Getting ready for the off

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Well, we’re a week away from flying off to Kenya to
get married.

Are we ready?

Not yet.

The never-ending stream of things we need to do is, well, never-
ending. We’re still trying to finalise the legal niceties (we don’t
want a Mick Jagger / Jerry Hall moment), there’s still a couple of
restaurants to book and I’ve got a couple of surprises to line up for
Fi.

Our biggest issue at the moment though is finding a photographer. For
some reason there doesn’t seem to be a surplus of them in the middle
of the Masai Mara. If the camp cannot get something arranged soon, we
might have to rely on a passing tourist!

But at least we have the tickets. Whenever we’re going away on a big
holiday - the moment the tickets arrive is the moment the holiday
moves from being a theoretical concept to ‘bloody hell! This is
actually going to happen’. When you add-in marrying the person you’ve
been in love with for more than 8 years - it’s quite a moment.

We’re both existing on nervous energy at the moment, I know as soon
as I take that first step out of the house, I’ll be fine. But until
that point I’m going to be coiled tight as a spring. It’s so close
now I just want to get going. This could be a long, long week.

For our friends and family reading this, here’s a quick guide to
where we’ll be going to:

We fly from London to Nairobi in Kenya. From there it’s a short
flight in a little plane to the Governors safari camp in the Masai
Mara where we’re getting married. After that it’s a flight back to
Nairobi to catch a flight to Johannesburg in South Africa.

Then it’s onwards to Sydney in Australia for a few days in the city
before driving off on a tour of the Hunter Valley and Blue Mountains.
From Australia we fly up to Hong Kong, then onto Bangkok. A short
internal flight will take us to Khao Lak before we fly back to dear
old Blighty in time for mulled wine and mince pies.

We’ll keep this blog updated throughout (hopefully) and we should
have some pics of the wedding uploaded by 28 November.

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Photos

Our tickets
Our flight tickets have arrived!

Comments

[Nikki]

Good luck
No need to be nervous Ben, she won't run away, she luurrrrves you!!!! Hope you've both had a good flight and good luck on the big day I'm sure it will go as smoothly as expected, just don't let Fi near the champagne, you don't want her passing out just before she says "I do". Have a lovely day, I'll be thinking of you. Looking forward to reading your next entry and seeing the dodgy photos taken by the chimpanzees in the jungle! Lots of love Nik xx

[Nikki]

Wedding
Well today was your wedding, hope you both had a wonderful day. Luckily, Fiona hasn't fleed like the Runaway Bride on a horse, or even an elephant! Seriously though, hope today was a success and CONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm so happy for you both. Have fun on the honeymoon and see you when you get back. All my love, Nikki xxxxxxxx

[Jane]

Congratulations!!!
Just read the account of your wedding day here in Leek library and you certainly feel a long way from here! So pleased the powers that be granted you a dry ceremony and that all went without a hitch. You looked beautiful Fi - just as I thought. Dad is here sitting next to me as I type, we've just been Christmas shopping in Leek and he sends his best. Mum does too and they have both been in touch with your mum and da on a regular basis to make sure that we get the latest news from you both. I am following the itinerary that your dad passed on to me and will have a chat with your dad when I see him later tonight. Take care of eachother and I can't wait to hear about the surprises Ben has in store for you! Love you lots and catch up with you soon Fi - naughty cousin Janey x x x x x x x

[Asma Jama]

wish u good luck u people getting off ready the off what
wish u guys good luck 4 u travelling