Our summer holidays began with a week in beautiful Kefalonia, where Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001) was filmed. Romeo sorted the whole trip out in March when he thought we needed some sun. I immediately fell in love with the people, place and food. It was a much needed holiday after the busy term and I really enjoyed swimming everyday in the crystal clear Ionian sea. How can I become a mermaid? Will it hurt a lot? Although, I would miss my cycling then. Seeing so many gorgeous Greek Gods and Goddesses in their swimwear was both wonderful and intimidating. I noticed many people, especially a lot of the young men, proudly boasting a cross around their necks. Is that why I felt so at home? Some of our fabulous desert friends even flew over to spend a whole day with us. They were just across the way in Athens but still, how brilliant to be together again.
My pre-holiday preparations included applying a fairly large self adhesive flower tattoo onto my left breast and another much smaller one on the top right hand side of the nether regions. After all, it's very important to keep surprising one another in a long term relationship. I found it highly amusing when Romeo discovered them. In the pool one day stretching to catch the skim ball, my bikini top revealed a bit too much and Mini-Me was horrified.
'Mum, have you had a tattoo?' He's still unsure about the nose piercing.
'Oh, erm, no it's only a stick on one love.'
'Well, what have you done that for, why are you being a rebel?'
'I don't know, I can't help it.'
Romeo was in for it at the beach.
'Mum, Dad keeps staring at all the women without their bikini tops on!'
'I know, don't worry about it love, it's normal.'
'But why is he staring, it's rude, tell him to stop!'
'It's OK, he can't help it.'
After one late evening meal in Argostoli, I waited patiently in a line of kids for a more semi-permanent henna tattoo, as the salty surf was eroding my surprises away. Choosing a lovely floral design I asked for it around my left wrist as a bracelet. For the older, hippy looking man to do this I had to rest my hand on his 'lap,' rather too high up for my liking. Anyway, I did it and held it there motionless, for about half an hour. Gulp. I busied myself by making small talk with him and pierced any sexual thoughts from entering his brain by looking directly into his eyes with my clear, undefiled, pale blue stare, whenever possible. He was very friendly and spoke good English, so when his mate chuckled something to him in Greek, I said slightly mischievously, 'I hope you are not being cheeky?' To which he replied, 'He is only admiring the design.' Hmm.
My sweaty palm left a Susie sized hand print on his cotton trouser leg which swiftly evaporated in the heat. Then I was free to pay and go. By the way, I didn't take my phone or purse on holiday with me. See how liberated I am nowadays? It also meant that Romeo had to do all the driving around as I didn't have my licence either because it lives in my purse. And you may imagine that I am not domineering in anyway, well think again dear reader.
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| Yorkshire v Lancashire |
We have been honoured and delighted to have been invited to three weddings this summer, two of which were for desert friends and enabled some great reunions. It makes the desert chapter real, as you know how strongly I value the gift of friendship. The brides all looked so very beautiful and happy and I enjoyed sharing in the celebrations with their grinning husbands, friends and family. I could write at great length about each wedding but have decided not to for fear of breaching their privacy. It is only fair to say we had such wonderful fun and thanks so much for inviting us.
Remember: All you need is LOVE.
My charity shop bought outfits seemed to cause quite a stir which I'm pleased about as I love a bargain. My own wedding dress was purchased second hand from an agency and cost £45.00. Sitting together by the altar on the 9th August 1997, Romeo whispered, 'How much was your dress then?' He had a little bet on with someone that I would not have paid more than £100 for it. Quite right, I always will be a frugal Yorkshire lass, it's genetic. It had a beautiful deep green velvet bodice with a cream skirt and I felt just like Maid Marian with the white rose headdress on. The fact that it had Tracey embroidered into it didn't bother me at all. Very superstitious, I'm not. It really doesn't matter what you do or don't wear, including your under garments. It's the state of your heart, mind and soul that truly counts. But, you all know that don't you?
Our wedding photos have been in storage for five years and it was great to look back through them together on our anniversary.
'That's the ugliest dress I have ever seen,' declares Dirtbag, matter of factly.
I'm crying, not because of her comment but because naturally, some people in the photographs are either dead or divorced. Many though, remain vibrantly alive supporting us still, as do our new friends gathered along the way. So, thank you all for that. We will strive to love and support the newly weds wherever they may go and be, in our own far from smug married, crazy way.
The record player was the perfect anniversary gift and I have been spinning the vinyl ever since; finally getting to listen to my record store day purchase, Solid Air by John Martyn. Talk about delayed gratification. Phew! After the hectic, hedonistic wedding celebrations I choose the moment carefully. Everyone is out of the house and I'm alone at last. Pressing the Bluetooth speaker up to full volume I lie down on the sofa, melting into a state of total tranquillity while the title track fills my empty space and I smile:
Release, reflect, recharge,
restore, recall, reconnect
recuperate,
reconcile,
refresh,
relish.
With Love xx
'Don't be so hard on yourself, no
Learn to forgive, learn to let go,
Everyone trips, everyone falls,
So don't be so hard on yourself, no'
Jess Glynne
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| My bedroom circa 1985 |
Still reading: The Trouble with Goats and Sheep as I have been too busy singing and dancing lately.
Listening to: Solid Air by John Martyn and Romeo's fairly decent vinyl collection. My parents chucked my extensive hip hop, rap and other various artists collections out!
Watched: Moulin Rouge! (2001) Bad Teacher (2011) and Despicable Me 3 (2017) at the cinema with Mini-Me.
Sang and danced with Jess Glynne at Scarborough Open Air Theatre with Dirtbag. I will write this event up as a special solo feature sometime soon.
