Wednesday 17 November 2010

Two Weddings and a Funeral

I know of a young woman about to marry a serving member of the Royal Air force. Not Kate Middleton, but my daughter Nicola. Her fiance has just begun a four month long posting to the Falkland Islands, so he'll come back to a frenzy of preparations for a wedding in July.

News of a wedding is always good - there's always a story of happiness and commitment there. I'm delighted about Nicola's situation, and I can't find it in me to be grumpy about the forthcoming royal nuptials. Yes, there will be a relentless tide of publicity, the shops will be full of souvenir tat, and the BBC will fawn and scrape obsequiously. Yes, the monarchy is a fossilised relic of an unjust and outdated model of society that belongs on the scrapheap. None of this will be the fault of the young people involved, and I wish them well. Like Nicola and her fiance Chris, they met in St Andrews, just six or seven miles away from where I sit now. There's a nice syncronicity to all of this that I am enjoying.

It's just a month since my father's funeral, and it is good to be reminded that life is a regenerative process. I've been utterly flat and ill for the last month, having massively overdrawn my stamina and energy accounts during the time of my father's death, and I'll take my comfort from where I can find it.

4 comments:

  1. Thats good news Richard, maybe they can make it a double wedding, same day as Kat and Andy. That way you have a good excuse for not watching it on the telly.

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  2. Congratulations, Richard. You must really be enjoying the parallel wedding stories. People in the States seem to be very excited about the Royal Wedding.

    My sympathies to you about your father and I hope your health improves as you're able to rest after the stress of the last month.

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  3. So very sorry to hear about your father's death, Richard. My husband lost his mother earlier this year. I know how difficult these times can be.

    And congratulations on your daughter's engagement! I agree, it is always encouraging to be reminded of new beginnings during challenging times.

    I've already heard enough about the royal engagement! The Today Show pre-empted an interview with ME/CFS author Laura Hillenbrand two days in a row to cover the engagement. Enough already!

    Best wishes to your daughter -

    Sue

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  4. Congratulations on your daughter's engagement. That is wonderful news.

    Grief is pretty tough isn't it? It is exhausting in and of itself.

    You continue to be in my thoughts...wishing you much peace and comfort...

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