Tuesday 16 February 2010

One wedding 3 events and a lost voice

Bit of a hectic weekend what with :-

  • Mrs B's sister's wedding (me as official photographer);
  • Our niece Trinity's 18th Birthday (me as unofficial photographer)
  • Varekai - Cirque Du Soleil (me as no camera allowed non-photographer) - The Beast had to stay outside in the car with a packet of crisps and a diet coke*
What is it with the second weekend in February? Last year we had events stacking up like planes over Gatwick in a snowstorm.  In fact we even had to sell our tickets for last year's Cirque Du Soleil and turn down a party invitation. This year, at least the timings were in our favour and even though we had long dashes between events, we made them all.

* Like McG, the Beast is somewhat heavy.   The vet has ordered us to cut down McG's food ration even more, as he is clearly not burning off the paltry amount he was being given. With even less of a ration I'm sure McG has now taken to leaving his food to dissolve on his tongue so he can conserve what little energy he has left to make it to the airing cupboard, his sleeping place of choice at the moment (perhaps we should try turning the heating up even more so he could sweat off the excess pounds.) and then crawl pitifully back to his food bowl for his next meal.

The wedding
A real fun day, there is something about second weddings that is more relaxed. This probably also explains why I was asked to be the photographer as they wanted informal wedding shots.  Just as well really. So as long as the Bride and Groom don't have second thoughts and miraculously expect to see traditional wedding shots, everything should be sweet...



A slightly nervous Groom and his best man

Mrs B's dad was gutted when he found out
he had to give JL away for a second time.
Perhaps third time lucky he might get
something for her........

The first kiss - feel free to say aaahhh

Mrs B - a very proud and happy sister


Sorry, this is almost encroaching on the formal.
I'll try not to let it happen again...

Some table decorations - I know some of you ladies
(and I guess some gentlemen) like these sorts of things...

The wedding Cake, hand made and
decorated by Mrs B's mum.

Feel free to give it the standing ovation
that it truly deserves

Those aren't real flowers
they are handcrafted in sugar.

I think that deserves another standing ovation

JL - a true rock bride

Matt not to be out done

No wedding is complete without an impromptu conga ....


I put the Beast down for a second to have a bit of a
boogie and Mrs B turns paparazzi on me.....

Is it me or are we starting to drink much younger these days?

The wedding night.

Fortunately they insisted on lights out.
I'm just shocked at how flexible they are.....


Hope you enjoyed the taster of the wedding shots and agree that I managed to captured the sense of fun.  I took around 500 shots, so  I'm going to be pretty busy for the next few weeks. 

The Bride and Groom are currently honeymooning in Africa.  The official photographer is currently recovering "quietly" in Britain.

18th Birthday party
It's interesting going to a dinner party when you have lost your voice.   I tried to hold up my end of the squeakersation but it was a losing battle.  Fortunately I was seated next to a woman who could talk the hind legs off a donkey (Mala she would have given you a run for your money).  She was more than capable of filling the huge gaps that I left.  To be honest I'm not sure I was actually required  for any part of the conversation ......

Trinity makes a little speech, I think her
first legal drink helped with that....

The venue for Trinnie's 18th, most impressive

The Beast had some competition, but
nothing it could not handle

Varekai - Cirque Du Soleil  
As Mrs B and I were being corporately entertained,  I felt I should be on my best behaviour, so no trying to sneak the Beast into the Royal Albert Hall.  This was a real shame as I missed the opportunity to take pictures of the Clive Room where we were wined, or in my case cranberry juiced and dined. I was informed that the Queen is entertained in this very room when she attends functions at the Royal Albert Hall  - Which  probably accounted for the chewing gum stuck under the table.

I could certainly get used to being corporately entertained - good food brought to us in an incredible environment.  The views over the park were fantastic (damn no Beast) even the rain didn't dampen down the view. Moments before the show starts you are escorted to your seats in a box (none of that boring waiting around with the great unwashed), where a program and a CD of the tunes (sadly not the show's strong point) awaits. Now I have to admit that Cirque Du Soleil and I have had a bit of a chequered history. For Mrs B's 40th we went to Las Vegas to celebrate and booked tickets for 'O' at the Bellagio. It was fantastic or at least the 5 minutes I saw were. Despite how much I was enjoying it, my eye lids had other plans and I spent the majority of the show pushing up the zzzzzz while Mrs B slapped and hit me to no avail. Rather infuriating because once I hit the fresh air outside I was awake and ready to go.....Grrrrrr. The next opportunity was last year but we failed to see the show because other events took precedence and we had to ditch the tickets . Double Grrrrr.  So this was third time lucky.

So how was the show?

I'll start with the bad points - there is no storyline as such or if there was I missed it (no, I was not asleep this time) and I could not help thinking that Mr Bean was going to walk on stage any second - all the hand gestures, squeaky noises for conversation (I'm a fine one to not talk, as a typical BlackLOG twist of fate left squeaking as my only mode of communication) I guess they try and avoid using language so that it makes it easier to tour the show around different countries. While the music suited the show, it was, as I said before, a fairly weak point.

