My Wedding Day

Saturday 10th March, 2012.

 

I had stayed at the 'White house' hotel, on the Friday night, at the request of my eldest daughter, who is very superstitious. On waking up I was hungry and ready for breakfast. I decided not to eat breakfast at the hotel, but instead opted for a full English breakfast at 'Ruby's Cafe' in Watford Market. After washing this down with a mug of coffee, I headed into 'Argos' to buy myself a new laptop bag, as my old one just didn't feel right. I then wandered into the 'Harlequin Centre' for a look around. I then headed back to the hotel to relax. A short while later, Steve called and asked if I wanted to meet up for lunch. So, I headed back into Watford and met Steve outside the market. We ordered our food from the 'Roast counter'. As we were waiting, Ben and Laurel arrived and ordered some lunch, too. We then all went and sat down to eat. Once we had eaten, Ben and Laurel headed off shopping, while Steve and I went for a look around 'HMV'. After nearly an hour, we said our goodbyes and I headed back to the hotel to get ready. A shave and a shower later, and with the time approaching 15:00hrs, I was ready in my Star Trek dress uniform, and waiting for Steve. A few miutes later and we were sitting in the hotel bar watching the Wales-Italy match, sipping a beer, while waiting for Len to arrive. Once Len had arrived, we had another drink before we left and made our way to 'The Orangery' on Hempstead Road. The sun was shining as we made the short walk, which was filled with light banter.

 

We arrived at 'The Orangery' just after 16:15, and were in time to see the previous couple, and their guests, leaving. My friend Rob was the first to arrive, followed soon after by my Mum and the rest of the family and friends. Emma was just pulling in to the car park, as Steve and I made my way to see the registrar. A few minutes later, with all relevant details entered, we made our way into the room to await Emma's arrival. By now most of the room was full of family members and friends, so after saying hello to as many people as I could, I made my way to the front with my best man, Steve. A few moments passed and then Emma's entrance music started. Alysha carried Erin followed by Freya, who was followed by Emma and her father, David. We took our vows and exchanged rings and Steve read the reading we had chosen. I kissed my bride and, too soon, it was over and we were walking up the aisle together as husband and wife. Halfway up the aisle, I felt my mobile vibrate in my pocket, and I knew, without looking, that it was a text. When I checked it a few minutes later, I discovered that my friend, Aaron, had messaged me the score of the Ireland-Scotland match. Ireland were winning at half-time. Ireland did go on to win the match, too!

 

Outside we walked around and spoke to all the guests, before marshalling everyone for the photographs. After about a thousand camera flashes, the photographs were done, and we made our way to the 'West Herts Sports Club', where we had our reception booked.

 

All of the guests, that had been to the marriage cermony, were at the reception, and more and more friends arrived as the time went on. When we thought that most of them had arrived, Emma and I cut the cake and took our first dance, which was to 'Amazed' by 'Lonestar'. Soon after this, Emma and I sat on stools in the middle of the dance floor, while Steve gave his 'best man speech'. Soon after he started, he asked Emma Jayne to hold his speech as he was too hot. At which point he began to remove his jacket and tie. As Emma, I and the rest of the guests looked on in bewilderment, he removed his shirt to reveal... A blue Star Trek Original Series shirt! I saluted him for that and he carried on with his speech, which I must say was brilliant. highly entertaining and not too embarrassing for myself and Emma. When Steve had finished, I said a few words on mine and Emma's behalf, and the party continued. Atfer what seemed like an age, and far too many photographs, the party started to wind down. The bar closed at 23:00 and Andi Rob, the best DJ in the business and a long-time friend, killed the music at 23:30, at which time the last of the family members and friends began to leave. A few stayed behind to help us clearaway the rubbish, and put the leftover food into boxes, which were then placed in Emma Jayne's car. When everything was finally done, Emma and I took a slow walk to the 'White House' hotel, where we would spend our first night as husband and wife. On entering the foyer, we were met by my cousin Mark and his fiancee Charlotte, who were having a night-cap. So we joined them. After relaxing and chatting, Emma and I made our way up to our room, very tired but extremely happy.

