Every woman in the room agreed that Crichton was a cracker of a butler. Even before you began to open your mouth to say, Crichton, I need there was a shawl around your cold shoulders, drink in your thirsty hand, and a foot stool under your weary feet.

But for these high-society ladies to have any design on Crichton as a possible lover. Forget it. When all was said and done, Crichton was just a butler. An admirable butler, to be sure. But butler none the less.

When these Lady Marys were looking for a good time, they wanted a man whod tango them through the night, help them lose a small fortune at the black jack table, and send them into peels of laughter with his after dinner raconteureeing. For all his fetching and carrying, Crichton wasnt such a man.

Then something happened to change all that.

On one of those sea trips that Crichtons employers took from time to time, their vessel struck a reef, and the passengers found themselves stuck on a deserted island.

All the Dukes and Marquises and Freddies and Lords, who comprised the voyagers, stood around fiddling their thumbs wondering what the heck to do.

Not so Crichton.

Unfazed, he cut some wood, build a fire to start boiling the billy, swung through the trees to fetch some bananas, and picked a bundle of fig leaves with which to start weaving a bale or two of cloth for the day when the current wardrobe was beyond repair.

The women were entranced. A man so in tune with his environment and his situation was a man to be admired and desired. And no man or woman show themselves to such advantage as when they are completely at ease and in control of who they are and where they are.

Currently, according to US statistics, the most desired honeymoon destination for American couples is Hawaii, the form of travel a cruise, a resort promising a spa and some activity a definite plus, and a beach near by almost a necessity. But I guess Hawaii gave that away.

In the end, however, whatever type of honeymoon the couple choose, a background against which they both shine is what really matters. It will make them remember what made them so attractive to each other in the first place.

Vlady Peters

Vlady Peters is an Australian Civil Marriage Celebrant performing weddings, naming, renenewal of vows and commitment ceremonies both for Australian citizens and for overseas couples visiting friends and relatives in Australia.

She is the author of two traditionally published books, "The Complete Book of Australian Weddings" and "The Small Organisation Handbbook" and is in the process of releasing two ebooks dealing with weddings and honeymoons.

Her major interest is research into customs and traditions of weddings.

By going back to the roots of customs, she believes couples can more clearly differentiate between what is essential in a wedding ceremony, and what is merely a personal preference.

This allows them to choose a ceremony reflecting their own situation within the framework of legal requirements.

Vlady has a bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Government, and has studied the writing of novels and romances. She has written children picture books as well as novels.

She is a member of Queesland Civil Marriage Celebrants - the largest Civil Marriage Celebrants Association in Australia - as well as member of Celebrants' Training Association.

She is also a member of Australian Authors, as well as Romance Writers Association where for a number of years she was the Convenor of the prestigious Emma Darcy Award - Australia's leading Lady of Romance.