And as our return journey consisted of eight separate flights, plus a night in Peru, the first sentence begins to make more sense, I hope.
Just over a month ago, me and Mr Cooper set out on the beginning of an amazing journey.
Sarah and Ali were getting married, which was the reason for the amazing journey. We also decided to incorporate a few days of chilling after that, and we decided to spend five days in Cuba.
For those of you who don't know us so well, we were not putting our suitcases into the back of a car, but into the hold of a flight from Heathrow.
From there we were flying to Sao Paulo, Brazil, then onwards to Santiago, Chile. The next stage being to Punto Arenas, Chile and then onto our wedding destination, The Falklands.
Ali is a Falklander and Sarah has lived there for almost 10 years, so it was no surprise as to where the wedding was to be.
They were getting married in Ali's parent's garden in Stanley....and we were both so excited!
And for those of you who know me a little better, you will know that I am decidedly of an age where some technology is very useful and almost understandable, but learning new tricks, although no doubt very useful, is also very difficult! I did post one blog on our travels, but it seemed to have become interwoven with another from the past, so I just gave up on all that technology and had a good time instead.
So, this may contain images you have already seen, and it may not. Read on, and hopefully, enjoy!
If you are wondering why Mr Cooper, so beautifully framed above, is holding a rattle, it is because we were also taking part in the Leighton Rattle Challenge, where we helping to raise money and awareness of a condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1. This rare condition sadly resulted in the death of baby Sophie, at only 10 months old. Here is the link which will tell you more about Sophie's story, and also enable you give a donation.
http://www.actsma.co.uk/donate/butterflyfund/sophie-harling
I suppose that wherever you go, pre-conceived ideas travel along too. I was imagining the Falkland Islands to be populated by many white houses with corrugated roofs, few trees, but apart from that, a sort of southern English countryside.
Before we landed, we flew over both islands and saw very few houses, but lots of hills and mountains, and also lots of water. (On the islands, not around them. Lakes, rivers, estuaries and the like. We both knew they were totally surrounded by water) When we landed, it was an hour's drive to Stanley (thanks for meeting us, Ali) and we saw very few houses, but lots of beautiful, wild countryside, as if we were in Scotland, or the Yorkshire Moors. When we reached Stanley, there was an abundance of white houses with different coloured roofs, and always a view of the sea.
It was really picturesque.
And not only did I see some trees in Stanley, but one of them was my very favourite!
And so to Pioneer Row, to Ali and Sarah's home, which was to be ours too, for the next fortnight.
As well as being a great future son-in-law, Ali was a great host, and took us to Shorties for a meal (spicy squid and chips, with a garlic sauce so hot it burned, wonderful!) and then onto The Rose, for some refreshing drinks. Sarah was a few hours into her hen night elsewhere, and we were made very welcome in The Rose by their friends. Particular thanks here to Lisa and Steve, and of course the best landlady ever, Sheila. I think that was one of the most wonderful things about our visit.....we felt welcomed as soon as we got there, lots of people were looking forward to meeting us, something which echoed how loved Sarah is in her chosen country, and to experience this was so lovely, and touching, and reassuring.
What could be better than good company, squid and red wine? Well, Sarah Avatar appeared at The Rose, on her last stop of her Hen Do. A double bonus here. Great to see Sarah, and also great to have a little more squid!
The next day was devoted to seeing a little more than the inside of The Rose (not that there is anything wrong with that view) and we went for a Sunday drive.
The waters around the Falklands are extremely dangerous to shipping, and as a consequence, there are lots of old wrecks around. When it is not feasible to salvage them, they are often used for storage. A bizarre sight for us, but an everyday sight for those in Stanley. You can see Stanley, nestling in the background. The SS Great Britain, now in dock in Bristol, spent many years as a wrecked storage vessel in The Falklands, before coming home in 1971.
This is the Lady Elizabeth, shipwrecked in 1913 on a voyage from Vancouver.
No trip would be complete without the sight of penguins or seals, and we headed to Gypsy Cove.
The scenery was absolutely stunning, as was the bracing wind (it makes Skegness seem like an amateur on that front) and although there were no seals ready to pose for us, idly waving their flippers, and balancing balls on their noses, there were some penguins who were happy to oblige.
Although there were only a few penguins that day and no tricks with balls, we had a trip to Volunteer Point coming up, where we would be able to see the largest breeding colony of King Penguins in the world. But in the meantime, we were more than happy to meet this pair of Jackass penguins, along with some others.
Back to Pioneer Way, pausing to visit what must be the most photographed totem pole ever......
.........look closely at the middle of the totem, Scottish Haslam clan, and there you will see Bearsden!
and for our southern neighbours, Bosham gets a mention too.