 

To all of the members of our families and to all of our friends, some of whom we see weekly or even daily and those that we see far too little and those who travelled great distances.

 

Thank you for making our day so special.

 

Special thanks must go to:-

 

David & Alyson (Emma's parents) - For letting me marry their daughter.

 

Lynda (My mum) - For simply being the best! 

 

Steve Brown (Best Man) - There are no words.

 

Freya (Emma's Niece) - For being a superb bridesmaid.

 

Alysha & Erin (Our daughters) - For being the greatest and most beautiful daughters in the World.

 

Emma (Wife) - For making me the happiest man on Earth.

 

And to everyone else...

 

THANK YOU 

 

Because we couldn't decide on what songs we wanted to play at the wedding ceremony, we decided it might be different to play movie soundtracks, so here is the track listing for our wedding:-

 

Music to be played while the guests are arriving:-

• Ilia's Theme - Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Jerry Goldsmith


• First Contact Suite - Star Trek: First Contact - Jerry Goldsmith


• Bruce & Linda - Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story - Randy Edelman


• Fellowship of the Ring - Lord of the Rings - Howard  Shore

Emma's entrance music:-

• Sayuri's Theme - Memoirs of a Geisha - John Williams

Signing of the register:-

• I do believe in fairies - Peter Pan - James Newton Howard


• Concerto in E Major - The Boondock Saints - Bach

Leaving as Husband and Wife:-

• Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Op. 43 - Somewhere in Time - Rachmaninoff

A Distinctly Good Weekend

On Friday, at about lunchtime, I got a call from my daughter, Alysha. She had called to tell me that she had taken an exam, at college, and she had got the results. She needed a minimum 93 points to pass and 118 to pass with distinction. Alysha got 123 points, which was the highest in the class, so I am really proud of her, right now. A little later she called again. This time to tell me that while she had been in Watford for lunch, she had seen a film crew, so had gone to investigate. It turns out that some ‘TV Personality’, named Keith Lemon, was filming for his new show. From what I can gather from Alysha, Keith Lemon was interviewing everyday people about everyday things. Now Alysha, always the one to get into the papers or on TV, decided to stand behind the ‘everyday person’ being interviewed. This meant that she would be in the shot and, therefore, on TV. At this point a lady asked her to sign a declaration saying that they could show her on TV. I can imagine Alysha snapping the poor woman’s arm off to sign it. So, Alysha will be appearing on TV in the early spring, in a show called ‘Lemonaid’. After work, Jason and I went back to mine, as he was going to help me build my new ‘Garden Store’. A seven-foot tall plastic storage box, basically. An hour later, and it was done. A quick beer and then Jason headed home.

Saturday saw a lot of things get done. I managed to move the gardening tools into my new ‘Garden Store’, and go through everything in the garage. Emma phoned her brother, Adam, who for £20 would take away the rubbish. I then put some other things in the loft, put a plug on Emma’s hairdryer and fixed the bird box and reattached it to the wall. I then settled down to watch the Ireland v Italy match. Adam arrived just before half-time, at which point we emptied all the scrap and rubbish onto the back of his van. He was not a happy bunny. He thought it was just a small amount, not a van full. An extra tenner, shut him up. Jason arrived as Adam was leaving, so we had a beer each, before Jason had to leave. We were expecting Len and Emma Jayne to come round, but they decided to stay home, so we had a quite afternoon watching the rugby. With Ireland and Wales both winning, it was a happy household.

