Monday, March 12 .....

It was a big night in Deloraine last night. During the afternoon, we noted a number of cars arriving at the auditorium over the way from where we are parked. This is where they play basketball so we assumed that there were going to be some matches and we were toying with the idea of wandering over to sit in.

However, more and more cars started to arrive and it was clear that the passengers were too well-dressed for a sporting event and, sure enough, a bridal car turned up. And not just any bridal car but a restored FJ Holden, accompanied by a swathe of other SI cars, all of the Holden variety. In Tasmania, vintage and veteran cars can carry an SI number plate which is cheaper than a full registration.

The bride was dressed, as expected, in white but with a wide blue sash and the bridesmaids were in pale green. The men were in dark trousers and waistcoat with open-necked white shirts. Of course, the guests were more interested in the special cars which soon tore off in a cloud of dust. Clearly they were only hired by the hour to get the bridal party to the Reception. It seems the catering was being done by the women of the Junior Basketball Club which is why we were confused when we recognised one of the mums who had arrived in the afternoon.

Having been denied the chance to see a game of basketball, and as it was unlikely we would be welcome at the wedding reception, we decided to have a long walk and get back in time to watch Waking the Dead on telly.

If the music was anything to go by, it was a good night at the reception but everything became quiet about midnight. At 9 o’clock this morning, the first of the gang arrived to finish the cleaning-up. Just another chapter in the life of a country town.