ParkesLife: or should it be MarriedLife?

Now, after months of planning and preparing for the big day, it is back to normality and my to-do list is so short it’s quite unsettling.

Although we nearly didn’t make it back from the Hmoon-after 12 hours of flying we were eventually about to touch down at Manchester when the plane started accelerating and ascending steeply.

An announcement came from the cockpit: “Ladies and gentlemen we have aborted landing. This is a perfectly normal procedure. The pilot will tell you more as soon as he has the details.”

Well, as a nervous flier, that was the longest ten minutes of my life waiting for the pilot to tell us what the problem was and I don’t really believe it was “normal” in any way.

All sorts of scenarios were running through my head-there’s a pigeon in an engine, the landing gear hasn’t come down, there’s been a crash on the runway....how I didn’t have a panic attack I’ll never know.

We circled for what felt like an hour before the pilot told us they were waiting for staff to  “clear the runway” - WHAT THE? and shortly after we landed safely.

Phew. But I’ll tell you something, we’ll be going to Mablethorpe for our holiday next year.

Of course I’m overreacting and I’m already plotting next year’s long-haul trip but for a few minutes there I thought the worst.

So now I’ve got to pack away the bridal magazines and my scrap book and go back to reality.

It is strange not planning for anything although I think I’ll start decorating the house and planning a fantastic first anniversary party.

I tried so hard not to become a Bridezilla and not to let the wedding take over my life, but it is such a special occasion - not to mention the cost - with so much to plan, that in most cases it does (and I did have the odd ‘zilla moment - sorry).

The hard work was worth it though as the day was fantastic and we were so lucky to have so many of our friends and family members share it with us.

So if anyone wants any help planning their wedding...I’m free weekends.....