Fast forward a couple of days now, whizzing through several events such as a) becoming more familiar with Stanley, b) meeting Ali's parents for the first time, Bunny and Paul, c)eating a chili for lunch that was almost too hot (only because it had been advertised as 'too hot for girls'....I couldn't ignore that challenge) d) greeting the next bunch of explorers from England, Sarah's Mum Bev, Helen and Rhona, and e) visiting the inside of The Rose again.
It was now time to make the 6 hour round trip to Volunteer Point.
The first hour, apart from wishing we had not visited The Rose for quite so long, the night before, was along a road. Then the fun began as the road turned into a track, and then into what can very accurately be described as 'off-road'. The best way to cope as a passenger is to remove your seat-belt and 'go with the motion' ....... which is a cross between a very bizarre fairground ride, or a slow-motion rodeo experience. Why did we stay so long in The Rose, the night before? (Well, apart from it being great fun and a good idea at the time, of course.)
After a couple of hours, we were there, amidst a vast expanse of three types of penguin, and lots of sheep. These are one type of penguin, which I am not able to classify, but will just describe them as the ones that stand up and lie down.........
and here are four King Penguins, having a constitutional in front of the breeding colony.
Don't feel too disappointed at the sparsity of penguin photos, we will return to Volunteer Point the week after the wedding (plus I have mislaid a memory stick from my camera).
But now it is time to return, over rough ground, tracks and hurrah, a road, to Stanley, to get ready for the celebrations.
The day before the wedding had seen us add purple and silver decorations to Paul and Bunny's beautiful garden, where the wedding service was to be held. Then later on, to the Town Hall, where the evening celebration would take place. At the end of the day, both venues looked really lovely, beautifully adorned with silver and purple. Sarah disappeared to enjoy a female pre-wedding evening, and Ali, Mr Cooper and myself enjoyed a very brief visit to The Rose, a take-away pizza, and an early night. In fact, so many of the friends who helped with the decoration ordered a pizza too, that we were one of the lucky ones, as they couldn't cope with the demand, and shut up shop.
Waking to a stunning blue sky the next morning, purple and silver then became the order of the day.
The hairdresser came to make sure Ali and myself looked even more amazing than usual (thanks Bronwen, you did a fantastic job) then it was time to put on our wedding finery, adding touches of purple and silver as appropriate, before walking to the wedding garden.
Here is Mr Cooper, a little tearful and a lot proud, preparing to 'give away' his beautiful daughter Sarah. Most weddings are lovely, but some are exceptional. This was one of the exceptional ones. Me and Mr cooper were really pleased to be there at such an important day in Sarah and Ali's life, and we welcome Ali into the family with arms and hearts wide open. Then we all looked on with much happiness, complete with some more tears of happiness, to see Sarah and Ali married.
Here they are being married by their friend Neville, all most suitable dressed for the occasion!
And here are Sarah, Mr Cooper and myself, whilst Ali takes a moment to let it all sink in.
After the usual chats, photos and fizz it was time for us all to make our way to The Malvina Hotel,
for the wedding reception. Although it was not too far to walk, it certainly worked up an appetite, and for the first time in my life, I was finishing Mr Cooper's roast potatoes (they were delicious). Well, perhaps he was a feeling a little nervous before his speech,
Here is Mr Cooper, now suitably relaxed after his very good speech, trying to re-capture the dashing good looks of his youth.
Luckily there was a couple of hours break before getting on with the serious stuff.....which was dancing the night away to an amazing band, in the Town Hall. We had a short break where we walked back to feed the cats, and in my case, feel regretful at having eaten quite so many potatoes.
Then onwards again, silver shoes still twinkling, back to the Town Hall for more food, more drinks and lots and lots of dancing.
It was such an amazing day, followed by an amazing night, that we were almost pleased when the band sang their final, final, final encore and me and Mr Cooper were able to walk home under the stars, still singing the refrain to that song about 'Living Next Door to Alice.' Who is she, by the way? We got back at two, a whole twelve hours of celebration on such a happy and wonderful day.
So wonderful was it that it made, not page one of the Penguin News...........
..........but page two. Here are Sarah and Ali, complete with family and friends from England.
Well worth every bit of the 8,000 miles to get there.
Thank you everyone there for making the day so memorable, and us all so welcome.
Especial thanks to Bunny and Paul. We are so happy that Sarah has married Ali, and become part of your family now.
I leave you with part one of the Falkland blog completed, and a warning not to approach any of the below if you should meet them one night. They will be saying that they have just been to a wedding, in fact two of them will be insisting they are actually the bride and groom!
As our parents used to say to us, 'enough is as good as a feast' and though, many years ago, I thought that surely too much must be like the best ever feast, I do know now that six potatoes make you feel better than seven.
However, when it comes to other things, is it possible to have too much laughter and smiles?
So perhaps this Sunday, I will pause to smile instead, as I stop at potato number three.
See you all soon for part two.
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