Sunday saw us up early. Erin was bathed and fed, before we headed out for a stroll. Last Sunday we had walked to and around Cassiobury Park. This week we decided to follow the Ebury Way to Rickmansworth. The weather was beautiful and we reached Rickmansworth in an hour, only to find ‘Annie’s Café’ was closed. A little disappointed, we headed into Rickmansworth Aquadrome to grab a bite and a drink at the ‘Café in the Park’. Once we had eaten, Erin awoke, so we fed her before continuing around the Aquadrome proper. I carried Erin for a while, and she couldn’t take her eyes off the water. Then she noticed the swans and geese. (In 16 weeks, Erin has barely noticed the cats, and every time we have seen other animals, Erin has been asleep.) So, these giant white things were intriguing to her. Eventually we headed to a little play area, where Erin took her first ride on a swing. (Check the vid on my ‘Movies’ page.) We then walked along Rickmansworth High Street, before heading onto the Grand union Canal towpath. To our surprise, the café was open. It turns out it is now under new management and is called ‘The café @ Lock 81’. So, we had a coffee before starting our walk home. Once home, we had a bite to eat and changed and fed Erin, before deciding to go to the ‘Oddfellows’ for a drink. We sat in the beer garden, and Erin had another go on a swing, and then we headed home. It worked out at a round trip of ten miles, or so.

Once again another great weekend.

Until next time,

May it be well with you.

It's Been A While...

It's been a while, since my last blog, and a lot has happened.

Christmas and New Year were exciting, as we now have Erin with us and, for the first time in years, I had the whole of the Christmas and New Year holiday off from work, so I was able to spend a lot more time with my family.

Once Christmas and New Year had been and gone, we turned our attention back to our wedding. My uniform for the wedding was ordered and has been delivered, after being tailor-made in Hong Kong. Emma's dress has been bought, as has Alysha's and Erin's. Also, my best man, Steve, has his suit, too. The invites have been sent out and the majority have accepted the invitation. My hotel room is booked for the night before the wedding, as well as for the night of the wedding. The cake is ordered and the food is sorted, too. Steve is organising my stag day, which will take place on Saturday 3rd March, with a trip to London. 

By mid January Erin was sleeping right through the night in her newly decorated room. 

Alysha is still doing well in her dance exams and competitions, and has decided to go into the sixth-form at school.

Recently, my friend Jason and I started to play darts again. Considering it has been about two years since I last played, it didn't take long for me to get back into the swing of it. I am currently winning five out of six games. I also gave Jason my PC, as I decided it was time to upgrade, so I bought Emma and Alysha laptop each, and myself a 'Chromebook'. (Hence one of the reasons why my blog hasn't been kept up-to-date.)

Towards the end of January, we tried Erin with some baby rice and some pureed apple. Since then she has gone onto porridge in the morning, followed by milk, and pureed fruit in the afternoons, along with milk inbetween.

Also, the RBS 6 Nations Rugby Championship has started, so I am back to supporting Ireland, who have lost their frst match, and had their second match postponed, due to a 'frozen pitch'. They will improve.

I think that pretty much brings everything up-to-date, so until next time... May it be well wiith you.

Slovakia Today: The Potravini Bench

Shortly after my father, Joseph Anthony Gerard Morrissey, passed away in 2009, I discovered some hand-written 'diary entries', written by one of his many Slovakian friends, on loose A4 sheets of paper. Many other 'diary entries' had already been typed up, by my father, and published on a Slovakian website, which is unfortunately no longer on-line. I do not know who wrote the following, or how to go about contacting anyone that may know the author, so I am placing them here, to finish what was started.

If anyone reading the following 'diary entries' does have any information, or thinks they may know someone, please feel free to get in touch, either by leaving me a message or by e-mailing me.

Enjoy.

There is a small village General Store, at the bottom of the three-kilometre lane from our village, to the parent village of Hronska Dubrava. In front of its steps is a dilapidated bench, lurching under a bedraggled conifer. In front of the bench are two used car tyres which, once upon a time, must have contained flowers. However, currently they contain nothing but assorted weeds and a million-or-so cigarette butts. These giant vehicular ashtrays are surrounded by dust in the summer and a quagmire of mud in the winter. In clement weather, the bench is occupied by a small congregation of out of work drunks, who gather there with their dogs, fags and the cheapest bottled beer in the village. In our village you can buy a bottle of beer, drink it outside and return the bottle for the deposit, which is put down on the next bottle. Of course, the beer is supplemented by surreptitious bottles of home-distilled Slivo.

