NYE 99 Entry 397
Cultural event
31/12
So perhaps my fears about not meeting Rory's family before were both completely founded and irrelevant at the same time. Yes there's no denying that the Camerons are a bit much. His brother's Jack and Thomas are rude, entitled, and terminally heterosexual. They make what could easily be homophobic comments but their also very - as Rory put it - ladish, so I can't tell if it's actually malicious in its use or if it's that rather pervasive 'casual' homophobia. Rory is also the youngest brother so I suppose there might also be a level of sibling ribbing.
His mother seems to have a bit of denial about her son's sexuality even though he's undoubtably engaged to a man. It was also clear that she was working very hard to appear unimpressed. She failed. It's hard not to be impressed by Sandringham. I'm impressed by Sandringham and I've grown up coming here.
The flip of Jack, Thomas, and Esther was Rory's father, Andrew, who was thoroughly impressed and very respectful.
When Rory went to collect them from Wolferton Station, Anne made a joke that perhaps Rory's family was a family of republicans. I don't get that feeling from Esther or Andrew, they were very 'fawny' about Papa and Mummy so I don't think there are any anti-royalist sentiments there.
The brothers on the other hand could be, I suppose.
Tonight, Rory wore full black tie for the New Year's Eve Ball. He also wore his Garter sash for the first time. He looked wildly sexy. As if he'd climbed out of my adolescent wet dreams. And he's going to marry me. He looked so good even some of the locals commented on it.
Anne wore a silvery gown, Garter sash, and a tiara. She looked a vision. I'd say that I could be biased as her brother but judging by Rory's brother's comments the evidence is that she simply looked gorgeous.
As is appropriate in events like this, everyone - from the family - entered by station, leaving Rory and me as the second to last couple to enter.
Seeing Rory's family's faces when he was introduced as the Duke of Edinburgh, was incredibly gratifying.
We danced late into the night and I can't pretend that a part of me didn't get some perverse enjoyment watching annie repeatedly reject Jack and Thomas.
We became so engrossed in the Ball - I've never been able to dance with my chosen partner at the Ball before - that we missed when Papa and Mum made their exit. I haven't enjoyed the Ball as much as I did tonight since - oh probably since I was in Uni, probably even before that.
I get to have the man I used to imagine dancing with at these balls. It's almost unreal.
