It seems to be rapidly edging into the past now, but I thought I'd maybe share my holiday diary with you, and insert a few pictures.

Thurs 17th July

Up 4am. Taxi 5am to Heathrow. Mum, Dad, Ed, me, 5 suitcases and hand baggage including CAKE!

Had to open box to put it through x ray. “No flowers?” Flight attendants panicked then agreed to store it in 1st class wardrobe as long as we didn’t sue them for possible damage. Not a bad flight – a first for Mum and dad. Through customs again with cake. “We hope no flowers?” Met by Rick. With Paul and Laura, friends from Fiji/Hull who’s been on the same flight as us. Welcome news of safe birth of Ivy Aurora and Elsie Mistletoe to Holly (& Oli). Went with Rick to check in at hotel, leaving Ed to meet his family. Checked in at hotel and left Mum & Dad and back to airport to welcome Gill and John. Ed was still there with Marion, Vince and children, Jenny, Gareth and Julie. We all went together to pick up rental cars from all over the lot. As we’d each booked with different companies this took some time, but we eventually got sorted and drove back to hotel. Don & Linda came from Australia by train (!), Lewis and Keighly flew in later from Vancouver and Brett was the last in, from Newark, NY. As we were leaving to spend the evening in Waterford, we saw very tall man and wife checking in to hotel, who looked vaguely familiar – he turned out to be Paul’s brother Gary when we introduced ourselves later. Lovely evening at Kathy & Paul’s catching up on everyone’s news and enjoying good food and lounging on the deck/lawn/boats on the lake. We were intrigued to see fire flies.

Fri 18th July

Breakfast in hotel with whole party, incl Gary and Linda. Very sociable. Some, including Dad and Ed, went off to the Tamla Motown museum in Detroit, others to explore the riverfront. Mum and I opted for pottering to the local mall to pick up some essentials from Walgreens and find out where our hairdresser’s was for the next day. We met Paul and Laura, shopping for shoes, and had a chat before enjoying lunch at Happy’s Pizza (we had chicken subs). Got back in time to pick up Keighly and set off for the Rehearsal Dinner Hall, where we met the Sheikos and helped decorate the room ready for the evening in Island Style, to remind the guests of the Fiji wedding in 2006 and ensure informality in face of the next day’s event. Changed into our colourful clothes and spent lovely evening socialising with our friends and families and meeting our American counterparts.

Lovely food – Salmon, wraps, salads and a variety of brownies for dessert. Tried unsuccessfully to learn Greek dancing. Came back to hotel and saw 2nd very tall couple checking in, so didn’t hesitate to accuse them of being Sheikos, to which they gladly confessed, and we spent a further pleasant hour meeting Mark and Marion.