FOUR Times a bride's maid, never a bride.

Its me on the right aged 14 yrs in the bride's maid kit.

Actually it was the third time in under a year, so I was done for.

First, to a girl cousin, then my father's cousins son and then this one, a woman who lived in our road, who I didn't even know.

I can remember the irritation of being fiddled about with by dressmakers and distaste at hearing certain conversation of brides to be which was totally unsuitable for my young ears.

I swore to myself that I would not have anything resembling a conventional wedding as it would be too embarassing.

The fourth time, I was bride's maid to a childhood friend.

I did get married eventually, but in a registry office with 5 guests.

I wore a discarded suit that I borrowed back from my sister in law. I couldn't stop laughing the whole time and my italian groom swears he didn't understand a word of the ceremony.