grumpyf1

Last Friday I witnessed a truly momentous event take place, right before my eyes. Everyone I know agrees the right decision was made. I was way down south when it happened – that life-changing moment that meant so much to those involved, and alters the course of their future. I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else, though. This was an amazing, special, event. Maybe not once-in-a-lifetime, but a decision like this one isn’t to be taken lightly, and requires years of planning and preparation. This formal process saw the decision we all wanted – unity. A relationship built on trust, mutual benefit, shared experiences and friendship is something that takes a long time to perfect. When the time is right, and you know you want to stay together, you need a large group of people to participate to make it happen. Of course, you need love, too. And only when... What? I’m talking about our friends’ wedding last Friday. Did you think I... no. Surely not. Brexit was certainly unavoida...

I had the pleasure of attending my brother’s wedding recently. Impressively, I managed to look like a tramp, even though I was trying to look cool. You may remember that I recently obtained a new pair of glasses, after agonising so long over which pair to purchase that the staff at the opticians came close to offering me a bed for the night. Armed with my trendy new specs, I foolishly fell into the trap of thinking I’m now some sort of hipster. Having attended many previous weddings, christenings, funerals and other important family events (with varying degrees of joy and misery, but not necessarily in the order you might think), I’ve done my fair share of suit, plain shirt and tie outfits. I’ve seen other chaps at events wearing a nice shirt and without a tie, and started thinking “Could I?” or occasionally “Won’t I look like a man who has forgotten his tie?” Having concluded that this wedding was a great opportunity to go neck-naked, I selected a less loud than usual patt...