Will you have a cup of tea, father?

I was a big fan of Father Ted – and not just because Father Dougal and I share a surname. A bit further down the billing but no less important to the show’s success was Mrs. Doyle, housekeeper of Craggy Island Parochial House, played by the brilliant Pauline McLynn. Her catch phrase invariably comes to my mind when someone offers … Continue Reading

Shona and Simon’s Humanist Wedding at the National Museum of Scotland

No limousine could be more appropriate for a French/Scottish wedding than a Citroën Traction Avant! First produced in 1934, they’re still très chic today. My couples meet in all sorts of interesting ways, but Shona and Simon’s was truly a first: they were brought together by their daughters, Amy and Sophie. Best friends at school, they schemed to … Continue Reading

Beat butter and sugar until soft and creamy…

A witness to the first air raid of WWII, a proud ‘Pelican’ and a president of the Inner Wheel, Audrey had a long and rich life as a nurse, wife, mother and grandmother. ‘An inveterate blether’, as she was affectionately described by her loving husband Norman, Audrey had a gift for friendship, and wrote thousands of Christmas, birthday and other … Continue Reading

Order, Order!

The most important thing to remember about your humanist ceremony is that it should be exactly the way you want it. So if you’re totally chilled and like whatever, man, you probably won’t want an Order of Ceremony. On the other hand, if you’re the kind of person who sets goals and can recite most … Continue Reading