would just go up to an exhibit, press the code and listen to actual vets talk about the exhibits, it was really cool. Though I used my listening wands a lot more then either Rick or Maggie, who choose to read their way though. I knew Rick would enjoy it (which he did) but I was afraid Maggie would be bored, turns out she liked it. She grew up with a lot of military families so she has always been into that sort of thing (hmmm knew).
After the museum, I had lunch planned at Copperfields, which is located in Wortley village in London. But none of us were even close to being hungry, so I had to call them and cancel. We did drive by and got the see some nice large older houses in that area, the entire village was very nice.
Then it was off back to Toronto to drop off Maggie, pick up the fur babies and have our weekend come to an end. All in all, it was a wonderful weekend.Magie
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