Random reminder

Press, 28 October 1981, Page 36

Random reminder

GREEN BAY TREE

Dahling! (Kiss) What a splendid, splendid setting for a wedding! Thank you. I'm glad everything went . . . Congratulations, old chap. Really fine. Thank you. It . . . Keep the garden staff up to the mark, do you, ha ha? Ha ha. Yes. Wouldn’t it be marvellous to have the reception here? They — they close at five. Shall we .. Ah, Reverend. Thank you very much, can we all get away now and complete the formalities at . . . Certainly. I have the register in the car. May I say what a pleasure it was to conduct the ceremony in such ideal circumstances? Uh, yes. The Greenhouse at the Botanic Gardens must be one of the most beautiful places around. Yes. I shouldn’t be surprised if it becomes quite popular. No. Does the City Council make a charge for permission to use it? Uh, no. No. No need to be nervous. It’s all over. Nothing can go wrong now. Of course not. Quite right. Shall we, uh, can we ... Photographs! Photographs! Stand here by the cherubs . . . Smile! . . . Grab the kids ... Closer together . . . Further back . . . Smile! Ah, a cup. Tell us, Jeremy, how on earth did you get to use the greenhouse?

Well. The Gardens, when I rang, put me on to the caretaker. He wasn’t in. I got a number which turned out to be the Kiosk. The phone number that they suggested was that of the Gardens. I should (they said) ring the Council. Well, were THEY at home when you telephoned? Even better, I went into Tuam St to see them. Meanwhile, the Minister was agreeable, the licence had “Main Greenhouse” on it, and all the invitations went out. Mum was flying down from Auckland, too. So the Council approved? They did NOT! Unthinkable. Unheard ' of. They would prosecute. What? You DIDN’T have permission? Relax. We didn’t have a wedding, either. Only just this moment did we finally* sign the register. Your witnesses pen is only just now back in your pocket. We are thousands of metres away from the nearest forbidden greenhouse, are. we not? . True, true. All that happened was that a. few people, beautifully dressed, arrived to smell the flowers. Others, by. chance,, were admiring the statues. At the same: , time, a minister just happened to .be reading aloud from some-papers. By coincidence, you were carrying a ring. It was all over in quarter of an hour. Well, I’m speechless. z' ; Of course. That is why it took onlyquarter of an hour.