All I want for Christmas is you!

I can't believe it! I am catching a flight this afternoon to Melbourne to pick up Chita who finally has a stamped prospective spouse visa in his passport. Yes it has happened. He and I have been wandering around in shock - its kind of surreal. We have been kept in a waiting station, being constantly bombarded with requests for more documents and I was thinking in my head, that the High Commission could hold off our visas until Dec 23rd or be cruel and wait until the New Year.
How did it happen? Well Chita went to Suva on Tuesday and told them we were getting married in December. He got engagement and wedding confused. I had been thinking that we should have a small family wedding on New Year's Eve when all my 6 siblings and partners and children were home from Victoria and Switzerland. He asked me for a letter. I emailed my migration agent to ask what sort of letter and he told me that I needed to get a letter from a marriage celebrant. I was heading out on the Derwent River here in Hobart for a boat licence and got a call from Chita asking why I had not faxed the letter through. My head was spinning and I had to wait until 4 pm to get back to my office and start making calls. I found all the marriage celebrants in Hobart and started calling. The first one who answered and said yes got the job. It turned out to be Christine Howard who said she had no problem marrying us on New Year's Eve at 2 pm.
My family were completely unaware as I had initially told them we would marry around Easter or June at the latest. It has been busy but I think its been worth it as the ceremony will be short, simple and sweet, in front of my family only and then I will organise a series of wedding parties for friends... keep the party going and slowly introduce him to all my friends.
I had to ring everyone in my family to tell them the news without being sure that I had a venue for the wedding. My mother was quiet. My sister Georgia - that's a bit quick. We've only known each other for four years... Polly and Trina were effusive in their congratulations. I then drove up to my brother Daniel's house and asked them if they would mind sharing their wedding anniversary with us. No problem. I did a one stop shop and asked them to be the witnesses as well.
I confirmed the Wedding on Wednesday December 16th and had to wait a WHOLE DAY for Christine to get back from a funeral to write the letter. On Friday December 18th I drove to Jane Franklin Hall to pick up the letter and discovered two spelling errors - my name as Angel and his name spelt wrong. She kindly re- typed our letter. I was quietly sweating as I wanted to get the letter scanned and emailed to Suva before midday. I had a feeling it would sit in someone's mail box until Monday.
Got back to school and couldn't find a scanner that would work. I was having a quiet panic and ended up getting the letter scanned and emailed and collapsed in a heap.
Chita meanwhile was not responding to his phone as he had lost it. It had fallen out of his pocket getting out of a car.
So the last few days have been Fijian style. Me ringing friends in Fiji to convey messages and finally ringing him at his mum's house after a re-arranged time. Its been quietly frustrating but we have got it together.
Our good friend Victor printed the email booking for Chita to take to Suva today. In my haste to book the tickets this week I accidentally typed Barbados for country of origin. I also booked my ticket to Melbourne for the weekend but accidentally booked my return for after xmaS. I was obviously in emotional turmoil. I am so happy. I am so excited. I have turned into my mother and have been cleaning my office, my tiny appartment and car in preparation. I am writing my final blog for the year and looking forward to a fun touristy weekend in Melbourne, before an huge family xmas followed by a wedding. What more could a girl ask for?
For those girls in the same position as me - take heart and take care of yourself. Its a long haul but worth it...
Will fill you in on the wedding and how a tall smiley Fijian village boy copes with life in Hobart - there will be some funny stories I am sure!
Merry Christmas to all and hope Santa brings you what you want the most!