THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN

RYE,  EAST SUSSEX

JUNE 28 2008

Now,  on first glance,  it might seem a little odd to sit in a graveyard sampling the culinery delights of a pre packed salad bowl and perusing the morning's newspaper.

However,  on what was a gloriously hot and beautiful day in Rye town centre,  in the Parish church of St Mary the virgin (built in the 13th century),  this couple sat,  content in each other's company,  listening to the peeling of the bells, as a full scale white wedding unfolded directly in front of them on the lawns,  complete with de rigeur,  white stretched Chryslers and tearful mothers dressed in clothes far too young for them,  hem lines to the navel -  and the entire scene seemed so quaintly English nd surreal

I'm certain that I heard the lady perched on the bench, without so much as a turn of the head in the direction of her husband,  utter  an astute observation on the meringue atired bride,  clearly heavy with what could only be a baby elephant fit to burst from her motherly stomach,

" You know,  I really don't think that the bride should be wearing white!  "

They were nice looking prawns in that sald bowl,  though!