Home to Maleny

Honey I'm Home!

I'm writing this on Thursday 10th July, having got back to Australia yesterday at midday. It seems a shame not to finish off the blog properly, so here we go....last blog post until our next holiday.

On our last morning in New York, Jan and I were the only wedding guests still left at the hotel.
We were both quite excited to be going back to our boys, and after skype calling them, it was obvious they were equally keen to have us back!

We went down to breakfast, and since we'd packed the previous night we decided there was plenty of time to go out for a walk before our shuttle bus arrived at 11.30 to take us the JFK airport.

We walked past Open Kitchen, where we'd had lunch the previous day with Pam and Diana. Since the coffee at the hotel was pretty ordinary, we detoured in here to have a decent cappuccino. Then we walked on and came upon the Downtown Tiffany & Co store. Of course we had to go in and buy a little something. Across the road from this store is another Trump building, almost as glitzy as the other we'd been to and a few doors down from there was the gym where I presume Zach and Garreth must've visited on the wedding day.

Tiffanys & Co

New York Gym

We continued down the street to the Holy Trinity Church and around the corner to the World Trade Centre memorial garden and fountains. Although I had been here just a couple of days ago, Jan hadn't. You can't come to New York without paying respects here.

inside Holy Trinity Church

We got back to the hotel and picked up our luggage from the storage area at the hotel and waited for our airport transport. It was a large minivan that seated 10 people. Jan and I were the first passengers and we wound our way uptown picked up extra passengers at three more hotels as we went.
It was slow progress, but at least not as hair-raising as our taxi ride in on the first day.

India House where the wedding reception was held

restaurant where we had lunch with Zach on his wedding day

 

I was dropped at Terminal 7 and then the others at their various terminals. Jan got back OK so she must've made her flight in time. I was way early, but pleased to be at the airport.
The flight home was extremely long and tiring. I only just managed to make my connection to the domestic flight in Sydney as I had to pick up my luggage and go through customs there and then get to the domestic terminal and drop of the main bag and then to the boarding gate. Our flight had been delayed half an hour in LA, so there was not much time, but thank goodness I made it.

John was waiting with me when I walked off the plane in Brisbane. My luggage also found its way home. Happiness!
We drove home in the new red Subaru Imprezza that John bought while I was away. It's lovely and I approve his choice.
It's great to be home!!!!

The day after the wedding, New York

The recovery

It was a fabulous wedding and reception, and I'm told that the after party at the Dubliner was a roaring success too......but most of the guests were looking a little sleep deprived and suffering the effects of wine flu this morning.

Most were quite late coming down for breakfast and everyone except Jan and I were checking out of the hotel today. We saw Mei, Garreth and Bronte at breakfast. Bronte was enjoying the croissants and looked bright and chirpy despite her late night. Apparently she slept well and woke up late, much to Gaz and Mei's relief. They're hoping that her good plane behaviour will continue for their long flight home.

Sarah's family gather for breakfast

high five for Aunty Pammie

family at brekkie

Garreth, Bronte, Mei and Barb

Zach and Sarah looked tired but happy that it had all gone so wonderfully well. I presented Sarah with the wedding bear I'd made in Cornwall. She was very puzzled and I explained that it was a family tradition to give to new brides and they were to pass it on to the next bride in the family. Zach was laughing in the background, so Sarah finally realised that I was pulling her leg. She'll have to get used to "Crazy Aunt Bill.

WTF?

Now I get it!

Sarah's family were all sitting in a large group at breakfast. They are all such lovely people and we couldn't be happier for Zach that he's married into a large and loving family like the Jadins.

We spent the morning saying goodby to all the departing guests and family. Pamela, Diana, Jan and I then went out to a nearby eatery for lunch and then came up to our room where Pam and Diana had stored their luggage until it was time for them to catch their transport home.

the alternate flower girl dress

Zach and Pammie

Mei, Sarah, Pammie and Jannie

After Diana left, Pam, Jan and I went for a walk around Battery Park and up beside the river to the South Street Sea Port, from where we could see across the river towards Brooklyn and the Brookln Bridge. There was a group of  lads doing a street performance of breakdancing in Battery Park to entertain the large milling crowd there.They were pretty good!

Security had really been beefed up in the  Battery Park area and they had cordoned off an area so that anyone who was catching a ferry across to the Statue of Liberty had to go through an airport -style security check point. We saw people being frisked by security guards and even the park rangers were carrying guns. They're taking no chances.Why anyone would've wanted to go out on the water with the wind-whipped choppy water anyway defeats me. The boats were tossing about in the waves and I bet there would've been a lot of sea sick passengers by the time the reached the Statue.

