91Èȱ¬

While more than a billion people will be watching the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, our Pendle bride and groom Catriona and Nick will be celebrating their matrimonial bonds at Bolton Abbey in Lancashire with a much smaller audience.

We have been following the preparations for their big day: with the reading of the wedding banns and at the landmarks of 50 days to go and 100 days to go.

And here's our gift to the newly weds: William and Kate; Catriona and Nick and all others who are getting married this year - An Ode to Marriage, a poem which we have written together contributions for it have come from all over the world. (see: )

An Ode to Marriage

Be prepared to be unprepared, they said.
Life is full of surprises and marriage is a carriage
that the two of us will ride along, sometimes holding hands,
sometimes folding arms, sometimes taking chances,
sometimes sharing glances,
both knowing that we are in for the long haul.
I had a look and the good book said
"Happy he who finds a wife -
there is no better thing in life. A wife is a good thing."
Marriage is the most beautiful thing in the whole world.
Her lovely face shining before me,
together we'll build a home of our own.
Am I the luckiest man of all?
I sometimes dwell on that thought.
Of course,
There are days we feel
we're sinking in a catastrophic mire,
Mother Nature's out of balance
and humankind's gone mad.
And we're constantly bombarded by predictions truly dire -
but we have chosen to survive.
And overcome instead.
Forgiveness flows and ripples like a river,
through our lives
and like the healing water,
forgiveness heals the giver.
Time opens people's eyes.
Sometimes peace is more important than being right, right?

A well wisher said to me, as I rested in the shade.
Marriage is like the four seasons, plastic surgery and an organ transplant.
Like you discovering a new part of you.
Every day anew.
Oh, how she escapes me at times...
Some say "Throw it out there and see what happens,
"Take one disaster at a time",
Words of wisdom, received and to be tested,
then trusted.
I'm happy that she enjoys things just because I enjoy them.
Comfort in knowing I make her happy just by existing.

In my reflective moments I think
we weave a cloth of life that would unravel
without either of us. Simple yet profound.
Though I never understood how a person
could be so mysterious,
fascinating and complicated.

A bird comes to my window every day,
carrying in its beak green leaves
from nearby trees, one at a time.

Like my bride. Bringing Spring into my life.

I don't take love for granted.
A promise of looking out for each other's best
over a lifetime.
Is all about the goodness of mind, and deed, and heart?
There must be more than that.
I suspect love holds the answers:
It takes two of us to make this world a better place.
We get to be different but same,
Individuals but one.
We get to see each other's souls bared in time.
See stars in each other, divine spark in our hearts.
Together we get to discover just what love is.
What does it mean for me to love her and for her to love me?
In sickness and in health explore life's colours we didn't suspect existed.
Learn how to extract nuggets of treasure from long discussions, how to please each other.
Learn who we are and who we are not.
A lifetime of joy, sweetness, tenderness, wisdom, stresses and peace all mixed together, makes us stronger and better.
Made for each other, from this day
we are together to stay.

Our Pendle bride Catriona shares her thoughts before the wedding day.

So, in the final days before the big day, it's all getting very exciting.

Everyone has started to gear up - from the florist to the ushers to our friendly neighbours (even the gardener has been going crazy planting extra flowering shrubs - I haven't the heart to tell him the wedding celebrations will not actually take place at home).

Currently I'm alternating between major excitement - calling for Champagne as we embark upon a four-day celebratory extravaganza - and complete panic and nervousness (and wondering if, out of the six or so doctors that will be at the wedding, who is likely to be most obliging if I ask for something to calm me down.

For those that read the earlier blog, I am not so much nervous at the prospect of getting married, it's the whole being the centre of attention for an entire day in front of 100 people that sets me off...

Today has been a day of action (rest and relaxation is being saved up for the honeymoon).

I've checked in with the florist.

The driver needs a map and a timing plan.

The reception venue need final name places and table names.

And 30 vases need to be delivered to Ilkley (we're self supplying vases, don't ask.. and thanks mum and Jane, if you're reading this).

My other task for this evening was to finishing making the bridesmaids presents.

I was planning to spend the night before the wedding having a low key drink in our local pub.

However now it looks like my present creation is going to have to happen then, as is my pre wedding wash, blow-dry and hair rolling session (so my hairdresser informs me).

If I'm speedy I can sort the present stuff out in just under an hour.

But can you go to your local pub in rollers the night before your wedding?