Angela & Colin's Wedding in Bristol

After my amazing trip to Russia I flew over to England for my dear friends wedding in Bristol. You remember Colin and Angela from my recent post of their trip to NYC.

Thank goodness I didn't overdue the vodka in Russia because my liver needed to be ready for the battle of it's little life for the next four days. I landed on Thursday night and met the stressed out couple at a pub with friends of Angela's I haven't seen in ten years. That night we only made it till 1am drinking at the pub and at home.

Friday I had the pleasure of sleeping until 3pm! After whirlwind touring in Russia my body was spent. I woke up and took a brief stroll around Bristol, which is a city I really could call home with its elegant old buildings yet cosy atmosphere (like a twee London!) and headed to meet up with Vic and Sarah at their hotel. They had all the kids with them and we wheeled them to the piers for dinner at a swank little restaurant with the rest of the gang. There ended up being about 20 of us and it was the first place in Europe that knew how to make a good martini! Therefore I had many. I FINALLY met Lucy, a dear friend of Vic and Angela's who I have heard about for 10 years. There is a reason they didn't want us to meet- we were drinking bosom buddies extraordinaire... Up till 3am at some gay bar called the Queen's Shilling dancing the night away.

Saturday was the big event and with a great hangover most of us kept quite calm and very teary as the bride entered the room. It wasn't until after dinner that we all had fully recovered and were ready for another bender.

Angela changed, Colin was flung in the air by his mates, everyone tried on the veil and we ran the bar dry.

Needless to say Sunday we were all worse for wear but happy to meet Angela's mom and dad for Dim Sum. Mr. Lam said it perfectly- You had a good time last night Cator! Lots and lots of bouncing!

Indeed. I was Tigger for the night. But we all were in some way shape or form bouncing off the walls with happiness for the new couple.

Congrats!

From Russia with Love!

Landed on Thursday morning and been on the march ever since.
A morning jog through Red Square, touring Catherine the Greats coronation clothes, carriages and jewels in the Kremlin and observing some horrific fashions!

But I may keep posts to a minimum since I am covering my trip for two other blogs.
Don't worry, everyone will get the full dish by weeks end.

Off tomorrow to Stalin's bunker and a flea market the size of a football field!

More soon-

Blessing of the Beasts

This morning Linnea and I peeled ourselves out of bed and headed over to St. John the Divine to see the annual St. Francis day blessing of the animals.
It wasn't as exotique as we had hoped. Elephants! Snakes! Jackalopes! But we did see a whole mess of dogs, lizards, a gerbil and the peacocks which resided on the grounds of the cathedral. I didn't stay for the entire service but to see dogs running up and down the aisles was fairly amusing.
And no I didn't bring Mabel. That was a blessing in itself.

Me at a Military Ball?

I know I know. Me at a Military Ball? There is a first time for everything! And I have to admit; it was almost more entertaining than all those Met Balls with celebs and designer frocks! Why? Because it was a REAL ball! They had a FULL orchestra and when the band started playing the Charleston my bow tie nearly twirled off I was so excited!

I know it is cool now to have a DJ at such events but thank God for some old timers who still believe in a night of standards. Night and Day! J'ai Deux Amours! Straighten up and fly right! Nobody could believe I knew the lyrics to all the songs. I danced the night away as one can imagine.

Let me back up. Ian invited me to this ball ages ago. I wasn't too excited about the idea but then I met a pile of other people who were going and thought I might as well give it a shot. I whipped out the tux, polished the shoes and headed down to the Pierre where I found the bar and my friends. The ball was organized by The Soldiers', Sailors', Marines', Coast Guard and Airmen's Club and this year they were raising money for the Navy.

Another highlight for me was the Leatherneck Pipe and Drums who blew their bagpipes every chance they could. They piped us into dinner, they performed their military tattoo after Prince Ivan Obolensky gave the welcoming remarks and if I remember correctly they wrapped the evening up with even more piping and falderal.

Since Ian was running around like a turkey on thanksgiving Asha was a lovely date. After the ball wrapped up we headed to some sports bar on the Upper East where the organizers had rented a private room. Drinks were had, pictures were taken and I had to scoot home before I broke that 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' rule!