Withywindle Wanderers

These are some of Tony's photos of The Wedding! The first is my two sisters - Seren and Rachel. The next is my beautiful Eowyn sprinkling rose petals for Rachel and Dad to step on,and the last is a very happy Rachel and Victor, with Jim and Annie behind them!! Sam and Becca left for London this morning. It was wonderful for having Becca and Sam around to feel 'normal' and 'everyday-ish' - their absence leaves an ache in my heart, along with my ache for Bens. Wherever I am, the ache is there, for we are never all together at once, and even should we be, the goodbyes would be lingering just around the corner...

The farm was beautiful, and filled with childhood memories. For me, it was moving to be in a place which I've known all my life. This richness and depth of topography is unusual for me, living as I do in a faraway land! The last picture is a cousins' photo (minus Ben Mc) - I am very thankful for my marvellous cousins and siblings, and for this time with them! And with my parents, and friends. Becca and I just went for a delightful, refreshing swim in the cool ocean. We both caught lots of waves!! I wish my dear Bens were here. It's hard for the girls being far from him, and for me, and for him. Yet I'm thankful to be here for this chapter in our lives! And who knows what land our feet will next wend their way to - but with Bens' feet intermingled. I've just read Elie Wiesel's speech to Clinton & co. on April 12 1999 - he said: "Of course, indifference can be tempting - more than that, seductive. It is so much easier to look away from victims. It is ...

It's so very wonderful being surrounded by family and friends, celebrating Rachel and Victor's love. They are SO in love! Victor's family from Northern Thailand are here, and absolutely delightful, particularly Ranee, his Mum, who is teaching me the Karen language. Their singing is heavenly, and their faces and smiles radiant. And RACHEL was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen in my life! Victor was SO proud of her, and overjoyed she's now his wife! And having the whole Jones family together, as well as our extended family and lots of old friends is fabulous. And the Pacific Ocean to dive into every day. Yet I miss my dear, lovely, wonderful, amazing Bens. Victor today gave me a beautiful shirt for Bens which his sister had made especially for the wedding, so that Bens could be part of the celebration even though he is such a very long way away... The picture of Rachel giving Victor a kiss is a Thai kiss - it's a little like an Argentine glide landing kiss, e...

Hello! I'm in Australia!! That's Mount St. Helens just there!! Our bags are lost, which is highly irritating. In Portland, I sprinted across the enormous airport, Eowyn and Coco in the stroller, back-packs and cameras and purses and 'Coco's-own-blanket' bouncing around on my person, huffing and puffing like an aged dragon, seeing gate D10 in the far-off distance, feeling the race to be impossible, giving one last desperate burst of energy and making it onto our flight in the nick of time!! Phew!!! Ahhhhh!! My bags DIDN'T make that connection... And I'm here in the sun, with my fam, and we swam in the Pacific today, and walked on the beach, with that lovely squeaky sand between my toes... We're all awakening at5.30 every morning - I think without Dad's delicious cappucino at lunch time I'd be utterly exhausted by now. Tomorrow is Rachel's Hen's/Bachelorette party - we're wine tasting - oh yum!! And Victor and his Karen (Northern Thail...

...& our last playdate, with Tidi, before we play with our family and friends in AUSTRALIA!! (Coco is peeping in the middle there!)