The motorway lights flicker as a the first 30 second spell of silence descends over the car.  The armco barrier sits but a few feet to the right and the stillness of milk tanker trucks pass to the left.  A small cough and then a question?  “Rob.  Do you like watching animal documentaries?”  For an instant I sat there…silenced by this most bizarre question.  Thinking perhaps I was caught up in some sort of ‘Airplane!’ comedy moment I replied “do you like watching gladiator movies?  Have you ever seen a grown man naked?”.  You guessed.  THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN.

Darren said what I had only been thinking…No…not about animal documentaries, but rather Rachel and Niall’s wedding, despite being the 3rd of the year actually felt like the first.  Perhaps it was coming out of winter, the longer days, the gap over February…who knows.  But it was refreshing and uplifting all together and that’s a great way to start a ‘new year’.

The wedding itself took place in the heart of St Albans.  If you’ve never been to St Albans and are planning a Saturday excursion let me give you a piece of advice.  Leave Tuesday.  That or cycle from the outskirts.  Town planning missed this gorgeous city and traffic proves its point.  Not that any of this has any impact on the day itself.  I’m just sayin’.

This was another Anglo-Australian matrimony and the first of a number of cross cultural harmonies to which I’ll get to witness this year.  Can you call this cross cultural?  Not sure…but since Brendan (brother and best man) can talk about walking around with thongs on your feet I’m guessing there’s a least a vocabulational (new word…MASSIVE Scrabble points) dichotomy.  Whatever you call it it was a glorious day with good friends and family and a rare sighting of English winter sun.  And if you say that with a David Attenborough voice we will have come full circle.

This post is a slightly abbreviated…well…not really.  The post is full its the Facebook ‘afters’ that are a bit truncated.  I’m off for 4 days and have, with a bit of haste, put this post together.  However, there will be a link later on (after the images) to a few more on Facebook.  Only fitting, for reasons which will become abundantly clear in a few moments time.

A gel free zone

Rachel, little Rachel and little little Rachel

Like the Crazy 8 ball, intelligent questions were asked of it, but the dress only answered with ambiguous replies

FOB Macro

‘They’ said get closer…

An odd time to stair dive

From Neil to Niall — it was  tough day I tell you

Stalls

For PhilRak

Despite urban legend Aussies don’t Hi-5 from a different direction

Royal Circle

Honey and ginger?

Sugar high

Off the two, this is the more flattering (sorry)

Here in Blighty we have the most interesting caravan parks

My very first ‘official’ Facebook Status Update Ceremony

tiny bubbles

Stand in the place where you live

Just a little bit to the right and he would have had horns!

That moment when you think the DJ said ‘Bon Jovi’ and accidentally plays ‘Bon Iver’

As promised, here is a link to a few more images on my Facebook Business Page.  Why not become a keen follower?  Its good karma.  Rachel and Niall’s Facebook Preview.