Glenda J Ashleigh

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Valentine Wish

PEG AND POG SEND A VALENTINE WISH

Peg and Pog send a very special Valentine wish to all lovers.  Each year, 14 February is the special day to celebrate romance!  Of course not everyone can arrange their wedding for 14 February.  Contact Glenda and choose your own romantic date to celebrate your romantic Valentine Wedding!

Romance is in the Air

Romance!  What exactly does it mean?  According to the dictionary, the countable noun, ‘romance’ is “a feeling of excitement that you get from new and slightly dangerous experiences.”  Wow!  This is explosive stuff!   Are you the romantic type?  How can you tell?

Peg and Pog find Romance

Pog is a natural kind of guy.  Until Pog met Peg, he had not done anything particularly exciting or dangerous.  Pog is into break-dancing.  Of course, break-dancing alone at home, does not set Pog up for any likely romantic experiences.

Peg and Pog Valentine Wish

Peg and Pog stars of Dolls are Different, or are they?

Peg and Pog know a thing or two about Romance

Pog’s unique execution of the ‘orbital rotation’ break-dance move, is the catapult (literally) that lands him among the roses and knocks him out cold!

Peg captures the very essence of romance in the language of love as only she knows how.

Can Pog resist the angelic vision of Peg and the language of love as he regains consciousness (among the roses)?  Of course not!  The only response he can offer is that of a gentleman, “Yes, thank you very much.”

Such sensitivity!  Such insight!  The wonder and mystery that overtakes Peg and Pog must be romance!  Feelings of ecstasy, love and joy, as two souls reach out to each other, and meld together in harmony!

What Peg actually says to Pog is not important.  For Pog, the message is clear and he is excited.  That is all that matters.  The language of love is indeed powerful and potent.  It sweeps all concerns away and, as Pog discovers, it can snap a fella from a dazed state to one of full alertness in a moment!

Find your romance in a Valentine Day wedding with Glenda Ashleigh, Professional Brisbane Marriage Celebrant

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Bush Wedding Gumdale Brisbane

A Bush Wedding in Gumdale

A bush wedding in Gumdale!  This charming venue is adjacent to the southern bayside areas of Brisbane and is perfect for small and intimate weddings.  What makes this venue different?  Firstly, the Gumdale Historic Museum is an authentic pioneer’s house right in the heart of Gumdale, Brisbane.  Secondly, there are lots of fantastic natural bush photo opportunities too!  And thirdly, create your own Australian bush experience with some props from the museum’s collection.  This truly is the authentic bush adventure!

House in the Bush

Experience the feeling of the Australian bush in the early 1900s.  The house is constructed of depression-era, 1920s-1930s, tin shingle and weatherboard.  It has furniture, clothes, books and tools that are authentic depression-era, and these are just delightful.

The house sits in an Australian bush setting with grassed level ground and is next to a sealed car park.  This makes for easy access, especially for the Bridal Party and guests.

The adjacent Gumdale Progress Association Hall is also available for hire, either as a ceremony venue, or reception venue.

I Love Bush Weddings

I love bush weddings!  Not only are they relaxed and fun, but everyone feels welcome at a bush wedding.  I create unique wedding ceremonies that capture the true essence of an Australian bush setting.  Contact Glenda to book  for your Australian bush wedding.

Bush Bride

Meanwhile, please enjoy the following tale of a ‘Bush Bride’ as she settles into domestic life in the Australian bush.  She may be new to the bush, however this Bride is no shrinking violet!  She is always cheerful as she comes to grips with the various challenges of life in the bush.

7 New Cleveland road

 

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Highly Recommended Celebrant Glenda J Ashleigh

What is a highly recommended Celebrant?

Just what does ‘highly recommended’ mean?  Can you trust the opinions of other people to be the same as yours? After all, everyone has different tastes, ideas and expectations about ceremonies and celebrants.

Also, do real clients make the recommendations, and how do you know?  Peg & Pog highly recommend Brisbane’s Really Good Celebrant, however are Peg & Pog real clients?

Can you rely on a highly recommended Celebrant?

