5 days - Thanks Grandma

It's 5 days until Nic and I say I DO
Today I feel cold in this Melbourne weather. But whatev's, we're on holidays.


Everything is basically set. We had a the wedding practice on Sunday. We have a very organised wedding celebrant that's for sure. She's all over the finer details, now that's done, the day will run smoothly.
For Nic and I we just want to say "yeah cool hi everyone we're married" but there is a seriousness to the event, and now everyone knows where to stand and when to speak...sort of. All will be good.
Yesterday we went and picked up our travel documents for the honeymoon. Again we weren't all about the  procedure, just like " yeah cool we're going on a honeymoon"...but we needed to listen to the important stuff, and now will be getting one of the Euro cash cards to save bank fees being charged. Thank You Sally at Westminster Travel. We'll spend our savings on Tapas.
What's become evident to me these past couple of days is simply just how much fun we're having planning this event, and getting ready for it. We're having that much fun, it makes us just so relaxed which for some we can seem blase. But that's how we roll, we're taking everything seriously, just in our own laid back way.
Stuff did a get a bit emotionally serious yesterday afternoon though with an amazing reminder of where I've been, where I've come from and who I am. my Grandma (Mum's Mum) passed away some 5 years ago. Grandma, aka Gladys Spence was an incredibly well planned and thoughtful woman. An example of this was when we were growing up she'd place aside $1 a week for all the Grandkids, and then we'd receive an envelope every 10 weeks. It was pay dirt for us. When we reached a certain age, it became even more awesome as Grandma jacked up the weekly contribution to $2 making that envelope even juicier. This was big cash for us as kids. But looking back, a well budgeted contribution from her pension to her Grandkids. So yesterday this cash giving, forward thinking, well planned, loving woman came alive again and hit me like a freight train. My mother years ago was handed an envelope to pass onto me. I received this yesterday.

As you could imagine, a serious amount of emotion rushes through your mind when you receive a gift like this from someone who's voice you haven't heard for five years. What an amazing gesture from an amazing woman.  I could not believe what I was reading, what I was holding. "This is for Greg if I'm not here when he gets married - from Grandma"
That right there is the most cherished gift of all time. It's just goes to show, those that aren't here physically, truly through spirit always are with us.
If I mention this on Saturday I'm pretty sure the rowdy cousins table will be reaching for the Kleenex, as while Grandma created fantastic fodder for us, and we often chuckled at her traits, we all loved her and miss her.
So to honour her, unlike previous envelopes I'll be putting this one to far better use instead of buying a slab of beer like I used to.
The only thing Grandma didn't magically do was have the contents accumulate financial interest over the five years. (I wouldn't be surprised if the bank manager calls in the next couple of days though) You get rare moments in life when you get to stop in your tracks, and appreciate what life is all about. 
This wedding is one of the those moments. So was receiving the keepsake I did yesterday. 
Thanks Grandma.

15 days - on the relaxed track

It's 15 days until Nic and I say I DO
Today I feel back on track


This morning I've struggled through a 5km run, my first real exercise since pre Bux Caviar day. On the routine I'd been used to the last 6 months, taking 2 weeks off is a freaken long time. This morning the run felt like I had razors in my lungs, and now my calves have mini samurai swords in them. It just proves how quickly we can fall off track. 
Furthermore, Nicole has just got back from her swim at the local pool this morning. 
She says to me in her forever funny tone  "Pal, you need to take a good look at this" (indicating to her in shape figure)......"because from what I saw this morning it all goes away in years to come, there was a lot of old lady boobs down there, and I mean down at their knees!"
She'd just witnessed a water exercise class for the elderly.
Inspiring stuff?
For now - yep! 
So today I get back on track. Back on track to achieving everything to make sure our goal, of an awesome wedding day, will be done. This time next weekend, we are on a flight to Melbourne. It's so close. I'm really looking forward to that week off in the lead up. Just a damn good time to unwind.  
I'll be watching the footy with hawks mates Sat'day afternoon as Nic is off on a hen situation with her closest friends and family. Have one last roll at the lanes with the BAP City Rollers on the Wednesday night. Pick up the suits and dine at Pizza Religion the Thursday Night.
Whatever happens the other days, no stress, and that's just perfect. 
By the Saturday - with everything on track, I'll be as relaxed as I possibly can be.
Roll on.

21 days - ready or not

It's 21 days until Nic and I say I DO
Today I feel ready.


Actually I'm feeling a million times better than i did this time last Sunday after the Bux Caviar. As the great mare continued her winning way yesterday, today Nic and I will finally kiss this planning situation  goodbye. Then relax the next two weeks.
We've nearly got a full compliment of guests that have RSVP'd, so we're expecting just under 100. 
We've nutted out a couple of unique things this week that could go either way, but this is how weddings roll. 