Our village drunk and executive is Jay, a regular. The most regular regular. The bench has the inestimable advantage of being adjacent both to the nearest beer for Jay and, just a few metres away, the village graveyard, where his late partner lies buried. So Jay can kill two birds with one stone, or should I say, two kidneys with one beer. He can deposit an armful of half-dead flowers higgledy-piggledy on the grave and guzzle a bellyful of beer at the same time.

By some miracle, Jay gets a 4000 Koruna pension. This after a lifetimes non contribution to any known, or unknown, pension scheme. Jay had, on the death of his partner, discovered religion, but not the attributes that go with it, like sobriety, if not sobriety, and attributes to all and sundry that his undeserved pension is a blessing from God to his deserving 'returning to the fold' sheep. He has got the Bible thumping, self-justifying jargon of the borne again, to a tee. He ought to run for the American presidency: His ignorance, stupidity and incompetence, together with his cunning, should have him in with a good chance. His main handicap, is that he can speak in complete syntactically correct sentences, when not drunk. It is clear to the rest of us that his pension is the result of some monumental, post-communist, bureaucratic cock-up. Not divine intervention.

He receives his pension at the end of the month, so he is, for a few days at beginning of each month, a permanent fixture on the bench. And I mean permanent, whilst funds last. Even if it's raining, sleeting or snowing, Jay can be seen sitting on the bench. Happy as a King in his castle, his face aflame with booze, waving and shouting greetings to passersby. Inadequately dressed, with boots taped together, he wipes the beer foam together with rain, sleet or snow from his face with a dripping sleeve as he happily swigs from his latest umpteenth bottle. Even the other hardened drinkers have temporarily abandoned the bench and migrated to the more expensive, up-market, delights of the railway buffet bar. The only boozing alternative in the village, apart from domestic premises. Jay, needless to say, is not welcome in either. But, if the weather is reasonable, Jay is the life and soul of the bench congregation.

When, after two or three days, the money runs out, Jay walks twice a week to Budina, a village some ten kilometres away to cadge off the family of his late partner, who have a small holding. This small holding is devoted to the cultivation of cabbages and potatoes and to the raising of pigs and chickens. Unlike Jay, they work very hard for a modest living and fob him off with a few kilos of potatoes and cabbages, which he carries the ten kilometres back to our village. This vegetable marathon is made even more remarkable because, burdened by heavy plastic bags, he drunkenly zig-zags the ten kilometres back to our village. The centrifugal force of the swaying bags extravagantly exaggerating each zig-zag. In idle moments, I wonder how many extra kilometres these zig-zags cost him. I always know when he returns because, after cadging fire-wood from his long suffering good neighbours, he turns to me for a candle, paper, matches, salt and cooking oil. It is wise to give only one tea-light candle, two or three matches in a box, a pinch of salt and a plastic tumbler of oil. A long candle, a full box of matches, half a kilo of salt and a litre of oil would be promptly run down the three kilometre lane and exchanged, with a Gypsy, for beer. And, within the hour, he would be back on the cadge again, completely wasted and not even out of breath.

He cannot be bothered to collect free wood in the summer, which he could so easily do, as he makes three daily trips to his late partners grave. Dawn, midday and evening, including attending any church services. A total daily journey of eighteen kilometres, which must be some sort of grave visiting record. He is physically as strong as an ox, so picking up fallen timber on the three return journeys, which run through an extensive forest, could quickly accumulate into a decent winter stockpile. But, such forethought is beyond Jay and if by any mischance he did exercise forethought, he has the insufferable problem of finding someone daft enough to lend him an axe and saw.