Would you book your Celebrant based solely on the recommendation of family or friends?  What if the highly recommended Celebrant doesn’t appeal to you?  Would you feel that you have to book your wedding with that Celebrant?

The following pointers are important to keep in mind when choosing a Celebrant for your wedding.

  • Choose the Celebrant you trust to help you have the ceremony that you want.  You choose when, where, and how you want to celebrate your wedding.
  • Feel comfortable in sharing your ideas and wishes openly.  You choose what you want to include in your ceremony.
  • Ask for help at any stage.  You are the client and you deserve the utmost professional care and attention.
  • Finally, choose a Celebrant who is good value.  Celebrant fees vary, and so does quality of service.  You choose the level of service that fits your needs and wishes that is within your budget.

Why take note of Recommendations?

I ask all my clients for their comments on the services that I provide.  These reviews and comments are important as they allow me to continually improve and grow the quality of client service.

Recommendations, reviews, comments, and testimonials provide clients’ views on the level of satisfaction of my services.

I listen carefully to you so that, together, we create the wedding ceremony that is just right for you.  Not only does this take time, experience, and skill, it also requires patience, and understanding your wishes.

Recommendations of Value

Recommendations of value are those that are the original words of clients that describe their experiences of my services.  Clients routinely give me feedback and use words such as professional,  friendly, organised, enjoy, helpful, and approachable to describe the terms and conditions of the celebrant services I provide.

However, what do people mean when they use these words, and do other words have the same meaning?  The online Oxford Dictionary gives the meanings of these words, and their associated synonyms (similar words) as:

professional

Meaning: “worthy of or appropriate to a professional person; competent, skillful, or assured.”   Some synonyms for professional include: “expert, accomplished, adept, excellent, fine, polished, competent, practised, trained, top-notch.”

Clients express their feelings of trust in my expert and practised skills, not only in listening carefully to them, but also in delivering the genuine, honest and personal service that they expect of a professional Celebrant.

friendly

Meaning: “kind and pleasant.”  Some synonyms for friendly include:  “amiable, cordial, approachable, easy to get along with, communicative, open, good-natured, pleasant.”

Clients appreciate the open and personal approach that I have with them from our first communication.  I make your ceremony my business, and establish a friendly and good-natured atmosphere so that we can communicate easily.

organise

Meaning:”arrange systematically; order.”  Some synonyms for organise include:  “sort, assemble, group, regulate, structure, classify, compile, mould.”

Clients value the orderly and structured manner that I use during the process of getting married.  Not only do I handle all the steps in the legal process, I also apply my expertise, skills and knowledge to manage the steps in the process of planning your wedding ceremony.

enjoy

Meaning:”take delight or pleasure in.”  Some synonyms for enjoy include:  “like, love, delight in, appreciate, be keen on, find/take pleasure in, be entertained by, be pleased by.”

I encourage everyone at the ceremony to delight in the moment.  Those special moments in a ceremony that touch hearts are the ones that make delightful memories.  These moments are the magic-makers in a ceremony and are the ones that bring the warm, happy smiles to faces.

helpful

Meaning: “giving or ready to give help.”  Some synonyms for helpful include:  “obliging, considerate, thoughtful, supportive, cooperative, caring.”

I share many suggestions and creative ideas openly and willingly with clients.  I love helping people create the ceremony that captures their ideas and wishes.  This is the heart of a personalised and unique ceremony that not only makes for an enjoyable one, but also one that is truly memorable.

approachable

Meaning: “friendly and easy to talk to.”  Some synonyms for approachable include: “welcoming, pleasant, cordial, accessible, available”

Clients tell me that they feel comfortable when they communicate with me.  I am courteous and pleasant in all communication, not only in speaking and writing, but also in non-verbal communication through appearance and the way I conduct myself.  I answer questions openly and honestly and in a timely manner.

Real Testimonials, Reviews, Recommendations

The real testimonials and reviews I get are valued recommendations that you can rely on as they come directly from real clients.  As Brisbane’s Best Celebrant, I am happy to share the testimonials from the many satisfied real clients who highly recommend me as a celebrant.

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Wedding Ceremony Keepsakes – keep them safe!

