A week and a half later Gerry received an email to say that his entry into the competition had been accepted. Now he really could put his plan into action.
Gerry was openly confident not only could he and Sandra convince the judges that they were a married couple but also that he could bag the two grand cash prize.
Sandra on the other hand was less confident.
When it came to taking the photo's of the 'happy couple' she was the one who now felt like a burke.
"Will ya stop laughing its meant to be serious" Gerry said to her as they posed outside the Tower of London Christ if anyone recognises me she thought.
"I'm sorry Gerry I can't stop laughing the situation is hilarious"
"She's right you know" Brian piped up from behind the camera who too began laughing at Sandra's illustration.
"For gawd's sake Brian stop laughing and hold that camera still"
"Come on Brian and Sandra can't you see how much this means to Gerry" Jack said observing this farce.
"Yes, thank you, Jack" Gerry said sarcastically.
"Well why don't you take it now while she's smiling at least then it might look convincing" Jack said pointing out the fairly obvious which none of the other's failed to notice.
"He has a point you know" Brian said.
"Will you stop saying everyone has a 'point you know'" Gerry said in a voice that mocked Brian's Northern twang "Just take the ruddy photo"
"You better do what he says you know how impatient 'my old man gets'" Sandra said jabbing him in the ribs.
"Almost an hour later they had somehow managed to take the photo and still had time for a fish and chips lunch before Strickland called Sandra to ask where the hell they all were.
Around the same time Strickland called Sandra, Gerry got a phone call to say that the adjudicators would be coming round to assess his entry on Saturday.
"This Saturday, as in the Saturday in three days" he asked the woman on the phone sounding slightly panicked.
"Yes, Mr Standing, will that be okay with you and Mrs Standing"
"Yeah of course I will have to make sure the misses isn't out shopping all day, she can get carried away"
"Thank you Mr Standing see you around eleven o'clock on Saturday then, bye bye"
"Thanks see ya Saturday" he said hanging up and he turned to face the others.
"That was the competition people-"
"That was Strickland-"he and Sandra said at exactly the same time.
"You go first" he said to Sandra.
"Oh it's nothing really just Strickland wanted to know where we all are he wants us to get back the office as soon as we can has something to tell us apparently, so go on what did the competition people have to say "
"They wanted to know if they could come round on Saturday to judge my entry"
"Oh okay that's a bit short notice"
"That's what I said"
"Do you need me there?"
"Yeah, yeah I think the interview happens then as well saves them coming again"
"Makes sense right we better get back to Strickland I want to knock off early today see if I can pick up an outfit for this"
"Sandra it's not Desperate Housewives ya know I'm sure you will have an outfit already"
"Hang on a minute I thought you said you needed a trophy wife to win this" she raised her eyebrow.
"Well what I mean is that you're the kinda woman who doesn't need designer clothes to look like the trophy wife every man wishes was his"
"Oh really, come along we better be going"
"Nice save" Jack said to Gerry patting him on the back as they got into Sandra's car.
I hope this is okay!