Cheque cleared, debts all paid, wedding all over--what's next.

Yesterday I went into my bank account to see a large amount of money sitting there quite innocently!
I have been waiting for this to happen for a good while ,now that it has happened, it feels quite normal.
Connie Corry at the bank has been a star.She could not be more helpful and has kept in touch every step of the way,she knows I was nervous about it all.
She even emailed me late on Friday saying that she had news the cheque was cleared and would be in my account Tuesday /Wednesday and said " enjoy the wedding" I love the Irish, we have accounts in Spain England too . In no other bank do we phone up to hear, "hello Helen how are you, and how is John"
So we can draw a line under that part of our lives for now. When we come home from Folkestone and London,I will have had time to digest Connie's suggestions about what to do with the money,she has given us a lot of suggestions and we need time to digest them all.

Jackie's wedding was wonderful,there was so much happiness and joy, I would say everyone there enjoyed being there and the two families got on very well too. There was a coming together on the Friday evening, A&L had a lot of hick ups getting to Glasgow but they arrived safely in the end DV and Philip arrived safely too.we enjoyed sharing the evening with Jackie and Geoff , and we shared a family meal,not very good food , ( all weekend) but it did not spoil any of the enjoyment. Wedding food is seldom up to much.
I had a great Saturday morning ,getting behind the scenes and sharing in the bride and bridesmaids getting there hair done and make up on,It was fun and a privilege to be allowed to share and take photo's

I felt very proud of my little family,we all looked the part. In fact the whole Collins clan and shoots. looked fabulous, if I say so myself.

The wedding was in Park Circus which is a stunning venue, sadly run by very insensitive people. I caused a bit of a laugh in the car afterwards by saying we were treated with more respect and care at the Crematorium. I meant it though ,there is much more thought put into arrivals and departures at funerals.

"DAD " "Sandra and I made a speech on your behalf, we had rehearsed it on skype and we were so worried we would be in tears, but you would have been proud of us,we kept it light and focused on Jackie and many people came to us afterwards and said how well we had done. I was specially happy about Matthew's feedback. Matthew and Gary gave reading at the registry office and they both did very well.
Andrew got a great picture of Sandra and I  with thumbs up saying "good on ye hen" just as you would have done.

Mum would have loved all the glamour , all the clothes and the dancing and you both would have been so happy to have all five of us ,plus partners ,and ALL eleven grandchildren around you.

Auntie Isa says you were both there pa, I hope you were.

There was a magical moment at the end of the evening. where Jackie and Geoff were in the centre of the circle of family and friends and we all sang Loch Lomond. Then Sam danced into the circle then Rebekka then Steph Calum and Liam,they all danced round Jackie and Geoff,then there was a family hug.Jackie and Geoff's new family. Like the Lightman's they all get along very well. It felt like a moment when Jackie had found herself,she has always wanted to be married. That was the moment that I really cried. because it was a new beginning,because it was beautiful, and because you were not there to see it. I know Jackie was the one you and mum worried about the most.

We are five separate families now pa, you and mum are gone, Kintillo Drive has gone.
We are all proud of our children as you were proud of us, we are all close family units.
And the five of us all have very strong bonds, with roots going down very deep into yours and mums family histories.
We may not see quite so much of each other in the future,but we will always be there for each other ,always love each other ,with that special love that you can only share with folk who have the same parents and a shared family history.Thank you for all my siblings pa and ma.
I know I will always take an interest in all the grandchildren, I love having all the nieces and nephews, a new generating watch growing and developing. To share in the joys and sorrows.

We are a lucky family pa, we have had our sorrow and pain of course, but if you could have seen the love and laughter on June 9th you would rest easy.

Rest easy Ma and Pa, you done well ! good on ye both.