Wedding Keepsakes

Wedding keepsakes are the items and documents that make your ceremony unique and special.  These precious items include your wedding keepsakes and favours, and the Presentation Marriage Certificate.  Those something old, something blue, something borrowed items, perhaps a handkerchief, a brooch, or necklace that you carry or wear for the ceremony are very special keepsakes.   Further, these keepsakes are irreplaceable.  Also, how do you explain their loss if you borrow these items?

Unique Wedding Keepsakes

I take the time and care to design unique wedding keepsakes for your ceremony.

wedding ceremony keepsakes

Wedding Ceremony Keepsakes

  • Your ceremony script is presented as a scroll inside a cover.  A hand-made decorated sleeve secures the scroll.
  • Your personal wedding vow booklets and the scroll reflect your chosen colours of your wedding theme, or your favourite colours.
  • As a special touch, I give you a keepsake to wish you ‘good-luck’ for your married life.

When can Keepsakes go Missing?

At the end of the ceremony everyone is excited.  Everyone congratulates the happy couple or gathers for photographs, and this is the critical time when keepsake items are often misplaced or overlooked.  The Presentation Marriage Certificate and your keepsakes are treasured items that are easily lost in the excitement of the day.  The Presentation Marriage Certificate is not replaceable, however if it is mislaid or damaged, you will need to apply to the Registry for advice.

You can avoid the stress and worry of locating misplaced items if you prepare well.  After all, you want to enjoy those wonderful moments of your wedding and make beautiful memories of your special day.

Appoint a Wedding Ceremony Keepsakes and Documents Official

Here is a great wedding ceremony tip!  Appoint a reliable person as the wedding ceremony keepsakes and documents official on your wedding day.  This is an essential part of successful wedding planning!  Your wedding ceremony keepsakes and documents official is someone you trust to follow your instructions exactly!

Wedding Ceremony Keepsakes and Documents Official

Following is a basic checklist of instructions to give to your appointed Documents Official.

  • Identify yourself as the appointed  ‘wedding ceremony keepsakes and documents official’ to the Celebrant before the wedding ceremony.
  • Be available and receive the ceremony keepsakes and documents immediately after the wedding ceremony.
  • Check the contents of the envelope containing the wedding ceremony keepsakes and documents with the Celebrant.
  • Take charge of the envelope containing the ceremony keepsakes and documents, and
  • Follow instructions immediately for safe storage.  (specify exactly how, when and where.)

I meet your Wedding Ceremony Documents Official before the ceremony and check the instructions carefully.  Following the signing of the marriage documents, I hand over all keepsakes and the Presentation Marriage Certificate securely and safely to your appointed Wedding Ceremony Documents Official.  You relax and celebrate the special moments of your wedding day with family and friends, confident that your precious items are safe.

Official Marriage Documents

Do you want to know more about Australian official marriage documents?  Do you know that the Presentation Marriage Certificate is not the official marriage certificate?  Although it is a legal document, it is however, not a personal identification document (ID)?  Personal identification documents show your date of birth and this information is not shown on the Presentation Marriage Certificate.

The Official Marriage Certificate shows your date of birth and is a personal identification document (ID).  You purchase a certified copy of the official marriage certificate from the Marriage Registry in the Australian state or territory of your marriage.  This certified copy is a personal identification document and serves to verify your changed legal status as a married person.  Check out the Australian government page for the most up-to-date and accurate information about Australian marriage documents.

 

 

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Choosing the Wedding Party can be a disaster if you do not choose wisely

Who wants to be in the Wedding Party?

Every doll wants to be in the wedding party!

Peg & Pog and wedding attendants

Peg & Pog Wedding Party

Peg & Pog review the nominees for the traditional ‘roles’ in their wedding party – best man/woman/doll; page boy dolls, flower girl dolls?  Of course, they don’t want to disappoint anyone, or in their case, any dolls.  Feelings need careful handling!

Peg & Pog know what they want, and what they don’t want for their big day.  However, family and friends have their ideas about Peg & Pog’s wedding!

Peg & Pog, start looking for a very good Celebrant.  Hooray!  Peg & Pog find Glenda, the Best Brisbane Celebrant.  With Glenda’s expert guidance, Peg & Pog and get the wedding they want and family and friends express their great delight!

