PATIENTLY AWAITING WEDDING INVITATION

#SMED11

Whilst waiting for an early morning train last week, a few mature female commuters reminised about the changes in the economy and how difficult it is for the younger generation to obtain their own property.

The topic however which generated the most animated discussion, was the lack of weddings. A quick informal survey amongst ourselves indicated an average of two wedding invitations for the past six years. Interestingly, the same topic surfaced in our neighbourhood recently whereby a few mothers also expressed changing tiimes in that their children - who are of perceived marriagable age, were in most instances not choosing marriage as an option.

We were in agreement that the knock-on-effect of the lack of marriages amongst young adults, further resulted in a reduction of grandchildren. Additional informal reseach amongst colleagues and friends provided similar results - an observation that the younger generation is leading a far more different lifestyle - with a strong focus on education, career development,travelling to mention a few.

Against this background, it seems as if the neghbourhood moms and station commuter chat group will patiently have to wait for the all-elusive wedding invitation. In the meantime we will have to be satisfied with watching reality programmes on weddings and/or paging through wedding spreads in magazines.

In conclusion, when the wedding invitation arrives: As befits the occasion, I am looking forward to donning a couture outfit with matching hat and/or fastenator - with the followiing 'My FairLady' song waiting to come to fruition:

'I'm getting married in the morning,
Ding , dong the bells are gonna chime,
Pull out a stopper,
Let's have a whopper,
But get me to the church on time'.

Tongue in cheeck: Now only if the invitation 'to the church on time' could come along in the post!