91Èȱ¬

All my thoughts are with our colleague Urunboy Usmonov who is still imprisoned in Tajikistan despite of mounting international pressure.

In fact this week I'm flying to Tajikistan to meet officials and make a strong case for his immediate release.

I will update you on progress here, on the and .

While I'm away I have decided to go back to our Pendle couple, who married on the same day as Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The media is a strange flock, which can all of a sudden fly in the thousands over a certain story, but then its attention is drawn somewhere else, completely forgetting the other day's feast.

We have marked 100 days and 50 days before the wedding, so here's Catriona's story after the first 50 days of marriage to Nick:

I am now writing as a married lady. In fact, in four days' time I'll have been married for two months. Clearly I am not yet qualified to write a précis on how married life is, but I can say it has been calm. Wonderfully calm, relaxed and fun.

The run up to the wedding and the last four days in particular, were hectic. I was on track with all the major organisational things like the cake, band and transport, but it was the little things that crept up and overwhelmed me two days before the wedding.

I had to re-do the seating plan because someone couldn't make it, then sorting out the names places became difficult (it's amazing how many plus-ones' surnames you don't know!)

Nick was well intending, if slightly ineffective (adding fuel to my argument that it is nearly always the bride that single-handedly organises her own wedding).

Catriona: Nick, what is your great aunts full name?
Nick: Oh just put Aunty Rene, that's what we call her.
Catriona: Please find out her name. And while you're at it can you get Charlie's surname too?
Nick: Charlie? Nah, don't worry about it, we all just use his nickname. Just use that.
Catriona: [Sceptical stare]
Nick: Come on, it'll be funny!

While Nick then went shopping for honeymoon attire (jealous, moi?!), I went up a generation to Nick's Mum, who was much more informed when it came to family names.

My only piece of advice that I would pass on to other pre-wedded couples would be to get everyone's (full) name, including partners, and addresses, and keep it easily accessible.

I had some names and addresses in my head, some on my laptop and some in my Mother-in-law's address book .

Oh, and one more piece of advice, Brides-to-be: don't forget to buy some new clothes for your honeymoon, lest your newly-acquired husband outshines you in your season-old beach attire (!)

The wedding day itself went amazingly well. I was awake early, incredibly excited.

The sun was shining. Dad was at the bottom of the garden practicing his speech.

Of the two of us, I'm not sure who, at that stage, was the most nervous.

I got ready at home and our family friend drove us to the church at around 2 o'clock. I remember it being quite windy and being concerned my hair would blow everywhere in the wind (which it kind of did, but it didn't really matter).

The sun shone for us, the church was full of well-wishers, our family and friends sang for us in church and it was truly beautiful.

The day flew by in a complete whirlwind. A good friend told me to make sure I stop at some point and take it all in, because it's like a snowball rolling down a hill. Once the day starts, it gathers a momentum of its own and just goes.

Two of the best parts of the day, beyond the service itself, were the drive between the church and the reception. We were on a tiny country road, and stopped for a brief, peaceful minute to enjoy the view over the Strid Valley, complete with celebratory glass of champagne.

The second moment was the last, impromptu song played by the band, at which point all our friends had gathered on the dancefloor around Nick and I as we danced our feet off (thinking we looked great, though photo evidence suggests otherwise by this stage of the night).

It was a really special day, full of laughter and fun, and filled with many, many happy memories that I wish I could bottle, but can't: Dad's speech. Mum's hat blowing off into the river Wharfe and my brother's flying dive to retrieve it. Nick's speech.

But better than the day itself is where it has got us - and the gentle but undeniable warmth and contentment I feel knowing I'm part of a duo with Nick for the rest of our lives.