"you naughty girls"

Today is our wedding anniversary.  Once upon a time, Anniemay and I decided to run away to Gretna Green to get married.  She told her sister Sue what we were planning and Sue thought that she and her partner Tony should also get married in Gretna Green.  A few weeks later the four of us headed - quietly - up the M6. 

The registrar looked at us solemnly, because it was a solemn occasion and talked us through the process. 

She explained that she would make a number statements, ask each of us some questions and when our time came, we were to repeat after her.  We nodded to indicate that we understood.

She called my name first.  (Thinks …. repeat after her.…)

Registrar; “Wull ye tak …..?” 

Me; “I wull tak …..”

I don’t know why, but once I had started, I could not stop.  So went through the entire ceremony speaking with a Scottish accent.

I should point out that - although born in England - from about the age of 6 months I lived in my maternal grandmother’s house in Scotland.  Surrounded by uncles, aunties, cousins and grandparents, I grew up speaking with a Scottish accent.  After a few years, we returned South and I learned to speak with an English accent.  But I never lost the ability to switch back to my Mother’s tongue.

Meanwhile in Gretna Green ……

Anniemay is standing next to me, tears of laugher running down her cheeks.  Sue and Tony are open-mouthed.

The registrar does not bat an eye.

A few days later, we all met up at my Mother-in-law’s house near Manchester and explained what what we’d done. She looked at Anniemay, then at Sue and simply said “You naughty girls”.