h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Friday was The Son's 40th birthday and our godson's wedding day. The Son came around first thing for a birthday and we went off to the wedding having arranged to met the family for dinner that night in Penzance.
My godson is a chap who makes loadsa money just moving cash around from place to place; so the wedding was expected to be quite sumptious. Luckily when we went to get our cornish kilts earlier this week, the hire people did not have enough gear for all of us to have them so it was decided none of us would wear them so it was morning suits and top hats I looked a pillock..
The groom and his bride have lived together for years, and among the bridesmaids flower girls and page boys were their two children.
it was a freezing cold day so after the long and rather uninspiring muddled service(think Rowan Atkinson in 'Four Weddings...' it was decided the pictures would be taken in the church. That took an hour
Then to Treggena Castle for the reception. First were served little dead things on toast as appetisers. Tray after silver tray dragged out of the kitchen by a surly waiter who looked as though he had just jumped out of the back of a lorry. A string quartet played incomprehensible music in the background, booze flowed conversation seemed to be restricted to women saying 'What does she look like in that' She, being any woman who walked by not being in that particular group. We eventually sat down to eat at 5.15 having been at the church at noon. We then had to ring our son and tell him we would not be able to make dinner with him and the children, because when we said we would have to leave before the wedding meal the groom's mum started to and as we have been friends for nearly 50 years we thought it best to stay. The meal was splendid. We all had gifts at our place settings. The chaps had a small bottle of whisky, the women a box of Belgian chocs and we all had an envelope with a lottery ticket in it. We did not win anything
There were slightly more flowers in the room than you would find at Chelsea Flower Show, and slightly more over dressed women than at Ascot. The meal and speeches went on for nearly three hours and The Boss and I felt unable to stay for the jigging about to a ten piece VERY LOUD band so we left just after eight.
However last night was The Son's 40th birthday party at the golf club and loads of the people from the wedding came to the village for the birthday bash. Nearly three hundred of us crowded into the golf club, we took over both bars and the reception area. We had photos of The Son from babyhood to manhood around the walls.And a huge head and shoulders framed picture in the foyer. The village pubs were emptied of their hardiest drinkers and we had a band in one room, a disco in another and I even got up and did a bit of rock in spite of my back. We met people we had not seen for years. The Boss was in the local school for lots of years and when our boys were young we ran a youth club, some of the boys and girls travelled back for The Son's party. he contacted most of them over the internet and although I only recognised a few of them they all seemed to recognise us and said we hadn't changed over the years.
We managed to stay there until after midnight, when we left there were a few potential hangovers reeling about the place but I am happy to say that The Son bowled up this morning as fitas can be so he did not over indulge. I knew that scores of people had put drinks behind the bar for him so wondered why he had remained so together. Apparently he had told the bar staff to take the money for a drink for him if offered but not to give nim the drink. At the end of the evening there was a considerable amount of cash there and it was donated to a local charity for Downs syndrome children which I thought rather kind of him.
We have had a really good two days, The Boss looked stunning in her wedding gear and I felt good to be with her even though I was dressed like a dog's dinner. Tomorrow we are going to stay in bed most of the day to recover!!!

What an eventful weekend

Those sort of formal "do's" can really be a pain, especially if the type of people who go are not your sort of people I just hate catty women I am sure the Boss outshone all of them - excepting the bride, of course

Your son sounds a really good gentleman & very popular - wish him happy 40th from me - life begins at 40 (well, that's what they told me - I'm still waiting )

Enjoy your day in bed & have a good rest ( that sounds cheeky, but you know what I mean - I hope)

I'm sure you looked handsome in your morning suit and top hat and The Boss as pretty as the first day you met her. That was an incredibly thoughtful gesture on behalf of your Son. I had Y&E watch a programme this weekend about some children in Africa and the effects of Aids in their lives. Y&E are remarkably unspoilt in this horrid day and age of adolescence but I just wanted to show them that as they leave their clothes where they fall or their CD's out of their cases on the floor or their beds unmade (and we are only talking continental quilts), there are some children who truly have nothing and no time to play. They took on board the point.

Hiya - found the thread!!!

Having watched the Michael Woods programme about the Celtic basics - it has sparked my interest.

You mentioned Cornish Kilts? I have never heard of these before - where did they originate from & is it only pure Cornishmen that are allowed to wear them (as in Scotland)? Are there "clans" in Cornwall?

Hi again
I am afraid that the cornish kilt is not some ancient Celtic costume but a fairly recent innovation. We began wearing them in the 1920's and there were only a few people bothered. There are no Cornish clans as such, but family relationships are held close and most of us old families know our fourh and fifth cousins however far removed. For instance one part of my wifes family do not speak to another part because a woman stole a turnip from a family smallholding. During world war 2!! However the kilt is worn on 'occasions' quite often these days. It is black and gold mostly with touches of white and green. St Piran is our patron Saint. His feast day was last Saturday.
black and gold are our colours and we wear those colours especially when Cornwall plays rugby.

Oh yes any one who can afford a kilt can wear one they are very expensive so most people hire them. Women do not wear the kilt but tartan skirts

Ah, thank you for the explanation - more info to add to my little grey cells!

I had heard that the Scots "clan" kilts were begun by some late-Victorian ladies. Before that, the Scots wore kilts, but there were no official clan kilts.

I wonder if the same holds for the Irish?

OK, St. Piran - saint of what? Was that day yesterday or the Sat before? St. David's day was on Tuesday, 1st March.

Black & gold - very smart! Much better than black & yellow - reminiscent of bumble bees

I suppose a turnip was a valuable commodity in those days, but don't things get taken a little too far!!

St Piran is our patron saint so he is patron saint of Cornwall and nothing else. He brought Christianity to us heathen Cornish and floated here from Ireland on a millstone which is a pretty good way to impress the heathen and his day was yesterday. We had processions and dancing in the streets in some of the towns as well as special services.
When The Boss and I got married we upset the family because we came across the water to live. 'The water' being a stream which divides this village from one three miles along the coast!!

I just love this site - or rather the people - you can learn SO much Thank you again.

Keep well & warmer, now the weather is supposed to be improving