To balance this, however, the acrobatic demonstrations just left me open mouthed with how clever it all is.  If only there was a Cirque Du Soleil show with guaranteed brilliant music.....no, wait, there is "Love" , looks like it's going to have to be a trip back to Las Vegas.....

Have a good week

24 comments:

  1. Wonderful job on the wedding photos. And I really did applaud the cake. Nice job to Mrs. B's Mum!

    I think I saw Varekai once when it toured to Seattle. After you see a few, they all sort of run together. Minus the first one you ever saw. It will always be the best. For me it was Mystere in Vegas. My Husband is scared to go because he never wants to be picked out of the crowd. No matter how many times I tell him its a setup.

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  2. Beautiful photos. All subjects are absolutely stunning. The cake is pheno.

    Wondered if you had fallen of earth. hehe

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  3. You did a fantastic job with the wedding photos and that is one beautiful cake.

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  4. Great job with photos. New vocation?

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  5. Nikki said...

    Wonderful job on the wedding photos. And I really did applaud the cake. Nice job to Mrs. B's Mum!
    I wish I had a Macro lens to do proper justice to the cake

    I think I saw Varekai once when it toured to Seattle. After you see a few, they all sort of run together. Minus the first one you ever saw. It will always be the best. For me it was Mystere in Vegas. My Husband is scared to go because he never wants to be picked out of the crowd. No matter how many times I tell him its a setup.
    I don't think falling asleep at my first Cirque was the best move. Tell Bryan not to be such a wuss....it would be great if you could somehow arrange for him to be the volunteer though

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  6. WannabeVirginia W. said...

    Beautiful photos. All subjects are absolutely stunning. The cake is pheno.
    Thank you

    Wondered if you had fallen of earth. hehe
    No feet firmly attached, you've just not been checking in on a weekly basis

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  7. Jen said...

    You did a fantastic job with the wedding photos and that is one beautiful cake.
    Thank you. I'm sure Mrs B's mum will appreciate all the plaudits and boy does she deserve them

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  8. Coffeypot said...
    Great job with photos. New vocation?
    I won't be giving up my weekday job

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  9. Great photo's Niel. The cake looked absolutely amazing so well done Mrs. B's Mum does she hire herself out? I'm definitely considering putting you on my guest list for future Cirillo family parties!!

    Anna

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  10. 1. Camera aloud. A sister act to Girls Aloud perhaps? (try allowed)
    2. Food bowel. Located just above the food anus perhaps? ((try bowl)
    3. 5 minuets. Or perhaps 5 waltzes, or 5 foxtrots? (minutes maybe?)
    4. Twist of fete? My favourite. An uninspiring village event? (Fate, at any time never to be tempted)

    There are others, but these are the very best! They made me crack out laughing at my desk this morning, encouraging the book-keeper in her certainty that I am slighty batty...

    Mrs B looking wonderful considering how hard and frequently you beat her, and wondering if we should book early for photography for our 25th wedding anniversary in 2013? Cake making skills, incidentally, have been proved, through prolonged experimentation, to be completely hereditary, therefore you have much to look forward to when Mrs B works less and plays more...

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  11. Anna

    Great photo's Niel. The cake looked absolutely amazing so well done Mrs. B's Mum does she hire herself out? I'm definitely considering putting you on my guest list for future Cirillo family parties!!

    You know me, always happy to turn up for good food

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  12. skipperthewonderhorse said...
    1. Camera aloud. A sister act to Girls Aloud perhaps? (try allowed)
    2. Food bowel. Located just above the food anus perhaps? ((try bowl)
    3. 5 minuets. Or perhaps 5 waltzes, or 5 foxtrots? (minutes maybe?)
    4. Twist of fete? My favourite. An uninspiring village event? (Fate, at any time never to be tempted)

    There are others, but these are the very best! They made me crack out laughing at my desk this morning, encouraging the book-keeper in her certainty that I am slighty batty...

    Kathryn thank you for stepping up to the mark and providing your editing services. I must say I prefer Mrs B's more supportive style of editing (with only the odd sound of exasperation at my more persistent words of wrongness...) rather than your rub my nose in it like a naughty pup style. As Mrs B has learnt over many years you can take this boy to a dictionary but you can't make him read it. So it is with great joy that I can point out

    slighty batty. A distant cousin, missing the L chromosome from its DNA perhaps?

    He,he,he


    Mrs B looking wonderful considering how hard and frequently you beat her Sounds like it is working and I should do it more.... , and wondering if we should book early for photography for our 25th wedding anniversary in 2013?I'm currently taking booking to 2025. However you should be alright as long as you don't need me for any 2nd weekends in February Cake making skills, incidentally, have been proved, through prolonged experimentation, to be completely hereditary, therefore you have much to look forward to when Mrs B works less and plays more... That's lucky since I have inherited cake eating skills. I always felt Mrs B and I are well matched...

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  13. Hiya Mr. B!

    The wedding shots are awesome... I love that in the "formal" shot some folks already look a little bit gassed. I won't point out which ones... LOL!

    I can't believe you slept through "O"! I saw it when I was in Vegas in May - GREAT show!

