Laura and Alberto's wedding day: April 13th.

Hi Everyone

We had a fabulous day yesterday. Everything went to plan, starting off with the monks who arrived at dawn to pray that there would be no rain! The setting was magnificent, a white thatched roof villa in a beautiful garden overlooking the beach.We're staying here for a week of treats - a boat trip,nature walk,surfing lessons (not!)and lots of fine dining.

We had a traditional Britsh wedding with Italian and Balinese additions - buttonholes only for the men and lots of references to the sea!Laura and Alberto had their civil wedding in Singapore the previous week. What was planned as a simple affair with just Alberto's Mum and brother and us,grew to include Jen's family.An elder from the local Chinese community married them by the pool at their condo and then we walked to a nearby Italian restaurant for a blow-out meal.We have pictures which eventually we'll post to you!

Now back to the day - the wedding was at 5pm in a large grassy garden with an empty beach and crashing surf at the front.They were married under a gazebo decked out in white satin, white lilies and roses and lots of greenery. The seating was white with green sashes and the 'aisle' was strewn with yellow frangipani flowers.Laura and Geoff walked through here with Balinese children in traditional dress and Lucy and Helen, the bridesmaids in sea green dresses.Frankie, their wedding organiser,a handsome,smiley and very efficient Balinese guy married them under the gazebo. Auntie Jen and Paulo, Alberto's brother, read from Captain Correlli's Mandolin and L and A wrote their own very personal wedding vows.It was all very romantic.As you'll see in the photos L's dress was simple but stunning.

We then moved on to fizz and canapes and a traditional Italian meal,complete with Italian chef and team brought in for the occasion.Italian meats, 2 pasta dishes, beef, salad, cheese,and fruit were delicious with speeches from Geoff, Alberto, and Terry, the best man interspersed throughout.He had produced a video with pictures of L and A as they grew up.He somehow managed to compare the villages of Lugano and Uppermill!

We had a Balinese band for the ceremony and afterwards, which played all our favourite pop tunes, somewhat surprisingly, and then we danced the night away under a moonlight sky to pop standards and 'clubbing' music.We eventually ate the wedding cake - cup cakes topped,with a model of L and A on their motorbike,expertly crafted by Charles!

It has been a week we will always remember, in spite of the heat, which caused us all to wilt at times, and we are only sorry that so many of you we're unable to be with us to share Laura's special day.You were all in our thoughts!

Lots of love
Geoff and Carol xx

In Service Training continues

Hi everyone

We left Samraong last Saturday and had a night in Siem Reap, about 2 1/2 hrs south and the gateway town to Anghor Watt.Stayed at a very stylish small boutique hotel and rejuvenated ourselves with a swim,pedicure and massage!Siem Reap will be our bolt hole, a place to escape to when the simplicity of life becomes too much!

The folks of Samraong gave us a good week though - the office laid on a welcome party for me,combined with a farewell to Ruchin and a celebration of the Khmer New Year.We return April 27th.

We then went on to the VSO Programme office in PP for more training - child protection, corruption and HIV/Aids.Gloomy topics but followed by a bit of light relief with a visit to the British Embassy and time with the Ambassador. The garment industry, construction, tourism and agriculture are the biggest earners but these are all being affected by the recession.No afternoon tea on the lawn, I'm afraid but a fascinating hour nonetheless!

We're now back in Kampong Cham learning more Khmer. Went to a beer garden with traditional live Khmer music last night.Hope to have a trip on a tuc tuc to a wooden pagoda tomorrow.
Speak to you again soon
Lots of love
Carol and Geoff xx