Choosing the Wedding Party

This is the tricky part.  Members of the wedding, or bridal party, are usually those who are important to you such as family and friends.  For those of you who are blessed with large, extended families and a lot of great friends, this can become a nightmare!  Whatever you do, choose very carefully.  Your wedding attendants can make or break the best of well-laid plans.

Adults in the Wedding Party

Adult attendants need to be reliable and trustworthy.  Ask yourself the question, “How can this person support our needs leading up to and on our wedding day?”  After all, that is what attendants do – support the Bride and Groom in the planning and organisation of the big day, both before and on your wedding day.

Milo, Pog’s brother, support Peg & Pog in organising people on the wedding day and introducing Celebrant Glenda, to the parents and the witnesses.  Peg & Pog have asked two adult family members to be their witnesses – Peg’s Ma and Pog’s Ma!  Both mothers want to be front and centre during the ceremony, so that they get the full experience of watching and hearing their children say their marriage vows.

Children in the Wedding Party

Be prepared for the unexpected when choosing children as attendants!  Little ones may look ‘cute’ on the day, however their welfare is the most important consideration.  Expecting young children to walk down paths on their own is daunting enough.  Asking them to carry precious items such as ring cushions etc. only adds to their stress.   Pog’s two-year-old twin nieces, Pip & Pepper, are fine as they accompany Peg on the flower boat.  However, as soon as they hit land, they take off!  They take their own shortcut to the Rose Garden, and thankfully, they arrive just as Peg & Pog are coming up the path.

How Many in a Wedding Party?

As many as you like!  Only the Bride and Groom, Bride and Bride, or Groom and Groom if you prefer.  The two witnesses don’t have to stand or sit next to you, unless you think you might be given to an attack of the vapours and faint!  Oh, and it’s not an equal sharing competition either!  Just because one party has three attendants, it doesn’t mean that the other party has to have three attendants.  Gender is not important.  A ‘Matron, or Maid of Honour, or Woman of Honour’ can easily be a ‘Man or Mate of Honour’ – the choice is yours.

More wedding party news later.  In the meantime, check out some things you may or may not know about Glenda, the Very Good Celebrant!

 

 

 

 

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Marriage Certificates in Australia

Marriage Certificates in Australia

Most people think that their official Australian Marriage Certificate is the one they receive on their wedding day.  Actually, the number of Marriage Certificates that are signed at an Australian wedding varies depending on who officiates at the wedding ceremony:

  • At State Registry Office weddings, there are  two Marriage Certificates that are signed on the wedding day.  A designated Registry Officer officiates at these wedding ceremonies.
  • At civil and religious weddings, there are three Marriage Certificates that are signed on the wedding day.  A Commonwealth-registered Marriage Celebrant (CMC), or a designated person of a religious organisation, approved by the Australian government officiates at these wedding ceremonies.

As a Commonwealth-registered Marriage Celebrant, I officiate at civil (secular) wedding ceremonies according to the Marriage Act 1961.  This means that two people who meet the legal requirements for marriages performed in Australia (and recognised internationally), regardless of nationality or gender, may marry.

The three Marriage Certificates

  • The first Marriage Certificate is in the Marriage Register which I keep securely as the authorised Celebrant.  This certificate contains all the personal identity details of the Bride and Groom, including their birth dates.
  • The second Marriage Certificate is the Presentation or Ceremonial Marriage Certificate.  I present this certificate to the Bride and Groom on their wedding day at the end of the ceremony.  Although this certificate is a legal document, however it does not prove identity as it does not show birth dates.  This certificate proves that the persons named were married at a given place on a given date.  Keep this document safe!
  • The third Marriage Certificate is the Official Marriage Certificate.  This certificate contains all the personal identity details of the Bride and Groom, including their birth dates.  The Commonwealth-registered Marriage Celebrant (CMC), or a designated person of an Australian government approved religious organisation, submits this third certificate to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the State/Territory where you marry.

How many Marriage Certificates do you need or want?

