While We're Talking Weddings

I've mentioned before how behind I am with my blogging, but this is a bit ridiculous. Dad and SongXin were married on 6th October 2007. But because it was such a hectic time and all of us got sick I just didn't ever end up putting anything on the blog. But I figured with all my recent talk of weddings it was about time I posted a few shots.
The wedding was at Aanuka Beach Resort, which is such a beautiful spot. Brother was a groomsmen and looked very sharp, as did the rest of his family (pictured above). Emma, Justin and the three boys (Fergus was only two months old) all came from South Australia for the event. They also brought an unwelcome visitor with them. More will be said about that later.
The wedding was lovey. SongXin looked beautiful. She initially wore a western style wedding dress and later got changed into a traditional Chinese dress. Dad also got changed, but I can't say he looked anywhere near as glamorous as SongXin. SongXin's parents had come from China, and her brother, Travis came from the Netherlands. SongXin's parents don't speak English (and none of us speak Cantonese or Mandarin) but Travis was able to interpret for us and it was very nice to get to know them a little. One of the really special moments at the wedding was when SongXin's father sang in Cantonese.
Unfortunately Matt wasn't at the wedding to hear the singing. Hence his notable absence from the photo to the right. The reason he wasn't there is because he was back at the apartment being violently ill. This is what Matt was doing while the rest of us were dining on Atlantic Salmon and Creme Brulee. We now know that Matt had fallen victim to the extremely nasty and contagious adenovirus, which those naughty Lanes had brought with them from South Australia. Ben got sick shortly after Matt did, which was extremely worrying and stressful and has been documented at some length in postings last year. And just when I was congratulating myself for having such a strong immune system I came down with it too. Ben and I ended up having a brief admission to the ED of Coffs Harbour Base Hospital, where the shot above was taken. Poor Mum, who had come to help look after the boys while we went to the wedding also got sick, but it didn't hit her until she got home to Maitland. And Aunty Chris, who was sat at my table at the wedding caught the bug as well, which she was (understandably) not at all pleased about. Luckily the bride and groom escaped infection, as did all of the Chinese visitors.