Volleyball is off! (The Wedding)

The sign says Volleyball Court Closed for Private Event.

And that private event is our wedding.  Not that many resort guests were inconvenienced, it has been mostly our group playing beach volleyball.  Which brings me to the question, just who exactly comes this far for a wedding ?

I think it  is about time to introduce the wedding guests.  Obviously Tom and I are here with Tim and Alistair, and rounding out the family on our side are my sister Leonie (mother of the groom) and partner Graeme.  We are a very small, but close knit family so there was never any question that we would not come. 

Nicole comes from an equally close family but, unlike only child Drew, Nicole is lucky enough to have two siblings, who are both here along with their parents, and Nicole's nephew and niece.

So apart from family, who makes up the rest of the 72 wedding attendees.  Yes, 72 ! I don't even know 72 people, let alone have that many close friends and family. 

Drew's English cousin and partner have come from Yorkshire.  Having decided to come all this way they have maximised the travel experience by adding in side trips to New Zealand, Perth and Sydney.  Got to love the English - they pack it in when coming to the antipodes, but according to cousin Keirin he does not get home from Yorkshire that often to see the family because it so far. Yes, a whole hour's travel.  What is it with Europeans and distance.

Friends of Leonie she met at work when she started at the National Bank as teenager (discretion requires me to not name how many years ago that was) came along for the wedding.  This group of friends travel together somewhere overseas every couple of years and this year it was a no-brainer to come to Fiji to see Drew, who they have known since he was a baby, tie the knot.

Friends making up the party include mates from Drew's sporting pursuits: football mates with homogenous names, Beeks, Cheeks and Deeks: a baseballer from Drew's days playing for Sandringham: and the more recent golfing mates.  Particulary sweet is that Drew's mate from Black Rock Primary School has come along, and testament to that strong bond is that Drew is still friendly with that mate's parents, who have also come along for the wedding.

In tow with this group of thirty-somethings is the inevitable tribe of kids - blonde kids.  Everywhere, at breakfast, in the pool, on the beach.  I have lost track, I do not even pretend to remember their names, I just smile at them all.  Problem with that is that I am clearly smiling at kids who are not part of our party, but so far no one seems to find that creepy, everyone is quite zen.

This is certainly a family resort, and the staff here just adore the children.  They are totally unfussed by th mayhem that is breakfast.  I have no idea how they get some of those highchairs after a toddler has smeared mashed porridge across the tray and then added that special touch finger crunched pawpaw, topping it off with a coating of colourful guava juice.  I would like to challenge Hestor Blumenthal to make something edible and creative from that ingredient base.  I think after breakfast they must just bring the Karcher through and hose out the dining area. 

They know many of the children by name, not least, our own adorable Jack.  Jack toddles about,

mostly in just a nappy, and is greated regularly with Bula Jack by resort workers.  Many are happy to plant a kiss on his chubby cheeks, or salute him with a high-five.  It is actually quite refreshing to see such genuine affection for children, something we are now a bit frightened to do in our cautious Western world.  In the week where Gary Glitter received yet another lenghty prison sentence it is appropriate to reflect why we are so cautious, but equally, it has been a pleasure to spend a week just watching all these children frollick around in gay abondon.

Oh, but I was supposed to be writing about the wedding.  Next blog post ...