    Do you have your voice back yet? I lose mine every time I go to Mexico. Perhaps it's the Mexicans... they keep stealing it when they kiss me goodbye??? ;o)

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  14. Wow look at that cake, but was it meant to look like a hat? Seriously the flowers on top look 100% real.

    The Beast's competition looks interesting - any more info on him would be most appreciated!

    And wow again at the setting for the 18th. What ever happened to a party at home with the parents hiding out at the next door neigbours til midnight, when they reappear and turn on all the lights?

    How do you get a cat to excerise? Carry it to the top of the garden and make it walk back.

    Repeat the above exercise at least 20 times a day - 40 if it's a short garden.

    Finally I can't comment on the Cirque Du Soleil as I've never seen it, but being corporately entertained must have eased the boredom a bit.

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  15. Krista said...

    Hiya Mr. B! Picture Imperfect, Penny, Krista I just can't keep up with you

    The wedding shots are awesome... I love that in the "formal" shot some folks already look a little bit gassed. I won't point out which ones... LOL! If you are talking about the rabbit in the lights dancer I can assure you 100% sober

    I can't believe you slept through "O"! I saw it when I was in Vegas in May - GREAT show!Tell me about it, I still can't believe I did. The most expensive sleep I've ever had.....Grrrrr

    Do you have your voice back yet? I lose mine every time I go to Mexico. Perhaps it's the Mexicans... they keep stealing it when they kiss me goodbye??? ;o)Voice back but I'm still not 100%

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  16. Imo said...

    Wow look at that cake, but was it meant to look like a hat? Seriously the flowers on top look 100% real.
    My sister had a cleaner who regularly watered her plastic house plants, just as well she was not near the cake

    The Beast's competition looks interesting - any more info on him would be most appreciated!
    His name is Ollie, he's 19, so possibly a bit young for you Imo (I did not have you down as a Cougar?) and is Trinity's Boyfriend

    And wow again at the setting for the 18th. What ever happened to a party at home with the parents hiding out at the next door neighbours til midnight, when they reappear and turn on all the lights?
    This probably demonstrates the break down of communications in society where no one talks to their neighbours anymore

    How do you get a cat to exercise? Carry it to the top of the garden and make it walk back.
    McG would just sit there looking pitiful until Mrs B went out to collect him....

    Repeat the above exercise at least 20 times a day - 40 if it's a short garden.
    I'm Not sure Mrs B could cope with 40 trips....

    Finally I can't comment on the Cirque Du Soleil as I've never seen it, but being corporately entertained must have eased the boredom a bit.
    It's not that Cirque Du Soleil is in anyway dull and if you can keep your eyes open I would highly recommend going to see one of the shoes.....

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  17. First time visitor ... and low and behold, I open your page and am greeted by ... *feigns drum roll*
    Simon & (freaking) Garfunkle!!! and now you are stuck with me FOR-EV-ER!

    Sorry - you need to get a shot in the bum to get rid of me now.

    D

    ... oh, yeah ... super photos ... and your wife is hawt! Can't wait to read back through your older stuff.

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  18. Danica-Dragonfly said...
    First time visitor ... and low and behold, I open your page and am greeted by ... *feigns drum roll*
    Simon & (freaking) Garfunkle!!! and now you are stuck with me FOR-EV-ER!

    Just as well you didn’t choose death metal week…big fan fanfare…welcome aboard newbie well done for getting through a rather tough initiation – more than one of my sentences….

    Sorry - you need to get a shot in the bum to get rid of me now.

    D

    You sound like a keeper, I’ll just get my stab proof vest in case I upset you in the future…or the past

    ... oh, yeah ... super photos ... and your wife is hawt! I keep telling her that she should turn down the thermostat but does listen

    Can't wait to read back through your older stuff.
    Knock yourself out – I just hope you aren’t disappointed

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  19. That cake is positively awesome! If she doesn't do that for a living, she should absolutely consider it.

    Your photos of the wedding are fabulous. I think everyone should do more candid shots at their wedding...it would be a lot more fun to look through 20 years later.

    As for Cirque Du Soleil? You're on your own...I was never interested in seeing this.

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  20. Kathryn

    That cake is positively awesome! If she doesn't do that for a living, she should absolutely consider it.
    She does it for fun doing it as a business would take

    Your photos of the wedding are fabulous. I think everyone should do more candid shots at their wedding...it would be a lot more fun to look through 20 years later.

    I would be happy that the bride and groom are still talking to me in 20 days and will have forgiven me in 20 years

    As for Cirque Du Soleil? You're on your own...I was never interested in seeing this.
    Sounds like me and Ballet, each to their own…

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  21. All the photos turned out great and that wedding cake is amazing.

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  22. linlah said...

    All the photos turned out great and that wedding cake is amazing.

    Thank you, I've got the wedding photo's down to 80 from 500. It is indeed amazing

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  23. 3d said...
    happy to read~ thank you!........................................
    Excellent, job done

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  24. Nice photos, if you'll search for some nice place in London for photography, check out this website: https://www.tagvenue.com - lot of nice venues in which you can take nice wedding photos. Have a nice day!

    ReplyDelete

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