So where to begin……..

After my great European adventure I have begun another adventure…..marriage!

So now that you have picked yourself up off the floor let me explain.

As most of you picked up from my previous blogs John Guthrie from Newdegate West Australia has been playing quite a big role in my life since we reconnected in person after 15 years. We have decided to make a life together in Western Australia. Both of us are very happy and settling into life here at “Verndale”. John of course was settled here already but he has had to adapt to me moving in.

I arrived back in Canada in mid May to visit with family and friends and to share the news that John and I were engaged. On April 5th I was flying out of Perth to complete the rest of my trip back to Canada and John popped the question in the coffee shop at the airport. I said YES. We decided to keep it quiet until I got back to Canada on May 11th.

Once I was back in Canada we told Mom and Dad and then the rest of my family and friends. I was off on an all ladies cruise for 3 nights so we did a bit of celebrating then. One of my best friends Tracey had been planning this cruise for the past 5 years and there ended up being 59 ladies in our group. (All the men and kids stayed home!) We had a blast and sailed from L.A. to Vancouver on Princess Cruise Lines. Too much food and alcohol made for a couple of late nights. Thanks Tracey for doing such a great job of organizing this for all of us.

So that brought me back to Vancouver in mid May and then it was getting organized and packed to head back to Australia. I had registered for a culinary arts program in Vancouver and was on the wait list to get into the September program. John and I didn’t want to be apart so I booked a flight that would take to back to him from July 17th to September 6th. If I didn’t get into the program I would simply change the return date on my ticket and stay in Australia. In the end that is what happened and now we will be back in Canada for Christmas. Not sure on the dates just yet as we are trying to figure out our schedules etc. I will keep you posted.

Our original plan was to get married in April 2011 but once John and I started talking about it and looking at the paper work that we need to do for my immigration we decided that we might as well get married a bit earlier and then we can get my visa’s sorted out.

We are getting married September 25, 2010. Yes just a month away. So far the plans are coming together and we are both working hard to make it a fun day for everyone. We are having a “bush” wedding and getting married in one of the paddocks at the farm. As it is such short notice for everyone that I know and the distances are so great we have not sent out formal invitations.

"Tove and John request the pleasure of your company to share in the celebration of our marriage at The Pretty Paddock at Verndale - Guthrie Farm on the 25th of September 2010 at 12:30 PM til late. If you don’t want to drive home (or shouldn’t) please bring a tent or swag and spend the night. Kindly let us know if you plan to stay overnight."

If anyone would like to join us please let me know and I will send you more information.

My new mailing address is
Tove Pedersen
RMB 255
Newdegate, WA 6355
Australia

When we are back in Canada there will be a couple of parties to celebrate our marriage so hopefully everyone will get a chance to meet John then.

Take care of yourselves and know that I wish everyone could be here to help us celebrate.

Love Tove