The other day I was daft enough to do just that. Against my better judgement, I lent Jay my second best axe. A huge metre long, cumbersome, unbalanced, brute of an axe. It is a Communist era axe and is of a size suitable for King Henry VIII's public executioner, to behead his various wives. But, it is a useful size and weight for some wood chopping and I did inherit it along with the cottage. Jay had a large bough, still encrusted with snow and ice from the snow drift, from which he had plucked it. Poor quality wet firewood, but that's Jay. I did not permit him to take the axe away, I knew better than that. I showed him our woodshed, containing its own magnificent, rooted tree stump chopping block. Some previous owner had felled the huge beech tree and then built a substantial woodshed round the remaining stump. I concreted the floor at a later date. I laid the bough across the chopping block and, thinking that not even Jay could, in the circumstances, do anything untoward, returned to the cottage. I severely underestimated the man. I was barely inside, the cottage, when I heard not the thump of an axe on wood, but a series of ringing crashes followed by shouted curses. Rushing back out to the woodshed, I was dumbfounded to find the branch on the concrete floor, the sturdy axe splintered in two, the head ruined and three heavy gashes smashed into the concrete floor. The branch was unmarked and still encrusted with ice and snow.

Apparently, seeking more swinging space, Jay had laid the branch on the concrete floor and, swinging the axe wildly over his head, smashed it straight down into the concrete, entirely missing the branch. Not only that, in his wild swinging he had dislodged a number of tiles overhead, through which the piled up roof snow was now tumbling. All this expert wrecking had taken less than sixty seconds.

Staring at the shattered axe, ruined roof and damaged concrete, I, for the first time in our six-year relationship, completely lost my temper, cussing and shouting at him. But I discovered, as have all the villagers, that such invective was but water off a ducks back. Completely unabashed he asked for a saw. I shouted that I had not got a saw, because he had totally ruined my last one, just as he has now wrecked my axe. Whereupon he asked for my other axe - my best one. On my point-blank refusal he got aggressive. Shouting and slaking his ham-like fists at me. As he is as strong as an elephant and as destructive as a rogue one, I grabbed a spade and ran him off the property.

He later returned, sulkily, to retrieve his branch. He also offered, grudgingly, to repair the roof. The thought of Jay wrecking the rest of the roof or 'repairing' it with my tools, whilst simultaneously ruining them as well, made me laugh, which Jay joined in as if sharing a mutual joke. Ever quick on the uptake when cadging is at stake, he repeated his request to borrow my best axe. A second point-blank refusal brought back the sulks, and he stomped off with his branch over his shoulder.

I should have known better as Jay has personally 'lost' a wheelbarrow of mine. All I know is that it went down the lane and never returned. Last summer, Jay got through four wheelbarrows, only one of which was his own and ruined a saw, mine. Now, an axe, a shed roof and he had damaged a concrete floor, mine again.

His long suffering immediate good neighbour later reported that he had seen Jay, swinging his crude whacking ball, made of a heavy stone laced to a length of rope - his sole remaining, all-purpose, literally stone-age tool - down onto the branch pounding and pulverizing it into splinters. Its total lack of value means that Jay cannot even exchange it for beer. Jay lives in a stone-age world. All the metal in his late partner's cottage: electrical wiring, plumbing, water heater,bath, door and window fastenings have all been torn out and recycled into alcohol, followed by the pots, pans, cutlery and garden tools. Even his faithful wheelbarrow went.

But stone-age man, especially in the later stages, shaped flint into a bewildering array of beautifully crafted tools of amazing sharpness and complicity. He also indulged in stupendous stone engineering projects, such as Stone Henge, a gigantic astronomical calendar, both in purpose and size, that is still accurate to the millisecond many millennia later, to mark the passage of the equinox and hence calculate the seasons. Essential if you are implementing the greatest revolution in human history, by inventing agriculture.

Which brings us back to Jay, swinging his crude unshaped, primitive stone-age tool, down onto a branch. Jay already has to carry heavy loads, and has shunned agriculture as his piece of land, by the bench, he will not cultivate. And I am left pondering man's incorrigible tendency to regress, and as I do, Jay shrugs his shoulders and resumes his titanic task.

