OhMyGod, I had a huge smile on my face all the way home and I'm still smiling now. This is going to be long.
I met Elk, BabyElk and Carolina at the pub and Drink joined us for a meal. DH left us to go and get his meal but we realised that he had left his phone in the car at the hotel so we had no way of keeping in touch, but agreed to meet at the Church at 6.30. The meal was slow and it was 6.45 before we arrived and DH told us that he had got there early and Tom was outside doing meets and pics with a group of girls. He asked them if they were the Burketeers and they said they were and he told them what had happened. They offered to lend him a phone to phone me but he doesn't know my number, it's in his phone, in the car, at the hotel.
When they finished, he approached Tom, shook his hand and asked if he would be doing any more pics after the service but he said he wasn't sure what the format was, so DH told him that we were up the road and would be upset to have missed him. Tom said "After the service, you look out for me and I'll look out for you." When we arrived we were absolutely gutted, and I could only think of Sparks killing us for missing the opportunity. The service was lovely, Tom did his reading early and then sat in the second pew from the front. We were in the back one as the Church was full by the time we got there.
Afterwards Tom was talking to some people at the front of the Church and DH went and stood some distance away, with us behind. Tom saw him, excused himself from the group and came over to us. DH said "This is my wife" and I was thinking wtf, my DH is introducing me to Tom Burke, it was surreal. I put out my hand, he took it, I mumbled something like "pleased to meet you" and we hugged. (First beard moment) He said "Where were you?" and I said "At the pub over the road." He said "Was it good?" and I said "I would rather have been here."
Carolina then joined in and talked to him, but I'll let her tell her side of it. I asked if we could have a photo and he said "Of course" and directed DH down an empty pew to take it. At this point Elk was standing back, and I tried my best to get her to join us, but she was rooted to the spot and wouldn't come to us.
DH then asked him if there would be a season 3 and he said he wasn't sure yet. I asked him if he would be happy to do it and he said yes, he would, but he didn't want it to stretch to season 4, as shows can become parodies of themselves if they go on for too long. DH asked why Season 2 would be shown on Fridays and he seemed surprised, but said "Does it matter, there is I-Player. I don't know anything about when it will be televised, or whether it's 8.00 or 9.00pm." We then said we'd better let him go, although he seemed in no hurry, and we hugged again. (Second beard moment).
Then DH said something about the Operation Smile video we had been shown and how marvellous the work is and Tom said he was surprised about the sum which had been raised by the Burketeers. He said he doesn't do Twitter and doesn't usually Google himself, but he did last week to see how much had been collected. I then said again that we should let him go and I thanked him and we hugged again. (Third beard moment)
I've probably forgotten some stuff, but it was rather overwhelming. I have no idea what he was wearing, I couldn't take my eyes off his face. His skin is flawless, his hair appeared soft and lustrous, longed to touch it but it was his eyes that struck me most. They seem to penetrate your soul. He held my gaze a number of times. I didn't notice any scent, but I was suffering sensory overload of sight and hearing. Oh, and he smiled broadly at one point and I saw his eye crinkles from close range. His charisma radiated through the Church and it was wonderful to be enveloped in it.
It was a truly magical experience. He is so generous with himself and his time, and so natural and comfortable to be with. I may be old enough to be his mum, but I'm totally in love with him, and with my dear DH, without whom it just wouldn't have happened.
There were 3 pics, but they were a burst so all practically the same.