So, how many certificates do you need or want?  That is up to you!  If you want a certificate that you can use to change your name for example, then  you need to purchase a copy of your Official Marriage Certificate.  This is available from the Registry of the State/Territory where the marriage takes place.  This certificate is the ‘legal document’ that not only establishes your identity but also shows the details of your marriage.

Finally, State Registries offer a decorative, Commemorative Certificate for a fee.  This certificate is for display purposes only and is neither a legal document nor a proof of identity document.

How do you know the right questions to ask?

Do you want clear and correct information about getting married?  Do you want to know more about marriage documents?  Ask the right questions and get the correct information!

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Episode 3: Where do we stand for the wedding

Dolls are Different, or are they?

a pegdoll production

The Rose Garden is a busy place where the Doll families gather to plan for Peg & Pog’s special day.  Of course, all dolls are keen to ‘help’ make Peg & Pog’s wedding the very best.

Unfortunately, there is no accounting for taste, and the various members of the Doll families do not disappoint.   Left to the families, the wedding will be nothing short of ‘memorable’ – something that Peg & Pog are not too sure about!

Wedding Standing Places

Wedding standing places are very confusing, especially when everyone is busy with their own ideas about what should be happening.  Molly & Polly present their menu of delightful, tasty treats that are sure to please.  Meanwhile, Dickie & Pago are busy with their ‘creative’ talents, and DP also wants to get in on the action!

Where do we stand for the wedding?

Peg & Pog, and their attendants, need to know where they stand during the wedding ceremony.

close up of Peg Doll

Peg

Peg asks a simple question, but no dolls are listening !!!  Peg is very patient, being the sweet-natured doll that she is, however there is a limit.

When Peg asks a simple question, she expects to get a simple answer.  Meanwhile, all dolls are excited and are too busy with their own activities to pay any attention to the bride-to be!

The twins, Pip & Pepper have fun with their new friend, Big Bee, and Madame Noscova (and the ballet class) makes an entrance!  DP finds his ‘creative’ side and joins the ballet.  Disaster strikes Pog and confusion is everywhere!

Peg & Pog find it all too much and  decide to take things into their own hands.  At last, fortune strikes, and Peg & Pog find Glenda, who is a good listener.  Glenda has heaps of ideas and suggestions for making the wedding day a great success!  The wedding ceremony planning gets on track and flows smoothly for Peg & Pog.  All dolls look forward to Peg & Pog’s  delightful wedding day.

 

All dolls and the creator/director/producer etc etc, Brisbane’s Really Good Celebrant, Glenda J Ashleigh, hope that you enjoy Episode 3: Where do we stand

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Blushing Bride Keepsakes

Blushing Bride Keepsakes

These sweet blushing bride keepsakes are sure to bring smiles to faces at a wedding!

Peg Doll Brides and Peg Doll Grooms

There is a rich tradition in using wooden pegs to make dolls.  Of course, no two peg dolls are alike!  That is the beauty of hand-made wedding keepsakes.  Here are a couple of darling blushing brides that I created as give-a ways at a wedding expo.

Peg Doll Brides

Blushing Brides

What fun drawing the expressions on the little faces, and dressing them!

Create your own Blushing Brides and Blushing Grooms keepsakes in your personal wedding style!

Share the love and have some fun!

Love Stories

Do you like love stories?  Worlds of imagination open up and fantastic adventures come to life in the love stories of some very special peg dolls.

Follow the trials and tribulations of Peg & Pog who meet in the Rose Garden and fall in love.  What is the Rose Garden?  What are Peg and Pog doing in the Rose Garden?  Who falls in love first?  How does Pog know he is in love?  So many questions!

Wedding announcements and wedding planning often have bumpy patches along the way, and so it is with Peg and Pog as they try to plan their wedding.  Of course, all dolls help in the planning process with mixed results.  Sometimes, hard decisions just have to made!  After all, it is Peg & Pog’s wedding.

The wedding is wonderful, and Peg & Pog  share the love with their family and friends.  At last, Peg is the blushing bride and Pog is the blushing groom.

Contact Glenda to share the love of your wedding day

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Episode 4: A ray of sunshine

Dolls are Different, or are they?

a pegdoll production.

It seems that all dolls want a piece of the wedding planning action!  Peg & Pog are swamped by the loads of suggestions from Doll family members.