A Busy Week

Monday 5th December, 2011. ~ Visit

My day started early with me working at St. Albans City Hospital until 13:00, then it was onto Watford General Hospital for the remainder of the day. I left work at 16:00 and headed home, as we were expecting some family over. Alysha was still at school, when I got in, and Emma was cuddling Erin. Not long after I got in, Erin went to sleep, at which point my Nannie and Auntie Francesca arrived. No Uncle Barry this time, as he was unable to make the trip. (He will be over from the USA in May.) Then Alysha arrived home, and I had to wake Erin, so that Nannie could hold her. The mandatory photographs were taken, before Auntie Francesca had her chance to hold her. Once the photographs and cuddles were taken, it was decided that we should go out for dinner. Francesca took Nannie and Alysha to the 'Harvester', while Emma and I fed and changed Erin. Then Francesca came and collected the three of us and we headed to the'Harvester'. Erin was awake through most of the meal, and only made a fuss when it was time for dessert. After our meal, Francesca took Nannie, Emma, Alysha and Erin home, while I walked, thus saving two trips. It was as I was reaching home that I received a text from my Cousin Mark, to say that he had proposed to his girlfriend, and that they would be married in June. Once home, Nannie and Francesca made their goodbyes and headed off to their hotel, leaving us to relax and get Erin ready for bed.

Tuesday 6th December, 2011. ~ Awards & Party

Another early start saw me heading to St. Albans for the morning, before heading back to Watford General Hospital, for the afternoon. At 15:45, Emma brought me a change a clothes, as we were going to the 'Golden Service Awards', where Emma had been nominated for the 'Unsung Hero of the Year' award. The ceremony was held in the 'Elton John' Suite at Watford Football Club, and the awards were presented by Adam Astill (Dan Hamilton in 'Holby City' on BBC1). After a few other awards were presented, it was Emma's turn. There were four people in the final nominations, and the winner was... David Self from Finance. Finance?! How did that happen?! Oh, well. Emma still got a certificate and a box of chocolates, so she was happy. After the ceremony finished, Emma made her way home to see how Stacey had coped baby-sitting Erin, while I went into Watford to meet Steve B for his birthday drinks. (Although his birthday isn't until 7th for which he was going to the theatre.) A great night out with Steve B and his friends, before heading home. A quick cuddle from Erin, before it was time for bed.

Wednesday 7th December, 2011. ~ Calm before the Storm

Another morning at St. Albans and Watford in the afternoon. I had taken Steve B's presents in with me, so that he could open them at work. He seemed really pleased with the 'Three Stooges' DVD and a book on the 'History of Jazz', complete with CD. After work, it was straight home for a nice relaxing evening in.

Thursday 8th December, 2011. ~ Storm

As I arrived at St. Albans City Hospital, I received a call from Derek, my supervisor. It turns out that there was a slight problem at Watford General, and that it was imperative that I got back there as soon as I had finished at St. Albans, to help out. In just under two hours my work was done, and I was heading back to Watford. On entering the R&D stores, I was met by box-upon-box and bag-upon-bag of stock, strewn across the floor. (A quick insight into my job. I am a Materials Management Officer for the West Hertfordshire NHS Hospitals Trust. Myself and the other members of the team, go around the Hospital and order in all the stock, required by the wards and departments. When we have ordered the stock and processed the orders, it is 'picked' by 'muppets' at the Rugby Distribution Centre and despatched to us two days later, by NHS Supply Chain (which is in fact DHL) with each ward or departments stock on a separate pallet. We then return to the ward or department and put the stock away. Because our stock is delivered in the early hours of the morning, none of our staff are on sight to supervise the unloading of the lorry, and there has never been a problem before.) Not today. The driver, it turns out was an 'Agency'driver, instead of our usual NHS Supply Chain driver or DHL employee, if you prefer. This 'Agency' driver (who I am sure must work for 'Yodel' as they seem to screw us over at every chance) had a simple brief. "Deliver the stock to the R&D point at Watford General Hospital, and bring back the empty pallets." Well, 'Agency' man delivered the stock. Then decided to not only take the empty pallets from the previous day, but to take the ones he had just delivered. All 14 of them!!! The stock which had been 'picked' and 'packed' had now been strewn all over the stores. It took us until nearly 2 O'clock, to go through the packing sheets and get the stock to its correct location. When we had finally done this, we still had some wards to count, so it turned out to be a long afternoon. Not surprisingly, Steve B came back to mine, after work, for some much well deserved beer.

