I hadn't seen Melanie for years. She was ok but always thought herself better than the rest of us. Daddy was rich and she thought that put her up a class, even though she was in the same comprehensive as the rest of us. Chauffeur driven to school in her Rolls Royce would have made enemies if she hadn't bought them with lifts!



Of course, she did well in her career. Her father employed her, I swear just to sit and look pretty, and she got paid well. So, she continued to have her car chauffeur driven even to the local shops.

After an old school reunion for the class of 1997, all us old girls were back in touch and as much as it pained me to admit, Melanie had turned out ok. She wasn't as pretentious as expected and very graciously invited us all to her upcoming wedding.

We went through all the details together from the flowers, bridesmaids and seating arrangements to photographers and car chauffeur hire. Of course, daddy was getting her the very best car, the very smartest chauffeur.

Despite Melanie turning out ok I still had a chip on my shoulder about trying to prove myself as good as her and decided to hire my own chauffeur and car for the big day.

So, I went shopping to Covent Garden for a designer dress and booked a Bently Arnage Red Label with chauffeur for the big day. I so wanted to upstage her!

Well, the perfect June morning arrives, blue skies, birds singing, what more could she ask for. I took my time in the shower and made sure my make up and hair was faultless even though I had kept the chauffeur waiting outside. I had to make sure I looked just so. No point getting out of a chauffeur driven car looking a fright.

Eventually climbing into the car, I felt like like a princess. Ha, I thought, this will show her, she's not the only one who can show success. I sat back in my seat to enjoy the ride into the countryside to where Melanies wedding was to be held.

We didn't get very far before we got held up in the traffic. It wasn't my fault, London on a Saturday morning was a nightmare. I began to get hot so the chauffeur clicked on the air conditioning for me. Then I was too cold and insisted he turn it off. Stuck in this traffic, I though I might as well get out and try to cool off.

As I step out of the car, a workmen throws down a load of cement and I get splashed. Stupid fool, I yell at him, and get back into the car slamming my dress in the door and tearing it in the process! Now I'm getting stressed and hot and my make up is beginning to run! I do my best to make repairs but am feeling a little dishevelled. Anyway, we are now out on the open road and this gives me time to get myself back together.

I'm still wound up so I slide down the privacy partition and begin to vent my frustration at the chauffeur. He's nothing but courteous and trying to calm me but this just infuriates me further and I'm trying to rush him. The idea is to make an entrance but not a late one.

We turn a corner of a country lane, just outside a quaint looking little church and the car makes contact with a tractor, crunching up the front corner. I get out with the chauffeur to inspect the damage and step straight into a huge mound of horse manure! Looking up, I see Melanie in all her wedding finery looking straight at me with the most amused expression on her face. My hairs all over the place, my make up streaked, my dress ruined and my shoes covered in muck and all I want to do is cry.

With all the good naturedness that I wish I had felt for Melanie, she stops what she is doing and gently guides me to her own chauffeur driven car, instructing the chauffeur to take me to her suite at the nearby hotel to sort myself out. Telling me she's not getting married without her friend beside her she even lending me a dress of her own.

Getting back to the church half an hour later, I find she has held up the proceedings waiting for me. I wanted to make an entrance but this is ridiculous! I sit at the back for the rest of the service feeling mighty sheepish - but at least I had a chauffeur and car for the day!