The weekend kinda started on Thursday with a delicious curry at Hayley & Jack’s – tender beef cooked to spicy perfection, stacks of poppodoms & mango chutney. Shame really because I had just joined Jenn over here in her bid to trim and tone…
And then in this strange country that doesn’t even have a good authentic Italian restaurant never mind a Chinese or, God forbid, Indian I found myself, bizarrely, eating curry & accompaniments 2 nights on the trot (yes, a sideway’s reference to “curry bum” there…). Friday’s Curry Night at Izvor was hyped a bit in the preceding days because Amy & Matt (who had been trying for many months to muster up all the necessary paperwork & courage to tie the knot in Montenegro) unexpectedly had a slot at the registry office at 3pm on Friday. Since they didn’t want to make a fuss and invited only Steve & I as Kum & Kuma (Best Man & Woman) and friends Jack & Hayley, the evening’s do which most of the ex-pat community & friends would be attending would be the perfect occasion to say “Surprise! We just got married – now celebrate with us!”.
In an interesting twist, the fateful appointment was switched to Saturday at 1.00pm at the last minute. By now folk were queuing for their hot beef curry or mild prawn awaiting the surprise Amy had dangled earlier in the week. So the story broke and suddenly we had an ‘event’ on our hands with only 16 hours to go. Steve got quite freaked when Vesna solemnly congratulated him on his impending Kum-ing… being Best Man in the Balkans is a BIG deal.
Saturday started soggy and just got more wringing wet as the day progressed. We had a pretty intense morning. Matt & Steve dashed around buying champagne and stuff. Laura & I drove to Amy’s where bedlam reigned in the shape of a very loud & disgruntled Grace and Ellie with a massive bump on her head having rolled off the bed. Somehow Amy managed to get herself & Number 1 daughter in the shower so Ellie was left alone to have a snooze in peace. Ann arrived with flowers for the bridal party…
and a burek for Grace. Between us we got Grace fed & dressed…
… and kept her entertained with puzzles whilst Mummy & little sis got dressed.
We made tea, ferried stuff into the car in the pouring rain and somehow got us all up the hill from hell and to the Opstina on time, scooping Hayley up on the way. It was crazily frantic with little time to breathe and before we knew it the official ceremony was in full swing. Remarkably Grace was pretty calm, rings were exchanged…
… old names and new names were forged in ink and important agreements were made. Here’s Matt & Amy about to seal their official union with a kiss:
Time to breathe a sigh of relief, relax & drink some bubbly with friends at Portofino…
Remember this picture – they’ll look at lot more dishevelled in Part II…
Recent Comments