Gill, my lovely lady and I went through our twentieth year together the other day (since our first date) and reflected a little on our time together.
It’s at odds with many partnerships and marriages you see and hear about today where convenience and short term thrills are chosen rather than the dedication and sheer bloody hard work it requires to stay with someone: someone who, like you, matures and changes over the years.
Celebrities and now common folk seem to accept that a quick exit and fresh start are the norm.
I do understand that some combinations are so uncomfortable that staying together is out of the question. Separation and divorce are an option especially when infidelity and cruelty are involved. But, to me, many folk are foolish in their initial choice of partner or just too lazy to hold on to what they should.
So, we’re still together after 5 houses. four kids, countless hospital visits, bereavements and more than a few stand up arguments.
The last few months have been spent on a change of lifestyle. Heather, our eldest has joined a gym and she and Gill are now attending a slimming class. Both have been successful with Gill losing over twenty pounds and Heather half as much. Jodie is attending counselling and has started trampolining as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. I have lost over a stone in weight and can really feel the difference. The stabbing back pains I had suffered have gone as has the night time reflux/indigestion.
As part if this change I’m doing walks of 3 or 4 miles a few times a week. As a young man I walked everywhere and fell out of the habit and I’m now really enjoying getting out in all weathers. I use Str.ava to log the walks and Heather and I both have fit.bits. The latter, for the unitiated, are modern pedometers which link to an app which not only helps keep track of exercise, calories burned and sleep but also has a social aspect. You can compete against friends and cheer them on too.
This is a screen shot from my Str.ava
I know I can do it without the apps but the social aspect and all those lovely statistics do make it more fun.
Our diet is different with no takeaways, late night snacks (nothing after 7) and tons of veg and fruit.
The only clouds on the horizon are the perrenials: Ashleys long term health, Cerys’s health, Mum’s possible dementia.. the usual stuff.
Our 20th wedding anniversary is at the end of next year and we plan to get away without the kids – no, that didn’t go down well.
So raise your virtual glasses and toast with me:
Here’s to the roses and lilies in bloom,
You in my arms and I in your room.
A door that is locked, a key that is lost,
A bird, and a bottle, and a bed badly tossed,
and a night that is fifty years long.
