Finnigan's RPG

This time next week I'll be married! Which seems hard to believe and all too real at the same time when I've spent the weekend having far too much champagne and sorting out favours. Everything seems to be on track!

I've heard good feedback about Tuesday's Duelling Club from Mrs Mullany. I think she may pop up in future meetings. Something about fresh meat, I think. This week it's going to be Albie Brighthorn with a focus on quick duels, a type of competition that seems to be gaining popularity in some parts. I'm feeling a bit jealous about missing this one.

One of the shops in Diagon Alley has already got Christmas decorations up. Is it just me or is that a bit early?

So this week at Duelling Club we were working on planning ahead, which is coincidentally what I've been doing behind the scenes as well.

As I'm getting married on November 14th, that means next month I'm either going to be very busy or on my honeymoon. But obviously I don't want to just cancel Duelling Club outright for several weeks, so I've managed to cajole a few lovely coworkers/duellists into taking guest sessions. Should make life a bit interesting and I'm even a bit jealous of a couple of the things they have planned.

(But only a little bit because I have my own very exciting plans.)

Is anyone doing anything for Halloween?

Activity check on 28th October will end here!

Seven weeks to go.

I'm not quite sure what happened to September. It just seemed to disappear in the blink of an eye!

I think my day off today may have actually been more tiring than a normal day at work. My morning run was followed by many, many hours of wedding dress and shoe shopping. It was an experience, but ultimately a good one. It was also successful, which is the most important part. But I'm not going to go into detail about that because a certain someone will be reading this.

Even though I might complain that she's a little over eager, it really did help spending the day with my mum. We managed to finalise the wording for the invites and choose flowers, so now it's her job to bug Dad about those.

Basically, I really deserve this glass of wine that I've just poured. So I'm going to enjoy it and listen to the Quidditch scores in bed.

Nice dinner with the soon-to-be in laws tonight, which just about finishes off a lovely weekend. (Two very pleased Prides fans in this household!) Now all I have to do is jot down my plans for this week's Duelling Club.

But first I think it's time for a cup of tea and maybe a sneaky biscuit or two.

[Private to Cho]

Cho, thanks so much for listening to our grumbling about overly enthusiastic mothers the other night. Of course, we then had dinner with Mac's parents tonight and I think I said the words 'small wedding' so many times that they lost all meaning. If it even had any meaning to begin with! At least I've persuaded my own mum that I'm not going to wear her wedding dress. It's a big NO to 1970s fashions!

Please reassure me that we're not too crazy for wanting to have the wedding so soon and that we won't drive everyone mad!

I know you're working right now but I got a floo call from Mum tonight so wanted to write before I forgot. Can you pick a time for us to meet with Cho this week? I'll make my schedule fit yours. Also, Uncle Tiberius asked us if we'll be moving in together before the wedding and I had no idea what to say, because it's not like we're at each others' places every night anyway. I think he's thinking of giving us one of his homes as a gift, but I don't know what to think about that.

Can't we just elope?

I'm pretty sure that I've heard more stories about weddings over the past few weeks than I ever had before. Why do I have the feeling that it's only going to get more intense as time goes by?

WARDED TO FINBAR

Birthday dinner Thursday night? I know summer has been... I know I haven't been the easiest, lately. I'm hoping 26 will start off on the right foot.

WARDED TO MEL & MARIETTA

Ladies, when do we want to do the birthday bash? You know I need time to plan.

WARDED TO CORMAC & LAVENDER

You two should get used to getting notes together, starting now, just as a heads up. Also: Cormac's Mum sent me and my Mum a note and wanted to know your date. She said Cormac hasn't gotten back to her, yet.

[Warded to Lavender] My dearest, hottie Fiancee: Mum's been asking about our date. What are your thoughts? I didn't think the questions would come this quickly!!

This was in the Prophet today!

( pasted in cutting from the Daily Prophet )

It's so nice to have an afternoon off from all the extra training exercises my squad has been doing recently.

First, I need to tidy my flat and then I'm going to use my nice mixer to make a birthday cake. It feels like forever since I've done any baking and I have a funny feeling I might whip up a few extra goodies to take into work.

Second, I think I'm going to paint my nails. I need a little glamour.

Sorry I didn't make it to Duelling Club last night.

[Warded to Seamus]

I just got the invitation to your birthday! I'm going to come but I might not stay long enough to get super cuddly and blankety because I've been working nights lately so I want to get myself back to a normal sleeping schedule.

And if he's free is it okay if I bring Cormac? (I do understand if you want to say no!)

[Warded to Lavender] -- These night shifts of yours are killing me. I feel very neglected. I'm a very needy, attention-seeking man, didn't you know?

[Warded to Melinda] -- Neighbor, can I order a late night sweets basket to be sent to the hit wizards? Lavender's been on overnight shifts so I thought it might be nice. Anything you think to put in is fine, though probably nothing that requires too much forethought (like, the more handheld the better?) as I don't know what they're up to in the office.

My night shifts this month have almost made me nocturnal, but I managed to enjoy a nice bit of sunshine this afternoon in the garden at my parents' house. It's one of my favourite places, so it was especially nice to have good weather. Plus, of course, some excellent cake.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.

You know when a cup of tea is just perfectly brewed? I'm having that lovely feeling right now, and it's the best way to spend the afternoon before I go to work this evening. With a good book and a piece of cake, obviously. Though I guess it's also kind of breakfast seeing as it was after one when I woke up after last night's shift. But what's the point of being a grown up if you can't have cake for breakfast every now and again?

I don't quite remember how I agreed to babysit my cousin's little boy, but I did enjoy spending the afternoon with Alfie while his parents had some time alone. He's five and thankfully not as much of a handful as I was at that age. Even so, I think he managed to get more icing on his face than the fairy cakes we made! Adorable, but sticky!

Now I just need to wash the icing sugar out of my hair. And plan this week's duelling club. AND get ready for a week of training exercises at work.

[Warded to Melinda] -- you're a genius, as always. The stand mixer is gorgeous even if I know nothing about all the little doohickeys that can be attached to it. I think she really liked it. I think I might need to learn more about such things, if I'm going to be buying kitchenware for birthday gifts from now on.

[Warded to Lavender] -- I've got a booth at the Championship match tomorrow, if you're working Security and want to stop by? If not, it'll be a very long weekend without your face in it.

[Public] -- MacLaggen's Sports will have a booth at the Championship! Be sure to stop by (we'll be not far and to the right from the Main Entrance to the pitch). We'll have team merchandise (all official, of course!), toys, jerseys, and of course all your broom needs met. Good luck to Tutshill and the Magpies tomorrow!

I was a bit surprised to make it to 18, so 25 feels a little momentous if I stop to think about it. This last year has been especially good, so I'm hoping for another one like it! I may have to work today, but at least I've managed to set aside lunch to spend with one of my favourite people.

Duelling Club tonight will be overseen by a colleague of mine from the DMLE and she's going to do a workshop on wandless magic. It's not a strength of mine, but she's fab, so you're in for a treat. Almost makes me wish I'd be there - almost! - but I have birthday plans for this evening.