June 10th 2000
My wedding day, a day when i was so proud of you, proud you were walking down the aisle beside me. I t was also the day i realised you may have been giving my hand in marriage to Mark but i would always need you at my side. I am the first to admit i am a daddys girl, nothing will ever change that but i could have also throttled you on my wedding day. I remember the smile when you arrived at the house, Sivley was the designated driver, Marks car was decked out with all the ribbon but it had been playing up that morning, we saw the children off & we got in the car. I was very calm & on the way to the church the sun was shining, Sivley had his window open shouting to passer by " Amanda is getting married" it was quite embarassing. We arrived at the church with ten minutes to spare, just as i was going to get out of the car Sivley pulled out of the church drive, heading towards Bengeo, when he asked what was up the hill, i told him to turn around & go back to the church. Instead you took him along the roads, showed him where i used to live, all the time i was cursing & telling him to go back to the church. On the way back to the church i started to relax, this was short lived when Sivley pulled into the local pub car park, he parked the car and asked if we wanted a drink, to which he was screamed at by myself "No we bloody did not want a drink, now take me to the church" You had a half lager & Sivley a bottle of budweiser, i was now late for my wedding & worried in case the car did not start again, i had visions of having to run to the church. When you had finished the drinks, we finally made our way back to the church. I was a nervous wreck when we got to the church, shaking like a leaf & telling Sivley he was a dead man but first i had to get married, you were both giggling. When i walked down the aisle i was nervous but you were there holding my hand tightly & giving looks of encouragement, never before had i been so proud that you were my Dad. I later found out that while Sivley & yourself were enjoying driving me around, Mark was at the church & had been told i had arrived & waiting for the ceremony to begin, only for the vicar to return outside to find that we had gone. The best man reported that all the colour drained from Marks face when he was told that i was no longer outside, Mark had to drink some rum from the best mans hipflask. We have shared many a laugh over this story & it is a story that will never be forgotten, just as i will never forget you - love you Dad xxxx