Jack's 12th Birthday - Picnic By The River

Jack's 12th birthday was a fun day full of family, friends and fans of the two, three and four-legged kind. There were lots of canine friends in attendance and everyone brought something to eat and it was a long, lazy day by the river. Jack was exhausted by the time we got home, but really enjoyed making lots of new friends and basking in the attention and adoration.

Mark worked hard on a three tier cake for Jack's birthday

The finished cake had two tiers of fruit cakes for the humans and was topped with a cupcake for Jack, with bacon

Doggie treat bags for all Jack's four-legged friends

Jack, in the car and ready to go to his birthday picnic

Opening presents, but also keeping an eye on the his guests

Mark with his amazing creation, topped with a sparkler

The birthday boy

Party animals!

Relaxed and peaceful, long and lazy afternoon in the park by the river

Keeping an eye on what the other four-legged guests are up to

Family, friends and fans, of the two-, three- and four-legged variety

Before the Ceremony

Walking to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (l to r: Mike, Mark and Charlie)

The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, where the Civil Partnership Declaration Ceremony was held. 

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...Downstairs

The party went equally well downstairs, where the alcohol was flowing and music was playing...

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Upstairs...

It was beautiful weather and the party was in full swing upstairs, where the food didn't last long...

 Jack enjoyed some special attention from the ladies.

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Congratulations!

Mark gets a hug from his new sister-in-law.

 There were even bubbles, to make the occasion extra special... an unexpected surprise!

Everybody back to the apartment for the party: cake, canapés and champagne!

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Certificate!

After 15 years together we finally get a certificate...

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Signing the Register

Signing the Register, with Joanne as our witness.

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The Ceremony

Exchanging vows was a bit complicated as the Registrar rattled off entire sentences to be spoken by Mark and Jay, and she had to be told to slow down and repeat the vows in smaller segments.

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A video snippet of the start of the Ceremony.

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The majority of the Ceremony is captured in this video, including the hilarity of the Registrar getting tongue tied and rattling off long sentences which Jay nor Mark could repeat. 

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This video is of the end of the Ceremony, including vows and exchange of rings. 

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The Walk

The reception from all our friends as we walked down the aisle was overwhelming.

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In the foyer

Joanne and Jay, waiting for the ceremony to start at the Registry

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