Friday 9th December, 2011. ~ End of the Week

St. Albans City Hospital in the morning.

Watford General Hospital in the afternoon.

Home

Cuddle

Relax

Beer

Bed.

The Last Few Days

After my week of Paternity Leave, I was pleased to be working at St. Albans City Hospital, as it is a lot quieter than Watford General Hospital. Even so, I was still looking forward to the weekend.

I popped into Town on Saturday morning, to get a few things, before heading straight home. Shortly after I returned, we had a visit from David and Alyson, who brought more clothes for Erin and they stayed for a coffee and a hug. After they left, we had lunch, before Len and Emma Jayne arrived. More hugs, photos and beer followed. We watched TV and caught up on the weeks events. Len was happy as he is off work for the next two weeks, while Emma Jayne isn't. Then Len had a cuddle with Erin, which we hadn't realised he hadn't done. I managed to get a really nice photo of the two of them, too. By the time they left, it was early eening, so we settle down to relax.

Sunday morning we were up and out of the house by 10 O'clock, as we had to go to see Helen the Midwife, at Watford General Hospital. (This Midwife is unlike the 'Evil Doers' who came to the house the previous week, as we have seen Helen throughout Emma's pregnancy.) We arrived at Watford General just before 10:30 and only had to wait a coupl eof minutes, before Helen saw us. We stripped Erin, so that she could be weighed, before Helen took Emma's blood pressure. Emma's blood pressure was fine, and Erin was above her birth-weight, so the two of them were formally discharged. We then made our way home and had a coffee. Alysha had stayed at my Mums the previous evening and had a Dance Exam this afternoon, so the house was quiet. After a light lunch, we headed over to my Mums, as she had offered to cook us dinner. So we sat and talked, and watched 'Finding Nemo' and had a glass of wine, while we awaited dinner. Dinner was served around 4 O'clock, and we all tucked in. Roast Chicken with orange and cranberry stuffing, roasted vegetables, roast potatoes, peas and gravy. Bloody lovely. After dinner we finished our wine and went onto coffee, while watching 'A Knight's Tale'. While this was going on, I did a few things for my Mum on her PC, before we had another drink. Spanish Brandy for Mum, and an 8 year-old single malt Irish Whiskey, called 'Dun Leire', for me. Very nice indeed. After our goodbyes we headed home and relaxed, until my alarm went off this morning.

Another great weekend... over too quickly.

Until next time, May it be well with you.

Erin, week 1

Saturday 12 November, 2011.

Erin slept quite well, for her first night in the big wide World. Even so it was an early start as we were expecting quite a few visitors today. And, sure enough, they arrived. It began with Emma's sister Rachel, her husband Noel and their three kids, Rory, Freya and Noah. Erin was passed to Rachel and then Freya, while Rory and Noah played with some toys, while Noel played 'Angry Birds' on his HTC phone. (Which I am now addicted to. Thanks Noel!) While they were getting ready to leave, Swany arrived to see how Erin had settled in. We had a coffee, while Emma fed Erin, and then then Swany got to hold Erin. Lots of photos were taken and then Swany left, giving us a short time together. Then Steve B arrived, followed shortly by Len and Emma Jayne. Then we were visited by Adam and Lauren, who were in Watford shopping. Lots more photos and a few drinks, and then we were alone again. An early night was in order, as Emma and myself were still exhausted.

Sunday 13th November, 2011.

As both I and Emma awoke, as a joke we wished Erin a Happy Birthday, as today was the day that she was meant to arrive. After lunch my Mum popped in after watching the 'Saracens' at Vicarage Road. (Another win for the Men in Black!) More photos and cuddles with Erin before she headed off home. Yet again, another early night was in order, so it was off to bed we went.

Monday 14th November, 2011.

