December 2006 started with a bang with Phil and Emma's wedding at Loch Lomond Youth Hostel. Emma's from Shtland and apparently "up there" weddings are 2 day events, so in keeping with this tradition, so was their mainland do. We couldn't get sitters for 2 nights so Mike went up on the Friday after work with Paul and Mike and Izy while I planned to follow the next day.

For me, preparation started on the Friday afternoon as Mike's Mum and Dad came over for s while to let me get to the hairdresser. OMG, I was there for over 3 hours!!!! I'm chuffed to bits with the result though, it looks a little like Posh Spice's Pob hair do and I've had it highlighted too which I'm really thrilled with.

On the Saturday morning, Mum and Dad arrived around 9.30 to take the girls away for me and I did a quick tidy up, packed the car and left around 10.00. Arriving in Stirling (25 mins from home) I suddenly realised I had forgotten to go to the florists for the buttonholes and my corsage. Had it been only my own, I'd have just left it, but I was collected 4 other people's flowers too so amid blue air, I travelled back to Brightons.

Flowers in hand, I set off again and finally arrived at the hostel around lunchtime. Lucky Mike was only just out of bed, but by the look of him, I knew he hadn't been there for long. Apparently he went to bed around 5.30am!!!!!!!!!!!

I wasn't sure what to expect of the hostel but it was fine. OK, it wasn't a 5 star hotel, but it was clean and you could see how splendid a home it once must have been, very grand. I was sharing a room with Ynez and Izy - it's been a looonnnnggg time since I slept in a dorm, it was quite fun really. We all had showers and got ready together, then went downstairs for the wedding.

The ceremony was fab. Very brief and to the point, yet deeply emotional and beautiful (lots of tears all round).

This was no ordinary wedding. Family and friends were doing all the work which resulted in it feeling like a "huge" family dinner at home. Friends of Phil and Emma's cooked the meal, the guys all helped serve it, we took our own booze and more friends were the ceilidh band.

We danced loads, it was excellent. Had huge bruises from Strip The Willow the next day. Thankfully, the strapless dress stayed in place, despite complaining plenty. I managed to stay up til 3am which I was quite pleased about, I'm such a lightweight these days.

The following morning the place was a bombsite!!!! Izy, Ynez and I plus a couple of Emma's friends set about cleaning and tidying. An hour or so later the guys started to appear so we finally got to have a cup of tea and some toast - aaahhh!!

We had to collect the girls from Edinburgh my Mum and Dad made us a lovely lunch and when we left, we decided to take the kid to Pizza Hut for dinner as neither of us were really feeling up to much else.

Last weekend, I was supposed to have a night out with Sarah-Jayne and Margaret from expates but it was cancelled at the last minute so I took the girls to collect Mike from work and we took them to a lovely restaurant in Princes Square for dinner then wandered around the Xmas festival in George Square and went on the carousels. Mike was out the next evening so I spent it wrapping pressies. On the Sunday we went to see Happy Feet.

This week has been pretty busy, and shows no sign of slowing (neither does the rain either, it's a nightmare out there). We've had Rebecca's nativity play which Mum and Dad came through for. Got to admit, I was feeling very emotional seeing my baby singing her little heart out all dressed up as an angel.

Yesterday we had the girls' friends from nursery plus their Mums round for a party (15 in total). The kids were wild but seemed to really enjoy themselves. To top it off, Mike called and pretended to be Santa and spoke to each child briefly on the phone. Their chins hit the ground - priceless.

Tomorrow Ellie is going to see The Snowman at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh with her nursery and when she gets back, we're going to Glasgow to meet Katie and the boys for the afternoon. Mike's got a work night out, so I'm expecting to keep them out til bed time so I'm hoping for a quiet night. Saturday is the Singing Kettle show and Sunday is the Panto with Granny Clark. Busy, busy busy.

BTW - finally finished wrapping my Christmas gifts today - yeee hhaaaa. We were up til around midnight last Xmas Eve doing that and were determined to have it done early this year.