Apparently you look better in black and white?

I tried my best to make sure my wedding wasn’t too cliché.

I’ve complained on at least two occasions on this blog that weddings are generally the same and are far too cliché. I vowed that my wedding would never be cliché.

Unfortunately I opened the speech with “my wife and I” – which is as cliché as it gets, so I failed. But on the plus side it was a pretty good day… I should say “happiest day of my life”, but that too is very cliché!

Pretty excited… so, anyone out there knows from this picture where we’ll be going…?

The Happy Couple

Happy New Year!

Good news… HughBo is Engaged to Miss Ali Payne!

Ali is a primary school teacher and a bit of a loud mouth. Her friends call her ‘Tosh’ a nickname derived from an alleged likeness to DI Tosh from The Bill.

Ali's Fat Engagement Ring... donations welcome

HughBo was pretty smooth if I do say so myself… a trip to see the Lion King (borrowed some old theatre vouchers), a 3-course dinner at a classy Pizza Express (£10 off courtesy of Tesco), New Year Fireworks (free), a bit of snow (free) and an engagement ring (£10 off from a Christmas present Post Office voucher).

Just shows that I’m still a romantic at heart…. “Will you make my decade?…”

She said YES… bonus.

Save the date: Saturday 31st July 2010

Ps. I still maintain all weddings are the same

Dad and Kim

Suspense over – there was a part 2… maybe even a 3rd…

In May 2008, my mum passed into glory – as Paul would cry “Gain”! Family life has been a bit weird since then, home isn’t quite the same, family holidays, Christmas is all different, mum’s side of the family seems that bit more distant, and I’ve got a pretty small family as it is.

But God is the God of new life and of new beginnings. Which is why it’s a good thing that my dad is getting remarried in October, to the lovely Kim. The reality is this just makes things even weirder… you get used to one change, then you have to start getting used to another change… families are strange things aren’t they?!

But it’s good for Dad, good for Kim, good for the two families, and good for the gospel.

Mr & Mrs Davey

I say part 1… there might be a part 2, you never know… don’t let the suspense consume you!

The first new beginning is to say a wonderful congratulations to Mr & Mrs Mark Sidney Henry Davey… and his lovely new wife Helena. What a happy day, full English, nice wedding, reception with tasty food… I even ‘danced’ in the evening – aided by ‘The Twister’ and an empty wine box (not cos I drunk it, just a box!).

Of course this news comes both with joy and a heavy heart, since this day Mark has resigned his position as co-batchelor of the 80 pad, has distanced himself from the ‘Number 80 Cult’, and has vowed to “change his ways” – a sad day I think you’ll agree.

But never fear a new dawn arrives another beginning as we welcome the legend that is… Si Fi to the abode that is “80″. See his blog here.

Ps. I still maintain that all weddings are generally exactly the same. Fact.

So I won’t be at the rest of EMA, today I’m heading to Haverfordwest for Adam’s wedding, which is a stupid amount of miles from here, really people should get married at Oxford Services or somewhere easy to get to… Best Man’s “speech” has come together, sort-of… my inspiration has come from ‘Have I Got News for You’, hopefully there’ll be no libel cases afterwards!

As you can see there was a day when I had lovely blonde hair, and looked slim standing next to Adam. Mmm custard creams!

Part of me likes being single… I have time, money, I can choose what I wear, and don’t have to make an effort for anyone. At the same time this verse is so true…

Genesis 2:18 – “The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

It’s true, I need a helper. I have the Spirit, who is a helper, He’s great, but… he doesn’t make sure I wear (clean) clothes which go together, he doesn’t make sure I wash, he doesn’t stop me from living in the squalor that is my bedroom… I’m not too proud to say I need help!

Driscoll – “It is not good for a man to be alone – Why? Because men are weird…”

There’s going to be a few MD quotes cause I was listening to his sermon from 1 Cor 7 on Singleness…

Reasons not to get married:

• you’re a eunuch – Matt 19:12
• if it’s a really bad time – 1 Cor 7:25-28
• to serve the Kingdom

Just checked, I’m not a eunuch. I guess being in full time study probably means it’s a bad time… hoorah I only 9 months left! I don’t think I’m called to a service which would require me to be single…

Reasons to get married:

• not good for a man to be alone – Gen 2:18
• better than burning with passion – 1 Cor 7:9

“…if you cannot remain sexually pure you need to hustle up, grow up, get a job, get married, quick, today!”

“She’s hot… yes and if you touch her you will burn in hell, and hell is hotter than she is!”

I’m fairly convinced I don’t have what they call the ‘gift of singleness’…

“Do you have the gift of chastity? Chastity, who’s she?” Chastity is when you don’t need to be with a women… what that’s a gift?”

Final quote… a call to grow up

“marriage is for men not boys, women not girls”

Marriage, relationship, it feels like one of those things that I’m built for, which is of course what Genesis says… while I’d love to get married, and don’t want to be single forever, there’s always a danger that we can turn good gifts of God into idols. I think it’s right to pursue marriage, but at the same time we should never forget the words of Jesus in Matt 22 – “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage”. Ultimately, Christ is the Bridegroom and the church is the Bride, if there’s one wedding I want to be at it has got to be that one!

There is one small detail I’ve forgotten… I need to find someone who wants to marry me!!