I'm not sure I've ever been to a wedding with glow sticks, but lets get our party on and try it, just minus the LSD and Pingers. We'll stick to the red wine for this 'adult' event. Also we did say in the save the date video, there would be a little bit of Hawks involved in the theming, and that's been locked away today. Yes, I can confirm that Lance Franklin will be the minister for the day before he plays the Demons at 5.30pm.
Theme songs are being planned for Bridal parties, PAs being ordered for musicians, Speeches Ts crossed, and i's dotted, the event seriously just couldn't come quick enough.


The key is to stay focused the next 10 working days, get things done, and then enjoy the best 5 weeks of our life. 
Shake n Bake baby.

24 days - The Fonz

It's 24 days until Nic and I say I DO

Today I feel another day older

It's my birthday today, the 16th of Feb. As the story goes, 34 years ago today,  my brothers and sister were being babysat by my Grandmother, they received the phone call of my arrival at home. (On the landline of course, and probably one of those old turtle green igloo shaped phones where you had put your finger in the hole to dial a number)  They were knee deep in a Happy Days episode. The one where Fonzie jumps the shark. For them Fonzie jumping the shark didn't signify the day Happy Days died as a show, but represented the moment I was born. A little bit of irony considering the shark jump catchphrase has become synonymous with TV shows that are in decline and on death row. Packed to The Rafters might be getting close to that, but that's a whole other debate. What have I given my two brothers and sister in those years.....a whole lot of grief, laughs, joy, and annoying little brother moments I hope. In a few weeks, they get share what will be the best day of my life and finest moment to date. We've been through a lot to get to this day.

I'll be the last one to get married in our family, the venue is right near where Mum grew up and where we have spent many family gatherings. You could say, for many of us, it will be a full circle moment me getting married out there in Seville, 5 minutes from the Gruyere Spence property. 

Life will change as this next phase begins after March 10. It's about living life for someone else, not just yourself.

Before we get there though, please sit back and watch this piece of TV glory/crap/awkwardness.

 

28 days - Nuff Said

It's 28 days until Nicole and I say I DO

Today I feel sunburnt

Yesterday was my bux party.

Nuff said.

33 Days - Disco 2000 or Common People?

It's 33 days until Nicole and I say I DO
Today I fee like Pulp

Not Pulp as in energy or motivation, I feel great on that front. I'm currently developing a real man crush on the band Pulp. Which I have left way too late considering they're winding up. We saw them at Splendor in the Grass last year in a 'farewell' concert. The lads (Baptown) who will playing some live tunes as we enjoy canapes and wine from the vines on March 10, can play two Pulp tracks for us and I'm debating which one to request. Disco 2000 is a great song, and Common People is legendary. Time will tell. Maybe both. Actually probably not both, that's excessive. But I do know that when I grow up I wanna live with common people. We're all common people. Just how do you know when you've grown up. People could debate this for years. My brother's son had his first day at school the other day, does that mean he's all grown up or is it a moment of growth? A rhetorical question for both Raf and my brother Dave.
My sister Clare has just taken in an exchange student from Germany in the last week. An incredible responsibility on her behalf. But for her family a time to experience something unique in life, and grow from it.
I'm getting married soon, does that mean I am all grown up? 
No way.
It is though a grown up moment a couple of kids will share pledging their life's journey to one another, to learn and grow along the way.
First stop on this learning tour is Spain. 35 days till we're on that plane and we can't wait. Especially the language barrier part, that's gonna be fun. No really. It will. Common People will be my first request to a Spanish DJ in Barcelona, let's see how far that one gets us. We'll be starting from zero on the lingual front and that's going to be a crack up.
Finally another jigsaw piece fell into place today. The stickers arrived for our bonbonerie. It will fill the room with an interesting aroma that's for sure. Wine, Food, and ....well....we won't reveal it now. 

 N.B: For those playing at home. After a recent post, it must be made transparent that I did not consume 60 beers in 60 minutes the other week. 30 mil nips is what happens in an hour of power. Not sure even Jarvis from Pulp could manage that one.

38 days - It's all Buddy Love

38 Days to go until Nicole and I say I DO

Today I see daylight

Getting Buddy Love Franklin into this was always just a matter of time.

Today is that day. Number 38 was the first number he wore for the Hawks. There's some trivia for those playing at home.

Here's how much Nicole has come to get used to my biggest sporting love in the Hawks...A couple of seasons back for Round 1 to start the season in style, Nic made Chocolate and Vanilla Custard. 

It had that distinct brown and gold look of course, and she even layered it in stripes to resemble the jumper. 

If that doesn't say marriage material I don't know what does?

This year for Round 1, it will be a little different. While the Hawks play Collingwood in Friday Night Football at the G.....we will be in Paris on the honeymoon.Cheese, Wine, French Champagne, Truffles, and the Hawks?

I know this could be controversial to even consider trying to watch the match in Paris somewhere, somehow, someway...but just in case, I'm beginning to research if it's possible. Nicole won't mind if we stream the match at our hotel. I mean how often in our lives will we be in Paris, let alone, in Paris when the Hawks are playing in Round 1 of the AFL season!

Hello!!!

LE BUDDY LOVE is a universal term yeah?