The Mooey's Wedding Speech
Good evening beautiful people – friends and family, Adi and Fraser.I’d like to start with a toast, it’s not customary to start with one - but I need the alcohol. May the only ups and downs you have be between the sheets!
I am really nervous to speak tonight – I had a funny feeling that the gorgeous new husband and wife were going to ask me to speak - and every particle in my being was rebelling! But when that cute beguiling little Adi got me on the phone I knew I couldn’t refuse
such an honour. Speaking about beguiling Adi – I heard a story about her yesterday where she charmed her friends into driving 4 hours to host a New Years party at their house with all of her friends they had never met!!Anyway, it is a huge honour for me – Adi and Fraser are two of my most precious friends and it is such an auspicious day. I am only nervous because I have so much to say and to wish them, I want to do the job justice. It is a privilege for us to have gathered from all over the world to be witnesses to their love and to their intentions. This is significant not only because we help to seal this sacred bond by our presence – but it also means we know how to support you when times are tough – because we know the promises you have made and what the big pictures is for you both!
Most of you don’t know me. So I will explain a little about how I fit into the picture. About 5 years ago I went to a mutual friend, Marisa’s birthday party. I walked in, locked eyes with Adi and felt I had found a long lost sister. When I sat down opposite her I knew that I was in exactly the right place in that moment. I am not sure what your beliefs are – but somehow I knew her already – whether it was destined by the stars or something from a past life or probably as dear Fraser thinks, a simple co-incidence – I don’t know. But we have been friends ever since.
From what I can gather many of you have had similar experiences with our lovely Adi. Somehow she is so open, loving and accepting that you feel familiar with her and able to be yourself. Adi is someone you can say anything to. She is so playful and sparkly you can’t help but feel drawn to her.
Part of her appeal is her ditzy way – as much as she is so on the ball when it comes to assessing people and feelings, she is also partly lost in the clouds. Enter Fraser.. he is a gentle, stable rudder in Adi’s life
– he is the loving voice of reason, he’s super smart and organised, he’s the planner and the official bag packer – even when Adi travels on her own he does the packing! And as much as he is the “serious” one, he makes Adi laugh and laugh – mainly at herself! They are so different and so beautiful together – “mountains are higher than rivers but each follows its own course under the sky”. This is a Chinese concept of Yin and Yang exquisitely – how two seemingly opposing forces are equal, bound together, intertwined and interdependent – giving rise to each other, completing the whole and together able to give rise to another generation.I think these two always knew they would be together. Or as Rumi puts it, “Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along.” Which is why I guess, Adi could be so patient until Fraser finally asked her to marry him..!
Adi is a wonderful story teller – but today I have a story to tell from Tangiwai, a lovely friend of ours..
One day a man with a distinguished and effortless quiff sat in one of Hamilton’s finest establishments. Around him buzzed the Tron’s Queen Bee. Before long they had made moo-eyes at each other and the rest, as they say, is history. They reigned together in Hamilton for a time and then moved to the big smoke where they got lost and found more of each other. Then they settled by the warm hearth of Aunt Daisy’s, where they nested and began to think that it might be time to make this official.
Now they sit, centre stage, next-door to where it all began, in a room full of people present to celebrate their union. Having given a good thing time to mature, they find that they are looking around at friends who they share in common, some who have met them as a unit, and all who consider them both to be much loved friends. Their family and friends look back and see a couple, and two individuals, who have found a space that we all aspire to. Titahi Bay has a newfound serenity thanks to its most recent inhabitants whose laid back warmth and hospitality create a home where it’s easy to ‘be’ and hard to leave. If the enjoyment of life is an art-form, these two have perfected the craft.
We wish we could be in the space you’ve created today and see the magic all around. To our most distinguished and effortless Fraser and our Queen Bee Adi, long may you both reign.
Love always, Dan, Tangiwai, Api, and No. 2.
When Adi and Fraser left the UK they promised me they’d be getting married shortly after settling in Wellington - so we’d see each other within a year or two. After waiting more than two years for an invite, not having as much patience as Adi, my scrummy partner Tim and I went to live in New Zealand to be close to Adi and Fra.
While we were finding our feet we had the good fortune to live in the Ebbett-Saad Motel. This is a particularly popular resort in Wellington – despite the fact that they refuse to get a toaster. We can’t help wondering how many toasters these two will get as wedding presents…
We loved staying in the Ebbett-Saad Motel – the food and wine was great, the company was excellent, the hospitality was amazing, they were very diplomatic when Tim made them his famous baked bean and dumpling soup, the manager, Mr Ebbett was very discrete one early morning he walked in on us up to shananigans – I think his knock got much louder after that!
We especially enjoyed the 1 eyed, tailess, geriatric motel cat, Meisha. No, this is not her winking! She had the unfortunate habit of yowling loudly for attention – especially in the wee hours. One day when Tim and I were having a heated dispute – she came and yowled at us in such a blood curdling way we couldn’t help but resolve all of our issues immediately! She was great to cuddle and Tim had a great game of making her chase him around the house naked before he jumped in the shower – we believe she learnt this game off Adi and her mother! She has been ably succeeded by the lovely Tui at the Mooey mansion.
Love is another thing I wanted to talk about. In the delicious words of David Deida “love is who you are. Love is that which is living your life, breathing your breath, moving your body and all bodies...Love is wanting to open your heart right now. You can feel love's desire to flow through your entire body, this very moment.”. We know this to be true – but so often we are not present to it. You guys have always been a gorgeous example of living through love – your relationship is such an inspiration. May you be always blessed with the presence of love.
I speak for Tim and myself and many others here and not here today – we are eternally grateful to you guys for your extraordinary friendship, your hospitality, your love and care. Thank you. All you need to be rich is treasure in your heart. You guys will always be wealthy. While I am on thank yous I want to squeeze in a thank you to all the parents – you guys have done an awesome job with your beautiful children. I also want to thank my lovely Tim for helping me with all my slides.
To finish I want to give you some zen words of wisdom..
“Go to the edge” the voice said.
“No!” they said. “We will fall.”
“Go to the edge,” the voice said.
“No!” they said, “ We will be pushed over”
“Go to the edge,” the voice said.
So they went..
And they were pushed..
And they flew..
Fly My Pretties!
posted by Where in the world am I? at 3:40 AM
0 comments
