Happy Annivesary Andreas

Today, Andreas and I celebrate 17 years being married (22 years together).

The last year has certainly been a full one for us. A new baby, selling the house that we built, moving into a rental, and all the emotional strain that goes with that. But I have my happy place back (my sewing room) and with it renewed energy to create my little "hobby" businesses into something more sustainable.

We are fortunate to be surrounded by genuine friends who have also been in long term relationships. Granted, it is not easy at times. Growing old together has it's ups and down's, but as I tell the kids that I teach, anything that is worthwhile tends to be hard.

The next year will bring it's own strains with the pending house project. But we are now closer to our support system and in a space which will allow us to live and grow the way we want to.

Andreas, I love you.

16 years and counting ...

Another year has flown by rather fast and we find ourselves celebrating our Wedding Anniversary yet again. 16 years married, 21 years together ...  I am currently reading Kerri Sackville's new book and there is a line in it which says that when you are married for a while it is like reading the same book over and over. For us it isn't like that, we are both changing and certainly with the arrival of Nicholas, life is definately not the same book over and over.

In previous years I have posted some actual wedding pictures, but this one is perhaps my favourite. Can you guess where it was taken?

Andreas, I love you and feel I blessed that you chose me to share your life with. Even when we are operating on very few hours of sleep at the moment, you make me feel special and loved.

Happy Anniversary Andreas

Today my gorgeous Husband and I celebrated 15 years together .. this picture was taken at some point in 1996.

Not quite sure where the years have gone, you blink and then all of a sudden it is 15 years! To mark the occasion we ducked out of town last weekend to the Healesville Hotel, sans child. We had been wanting to dine there for a while and our anniversary proved an ideal excuse.

On the way we stopped off at stopping at Rochfords for lunch and wine tasting at Oakridge Estate. Rochfords do the most wonderful cheese platter in the cafe. We have never eaten at the restaurant there, maybe next time.

Healesville Hotel has a wonderful dining room with an extensive wine selection. They also have a lovely function room which we managed to peak into the morning after. Maybe I should celebrate my 40th there ...

Then on Sunday we did the Healesville racecourse market, Yering Station farmers market and tasting, then Yarra Glen for lunch at Hardgraves Hill Brewing Company and finishing with cheese and tastings at De Bortoli's.

In our travels I managed to score a volume of the infamous Golden Hands Crafts edition (white folder) at one of the second hand shops in Healesville.

At a James Bond dress-up party many many moons ago.

So thank-you, my friend, my partner, my lover for a wonderful weekend and of course a 15 wonderful years. It has been a fun ride!

Happy Anniversary ....

Ona beautiful autumn day in 1995 on the 22nd of April, I married my love Andreas at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Melbourne. It is sometimes hard to believe that we have been married for 14 years and we have been together for another 5 years on top of that. I have been with my partner for over half of my life. I was only 23 when I got married.
Pastor Stern from St. John's Springvale wed us. I have a distinct memory of the day ... Pastor Stern stood there during the service wearing his usual garb, but underneath he had a pair of blunstones on! He is still the Pastor at St. John's in Springvale and last year he Baptised our daughter.
Andreas was involved in the Melbourne Uni Fencing Club at the time, and when we exited from the Church the fencing club had rocked up and they performed a guard of honor for us. We didn't ask for it or plan it, they decided to do it.

One of my earliest memories of Andreas was at Conquest. I recall playing a game called "Lace and Steel" a roleplay game and on one of the nights we had a costume freeform in the Pancake Parlor that used to be in Market Lane in the city.

When we were first going out we were involved in the SCA. I loved the costuming side and Andreas loved the warfare side. We used to get together at Melbourne Girls College school oval every month for SCA practice and Thursday nights we had dance rehearsal on Smith Street in Collingwood (WG Raven Funeral Parlor, now no longer in existance).

Andreas proposed to me in Germany, in his home town of Holtzminden. We had decided to take an overseas trip over the summer of 1991/1992. We saved for what seemed like ages and I still have the savings term deposit slip showing the interest rate of 14.25% when I withdrew my savings. We did the good 'ol European backpacking trip. Andreas met my relatives in Scotland/England and I met his.

Since we met we have been overseas too many times and had lots of adventures. We have built a house but more importantly (and perhaps our greatest achievement so far) is that we have built a little person ...
We spend a lot of our time laughing at things, humor is a very big part of our lives. Creativity is another force in our relationship. But I guess the most important factor is that he is my best friend.
A lot of my students ask me how I can stay with the same person for so long, and I generally answer "I don't". Neither of us are the same people we were back in 1990 when we met or even 1995 when we married. We have both changed and evolved, and Andreas influence in my life has made me a better person.

Happy Anniversary ...