Finishing work early at midday on Friday I was rushed off my feet yet again trying to sort different bits and pieces. After the last 18-months or so of searching for a property suitable for both mine and Mr Warehouse's tight budget as well as our dog we finally came across a few properties in the last few months that were affordable and that would accept pets. The only problem that we seem to come up against was the fact that the majority of these properties were very run down or poorly kept which meant that we would have to put in a lot of work to a property that was not perfect and was not ours, something that at the end of the day we could quite easily do in the place that we have here. Albeit our flat is small in comparison to the two-bedroom house with Garden and parking I envisaged us living in at this point last year, I would say that our flat is still on the large side in terms of the front room and bedroom. In fact I am sure that I have not met anyone that is able to fit a sofa, double bed, one single wardrobe, one triple wardrobes, two chest of drawers and a desk into their bedroom. After having several meltdowns over the last few weeks about where we live as well as the safety and security of the property, not to mention what seems like a complete lack of empathy or positive activity from our landlord, I have come to realise just how selfish I have been and how lucky I am to live in such a lovely home, even if it isn't mine.
And so with this new lease of life and new found optimism for my housing situation, Mr Warehouse and I have decided to try and attempt to do up what little flat we have. I suppose with a little bit of paint, a spruce up of the patio area and maybe even splashing out on a few bits for the house I am sure that this will tide me over at least for the meantime to be happy in where I am living whilst trying at desperately to save for a house. In fact I think I am quite proud of myself for all of the bargains I have found over the last few weeks. Not only have I been able to bag myself a leather bound double bed for just eight-quid, but I have also sourced two bedside tables for a tenner, a nice fluffy rug for under a fiver, and a wall mounted TV bracket for ten British pounds too. I am hoping that the last few little bits we need such as paint and other garden furniture will be easily found or supplied through friends, family and work colleagues as well as a few freebies found online.
Anyway I suppose that all of that gumft is for next weekend. Whilst last weekend was spent in mourning after burying my grandfather and all of the trials and tribulations that went hand-in-hand with spending so much time with my family during a difficult time, this weekend's welcome break to a hotel in Basingstoke was certainly what I needed. The secret that I had been keeping from you for a few weeks now was the fact that my best friend was getting MARRIED! Yes I know it has probably been the biggest secret that I have been able to keep to myself for a long while.
The bestie met her boyfriend all those many moons ago back in Uni. A few weeks after rekindling our friendship after just drifting apart, Mr. Workaholic and I visited Miss Tweedle-Dee, Mrs. Tweedle-Dumb and their "posh friends" in halls and this is when I first met her future husband. Mr. Tweedle-Dumb (because they are now legally married) seemed shy and very reserved for a Uni-student, nothing like the loud, brash and ladish lass he was dating. Someone focused, head-down and knew what they wanted and where they wanted to be. As the years passed and my boyfriends came and went, Mrs. Tweedle-Dumb had dropped out of Uni but continued to vist her Bae in halls and even carried on when he moved back down to his hometown of Basingstoke. Last Summer she made the move down the country to be with him and they got their own council flat. Small, it was more than most people get offered when only a couple and it was certainly plenty for them.
After Mr Warehouse was let down for several job offers in Europe he was finally offered a promising career in Stockholm. The Tweedle-Dumb's waited for the application to emigrate for weeks, but after sometime it sadly fell through but after giving up their council flat and moving back in with the in-law's parents temporarily I think they needed a pick-me-up so took the opportunity to book a holiday to the place where dreams are made ... Disneyland Florida! Following romantic mini-breaks and trips to some of the most romantic tourist hot-spots across Europe and farther afield including Paris, Rome, Las Vegas, this engagement ring was having more holidays than I was as it accompanied Mr. Tweedle-Dumb on all trips. Each time they jetted off, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I would anxiously await the iconic picture and prepared to see if he popped the question on that trip?! But it never came. I was expecting it to never come and for them to just be that couple that are not engaged nor married but maybe have a child or two. But then it did! The Happiest Place on Earth. And that it certainly was for as my dearest friend looked up in awe of the Disney princess castle, the midnight sky alight with fireworks and stars she turned back to the love of her life only to be greeted by a one singular knee and a shiny silver ring. Shocked and stunned (as were we all guys!) I was so overwhelmed with happiness when I got a picture the following morning I cried tears of happiness. I was so unimaginably joyful for her. Whilst at first I begrudged her for going to the place where dreams come true in the first place because I wanted to go, I was thrilled at the prospect of a wedding I actually had a close relationship to the Bride!
I have known Miss Tweedle-Dumb from such a young age when we were in lower school together and when we lived across the road directly from me. Initially she was a bitch and threw sand in my face but then the twins soon became the triplets when we adopted Miss Tweedle-Dee. Instantly we were inseparable, spending every time outside of the classroom with each other either out playing or hanging around each others houses. Of course we would argue as would any group of girls, and by hell we still do, but we always somehow made our way through. As we spent our time lazying away our weekends and summer holidays I always thought we would be friends forever and even in our old age we would still be giggling and laughing like we did when we were in school. Over the years, like every little girl and her friends we talked about our wedding days what we would do and what we would wear or how we would have our hair and make-up. We even discussed and acted out about how we would each walk down the aisle and practised using each other as father of the bride.
This weekend, as I expected anyway, was eventful with lots of stress about beauty, getting ready and having enough time to do everything. All in all I had a nice time. The ceremony was a bit of a let down for me on their behalf as from where I was sitting the registrar seemed very uptight and conducted the ceremony in a bit of a farcical storybook parody. Snapping at Miss Tweedle-Dumb and Mr. Tweedle-Dumb for not holding hands, kissing or being close, I thought to myself if we didn't know otherwise, anyone would have thought that they were just doing this for a visa. All in all the day was lovely and touching in its own way. I think the only disappointing and sad thing was being without Mr. Warehouse by my side to spend it with us all and enjoy it, something that still perplexes me. I am just glad that she had a nice day and hope that both of my Tweedle-Dumb's have a wonderful life together. Wonder whose next then ...
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
