Column: Happy times in August for Mandie

I attended a wedding at Glenbervie House as my boyfriend Ross’s plus one.

It was a great day meeting more of his friends and of course, watching Scott and Amy make their vows to each other and enjoy their special day.

It did bring a tear to my eye. They both looked fantastic and I wish them a lifetime of happiness together.

The wedding brought back many memories for myself as it was the first time I was back in this venue since my brother’s wedding there over three years ago.

My auntie Anne and myself both got diagnosed a couple of weeks apart with breast cancer not long after this. I look back at pictures of the two of us smiling and dancing at the wedding and we both looked completely normal and healthy. It just shows you that sometimes you really don’t know what’s going on inside your body.

READ Mandie’s August column HERE

On a happier note, at Scott and Amy’s wedding I had the pleasure of bumping into Emma Gray who is an extremely popular photographer in Falkirk and I have met a few times now. I joked with her that for months I have written my Perfectly Frank column but never had a picture of Ross and that people will be wondering who the mystery man is (or thinking had I made him up!).

Emma kindly offered to take a lovely picture of us - so here he is looking dashing in his Malcolm tartan kilt.

I am ecstatic to say I reached another milestone. I had my 29th birthday a couple of weeks ago and what a week it was.

Debs my bestie took me out to my favourite restaurant the Chop and Ale where I had a steak burger washed down with my favourite rosy blush wine.

It was accompanied with warm wishes from Mrs Davidson who always makes her customers feel extremely welcome. It was another great birthday and another warm memory.

READ Mandie’s July column HERE

I was taken away for my birthday surprise weekend to St. Andrews with Ross which was fabulous and lovely to spend so much quality time together. We wined and dined like a king and queen and played mini golf in the sunshine.

However, I wasn’t pleased with Ross not allowing me to win the mini golf on my birthday. We both get very competitive and both like to win. My weekend was finished in true style with a lovely home-made family dinner courtesy of mother Stevenson.

My twin brother, Gary, and I had our first birthday with my nephew and his son, baby Noah, which was extra special. Our last year of being in our 20s and I am sure it will be a good one.

With it being the month of August I have taken full advantage of the Edinburgh festival. I met up with Lesley, a good friend who is also living with secondary breast cancer. She is a great support network to me and it is good chatting with someone who is living with a lot of the same concerns and worries as I do. I really look up to her and she gives me hope that I find my miracle medicine like she has.

My friends and I had such a laugh at the silent disco dancing along the Royal Mile to fun cheesy music then onto the live music on Princes Street – all to celebrate one of my best friend Kelly’s special birthday. Thirty and looking fabulous Kelly – what a great way to end the month.