Having received an invitation to my niece’s wedding, I accepted and decided that having never been to Ely before, I would spend 2 nights there so I could look round the city a bit. I chose to stay at the hotel where the wedding was being held as that would enable me to slip away when I’d had enough of the music and dancing! The next problem was acquiring a dress – I don’t own any and I didn’t think jeans would be appropriate…. After much looking and on the day before a friend and I were due to go to Bath for a major dress buying expedition, I found and bought a dress – with pockets, too. That expedition was cancelled and we went to “Baskets and Blooms” and bought bedding plants instead!
I decided to go to Ely by train and found that the one train driver I know was driving the train up to London – the first train I have taken for over 3 years! Despite him saying I would never get there, as he was driving, we arrived safely and on time too. The rest of the travel was fine as well, although the tubes were a bit crowded. I walked up from the station, checked in and admired….
Having unpacked, my niece (not the one getting married, but the other one) and I got in contact and arranged to meet at Oliver Cromwell’s house (yes, he did live there at one stage) which was also the tourist information place and just opposite my hotel.
We met successfully and then headed for the cathedral – that being the most obvious sight to see. We walked round it, but got a little confused as parts were fenced off for filming the following week.
We also had a look round inside but didn’t spend very long looking at monuments etc. There was a very long table that had been made from “black oak”, I think it is called – wood that had been preserved over thousands of years in bog and had been cut up and made into this amazing table. From there we went for a walk down to and along part of the river before going back up to the town for our booked table at a restaurant, where we had dinner. It was then time to go back to our hotels.
The next morning, after using the bath(!), I went down to breakfast and my niece was there with her bridesmaids, so I had breakfast with them, which was lovely. After that I met up with my other niece again, in Ely market and then her brother, my nephew, joined us. We had a look round and then had coffee at a cafe next to the market – and caught up with news. I had a samosa, from the market to eat for lunch and then we wandered back up to the cathedral before I went back to my hotel.
Having changed, I went to check at reception whether my brother and sister-in-law needed to use my room to change, but they were OK and their rooms were ready. Later I went across to the lounge/bar and joined my brother and the people arriving for the wedding. At the appropriate time we took our seats for the actual wedding ceremony – bride and bridesmaids looked lovely and the vows were said clearly. We then went back to the bar as they rearranged the room for the meal. Photos were taken while that was happening.
The meal was lovely and we had a family table at the front, close to Emma and Tom.
After the meal it was back to the bar/lounge area before going outside to form a corridor of sparklers for Tom and Emma to walk through.
The room had been cleared again and was set up for music and a dance. Instead of wedding cake they had a doughnut pile.
Emma and Tom did the first dance as was required! A buffet was also set up for a bit later. With all the times in the bar/lounge there was plenty of time to catch up with the family.
I admit to retiring early! I used the posh showers next morning before breakfast, where I again saw Emma with Tom. My brother and sister-in-law arrived just as I was finishing, so they took my seat. By the time I had packed and paid, my nephew and girlfriend had arrived, so I was able to say goodbye before walking down to the station and getting the trains home.
So? A lovely weekend and it was great to see so many of the family and have some catch-up time.