I will start at the end. There was some discussion about who has known Rodney longer. Rodney announced Kirsten as the person at the wedding he had known the longest. But we had already had a discussion about this. The conclusion was that I had known Rodney for at least a year longer. But Kirsten knew him better. I think I first met Rodney in December 1983.
It was at Christmas this year that we received a card stating that they would be having a wedding in February. Details would follow. Then came an email invite. It would be in Hepburn Springs. By the time we booked a place the Hepburn Springs Spa was already full. We booked in to the motor inn just down the road.
At the last minute Kirsten told me we also needed to go to Marysville. I was not happy. Yes it might be in the same direction, but it was a fair bit further and take the trailer. We had never hitched the trailer up to the Relo before.
The other problem was that, on Thursday, the vet had decided that Brutus needed some antibiotics and they needed to be administered twice a day. Luckily the neighbours were able to help and administer the tablets while we were away.
We were a bit late in leaving. Surprisingly there was almost no difference in the various paths. We we headed out in Ferntree Gully Road. Unluckily they had closed off the road around Albert Park Lake so we were stuck in traffic for a while. (This turned out to be part of the road closures relating to the F1 Grand Prix.)
It is a fairly continuous climb up to Hepburn Springs and the Relo was feeling it the extra weight of the trailer. I was also pushing along as we were late. Also, after turning off the freeway thee was some rain.
We checked into the motel. The girls were very excited. They love staying in motels. The girls and I walked up to the reception while Kirsten got ready.
Rodney and Caroline were doing the wedding backwards. So we had the reception before the wedding.
When we got to reception, they had a circus performer. He spent some time entertaining the kids.
The kids enjoyed this. But they were somewhat bored. They did make a good job of entertains themselves.
That night we had the reception dinner. There were some speeches.
In the morning we headed back to the spa for breakfast. The girls enjoyed this and had a good feed. Then it was off to the wedding in the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens in nearby Daylesford.
The girls were in good spirits and made both Kirsten and I climb the scary look out tower on separate occasions. I think it was their first wedding. Kirsten took the opportunity to meet some people she had know of from her dancing days.
After this we had lunch back at the spa. Kirsten gave a little speech about Rodney that was very well received.
Rodney flew in
His tail in a spin
A dyke in tow
Outside, the Alfa-Romeo
Sports model, blue
Elf Shoes to boot
Who was this gregarious fellow?
Outgoing, generous,
Loving life, perpetually on the go
Generous, warm hearted, Creative, inspiring
His heart worn on his face,
As earnestness, caring, striving, and sharing
Time and serendipity work their magic, and
Later on, enters Caroline, utterly divine
Beautiful, wise, caring,
so fine
Rodney’s early qualities reflected in kind.
The engaging pair
Would soon declare
That tieing the knot was in the air
A decade of gentle persuasion
He needed a little time on the chrono to sign
16 February, 2014
It is time …
Rodney and Caroline
Two souls who combine
Their future sublime
Rap addendum
So folks take note
There’s really no doubt
This glorious thing
Of Rod n Carolinn
Is a real Shoe In’
After this we headed away from Melbourne to pick up some gym equipment she had purchased that needed picking up from Maryborough. We had brought the trailer for this and then we drove back home through Castlemain.
After stopping for dinner at La Porchetta in North Carlton we got home quite late.
15-16 feb 2014