Welcome to the official opening of Granddads' shed

We can also rustle up a Cream Soda and Ice cream for the non drinkers (Mrs. P's favourite)

Em asked for details of our upcoming wedding -- sorry to bore those not interested.

Our Son and his partner of 11 years have decided to get married (I did advise them not to rush into it, they only got engaged on 1st April). She is a lovely girl and we get on really well with her family, we will be proud to have her as a DIL. They want children (I think our Daughters recent son has made them broody) and as she is a Roman Catholic, having a child without getting married is a step to far. They get married next Saturday in Scunthorpe, sounds like a long service, as it will combine the wedding and a Mass. Wedding colours are pale green & white, us Guys will be in full mourning morning dress, tails etc.
The reception will be in a friends garden in her home village (fabulous walled garden ). They have a huge marquee, looks super posh from the pics. They are doing all the organisation and some of the food etc, themselves, trying to keep to a budget. They have been very lucky, so many friends in their village have offered help, the caterer is a friend and covering it at cost, two friend shave silver Jags, and have offered them as wedding cars. The whole village has rallied round, even the local game keeper has organised a field for parking. Downside, MIL has invited most of the village in the evening, which along with all their University friends will pack the marquee. We are just praying for a dry day now.
We head up there Wednesday for the practice, suit fittings etc.

Sure I've missed some important points that the ladies will want to know, you will have to ask me more.

Involvement of friends sounds lovely. I hope all goes well and that they are (continue to be) very happy. The word 'practice' made me want to say some other things but I decided not to.

LOL, after 11 years, I hope they don't need practice.

Which barbers do the friends who shave Jags work for then?

How lovely to have the support of all these friends! Hope you have a fantastic day. (Beware of the Jags as they can be a bit prickly when recently shaved!)

Notsogrand - hope the Jags are sleek metal motors, not sleek spotted carnivores like the ones in Edinburgh Zoo. Would not fancy shaving those.

I did notice my typo, but never saw the humorous angle to it

Sounds as if it will be a lovely day. The service should be about 1 hour or maybe 1hour 15 mins, including signing of the register etc. A lot depends on the priest and his sermon. It will fly by, believe me! Have a wonderful day and best wishes to the B & G.

We attended a Christmas Mass there year before last. They recognised us as strangers and went out of their way to make us welcome, even though we were not Catholic, we were included in every part of the Mass possible.The priest is a lovely guy.

I'm so glad that the priest is welcoming and that will indeed add to the joy of the day as everyone will feel included. We had the opposite experience at my neice's wedding and later at her baby's christening. All non-catholics ( ie the majority of the bride's family) were told in advance that they should remain seated while the rc members of the groom's family were served communion.
It spoiled an otherwise beautiful day for those of us who are non-rc church members. I'd love to think that churches could welcome everyone who chooses to be there and think ours was maybe an exception.
It has been a lovely sunny day here but not uncomfortably hot - so that's what I wish you for the wedding!

What a shame, at the Christmas Mass, they told us to go up for the communion, but place a hand on our shoulder, they then recognised us as non-Catholics and gave us the blessing without the communion.

So sorry you had a bad experience Em. Pompa, delighted the RC community made you welcome. I have to say your experience is, hopefully, the norm nowadays. Most church communities (whatever denomination) are of the welcoming kind nowadays. Enjoy the wedding .............

Brilliant: love the shed. My grandson will be regular visitor.

Am I allowed to be controversial in here?

Have been away, is there still room in the shed. I have a little glass topped table with no home to go to,it would be good to put the wine or even coffee or tea on. Have forsworn cake after the last few days,but have three spare strawberries on my plant in a little pot in my garden.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

baggy, PLEASE be controversial!!

Baggy, controversial, yes, but please please, not political, you know the subject I al referring to .

Please, someone take over this typo gremlin from me.

I did consider being controversial by adding my views to the feminist debate, but thought I might end up nailed to the wall by part of my anatomy the women do not have [ouch].

Bring on the controversy, baggy. We are 'warming' to the idea!!

NO NO NO not that word WARMING -- it is not allowed in here

Time gap there while I cooked dinner. Controversy here we go. Religious controversy this time so if you don't like religious controversy stop reading now.

I just wanted to say, tongue in cheek a bit but I mean it too (I was brought up in a Catholic family but never had any faith myself and eventually tore myself away from all that bullshit stuff) that of course most church congregations are friendly and welcoming nowadays — their numbers are falling.

For some reason I can't quantify, I generally feel uncomfortable in a church service. I last worked 6 years for Age Concern in a Day Centre, this was held in our village church hall. I got to know the Minister very well and got on with him fine, until he entered into his day job, instantly felt threatened. The Catholic service I spoke about earlier was one of the few times I have enjoyed a service.

I find the opposite Pompa, I feel comforted in church, I am a fuzzy slightly doubting Anglican, but was married to a Catholic, and I found that very uncomfortable, too dogmatic for me.