Recaps: Why does it have to end?

The rest of the evening went past in a blur of dancing and chatting. I completely lost track of time at one point I looked at my watch and wondered where the buffet was and why had we not been fed yet (all I could eat was cake). Only to realise that there was still an hour to go before the buffet was due to be served. Then after the buffet had been served the band seemed to immediately announce the last dance and I couldn’t believe that time had passed so quickly.

We have a great photo of the two of us, looking hideously sweaty and dishevelled (no I’m not going to post it!) – I love this photo because it highlights what I wanted the wedding to be all about, dancing and laughing and everyone having a good time.

Then it was last orders at the bar and people started drifting into taxis or up the stairs to their rooms. Finally, we decided, while O’s uncles were trying to persuade the barman to reopen the bar that it was time for us to retire. It was bliss to unlace the dress, unpin my hair and stand under the shower letting the emotions of the day wash over me.

I finally crawled into bed with my husband! Unfortunately the bar staff decided to have their own wee party and we could hear them chatting well into the small hours. We’d thought it was our guests until we realised that we couldn’t recognise any of the voices. However in reality we couldn’t sleep, we just kept saying “we’re married”, “did you speak to so and so?”, “did you dance with so and so”, “so and so said this”, “what a great day”, “do you think everyone enjoyed themselves”, “we’re married”, “we’re married”.

Recaps: Our first dance

One day, after having not been engaged for very long I randomly suggested this as our first dance song. O agreed and so the decision was made. It had been one of the songs that was on the mix CD that O made for me when we first got together. I did question it a couple of times (the reference to brothers and sisters especially) but seeing as I couldn’t come up with anything better I stopped trying. We decided that we’d dance for about 60 seconds (a verse and a chorus) on our own and then have the rest of the bridal party come and join us. Those 60 seconds were the longest of all time!

Get off my toes!

John Martyn - May you never

Not our first dance song 3

When we first got together O made me a mix CD. Putting all cheesiness aside I loved it – can’t bloody find it now (haven’t properly looked because it is somewhere in his CD collection which is too huge and scary to contemplate) but I played it a LOT. There was no romance (never has been) there was no soppiness. This was a taster and insight into O’s music collection. They were songs that went together well and he’d obviously put a lot of effort into it. The song we have chosen for our first dance is on the CD.


He maybe should have listened to the words a bit more because some of the songs aren’t really appropriate for your new girlfriend. Still it is a great song and Belle and Sebastian are still one of O’s favourites.




Belle and Sebastian Lazy Line Painter Jane

Not our first dance song 2

Also not our first dance song. But a good one for a car journey or when I can't sleep. I'll start singing it to wake O up and then he joins in and reminds me of the words.

This could be a struggle for a lot of you. The words need to be read in a very broad Scottish accent - I've given a translation below in blue but it doesn't work as well.

COD LIVER OIL AND ORANGE JUICE - Hamish Imlach

Well oot o' the East there came a hard man
Oh-ho, a' the way frae Brigton?
Ah-ha, glory hallelujah
Cod liver oil and the orange juice

Well out of the East there came a hard man
Oh-ho, all the way from Bridgeton

Well he went intae a pub and he come oot paralytic
Oh, VP and cider
Ah-ha, what a hell of a mixture
Cod liver oil and the orange juice

Well he went into a pub and came out paralytic
Oh, VP and cider

Does this bus go tae the Dennistoun Palais?
Oh-ho, I'm lookin' fur a lumber
Ah-ha, glory hallelujah
Cod liver oil and the orange juice

Does this bus go to the Dennistoun Palais?
Oh-ho, I'm looking for a shag

In the dancin' he met Hairy Mary,
Oh, the flooer o' the Gorbals
Ah-ha, glory hallelujah
Cod liver oil and the orange juice

In the dancing (nightclub) he met Hairy Mary,
Oh, the flower of the Gorbals

Aw noo Mary, are ye dancin'?
"Oh no, it's just the way I'm staunin'"
Ah-ha, glory hallelujah
Cod liver oil and the orange juice

Aw now Mary, are you dancing?
"Oh no, it's just the way I'm standing"

Well then, Mary, yer one in a million,
"Oh-ho, so's yer chances!"
Ah-ha, glory hallelujah
Cod liver oil and the orange juice

Well then, Mary, your one in a million,
"Oh-ho, so is your chances!"

Well then Mary, can I run ye hame?
Oh-ho, I've got a pair of sandshoes,
"A ha-ha, ye're hell of a funny!"
Cod liver oil and the orange juice

Well then Mary, can I run you home?
Oh-ho, I've got a pair of plimsolls (trainers)
"A ha-ha, your a hell of a funny!"
Cod liver oil and the orange juice

Well, doon through the back-close, an' intae the dunny,
Oh-ho, it wasnae fur the first time,
Ah-ha, glory hallelujah
Cod liver oil and the orange juice

Well down through the back alley and into the back yard
Oh-ho it wasn't for the first time

Then oot came her mammy - she was goin' tae the cludgie,
Oh-ho, I buggered off sharpish,
Ah-ha, glory hallelujah
Cod liver oil and the orange juice

The out came her Mum - she was going to the toilet
Oh-ho, I buggered off sharpish,

Noo Hairy Mary's lookin' for her hard man,
Oh-ho, he's jined the Foreign Legion
Ah-ha, Sahara unner ra camels,
Cod liver oil and the orange juice

Now Hairy Mary is looking for her hard man,
Oh-ho, he's joined the Foreign Legion
Ah-ha, Sahara under the camels,
Cod liver oil and the orange juice

Then Hairy Mary's had a little baby
Oh-ho, its faither's in the army
Ah-ha, glory hallelujah
Cod liver oil and the orange juice

The Hairy Mary's had a little baby
Oh-ho, its father's in the army



YouTube videos of Hamish Imlach singing are available

Not our first dance song 1

This isn't our first dance song but technically it is "our song". When we first started going out we spent a lot of time at the student union and this song was on ALL THE TIME!! We've decided that it isn't really appropriate for our first dance.

Do you have a song? Is it going to be your first dance?