Adventures of a Lone Bass Player

Today Matchgirl bought a wedding dress. Gosh – The Great Event is really going to happen!

The preferred store, despite her trip to Edinburgh and much online searching, turned out to be in Inverness. All the web work wasn’t wasted, though, for the favoured frock comes from designer Maggie Sottero whose website we browsed last week.

Yes, we – I’ve been taking a keen interest, prompted in part by some of the freak show brides on display in the wedding magazines, although my total confidence in Matchgirl’s taste never wavered. Honest.

I liked the Sottero range as soon as she showed me, which was handy. The dresses she particularly liked, I did too, which was very handy, although I couldn’t help but notice that they all had much in common: white, cream or ivory; long and flowing; fancy needlework on the bodice. Like real wedding dresses, in fact.

Matchgirl’s original plan was to have a colourful wedding day dress which in later life would become an all-purpose posh frock. She didn’t want anything approaching a traditional wedding dress at all, and definitely not white. No way. But all the long-suppressed girlie genes have asserted themselves, and it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.

So far she’s still resisting a veil…

It seems she was cutting things fine. Making her choice now means the dress will be tweaked and fitted to her satisfaction and delivered in time for The Great Event, more than five months hence. Another week and apparently not a wedding shop in Scotland could have guaranteed that the frock would be ready.

One problem solved means another takes it place, of course; she’s now fretting that she won’t be able to keep her figure trim enough to fit The Wondrous Apparel after five more months of being fed and pampered by me. It’s tough being a girlie.

I’d love to show you which of Maggie’s creations she’s chosen, but I’m not privy to that information. However, I’m told that the two members of The Bridal Entourage who accompanied her to the store have endorsed her decision with enthusiasm. Tum tum ti tum, tum tum ti tum…

Music Update: Two-thirds of the Voodoo Rhythm Devils gathered last night for the latest session. Charlie, who was suffering a financial crisis, was the missing third. A drummer who can’t make a rehearsal – now there’s a novelty. He promises he’ll be available on Sunday.

Marc and I worked on the current song list, during which I received patient instruction on the subtle art of blues bass from a man who’s steeped in the lore of the Delta. My rock roots keep showing.