Jan and Barb in front of Brooklyn Bridge

We did enjoy the brisk walk though out in the open air. It was just the thing on a fine windy day to be out and about rather than cooped up in a hotel room.

Jan and Pam at the Seaport  precinct at Fulton Streeet

All of us girls are so looking forward to being back with our boys again. It's been very special to be together in New York to celebrate Zach's wedding, but I'm well and truly ready to get home to Maleny.

Wedding Day Part Two: The Wedding and Reception

A wonderful wedding we'll never forget!

As with any event, it's always a worry that something will go wrong. I'm glad to report that nothing did!

The wedding service was held in Our Lady of the Rosary church near Battery Park. It is a gorgeous old building and not so hugely big that our crowd of 137 guests got swamped by it or were crammed into it.It was just right.

the three sisters

The mothers of the bride and groom

Pammie and Diana

Father Philip and Pamela

Zach's godparents, Tio and Jannie with Pam

Zach and his six groomsmen looked very dapper in their suits. They were not matchy- matchy and neither were the bridesmaids. That's not Sarah and Zach's style. They are both very practical down to earth people.Their brief to their wedding party was: just wear something nice that you'd wear again. Perfect! The bridesmaids, more by accident than design wore various combinations of black and white. Bronte, the flowergirl wore her white dress but after her silver shoes rubbed blisters on her feet she ditched them and wore them on her hands instead.

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Mei and Kristen

Nanna and Bronte

shoes on hands

Mei chats to Lacey the soloist

Pammie and Jannie chat to Tio

My son Garreth was a groomsman, his wife Mei was acting as an usher (along with Kristen, sister-in-law-to-be of the bride) so Bronte sat with me prior to the service. Fortunately she was fascinated by the stringed trio who were playing and she also loved Lacey and her husband Ray who sang : who wouldn't love their gorgeous voices.

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the bride arrives

When the bride arrived to walk down the aisle she was heralded by the opening theme to "Jaws". Sarah loves sharks! So while this was a little un-traditional, it did break any tension and had people laughing uproariously - a great start to what proved to be a very happy and relaxed service. Tio managed to combine a traditional Catholic mass with enough personal warmth and humour to keep everyone happy.

Mei and Bronte with Sharkie and Ra

Ray and Lacey

Bronte, Mei and Gaz in New York

Bronte was carried down the aisle by her father. She was a little over-whelmed by the crowd and hid behind Sharkie and Ra (her comfort toys). Since dinosaurs and sharks are particular favourites of Zach and Sarah it was probably more appropriate than flowers to carry.

Bronte even managed to stay quiet for the ceremony except for blowing a loud raspberry during a lull in Father Philip's homily. This also caused some laughter and I had to struggle to keep a straight face so she wouldn't be encouraged to do more!

Sarah looked so amazing in her bridal dress. She has a stunning figure and is a beautiful girl inside and out. She was just glowing! As was Zach, who was also a bit emotional. It was hard to be without his dad Michael for this special day. But everyone who knew Michael could feel his presence there and I'm sure he would've approved of this girl who Zach has found who makes him feel a better person. They are such a well-matched couple and it was a simply beautiful wedding.

Sarah and Zach greet their wedding guests

at the cocktail party

Ann, Christine Pamela and Soraya.....the NY besties

The music at the wedding was exceptional. Since both Zach and Sarah have a college background in theatre and music, they had a pool of personal friends to draw on for the entertainment. Zach's friends from The New York Picture Company were also there in the wedding party to support him.

After the wedding service, everyone followed Zach and Sarah in a procession walking down to The East India Co House ( quite nearby) where cocktails were served before the sit down reception upstairs. The food at the cocktail party was lovely. Lots of fresh fruit, cheeses, crackers, grilled vegetables and other hot canapes as well as an open bar. This was a good chance for all the guests to mingle and chat in a relaxed way.

Tio and Zach

Bronte, Nanna and Gaz

Zach and Gaz

Mei, Zach , Bronte and Gaz

The reception itself was also relaxed and fun.  Instead of an official Bridal Party table, Zach and Sarah joined their bridesmaids, groomsmen and their partners at a long table on the floor. Zach and Sarah hit the dance floor to a Queens number and then Sarah and her dad, Jeff, showed us all how to Polka and Zach and Pamela boogied to Men at Work's "Land Down Under". 

Mother and Son dance

The delicious meal courses were interspersed with dancing - the floor packed at all times due to the great music selection played by the DJ.  It was impossible NOT to get up and dance and I doubt anyone at the reception stayed in their seat.  When the DJ wrapped it up at 11pm, the younger members of the group moved on to the After Party at a nearby Irish pub, the Dubliners.

Both ceremony and reception reflected Zach and Sarah's personalities and we couldn't be happier to have been there to celebrate their special day with them.