I haven’t felt so much like blogging recently. Even though it helps me express what I’m potentially bottling up, I have self imposed a silencing order upon myself. I hate censorship , but I am still digesting the concept of the consequences of my words. It’s not been easy. Because of my right to freedom of speech someone I care deeply about has suffered and I’m struggling with that.

So I’ll write about wedding preparations, which surely can’t be damaging.

Wednesday I went for my wedding hair and makeup trial. I was very brave, driving to Southampton, just relying on Apple Maps for directions. I have to say, I really like my MUA, she’s lovely. When I entered her pink, girly salon I knew I’d met a kindred spirit. She totally got the measure of me, which was reassuring. It meant that I absolutely loved what she did with my hair and makeup, pretty much first time. She allayed all my worries and I’m looking forward to her working her magic on the big day.

I also went with my Best Lady to try on her dress yesterday. We’d been prepared that although the dress was the size and colour we ordered, it had arrived from the supplier in a different fabric, meaning it was less stretchy and therefore coming up tighter.

Well! That was fun. It took two of us to get the dress done up. It was so snug the zip got stuck where there was a seam in the material and we only succeeded with the bridal consultant holding the two sides of the zip together while I yanked on the zipper. Praying it didn’t break in my hand.

Once on, both Penny and the dress looked amazing. I suspect the former felt as if she’d been crammed in with a shoehorn, but apparently it will be possible to let the dress out a smidge before the wedding. Thankfully.

In addition, we have made our appointment with the registrar early October, and been in negotiations with our photographer, DJ, photo booth operatives, florist and gentlemen’s outfitter. It really does feel like suddenly everything is getting very real. It’s exciting!