What a week we’ve just had with the fantastic Royal Wedding of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. With only a week to go ’til our big day next Saturday, there is such a lot to be done.

Fortunately, we have a willing team of helpers who are very able and are helping to make our day a success. I don’t think that they are the same as the Royal Household but they are just as good at their jobs.

In one week’s time Andy and I will have already left the house and be en route for our Covenant of Commitment in All Souls’ Church, Elmwood Avenue, with an ETA of 1pm. The day before, we will have entered into our civil partnership with a small number of family and friends with us in Belfast City Hall.

Organising all of this is rather daunting, but we are sitting down this afternoon with our chief usher to sort out all the who, what, where, when, and whys for the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It’s going to be busy, but I’m sure it’ll be fine.

It’s not just getting to City Hall and All Souls’ that is important this week, we’ve also got visits to

• the hairdresser (mainly Andy – three times in the week!)
• The HIV Support Centre,
• the florist,
• the suit hire shop,
• the hospital (on Thursday for me – first check up since my viral load was undetectable and looking forward to hearing that all is well there),
• the polling station – after all we have the elections to then Northern Ireland Assembly, Belfast City Council and the Referendum on the Voting System – we’ll be voting YES!

all before we can even think of getting to the church on time.