Day Fourteen Saturday 31st September

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 Today is the big day, Ellie is marrying George. The reason why we are in the UK. But I woke up early and decided to go and have a look at Darlington. Pleasant and quick drive followed by an easy park. As usual, I put the address of the best record shop in Maps as my starting point. In this case Saxosoul and while I find nothing to buy it is a really good record shop. some record shops just have a cool vibe.


Wander around the town and manage to find a tie in the Oxfam Charity Shop. Bargain. The town centre is really kind of Modern but old England. Lots of Union Jack flags and quaint buildings and alleyways next to new structures. Nice place but I need to get back to Scotch Corner and get ready.

Suited and booted I get the girls from their room and they are not quite ready and have a go at me for not telling them what time we were leaving. I do my best to ignore them. And soon we are all out and away to Middleton Lodge. 3 minutes away.




Lots of people were there as we waited for a bus. Time for one drink and then we are shepherded onto a double-decker bus to take us to the church. A little bit of hair rising as we are sitting up top and the bus hits tree branches, grinds gears and at one stage feels like it won't make it up the hill. But we do and we get there.

Village church just like in the movies. We get seated behind a pillar but Mel gets us to sneak two seats back so we can see. There is a 4 piece gospel choir singing. Ellie walks down the aisle looking radiant. Hymns, speeches and vows over we all go outside to throw confetti however it is raining and since most of the girls have had their hair done everyone is hoping it won't bucket down. But it stays light and we manage to get back in the bus before it comes down. 

Another wild ride where people at the front act like they are on the Big Dipper and we're back. Beers and champagne and lots of photos. Random conversations a lot beginning with "You must be David's brother?" And then we move to the Marquee for dinner.



The food is excellent and washed down with plenty of red wine. And the speeches are entertaining especially Michael's which he begins with thanking us for coming all the way from Australia. And he mentions Little Murders and how we are big in Japan. I sink into my seat. 



After the meal, we clear out so they can set up the Marquee for dancing. The DJ has a  bongo player and a saxophonist. Which is different and I'm not sure it enhances the music. Everyone is having a great time and the music is quite populist with lots of stuff to sing along to. Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" is a particular highlight. The DJ brings the music down so we can just hear the crowd sing. But the word is he has blown the speakers so we need to head to the basement for more dancing.

The basement of the lodge is a very cool underground cellar which was probably the old wine room. The music now gets serious and loud and no more songs aimed at the general audience. This music is for the young and it pumps out the bass. Sounds great but I look at my watch and reckon it's time to take my leave. 

Catch a taxi back to the hotel and crash into bed. 







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