I cried...

So, today was the wedding of my very dear friend Clare and the lovely man who became her husband, Alex. Hence yesterday's long drive to the frozen north.

I had to do a reading as part of the ceremony - here it is.

***

These are the hands of your best friend,
strong and full of love for you,
that are holding yours on your wedding day,
as you promise to love each other today and from this day forward.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours,
as together you build your future and realise your dreams.
These are the hands that will love you and cherish you through the years,
and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.
These are the hands that will wipe the tears from your eyes;
Be they tears of sorrow or tears of joy.

These are the hands that will guide your children,
the hands that will hold your family as one.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
And these hands; these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged,
will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness
with just a touch.

***

And hopefully you can understand how I blubbed pretty much all the way through it. I mean, I cry at adverts and at weddings on the telly when I don't know the people getting married, let alone the wedding of two people who mean so much to me.

Anyway, rather than a standard wedding shot, this is a photo of the beach graffiti that Mrs BH and I did for them - quality, eh?