Dear Zorro,

This is seriously time to count down the sleeps until your wedding day - by this time next week I imagine that you will be right in the middle of the excitement.

My husband and I shared our 14th wedding anniversary in the last week and so I am filled with thoughts of our wedding but also our first meeting, and our years together.

I chose this sonnet by Shakespeare because it was part of our ceremony and after much thinking and searching for something that I loved more - I came back to settle on the words from my own wedding. I hope you like it - as our marriage has grown it seems that reflecting on these words makes them richer and richer.

I wish you and your man every happiness for each day of your marriage. I wish you both every blessing.

This is my favourite blessing that I would like to share with you. It is from the Buddhist tradition.

In the future, happy occasions will come as surely as the morning.
Difficult times will come as surely as the night.
When things go joyously, meditate according to the Buddhist tradition.
When things go badly, meditate.
Meditation in the manner of the Compassionate Buddha will guide your life.
To say the words 'love and compassion is easy.
But to accept that love and compassion are
built upon patience and perseverance is not easy.

May you both be safe in each others arms

with love
UM xx