Peg Doll star of "Dolls are Different, or are they?"

Peg Doll

Pog Doll star of the micro-series "Dolls are Different, or are they?"

Pog Doll

Further, not only do Doll family members push their ideas, but also new-found doll friends, such as the peculiar ballet teacher, Madame Noscova.  Even the ballet class catch the wedding planning fever!

Of course, all dolls want to ‘help’ make Peg & Pog’s wedding the very best wedding in the Rose Garden.

The Doll family and friends are so eager to lend their particular talents to make Peg & Pog’s wedding an event to remember, that they forget about what Peg & Pog want!

Peg & Pog feel completely sidelined.  Apparently their wedding is a ‘community event’ and they are merely the bride and groom!  Ahhhhhh!   Peg & Pog search for a ray of sunshine to help them have the wedding that they want.

A ray of sunshine

 Peg & Pog contact Glenda, Brisbane’s really good marriage celebrant, and find that she is the ray of sunshine that the lovebirds are desperately seeking!

Glenda J Ashleigh, Brisbane's very good marriage celebrant

Glenda J Ashleigh, Brisbane’s very good marriage celebrantlistens carefully to Peg & Pog before giving them some ideas to think about.

Glenda listens carefully to Peg & Pog’s wishes for their wedding.  They discuss their dreams and hopes, and fears about being left out of the wedding planning process.  Being an experienced Celebrant, Glenda gives sensible and caring suggestions for managing the input of family members and friends in planning for the wedding day.

At last Peg & Pog feel that they are in control of planning for their special day!

Peg & Pog have great fun as they start to plan their special wedding day!

Contact Glenda to shine a ray of sunshine on your wedding plans!

 

 

 

All dolls and the creator/director/producer etc etc, Brisbane’s Really Good Celebrant, Glenda J Ashleigh, hope that you enjoy Episode 4: A ray of sunshine

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Episode 6: Madame Noscova’s Moscow Mission

Madame Noscova’s Mission

Madame Noscova’s Moscow Mission is the sixth episode in the micro-series, Dolls are Different…or are they? a pegdoll production.  The Doll community has wedding planning fever!  Family and friends, both old and new, are busy thinking up ways to contribute to Peg & Pog’s wedding day in the Rose Garden.  The suggestions and ideas come thick and fast from family and friends on what should happen on the wedding day.

Madame Noscova, that peculiar Russian ballet teacher, is busy conducting dance lessons for the newly-formed break-dance ballet group, the Beat Belles.  Madame Noscova gets caught up in the excitement and insists that there must be dancing at Peg & Pog’s wedding!

Before Peg & Pog know it, Madame Noscova and the Beat Belles decide that they will dance at the wedding!  Madame Noscova declares that she must visit the home of the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow for wedding dance inspiration!

Peg & Pog really do not know what to do!

Wedding Dance Inspiration

Madame Noscova and Ballet Class  Anjeanette, Anjoane, Anlouise, Anmarie, Antenile, and DP,  Peg’s little 8-year old brother, form the Beat Belles, and they decide that they also need inspiration.   After all, they are the ones who will be dancing!

DP, ever the dedicated artist, stays home to improve on that famous break-dance move, the ‘Orbital Rotation’.  This is the move that Pog demonstrates to DP at Peg & Pog’s first meeting in the Rose Garden, and DP is keen to impress with a unique ‘busting’ move.

Madame Noscova and the rest of the Beat Belles take off on their Moscow Mission for inspiration!  Adventure, excitement and delightful scenery await the little travellers.  They cover long distances in the air, on the water, and over land to reach their destination.  They are fearless in the face of danger!  Finally, Madame Noscova and the Beat Belles find their inspiration at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.  They dance with such grace and skill, and create wonderful dance steps to perform at Peg & Pog’s wedding.  Meanwhile, Peg & Pog are trying to be positive and look forward to their wedding day in the Rose Garden.

All dolls and the creator/director/producer etc etc, Brisbane’s Really Good Celebrant, Glenda J Ashleigh, hope that you enjoy Episode 6: Madame Noscova’s Moscow Mission