Erin was slightly restless throughout the night, so that Emma and I were not as rested as we had hoped, especially as we were expecting a visit from Kirsty, anytime in the morning. Guess what? More photographs! After Kirsty left, we had another visit from David and Alyson (Emma's Mum and Dad) where more photos were taken and hugs were given, before we left alone again. We then bathed Erin, (which she thoroughly enjoyed), and settled down and relax.

Tuesday 15th November, 2011.

We had arranged for my Uncle Martin to pop over with Nan and Granddad, but we decided we would go to theirs, so that we could try out the new buggy. Making sure that Erin was wrapped up and snug, we set off for the walk to Nan's. The journey normally takes 10 minutes, but today it took nearly 20, as were we stopped by well-wishers and neighbours. Once we arrived at Nan's, Martin asked to be the first to hold Erin. (More like demanded to be the first.) Coffee was made and Erin was passed onto Nan, and then onto Granddad. Lots of photographs, and then Martin cuddeled Erin, again. After an hour-or-so, we decided to walk into Watford, as we needed to buy a few things, and Erin had some money to spend on some new outfits. (Four days old and already shopping for clothes?!) Martin walked in with us, as he wanted to get a print framed. As we approached Watford General Hospital, we bumped into a some work colleagues, so again a journey time was elongated. We left Martin at the Framers and continued into the Town Centre. 'Primark' was our first stop, but Erin didn't fancy anything in there, so we headed into the Harlequin. In 'Boots' had a better selection, and Erin found an outfit that she liked, so it was bought. I ordered 20 prints of Erin from a self-service digital printer, which I would have to wait an hour to pick up. So, we headed to 'H & M' where Erin found some more clothes she liked. (This girl can spend!) After looking in a few more shops, we headed to 'Sainsbury's' for a small food shop. We then had lunch at 'Subway', before heading back to 'Boots' to pick up the photos. Then it was home to feed Erin. We then left the house and headed to the 'Oddfellows' where Steve B and Jason(from work) were meeting us, and also to show our friends how beautiful Erin is. After a few drinks we headed home and got ready for the day ahead.

Wednesday 16th November, 2011.

Today was the day I was dreading. We knew that it was coming, and we also knew that there was nothing we could do to avoid it. Throughout the morning there was a tension building that Erin simply slept through. Even a visit from our friend Stacey, couldn't lift the darkness that was beginning to settle around us. Then Dave arrived, with Nevaeh. Stacey left first, followed by Dave and Nevaeh at 3ish. Then they arrived. 'The Midwives'. They started nicely enough, by weighing Erin. 3520g. (Birth weight was 3700g) Then they brought out their 'Tools of Torture'. 'Tenderfoots'!!! An evil little device that pricks the skin, which these 'Sisters of Evil' use to extract blood. And who had to hold Erin, while these 'Deviants' squeezed the blood from her heel? Me! Well, we found out one good thing, while theses 'Depraved Monsters' delighted in hurting our daughter... Her lungs work!!!  Her lungs work really well, in fact. So much so, that her screams expelled these 'Demonic Entities' from our house. 

Thursday 17th November, 2011.

Today, we had an appontment at the 'Registry Office'. We were up and ready and took a gentle stroll, arriving exactly on time. Within 14 minutes, Erin Niamh Morrissey was formally registered as a member of the Human Race, receiving all the rights that Free People of the World enjoy. We then had a quick look through the Town, eating lunch from Watford Market. We then headed towards home, when we had a slight downpour. Luckily, Erin's 'wheels' are waterproof. As we reached the Hospital, we met Steve B, who came back to ours for a coffee, before heading back to work. Then Swany arrived, and after Erin had been fed, Swany drove us to 'Shoots'. (Now named 'Squires', but to us it will always be 'Shoots') I purchased some fish and some other things for our Aquarium. Also, I bought a Venus Flytrap. (Just because it was there, really.) Emma bought a Christmas present for Erin, and then Swany drove us home. After Swany left, we awaited my Mum, who was coming over to take some photographs of the four of us. Then we watched 'Children in Need Rocks Manchester', before turning in for the night.

All-in-all a very busy first week for Erin.

I look forward to the coming weeks with great anticipation.