my uncle came into the shop while I was fitting a groom and stayed by the door instead of coming over to correct something. that made me more nervous than if he'd inspected every seam, kept waiting for the cough that means look at the shoulder. afterwards he said the jacket sat well. just that. buzzing mate, wanted him to say it again so I could record it for the next twenty years. then he struggled with his coat button and I helped without making a thing of it. felt a bit off after he left, still pleased but didn't want to send the usual big message to the family group. rang him later to check he got home

right so body pump after work and I thought the arms would be fine because I use them all day, completely different story when somebody cheerful is telling you eight more and you were finished three ago. could feel my shoulders doing the work instead of just noticing the usual ache between my thumb and finger from the shears. halfway through I was sweating into my collar and trying not to look at the mirror every ten seconds. came out with my legs shaky but feeling properly awake, which I never am after the late bus home. mum asked if I wanted another chapati and honestly that was the easiest question of the day

trying to write the wedding speech and apparently I can talk at a groom for forty minutes about a sleeve but can't write one normal sentence about my own fiancée. everything looks either too serious or like something off a greeting card mum would buy. put in how she told me my jacket was too long when we first met, then realised half the room will have heard that already because I've told them myself. my brother says keep it short. helpful from a man who hasn't once kept his opinion short. got a bit about her laugh that sounds right when I say it out loud, sounds terrible on the page. leaving that bit in for now