Heavenly Beverley : Introducing the Outlaws

We are home after an action-packed weekend. Yesterday's jaunt around the hills will wait. I have committed a tragic faux pas. I have been remiss in my duty. I have completely neglected to showcase my new in-laws with at least a few honourable mentions. Ladies and gentlemen, this situation cannot be allowed to continue.

Thus, I will now be waxing lyrical about the entire Coote Family for the remainder of this post.

I must admit that Michael and I haven't had much interaction with the Other Side. We live in Beverley and tend not to venture far beyond the Eastern Plains (Midland). Rob and Michelle live in one of the seaside holiday villages that dot the Northern Suburban Strip. In other words, they receive the Fremantle doctor and we do not.

Rob is a Fine Leader of his household. Looking particularly spiffy in his slightly lopsided crown, Rob has overcome some massive health issues to walk both his elder daughters down the aisle. I was concerned that he might suffer a fit of apoplexy when youngest daughter Colleen caught Bronwyn's bridal bouquet. Hopefully, he will be able to catch his breath before he reprises his position of Father of the Bride.

Michelle is a gorgeous, blonde and tall young lady. That she has born and raised four children is incomprehensible. Having the height to wear a beautiful burgundy full-length dress as Mother of the Bride was yet another reminder that I must have been chopped off at the knees at some stage of my early life. And her crown was much straighter on her head of soft curls than her Other Half.

Jessica, Daughter Number One, has the strawberry blonde hair of her sister and is married to the delicious Ryan Ragno. Jess and Ryan are currently living in Austria and, in a moment of insanity, have agreed to host the family for a White Christmas. She looked beautiful in her long purple frock and silver cloak and supported her sister admirably as Chief Microphone Holder.

Special mention must go to Senior Son-in-Law, Ryan Ragno. Ryan's performance as MC was truly outstanding and aged him (hopefully temporarily) by about twenty years until his duties were concluded. He then took to the dancefloor with the energy of a Whirling Dervish and appeared to let rip with utter relief. He will probably be delighted to return to the routine of his job and prepare to Gird his Loins for the Invasion of the Cootes for Christmas.

Son Alexander is still a Mythical Beast. He was briefly involved in the ceremony as Brother of the Bride and I did spot him from time to time. I have heard On the Grapevine that he enjoyed himself immensely and was suffering accordingly the following morning. Any young man who can endure having three sisters in a wedding situation could have been Overwhelmed by the Occasion. Instead, he held his own, thankful not to be the Token Male in a Sea of Women.

Youngest daughter Colleen is everything I am not. Tall, slim and graceful, she took to dancing with the grace of a swan, albeit a hyperactive swan. She also looked lovely in her bridesmaid frock. The only downside of her lack of any fat was that she froze during the ceremony without her cloak. Colleen, a word of advice. Being fat keeps one warm and can foil a spontaneous kidnap opportunity.

Ivy Stevens, Grandmother of the Children and Mum to Michelle, was an absolute star. For one, she was shorter than me and allowed me to be suitably superior. She was dressed very stylishly and rocked on far later than Michael and me. Ivy has been a constant in the Coote family forever and I wish her many more years of fun and frivolity. Go, Ivy!

And now Callum has joined the Cootes and Bronwyn has become a member of the curious Hawes/Sofoulis anomaly. A quirky, hilarious and well-meaning mish-mash of extended families.

That is the key. We all love Our Kids. Their wedding was probably the most joyful and inclusive ceremony and reception that Michael and I have attended. I have been to some weddings where the families jostle for power and importance and the guests cringe with boredom and embarrassment. This was not the case at Darlington Estate on a blustery and rainy August afternoon and evening.

Fun. Memorable. Great job, Kids!